Tuesday, February 17, 2015
2011 Harley Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic – Motorbike Bicycle
With its smooth performance, comfortable riding position, low seat height, ample luggage space, wind protection and passenger accommodations, the
Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic is a true custom-touring bike. Few bikes capture the spirit of the original dressers more authentically than this beautiful motorcycle. 1940s-style leather saddlebags with quick-detach buckles, full FL front fender, chrome laced wheels and hub cover all pay homage to the past, while the counter-balanced Twin Cam 96 engine, hidden rear suspension and new optional Anti-lock Braking System all reside at the forefront of modern technology.
This bike has bags of torque; when Harley-Davidson elected to turn the 88 into a 96, it wasn’t interested in horsepower, but real grunt. Which is what riding Harley Big Twins is all about. A Softail don’t need no stinkin’ tachometer.
The highway dips, then goes up to the Crestwood Summit at 4,181-feet, followed by a 30-mile descent to Ocotillo, almost 4,000 feet down the mountain. But I’m turning off after 15 miles, where a big green exit sign reads In-Ko-Pah Park Road and a small brown sign, indicating an historical site, says Desert View Tower.
I shift Softie down from sixth to second gear, exiting on to a small road that is badly in need of maintenance. Only a little blood. As are the Chocolate Mountains and the Salton Sea.
I should point out that the Colorado Desert is not in Colorado, but in southeastern California, its name coming from the Colorado River. The western third is home to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the middle has the Salton Sea and fertile land in the Coachella and Imperial valleys, while the east includes the Chocolate Mountains, the Algodones Dunes and the west bank of the Colorado River. I’m riding a 2011 Heritage Softail. That big fork, sporting Harley’s infamous “beer can” covers, gives 5 inches of travel, and the twin shock absorbers beneath the engine allow 4.3 inches of travel for the rear wheel. Plus a well-padded saddle, with a passenger backrest as standard.
Heck, Harley Big Twins have looked retro for half a century; that’s their main selling point. Rear suspension was limited to a spring-loaded post on the seat; the Softail’s shocks work much better. Since then I’ve ridden a bunch of Softies, and was very happy when Milwaukee introduced the 88B version back in 2000, with a pair of chain-driven balancer weights smoothing the engine out marvelously. In a Softail, the engine happily sits quite still. At 60 mph in sixth gear the bike is turning 2,220 rpm.
Biggest news for the 2011 Softails is the anti-lock braking system, available on this model family for the first time. From Borrego Springs it is 30 miles east to the Salton Sea, where the surface is 220 feet below regular sea level.
In the morning we cruise east along the border on CA 98 until the road merges with I-8, exiting 10 miles later at the Buttercup OHV area, in the Algodones Dunes. The Softie is already getting a bit dusty. polished, from the wheels to the old-look wraparound oil tank and the dual exhaust system. To leave the Colorado Desert a final curvy stretch of pavement goes from Mecca, at 180 feet below sea level, through Box Canyon Road and up 1,500 feet to meet with Interstate 10. Low desert is done, high desert, the Mojave, begins.
Throughout its entire tenure, dating back to 1988, the Heritage Classic has led something of a double life, essentially filling a transitional niche between two distinct platforms, the lean retro rigid-mount Softails and the dressed-up mile-hungry Touring models. In that regard, 2011 represents a catch-up year for the model, owing to a few notable modifications brought to the Softail platform this year that benefit the Heritage in its touring personality. The first of these is the fitment of entirely redesigned hand control switch modules to the bikes. Thirdly and most significantly, an optional Security Package is available on all 2011 Softail models except the Cross Bones. Just stop it
Aside from the single wire coming from the front wheel brake sensor, it’s the only telltale that the system is onboard.
