Harley-Davidson tease two new Softails

New performance-focused Harley-Davidson FXDR coming and it's got clip-ons!

As if loads of new middleweights and electric bikes wasn’t enough, Harley-Davidson have teased two new models in their ‘More Roads to Harley-Davidson’ video. Just over halfway through, Harley gives us a fleeting glance of a new bike being thrashed around the track.

Details are scarce but the label on the dash says this new model will be an FXDR, suggesting it will be a new Softail. It appears to have large diameter USD forks, as seen on the Fat Bob but without the fat front wheel.

It’s also got the small LED dash from the Breakout and, heaven forbid on a Harley, a set of clip-on handlebars – a first since the XLCR Café Racer in 1977.

In a second clip, we can also see a second bike, which may well carry the ‘Bronx’ name that Harley trademarked earlier in the year. For a start this new bike has a huge full-colour TFT dash, similar in size to the one fitted to the tourers.

Bluetooth connectivity

You can see the indicator lights in it but whether it carries the navigation kit from the tourers is unknown.

We assume it will have Bluetooth connectivity to pair with mobile phones. Eagle eyed readers may also have spotted in the same shot that the forks are adjustable Showa Big Pistons. It’s possible this is a new Softail model, perhaps to rival performance cruisers like the Diavel, however there’s no clutch lever/cable visible (although the brake cable isn’t visible either) or exhausts on the other bikes, so it could be the LiveWire. There is a Start/Stop and Starter button though, so it’s anyone’s guess…

Seeing these new performance focused bikes, as well as Harley’s promise that the new middleweights will come with a proper electronics package, leaves us wondering if an update to the Tourers is coming. The big twins already have ABS and ride by wire throttle, so it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to add traction control or rider modes.

It could be a good way in for Harley too with new tech on an existing platform, rather than a brand new one. Harley traditionally unveil new products in August but with all this shouting now, we might not see anything official until EICMA in November.

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