Softail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term softail refers to motorcycles and bicycles that feature a moveable rear suspension system with springs or shock absorbers to absorb bumps but, give the appearance of a hard-tail or rigid frame. The shock absorbers or springs are hidden underneath out of view.
In Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the softail frame is designed to look like the hardtail bikes of the past, while still offering the comfort of rear suspension. The shock absorbers are positioned along the axis of the motorcycle, tucked away under the transmission.
There are several Harley-Davidson motorcycles with the Softail frame, including the Softail Custom, Springer Softail, Heritage Softail, Heritage Springer, Night Train, Deuce, and Fatboy. These motorcycles have the same engine, transmission and frame with the exception of the deuce which has a 2" backbone stretch, but differ in the choice of fork, wheels and accessories. The Softail models do not have rubber-mounted engines.
