Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic Review
Bike Tested: Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic; Road Test No. 947; Test Location: Navi Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 23,64,560/-
The Heritage Classic is a sophisticated, top-of-the-line Softail of the Harley lineup
Last month we rode the entry-level Softail, the Harley-Davidson Street Bob. This time we got the top-of-the-line Softail for a weekend, the Heritage Classic. Needless to say, the experience was epic but there are quite a few differences across the line-up. The Street Bob was rugged and light while the Heritage Classic came loaded with accessories and actually looked like what a typical Harley should be. We had it for the same duration as the Street Bob and actually liked it even more.
Motor Quest: The word Softail refers to motorcycles with their rear suspension hidden inside the body. In 1984, Harley-Davidson got their first Softail in the market and the trend has expanded ever since. The 2018 Heritage Classic is the top-of-the-line Softail by Harley-Davidson with a 107ci engine with stiffer chassis based on the modular platform. Gets company fitted saddlebags and a tall wind visor with auxiliary LED lamps too. Everything over here comes standard.
Proportionate from the front to the rear, the whole bike has justified mass
Styling – The 2018 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic retains its traditional design language but the MY 2018 gets modern design elements like LED headlamps with auxiliary LED lights and a detachable windscreen. The cruiser bike gets saddlebags for packing in those touring essentials but these are lockable and sealable with one touch open function. Underpinning a new lighter and stiffer frame, the Heritage Classic is the top of the line Softail and the maximum amount of bodywork is evident. The motorcycle adopts an all-black and dark theme and hence the spoked wheels, front forks and the frame are finished in black.
Console consists of an analog speedo, everything else is digital
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – One look at the instrument console and you’ll start wondering why should someone spend Rs. 23 lakhs plus for the Heritage Classic. The bike retains the single-pod console placed on the fuel tank from the previous model, though, with newer graphics inside and a slightly larger display. But that’s exactly how Harley owners like it, I guess. The console features an analogue speedometer while the digital display houses an odometer, fuel gauge, twin trip meters, clock, range and a tachometer. The switchgear, in contrast, feels premium. The RHS houses an engine kill switch, hazard light switch and a right indicator switch while the LHS features switches for the high-low beam, horn, left indicator and cruise control.
Typical cruiser esthetics also get a comfortable pillion seat too
Ergonomics – In terms of ergonomics, the 2018 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic is a typical cruiser (read comfortable). The foot pegs are front set and handlebar, high-set. The rider has to reach out to the handlebar and they are placed a little far. Finding a comfortable spot isn’t difficult at all as the seats are comfortable. Both the rider and the pillion seat are well-padded and cushioned. The seat height is very low, at 685 mm. The pillion gets a back rest too and without a doubt, it’s luxury on two wheels.
The 107 stands for 107 cubic-inch which for us in easy terms means 1745cc
Performance – Powering the Heritage Classic is the same Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine that we tested on the Street Bob. This air-cooled V-Twin produces 144 Nm of torque at an early 3000 RPM and revs all the way till 5600 RPM. Harley-Davidson never talks about power but it’s around 77 BHP coming quite late at 5500 RPM. The signature Harley air-cooled engine plays its cards on the torque. There is quite a lot of bodywork but nothing covers the engine, the heat dissipation is good too. The Heritage Classic follows the heritage and hence is belt-driven which means there is a definite loss of power but a very smooth transition.
The low end is punchy and it becomes dramatic in the mid-range pulling so fast till the top-end
Everyone loves the potato-potato rumble, the classic Harley exhaust note
The 6-speed gearbox has crisp shifts but it gets difficult to be clutch-less while going all out. The clutch is slightly on the heavier side too, but that’s fine as it handles the immediate torque coming from the V-Twin. As we tested this engine in the Street Bob, it is commendable how Harley-Davidson engines have come a long way. The engine does not feel like a harsh V-Twin at all. The introduction of dual counterbalancers does the job. There’s considerable amount of vibrations felt at the footpegs and handlebars but you would rather notice the V-Twin rumble from the engine.
The Heritage Classic provides surreal comfort for long distance riding
Riding Dynamics – We rode the Street Bob last time and it took some time to get used to the riding style. Yet the statement stays true, all cruisers are actually different and you won’t understand until you ride one. The Heritage was way easier to get my hands on and the comfortable seat and relatively less tall handlebars were easy to hold onto. Same Showa suspension did the job here but the weight had increased to a massive 330 kgs. However to ride the Heritage it was a breeze, it was so very well put together that you could flick it like a 150 kg bike in moving speeds.
A refined and smooth ride is the base of the Heritage Classic
Windblast is contained by the tall wind visor, buts gets scary and unmanageable at higher speeds
As the Heritage works on the same modular platform, the components are an easy fit. The wind visor for an instance is removable with just 6 screws. This visor does protect you from windblast but it gets slightly weird post 100 km/hr. Either you duck-in or stay completely upright, nowhere in between. The 130 section front tyre grips really well and the 150 section rear feels slightly thinner but makes the ride more fun with some random power slides. Fantastic brakes, just the same ones as we have seen on the Street Bob. The ABS kicks in a few times and yet the feedback is amazing. Low speed riding and the weight is felt, else the Heritage is one fun to ride Softail.
LED headlamp with the auxiliary LEDs are very powerful and bright
Verdict – The Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic comes at a premium. Being the top-of-the-line Softail, the price is justified for the hardware. But paying something over 23 lakhs for a stealth motorcycle feels a little too much. However, the way the new Harleys are being developed, the quality and the feedback from the bike is now so much better. Just like the Street Bob, once you have made your mind to get it around the Heritage Classic itself it sure does outshine the elder line-ups too. This Heritage deserves a personal tag just like the Street Bob – Two fists in the air with a classic touch riding on stealth mode.
It’s a Softail but definitely not a soft one
What’s Cool
* Naked and simple design yet grabs quite some attention
* The power delivery is astonishing and the engine sounds good too
* Pillion comfort is by far the best seen on a cruiser, comfortable and has a plush ride.
What’s Not So Cool
* Due to the windshield design the visor cannot handle much windblast
* Getting used to the lowest ground clearance will take quite some time
* The console is far on the tank, rider has to look down to get a view of the numbers
The Heritage Classic is more stealth than an attention seeker
Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic Specifications
* Engine: 1745cc, Air-Cooled with Oil Cooler, V-Twin, Milwaukee-Eight
* Power: 77 BHP @ 5,500 RPM
* Torque: 144 Nm @ 3,000 RPM
* Transmission: 6-speed
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Frame: Tubular Frame (Modular Platform)
* Suspension: Cartridge Forks (Front), Monoshock (Rear)
* Tyres: 130/90/16 (Front), 150/80/16 (Rear)
* Brakes: 300 mm Disc (Front), 292 mm Disc (Rear)
Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 2410 mm x 955 mm x 1048 mm
* Wheelbase: 1630 mm
* Ground Clearance: 120 mm
* Seat Height: 685 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 19.1-litres
* Kerb weight: 330 kgs
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