Motorcycle specifications Harley-Davidson1745 Softail Deluxe FLDE 2020 Softail cream

The Deluxe is a bit of a delicacy in the Softail range. A pleasure boat in the port of customs, taking full advantage of the nostalgic ode it conveys.
Now that the Fat Boy has gone a little wild, the field is open to seduce all fans of old-school cruisers. Its lines remain timeless, with all the ingredients to transport you back to the middle of the century. Beautiful chrome everywhere, whitewall tires, spoked rims, umbrella-sized mudguards, smooth lines and an engine that explodes with presence.

That's right, that engine. It's one of the Softail's major recent evolutions. Definitively turning the page on the Twin Cam, Harley has installed the Milwaukee Eight in the Deluxe. More than just a new block, the M8 takes Harley to a higher dimension. Each cylinder has 4 valves and 2 spark plugs, more room to express itself, and unwanted idle vibrations are reduced to a minimum. Displacement climbs to 1745 cm3, or 107 ci in American parlance. Cleaner, more powerful, more torquey, pleasant to use, as befits a MoCo machine, the M8 is perfectly at home in the Deluxe.

one push of the starter button to get the block shaking, and the road becomes a farandole of emotions. Harley has done all it can to ensure that the rider no longer has to endure, but leads the way on the handlebars. All Softail models have had their frames completely redesigned. A lot of feedback, a lot of CAD and a severe dose of engineering have resulted in a lighter, stiffer and more efficient frame. On the scales, this Deluxe is no less than 17 kilos lighter than its predecessor.
Its damping has also been totally revised. More rigorous, its rear suspension uses a new swingarm and a monoshock under the seat instead of the two amortos under the frame - while preserving the Hardtail look. The double-acting valve fork comes from the Touring and promises to be much more efficient. The revised Deluxe should seriously enhance handling, stability and agility. The brand is announcing greater cornering angles

The technical underpinnings have taken a quantum leap forward. Increasingly formidable competition has led the manufacturer to give its range greater ambition. And yet, from the outside, it seems impervious to ersatz fashion and progress. Is that so? With its classic appearance, the headlamp railing has been totally brought into the 21st century. It looks as if it's been nicked from the hood of a Plymouth Fury, and the turn signal support bar is both vintage and modern. It's a real coup on the part of the designers. The headlamps are armored with LEDs, and the center stack features a striking circular light signature. A front end that reconciles yesterday's defenders and today's technophiles.

In the Softail range, the Deluxe is the one that will make you fall head over heels for the classic. Its evolution is far-reaching, while its silhouette never ceases to charm. A huge lump of cream and flavor, to be savored without hurry.

M.B
(manufacturer's photos)