The test procedure consisted of getting the Heritage up to various speeds and slamming on the brakes, simulating a wild-eyed panic stop. The front brake antilock, on the other hand, was appreciably more reluctant to kick in than I’ve become accustomed to in the past on Tourer models. With or without the optional Security Package, the Heritage Classic continues to fulfill its time-honored role as Milwaukee’s old-school bagger splendidly, proving for the most part as roadworthy and distance-friendly as any dedicated touring mount from Milwaukee. The 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission is likewise bulletproof and keeps the bike motoring at arelaxed gait at freeway speeds. The only practical feature lacking in its touring complement is some kind of locking device on the saddlebags.
General information | |
| Model: | Harley-Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Category: | Touring |
| Rating: | 65.2 out of 100. Show full rating and compare with other bikes |
| Price as new (MSRP): | US$ 16999. Euro 20895. UK £ 16090. Prices depend on country, taxes, accessories, etc. |
Engine and transmission | |
| Displacement: | 1584.00 ccm (96.66 cubic inches) |
| Engine type: | V2, four-stroke |
| Engine details: | Twin Cam 96B. |
| Torque: | 125.00 Nm (12.7 kgf-m or 92.2 ft.lbs) @ 3000 RPM |
| Compression: | 9.2:1 |
| Bore x stroke: | 95.3 x 111.1 mm (3.8 x 4.4 inches) |
| Valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel system: | Injection. Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection |
| Fuel control: | DOHC |
| Lubrication system: | Dry-sump |
| Cooling system: | Air |
| Gearbox: | 6-speed |
| Clutch: | 9-plate, wet |
| Driveline: | Primary Drive: Chain, 34/46 ratio. Final Drive: Belt, 32/66 ratio |
| Exhaust system: | Chrome, staggered shorty exhaust with dual mufflers |
Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels | |
| Frame type: | Mild steel tubular frame; rectangular section backbone; stamped, cast, and forged junctions; forged fender supports; MIG welded. |
| Rake (fork angle): | 31.0° |
| Trail: | 147 mm (5.8 inches) |
| Front suspension: | 41.3mm telescopic, “beer can” covers |
| Front suspensiontravel: | 130 mm (5.1 inches) |
| Rear suspension: | Hidden, horizontal-mounted, coil-over |
| Rear suspension travel: | 109 mm (4.3 inches) |
| Front tyre dimensions: | MT90-B16 |
| Rear tyre dimensions: | 150/80-B16 |
| Front brakes: | Single disc. 4-piston. Optional ABS. |
| Front brakes diameter: | 292 mm (11.5 inches) |
| Rear brakes: | Single disc. 2-piston. Optional ABS. |
| Rear brakes diameter: | 292 mm (11.5 inches) |
| Wheels: | Chrome, Laced Steel |
Physical measures and capacities | |
| Dry weight: | 331.1 kg (730.0 pounds) |
| Seat height: | 688 mm (27.1 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting. |
| Overall height: | 1,402 mm (55.2 inches) |
| Overall length: | 2,400 mm (94.5 inches) |
| Overall width: | 955 mm (37.6 inches) |
| Ground clearance: | 130 mm (5.1 inches) |
| Wheelbase: | 1,638 mm (64.5 inches) |
| Fuel capacity: | 19.70 litres (5.20 gallons) |
| Oil capacity: | 3.30 litres (0.22 quarts) |
Other specifications | |
| Starter: | Electric |
| Instruments: | Tank-mounted electronic speedometer with odometer, time-of-day clock on odometer, dual tripmeter, fuel gauge with low fuel warning light and countdown feature, low oil pressure indicator light, engine diagnostics readout, LED indicator lights, 6-speed ind |
| Light: | 55-watt low beam, 60-watt high beam |
| Color options: | Vivid Black, Brilliant Silver Pearl, Chrome Yellow, Merlot Sunglo/Vivid Black, Cool Blue Pearl/Vivid Black, Psychedelic Purple/Vivid Black, Apple Green/Vivid Black, Arctic White, Concord Purple, Vivid Black, Fire Engine Red, Dark Peace Officer |
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