Harley Davidson FXS Softail Blackline

The Blackline is a Harley-Davidson Softail pared to the bone with visual elements of the original bobber movement combined with a raw style embraced by today's young bike builders. The rear fender is bobbed high-and-tight over a slim, 144 mm tire that emphasizes an authentic hardtail profile. The rider hugs the frame on the lowest two-up seat offered by Harley-Davidson, while reaching high for the new Split Drag handlebar. The rigid powertrain allows tight packaging of the engine and frame to create a solid connection between the rider and the power that moves the Blackline.

Lean as wire, hard as iron and dark as a tar road at midnight, the new Blackline motorcycle is a Harley-Davidson Softail model pared to the bone. A rebellious creation of the Dark Custom movement, the Blackline celebrates three fundamental elements of motorcycling: mechanical beauty, internal combustion, and the long black line of the road ahead.

The Blackline balances allegiance with rebellion, discarding previous conventions of color and chrome for a Dark Custom look that’s honest, functional and attainable. Visual elements of the original bobber movement are combined with the raw, hand-hewn style embraced by today’s young builders. The Blackline throws new fuel on a fire that burns across generations, an unquenchable desire to ride.

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Lean and Tight

The rear fender is bobbed high-and-tight over a slim, 144mm tire that emphasizes an authentic hardtail profile. The compact headlight and speedometer are tucked low into the wide, FX front end, and there’s just enough shine to make the black parts look blacker. Black-rimmed laced wheels complete a look that’s tough, tempered and undeniably Harley-Davidson.

The styling spotlight shines on a Big Twin engine dressed in black and silver, and on a fuel tank shaved smooth and low. Aboard the Blackline, the rider hugs the frame on the lowest two-up seat ever offered by Harley-Davidson, and reaches high for new Split Drag™ handlebars that bolt right to the top triple-clamp.

The Softail chassis utilizes rear suspension control provided by coil-over shock absorbers mounted horizontally along the frame rails below the powertrain, where they are out of sight. So while the swingarm section replicates the lines of a vintage hardtail frame, the Blackline delivers suspension performance and handling that are thoroughly modern. The internally counter-balanced Twin Cam 96B™ engine is rigid-mounted within the frame, creating a solid connection between rider and the power that moves the motorcycle to enhance the emotional experience of riding.

NEW Powertrain styling with gloss black powdercoat finish on the rocker box covers, crankcase, outer primary cover, and transmission side cover. The cylinders are silver powdercoat with machined highlights. The derby cover and timing covers are chromed.
NEW Round air cleaner cover in brilliant chrome
NEW Black Denim powdercoat frame and swingarm.
NEW Profile Laced aluminum wheels with black anodized rims
NEW Wide FX front end with black powdercoat triple clamps and black painted fork lowers.
NEW Split Drag™ internally-wired handlebar mounts directly to the top triple clamp
NEW Asymmetric five-gallon Softail® fuel tank is clean on the left side, with low-profile fuel fill on the
right. Die cast “Blackline” trim panelflowing down the center of the tank covers the fuel pump hardware.
NEW Analog speedometer on a triple-clamp mount that also holds indicator lights. LCD screen on the speedometer includes low-fuel warning and “miles to empty” display function.
NEW Bobbed rear fender with combination stop/turn/tail lights in black housings, and a new composite license plate holder and light module that mounts on the lower edge of the fender.
NEW Raw forged rear fender supports are finished in Black Denim powdercoat
NEW One-piece, two-up seat and passenger pillion. Laden rider seat height is 24 inches, the lowest two-up seat offered by Harley-Davidson.
NEW 5.75-inch diameter headlamp in gloss black shell

• Polished forward foot controls.
• Over/under chrome shotgun exhaust

The Blackline™ is a Harley-Davidson® Softail® pared to the bone. Visual elements of the original
bobber movement are combined with the raw, hand-hewn style embraced by today’s young builders.

The rear fender is bobbed high-andtight over a slim, 144 mm tire that emphasizes an authentic hardtail profile. The compact headlight and speedometer are tucked low into the wide, FX front end. The rider hugs the frame on the lowest two-up seat offered by Harley- Davidson, and reaches high for new Split Drag™ handlebar that bolts right to the top triple-clamp.

The Softail rear suspension mimics the clean lines of a vintage hardtail frame but offers the comfort of a modern suspension that is hidden under the chassis. The rigid powertrain allows tight packaging of the engine and frame and creates a solid connection between the rider and the power that moves the motorcycle.

• Rigid-mounted, counter-balanced Twin Cam 96B™ V-Twin engine with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
• 6-speed Cruise Drive® transmission
• Horseshoe oil tank
• Optional Harley-Davidson® Smart Security System with hands-free security fob

Performance
Engine Torque6 (per SAE J1349):
• North America 89 ft. lbs. @ 3250 RPM (121 Nm @ 3250 RPM)
Lean Angle (per SAE J1168):
• Right 24.4°
• Left 25.9°

Fuel Economy7 (EPA urban/highway test)
35/54 mpg (6.72/4.36 L/100 km)

Electric
Battery (per Battery Council International Rating)
Sealed, maintenance-free, 12V, 19-amphour, 270 cca
Charging Three-phase, 38-amp system (439W @ 13V, 2000 RPM, 489W max power @ 13V)
Starting 1.2 kW electric with solenoid shift starter motor engagement
Lights (as per country regulation):
• Headlamp (quartz halogen) 55-watt low beam, 60-watt high beam
• Turn Signal Lights 28W (21W) self-canceling
• Rear Tail/Stop/Turn 8W/28W (5W/21W) self-canceling
Signal Lights
• Indicator Lamps - High beam, neutral, low oil pressure, turn signals, engine diagnostics, security system8 (optional), 6-speed, low fuel warnings

Color Options
Solids
• Vivid Black
Two-Tones
• Cool Blue Pearl/Vivid Black
• Sedona Orange/Vivid Black

Review

Harley Davidson Blackline

Added on Wednesday 27th July 2011 at 10:59
Harley Davidson Blackline

If you like to suffer for your style, you could do worse than consider Harley-Davidson’s new 2011 Blackline.

If you like to suffer for your style, you could do worse than consider Harley-Davidson’s new 2011 Blackline.

A new Harley often doesn’t mean quite the same thing as a new model from other manufacturers. As with the Blackline, the engine and transmission are untouched and the same as many other models, while the chassis is one of only three basic types spread among more than 20 models.

This means you get the seminal 1580cc, 45-degree V-twin which is one of the most recognised internal combustion engines in the world. It’s a characterful, lazy engine that suits the laid back cruiser riding style perfectly, thumping out torque from very low revs, vibrating just enough to communicate what it’s up to without crossing the line and annoying you and sounding muscular and rich. The six-speed gearbox includes a very tall overdrive top which has the engine almost idling as you bowl down a motorway at 70mph, and though you need to change down a gear or two to pep up the performance, when you do the motor responds crisply and dependably. It’s quite economical too, capable of 45mpg without trying too hard to be gentle.

The rest of the bike is based on the Harley Softail chassis, designed to look like a 1940s machine with no rear suspension by hiding the shock absorbers beneath the engine and operating them by hidden levers. There are several other Softail models and they generally feel much the same, with a harsh ride, not especially well damped and with short travel suspension that’s easily defeated by the increasing number of big British potholes.

The new model designation comes instead from the styling, inspired by the pared down look of old sporting Harleys and finished with gloss black where much of the chrome and aluminium would normally be. This means black wheel rims, engine cases and various smaller parts such as the valve covers, resulting in something of a vintage air to the bike.

As always, some detailing disappoints though, such as the clumsy afterthought footrests and the industrial brackets and fixings, but overall this is a good looking machine with considerable street presence.

So what’s to suffer? Sit on it and see. The seat is extremely low, only around 27 inches from the ground, so in turn your feet have to be pushed well forward. And they are, so much so you feel like they’re almost level with the front wheel. Very oddly, the handlebars are also a long stretch forward, resulting in the sensation that you’re being folded in half to fit onto the bike.

It would be good to report that this is surprisingly comfortable, but there’s no surprise at all, it really is not a good place to be for a long time. The thumping ride quality hits hard at your kidneys through the seat while arms, legs and back start to ache after a short time. It’s not even especially easy to control the bike at low speeds, so odd are the ergonomics, all of which is quite a shame as the 190 mile tank range and relaxed nature of the motor mean this ought to be a good bike to go places on.

Instead if you really must have a Blackline, best to aim for nothing more demanding than urban posing and short Sunday runs. If you must have a Harley – and why not, there are some fine ones – then consider something like the equally good looking Superglide Custom, which is not only £1,800 cheaper, it has the much smoother riding Glide chassis and a more reasonable seat and riding position.

In fact this highlights the second Blackline problem: it’s rather pricey for what it is when you compare it with other Harley-Davidsons. They’re much more affordable in comparison with the Japanese, who have been so hard hit by the huge rises in the yen in the last few years, but with better equipped alternative Harleys on sale for much less, the temptation in a Harley showroom must surely be to walk a little further along the sales floor.