Harley-Davidson Softail Street Bob FXBB: Specs & Facts

The Machine's Character

Strip a Softail back to its essentials and this is what's left. One seat, a headlight, mini-ape bars, dark finishes, and the 1745 cc Milwaukee-Eight 107 sitting in the middle doing all the talking. The numbers read 85 hp and 110 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm, which tells you where this engine lives: down low, early, and all the time. The monoshock Softail chassis underneath is tidier and stiffer than the stripped-down look suggests, and standard keyless ignition plus a USB charging port quietly move it past pure period costume. It is the purist end of the lineup, not a light version of something bigger.

On the road it behaves like a machine with one clear idea, and it happens to be easy to live with. Torque does the work, the belt drive keeps things clean, and the 26.8 in (680 mm) seat means most riders plant both feet at a light. It ages well because there is so little to age: paint, metal, and an engine built to be worked rather than revved. The honest caveat is what it isn't. At 653 lb (296 kg) with a 3.5 gal (13.2 L) tank, this is a boulevard and back-road bike first, and long days need planning.

Hard Numbers

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

Show full specs & equipment Hide specs & equipment

Key specifications
Power	85 hp (63 kW)
Torque	110 lb-ft (149 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm
Displacement	1745 cc
Engine	45° V-twin
Cooling	Air/oil-cooled
Gearbox	6-speed
Final drive	Belt
Fork	Telescopic
Front tire	100/90-19
Rear tire	150/80-16
Wheelbase	64.2 in (1630 mm)
Seat height	26.8 in (680 mm)
Wet weight	653 lb (296 kg)
Fuel capacity	3.5 gal (13.2 L)

Equipment check

Chassis

Rear Suspension Adjustable Standard

Connectivity

Keyless System Standard

Safety

ABS Optional

The Truth on the Street

This isn't my test note. It's what I've picked up over years of listening to riders: paddock talk, gas-stop conversations with owners, club-night chatter, and the messages riders send me directly. On this one the pattern is tight: the praise keeps landing in the same places, and so does the criticism.

What owners talk about first

The engine leads nearly every conversation. Riders describe torque that arrives immediately and never goes away, enough to cruise at a lazy throttle and pass without hunting for a downshift. The factory bobber look runs a close second: owners say the spoked wheels and blacked-out hardware read as custom work nobody had to pay for. A smaller group brings up the frame, calling it stiffer and lighter than the Dyna it replaced, with a more planted feel and more room to lean before anything drags.

The gripes that keep returning

Range comes up most. Owners say the small tank forces fuel stops that break up a long day. Brakes come up less often but with more heat: some riders find the single front disc short on initial bite and on outright stopping power, especially two-up or at a harder pace. Missing rider aids get mentioned as well, measured against rivals that include them.

Known issues

Incorrect VIN label / owner’s manual may lead to underrated front tire pressure

chassis rare Recall

NHTSA recall 24V-719 (H-D campaign 0628): certain 2018-2019 FXBB models have front tire pressure information that may not match the GAWR. Owners receive a VIN label overlay and manual update. Risk of crash if front axle overloaded.
Engine sumping on early 2018 models

engine occasional

Some early-production Milwaukee-Eight 107 engines exhibited oil sumping (oil pump unable to fully scavenge), leading to increased oil consumption and potential performance loss; corrected by mid-2018 with an updated pump.
Leaking fork seals

suspension occasional

Some owners report fork seal leaks, typically occurring at low mileage; replacement seals resolve the issue.
Crooked rear fender

bodywork rare

A few owners have noted that the rear fender may be misaligned from the factory, causing an off-center appearance.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Harley-Davidson Softail Street Bob FXBB 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 Street Bob FXBB — numbers and character vs. the average Cruiser

Head-to-head: Harley-Davidson Softail Street Bob FXBB vs. its rivals

Power

85 hp This bike 100 hp Indian Scout 85 hp Triumph Thunderbird 87 hp Honda CMX1100 Rebel 91 hp BMW R 18 100 Years

Torque

110 lb-ft This bike 72 lb-ft Indian Scout 108 lb-ft Triumph Thunderbird 72 lb-ft Honda CMX1100 Rebel 116 lb-ft BMW R 18 100 Years

Displacement

1745 cc This bike 1133 cc Indian Scout 1597 cc Triumph Thunderbird 1084 cc Honda CMX1100 Rebel 1802 cc BMW R 18 100 Years

Wet weight

653 lb This bike 558 lb Indian Scout 679 lb Triumph Thunderbird 514 lb Honda CMX1100 Rebel 761 lb BMW R 18 100 Years

Seat height

26.8 in This bike 26.5 in Indian Scout 27.6 in Triumph Thunderbird 27.6 in Honda CMX1100 Rebel 27.2 in BMW R 18 100 Years

The 'Should I Buy It?' Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Softail Street Bob FXBB 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 already know it. The look, the sound, and the presence come from the factory, and the aftermarket depth means it will read as yours by the second rally.

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

Best retro motorcycle for road trips?

The unhurried pace suits you, and so does how little there is to fuss over. Just plan around the 3.5 gal (13.2 L) tank on empty stretches, because it asks for fuel before you're ready to stop.

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

Best touring motorcycle for long distance?

Straight answer: this isn't the tool for that job. No fairing, no luggage, a 3.5 gal (13.2 L) tank, and 653 lb (296 kg) loaded two-up makes big western days harder than they need to be.

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

What's new versus the previous generation

If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.

Previous generation · 2014–2017

Harley-Davidson Dyna Street Bob FXDB (FXDB-MY2014)

Blank Canvas, Full Attitude

Compare to the previous model →

Alternatives to the Harley-Davidson Softail Street Bob FXBB

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 Street Bob FXBB. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.