BENEATH THE PURE, AUTHENTIC, ABSOLUTE STYLE OF OUR SOFTAIL LINE LIES ONE OF THE MOST GRATIFYING RIDES IN MOTORCYCLING.

To some, it's ironic. The Softail family of motorcycles is the one most deeply steeped in our genealogy. Yet today' s riders want to get their hands on a Softail for an entirely different reason. To experience the latest and greatest engineering advances from Harley-Davidson.

To those who already know us, that's not ironic at all. When the time comes to move motorcycling ahead, being faithful to our heritage has always been the way to do it. Our philosophy is this: build the most satisfying motorcycle modern technology can create, while never straying from the things that make it a Harley. The Softail is a prime example. It faithfully recreates the bold, uncluttered look of the hardtail designs that last rolled off our assembly line decades ago. Ride one, and you discover there's much more at work here than good looks alone.

The twin cam 88b engine powering the Softail family was new last year. Its strength and performance have been endorsed world-wide by the motorcycle press. Yet the engine shares the famous v-twin profile of its ancestors. It's still air-cooled. And like the legendary big twin engines of the past, the new engine is bolted directly to the frame. That's a big part of what gives every motorcycle in our Softail family its unique look and feel.

What makes this solid-mount arrangement so satisfying is a twin counter-balancing system hidden within the engine's internals. It effectively cancels out vibrations, without losing the powerful pulse of a Harley-Davidson big twin. The result is one smooth-running motorcycle.

True to tradition, the refinements continue this year. Electronic fuel injection (EFI) is now available as an option on selected Softail models*. Once again, the system is unique to the Softail. It delivers benefits like smooth starts and efficient engine management, while making sure the pure exhaust note of a big twin lives on. You've got to smile when electronics can do that.

The smile just gets bigger the further you ride. We gave the frame a major redesign last year, resulting in 34% more stiffness. That translates into a very good feeling when you throw the bike into turns. Moving back along the powertrain we updated the transmission last year to make the shifting process smoother. Putting the power to the ground in a way no chain or shaft can match is a Kevlar belt drive. And under it all is the hidden Softail suspension, with two gas-charged shocks to smooth the way.

You wouldn't want a ride like this to go anywhere without you. So new this year is a state-of-the-art factory-installed security system, available as standard **. Leading technology. Original style. Genuine Harley-Davidson.

* Fat Boy, Heritage Classic and Deuce
** Not available is all markets. Please refer to the just harleys sales team.