Harley-Davidson Softail Standard FXST: Specs & Facts

The Machine's Character

The Softail Standard is the cheapest way into Harley's Big Twin Softail family, and it wears that plainly. One seat, minimal chrome, and a 1745 cc air-cooled 45° V-twin sitting in a frame styled to look rigid while a monoshock does the work out of sight. The engine makes 86 hp at 5,020 rpm and 106 lb-ft at 3,250 rpm, so the pull arrives early and the top of the tach is beside the point. Counterbalancers keep the shake in check without sanding off the rumble. What you buy here is a stance and a running chassis, and the rest is left to you.

On the road it settles. A 64.2-inch wheelbase and 655 lb wet give it a long, planted line at highway speed, and the 26.8-inch seat means most riders get both boots down at a stop. It ages the way simple machines do: belt final drive, air cooling, six gears, not much to go stale. This one suits the rider who wants big-twin Harley presence and fully intends to build the bike out over time. The caveat is plain. The 3.5-gallon tank keeps the legs short, the fork offers no adjustment at all, and ABS is an option rather than standard fitment.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power	86 hp (64 kW) @ 5,020 rpm
Torque	106 lb-ft (144 Nm) @ 3,250 rpm
Displacement	1745 cc
Engine	45° V-twin
Cooling	Air-cooled
Gearbox	6-speed
Final drive	Belt
Fork	Telescopic
Front tire	100/90-19
Rear tire	150/80-16
Wheelbase	64.2 in (1631 mm)
Seat height	26.8 in (680 mm)
Wet weight	655 lb (297 kg)
Fuel capacity	3.5 gal (13.2 L)

Equipment check

Chassis

Rear Suspension Adjustable Standard

Safety

ABS Optional

Known issues

Corrosion and poor finish quality

bodywork occasional

Some owners in damp climates report surface corrosion on aluminum components and a generally industrial finish, particularly exposed bolt threads.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Harley-Davidson Softail Standard FXST pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

Metal-and-Muscle Presence

Rumble & Character

Low-Speed Confidence Despite Mass

Relaxed Boulevard Ergonomics

Living-Machine Feel

Relaxed Torque Authority

This bike Class average

The shape of the Harley-Davidson Softail Standard FXST — numbers and character vs. the average Cruiser

Head-to-head: Harley-Davidson Softail Standard FXST vs. its rivals

Power

86 hp This bike 100 hp Indian Scout 87 hp Honda CMX1100 Rebel 86 hp Benda LFC 700 PRO 91 hp BMW R 18 100 Years

Torque

106 lb-ft This bike 72 lb-ft Indian Scout 72 lb-ft Honda CMX1100 Rebel 44 lb-ft Benda LFC 700 PRO 116 lb-ft BMW R 18 100 Years

Displacement

1745 cc This bike 1133 cc Indian Scout 1084 cc Honda CMX1100 Rebel 677 cc Benda LFC 700 PRO 1802 cc BMW R 18 100 Years

Wet weight

655 lb This bike 558 lb Indian Scout 514 lb Honda CMX1100 Rebel 569 lb Benda LFC 700 PRO 761 lb BMW R 18 100 Years

Seat height

26.8 in This bike 26.5 in Indian Scout 27.6 in Honda CMX1100 Rebel 27.3 in Benda LFC 700 PRO 27.2 in BMW R 18 100 Years

The 'Should I Buy It?' Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Softail Standard FXST is actually built for.

Aerial view of a winding asphalt road cutting through volcanic terrain on La Gomera, Canary Islands. The road curves through sparse green vegetation with rocky volcanic peaks visible in the background and a settled valley to the left. Clear lane markings, dry climate, partly cloudy sky.

Best cruiser for Sturgis?

This is your bike, and you were never going to leave it stock anyway. It has the stance, the beat and the parts support to become properly yours, and it stays steady on the long slab out.

Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week

Best retro motorcycle for road trips?

The look and the low-rpm pull suit slow back-road days well. Build your stops around 3.5 gallons and a solo seat, because company and long legs between fill-ups are not part of the deal.

Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway

Best touring motorcycle for long distance?

Honest answer: look elsewhere. No cruise control, no luggage, a solo seat and a short tank make big daily distances harder work than they need to be.

Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road

Alternatives to the Harley-Davidson Softail Standard FXST

If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.

Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Harley-Davidson Softail Standard FXST. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.