2025–2026 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Stripped Down, 120 Torques of Character
The Street Bob is the stripped-back end of the Softail range, and the 117 engine turns that simplicity into something with real muscle. An air/oil-cooled 45° V-twin, 1923 cc, 98 hp and 120 lb-ft arriving at 2,500 rpm. That torque peak sits so low you rarely need the top of the tach. Mini-ape bars, mid controls, a tapered tank, one seat, belt drive. Underneath the bobber silhouette there is a proper modern package: cornering ABS, traction control, ride modes, cruise control, TPMS, LED headlight, USB. Character up front, competence behind it.
Riding it, the appeal is the low seat at 25.8 in (655 mm) and a wheelbase of 64.2 in (1630 mm) that keeps it planted once the road opens up. High-speed stability scores 8.5 on my scale, which is more than the raw look suggests. Build quality holds up under close inspection, and aftermarket support is about as deep as it gets, so the bike you buy is a starting point. The honest caveat: 646 lb (293 kg) wet with a 3.5 gal (13.2 L) tank. At 47 mpg that's roughly 165 miles of range before you start doing math at the pump.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 98 hp (73 kW) @ 4,600 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 120 lb-ft (163 Nm) @ 2,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 1923 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air/oil-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 100/90-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/80-16 |
| Wheelbase | 64.2 in (1630 mm) |
| Seat height | 25.8 in (655 mm) |
| Wet weight | 646 lb (293 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.5 gal (13.2 L) |
| Fuel economy | 47 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
Thumb the starter and the whole bike shifts on its mounts before it settles into that uneven idle. The 117 talks to you constantly through the tank and the pegs, a low pulse that never crosses into buzz. Sound is a genuine strength here, deep and unhurried at cruising speed. The riding position is the giveaway that this is a bobber and not a tourer: mini-apes put your hands up and out, mid controls put your feet under your hips, and your back stays upright with the wind straight across your chest. At 60 mph you sit in it rather than on it. Hauling it off the sidestand takes intent, but the low seat means both boots find the ground, which changes how the weight feels the moment you're rolling. Long day, no fairing, all wind. That's the deal you sign.
I've been gathering this one in person and by mail for years: rallies, bike nights, gas-stop conversations, and the messages riders keep sending me. On the Street Bob 117 the reports agree more than most, sorting into a clean column of praise and a clean column of gripes.
Ask an owner what sold them and the engine answers first. They talk about power sitting low in the rev range, there the moment you open it, with passing that needs no plan. The next thing they raise is how lightly the bike moves in traffic and on a winding road for its size. The bare old-school shape keeps its own loyal audience, and riders credit the traction control and ride modes for adding a safety net without dulling the character.
The rear suspension starts the other column. Owners say short travel out back sends sharp pavement straight into the seat, worse as speed rises. Riders over six feet say the same about the mid-mount pegs crowding their knees. On distance they agree: no wind protection, a small tank and a firm ride keep this in the day-ride column. A smaller group calls Sport mode snatchy down low and rides in Road or Rain instead.
Rear brake line may contact BCM (recall 26V234)
Insufficient clearance between the rear brake line and the Body Control Module can lead to brake line damage and fluid loss, reducing rear braking performance and increasing crash risk. Affects certain 2025-2026 Softail models, including the Street Bob (FXBB).
Water/condensation in oil leading to white dipstick residue
Some M8 117 engines accumulate moisture in the crankcase, especially with frequent short rides, causing a milky residue on the dipstick. In severe cases, oil may become contaminated, requiring a dealer visit.
Where this Harley-Davidson Street Bob 117 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Street Bob 117 is actually built for.
This is your bike. The sound, the stance, and a parts catalog deep enough to make it yours before the next rally. It looks and feels exactly like what you came for.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Great for unhurried back-road days on classic routes, with torque that suits a slow rhythm. Just plan fuel stops around a 3.5 gal tank and accept there's no wind protection.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Honestly, this isn't built for your kind of day. No fairing, a 3.5 gal tank, and one seat make coast-to-coast running and loaded two-up travel hard work.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
