Ups
- Powerful Milwaukee-Eight engine
- Vast catalog of accessory parts readily available
- Low seat, easy handling<br/>
Downs
- Cramped ergonomics for taller riders
- Limited range
- ABS not standard<br/>
Verdict
A good looking, but bare-bones cruiser with plenty of power that’s best served for short trips of under 100 miles.
Overview
Harley has eight cruisers in its 2021 lineup including the Softail Standard, which occupies the bottom rung of the series, with the fewest amenities and the lowest price at $13,599. It sits below its otherwise nearly identical counterpart in the Softail series, the Street Bob, at least in terms of displacement; the Standard comes with the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, while the Bob ups the ante with an M-8 114. That makes it best suited for quick hops around town, where performance or wind protection aren’t at the top of the priority list, while its bare-bones architecture makes it ripe for any number of customization possibilities.
Updates for 2021
This model has seen no changes for 2021.
Pricing and Variants
One of the Standard’s high points is the low price point of $13,599.
Competition
In the current cruiser landscape, the closest competitor to the Standard’s ergonomic and powertrain arrangement is probably Indian’s new Chief Bobber, which has a slightly bigger 1,818cc engine and is priced about $2K more.
Powertrain: Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Standard is powered by the air/oil-cooled eight-valve Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, which all the current Softails carry (in either 107 or 114 variation). During our testing, we recorded power figures on the FXST as 72.74 hp at 4,980 rpm and peak torque of 99.37 pound-feet at 2,500 rpm in stock form.
During our several months with the bike, we found an engine that “is noticeably quicker on acceleration than the previous Twin Cam setup, and…there’s power everywhere, and a fairly well-dialed throttle response means you’re never far from even more torque.” We also felt “the Standard has plenty of punch to jump ahead of traffic, but is chill enough to burble along at low revs once the madness dies down.” Gearing is fairly tall, however.
Of course there are plenty of aftermarket add-ons available from H-D or Screamin’ Eagle if you’re really looking to unleash more power.
Handling
Our thousand-plus miles of testing revealed that “steering is overall lighter than on most of its series brethren, and the bike just feels (relatively) nimble.” We also felt the “Standard hits a sweet spot of stability and power in high-speed sweepers, with the bike feeling supremely planted.”
Brakes
With single-disc front and rear brakes, we found “overall stopping power to be about average. At slower speeds the front 300mm disc and four-piston combo deliver a solid initial bite if you mash the lever firmly enough, though feel could be more progressive. An antilock braking system is optional.”
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
In a variety of slow- and high-speed riding scenarios, we averaged 43.4 mpg.
Ergonomics: Comfort and Utility
The Softail Standard’s riding position can be best described as somewhat cramped. In our testing, With a low 26.8-inch seat and a mid-mount control layout (or more accurately, forward-biased mids) it makes for a somewhat acute hip-knee-foot triangle, which will fit riders shorter than 5 feet, 9 inches best.
Electronics
The Softail Standard FXST comes equipped with an electronic LCD gauge to handle basic bike info, and a Security system is standard; ABS is a $795 option.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Twenty-four months, unlimited mileage.
Quality
Fit and finish, even on this bare-bones bike, is what you’d expect from most Harleys. Impressive attention to detail for the most part, but also areas of nothingness, or what you might want to call “the industrial look.”
2021 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard Claimed Specifications
| MSRP: | $13,599 |
| Engine: | 1,746cc, air-cooled, overhead-valve V-twin; 4 valves/cyl. |
| Bore x Stroke: | 100.0 x 111.1mm |
| Transmission/Final Drive: | 6-speed/belt |
| Fuel Delivery: | Electronic Sequential Port Fuel injection (ESPFI) |
| Clutch: | Wet, multiple disc, assist and conventional; cable operation |
| Frame: | Tubular steel |
| Front Suspension: | 49mm Dual Bending Valve telescopic fork; 5.1 in. travel |
| Rear Suspension: | Hidden coilover monoshock, preload adjustable; 3.4 in. travel |
| Front Brake: | 4-piston fixed caliper, 300mm disc |
| Rear Brake: | 2-piston floating caliper, 292mm disc |
| Wheels, Front/Rear: | Chrome, steel laced wheels; 2.50 x 19 in. / 3.00 x 16 in. |
| Tires, Front/Rear: | 00/90-19 / 150/80-16 |
| Rake/Trail: | 30.0°/6.2 in. |
| Wheelbase: | 64.2 in. |
| Ground Clearance: | 4.9 in. |
| Seat Height: | 26.8 in. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 3.5 gal. |
| Wet Weight: | 655 lb. |
| Contact: | harley-davidson.com |
Cycle World Tested Specifications
| Seat Height: | 26.8 in. |
| Wet Weight: | 650 lb. |
| Rear-Wheel Horsepower: | 72.74 hp @ 4,980 rpm |
| Rear-Wheel Torque: | 99.37 lb.-ft. @ 2,500 rpm |
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com