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Harley-Davidson Softail(classic) cruisers have entered the 2025 year model, accompanied by a substantial high-tech feature package. Yes, you read it correctly – for the first time even the old-school Harley cruisers are offered with modern ride modes and lean-sensitive ABS. This is the boldest mix of the old with the new, with the only goal of increasing the riders’ confidence and control while staying original Harley; of course. If you are just an irregular motorcycle lover who likes the Harley atmosphere but at the same time values the cutting-edge tech, the 2025 Softail series is likely to be the right option for you.
Modern Tech Meets Classic Cruisers
Throughout the years, Harley-Davidson Softail models have been loved for their retro design and no-frills, mechanical riding experience. However, we all know that change is constant, and Harley-Davidson has accepted the winds of change. The 2025 Softail series, including fan favorites such as the Low Rider S, Low Rider ST, Fat Boy, Breakout, Street Bob, and Heritage Classic, are now not only designed with the latest fashionable look but are also equipped with cutting-edge electronic devices only found on more expensive touring bikes before. Don’t worry, they still have that classic cruiser aesthetic that we adore – full of chrome; however, under the surface, they have become smarter and safer than ever before.
One of the newsworthy additions is a six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that has been installed in each Softail. This compact device is able to give you real-time stats about the lean angles and the acceleration of the motorcycle, which makes cornering ABS and cornering traction control possible. In simpler terms, the bike is smart enough to realize when you are leaning into a turn, hence it adjusts the brake and the power delivered to keep everything in check. This is a big move for a Harley cruiser segment, which has not been typically associated with bike electronic rider aids.
Selectable Ride Modes Arrive on Softails
Perhaps the most jaw-dropping news for the Harley faithful is the arrival of selectable ride modes. Yes, ride modes on a Softail! All 2025 Harley-Davidson Softail models now let you choose between Rain, Road, and Sport modes at the push of a button. Each mode changes the bike’s personality by tweaking the power delivery, throttle response, engine braking, and traction control intervention.
Road Mode: The default setting for everyday riding. It offers a balanced throttle response and full power but with a safety net – ideal for cruising around town or down the highway with predictable, smooth behavior.
Rain Mode: This mode should be your friend in slippery or rainy conditions. By cutting down on the power output and throttle response, it makes the bike softer. At the same time, ABS and traction control get stricter and more effective. The result? The bike will be more stable as a front tire won’t spin or skid.
Sport Mode: This is where the exciting stuff lies. The Sport mode makes the engine’s power and torque full, resulting in a sharper throttle response. It even allows more rear-wheel slip and wheelie freedom (within safe limits) by dialing back the traction control. Each version of the Sport mode is even adapted to each bike’s specific engine, So a Low Rider S in Sport feels super energetic, while a Heritage Classic keeps its laid-back character to some extent, but delivers more punch.
Shifting these modes is a breeze, and the newly redesigned hand controls on the handlebars make it easier. A right-hand button labeled “Mode” gives you the chance to switch through settings even while riding, thus you could go from a slow cruise to a fast canyon run without stopping. It’s truly a useful feature which connects the Harley-Davidson Softail with contemporary requirements without compromising the simplicity of just having fun riding.
Lean-Sensitive Safety and Convenience
Beyond the ride modes, the 2025 Harley-Davidson Softail also feature a full suite of lean-sensitive safety tech. The Cornering ABS (C-ABS) and Cornering Traction Control (C-TCS) systems use that IMU to adjust to the bike’s lean angle. Imagine you’re halfway through a sweeping turn and need to brake – on earlier bikes that could be a recipe for a skid. But with cornering ABS, the Softail will modulate brake pressure to help prevent the wheels from locking up mid-lean, dramatically reducing the chance of lowsiding.
Similarly, the cornering traction control will sense if the rear wheel is starting to slip during acceleration out of a curve and smoothly roll off power to maintain grip. These aren’t features you notice when they’re working, and that’s the point – they act as an invisible safety net, giving you more confidence, especially if you hit an unexpected sandy patch or wet spot in a corner.
Other tech upgrades include Drag-Torque Slip Control, which is essentially engine-braking management. It prevents the rear wheel from hopping or skidding during aggressive downshifts by momentarily boosting engine revs – very handy if you drop a gear suddenly while coming into a turn. There’s also a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) now standard on the Softail lineup, so you can keep an eye on your tire pressures through the bike’s display without carrying a gauge.
Speaking of displays, all Harley-Davidson Softail get a modernized instrument setup. The Low Rider models have a sleek digital display integrated with an analog-style speedometer on the handlebar, while the Heritage Classic and Fat Boy retain their tank-mounted gauges with a classy look – but even those hide new tech, featuring an LCD screen that can show ride mode info, tire pressures, fuel range, and more. It’s a nice blend of retro appearance with contemporary function.
Improved Suspension and Riding Experience
Harley-Davidson didn’t stop at electronics; they also gave the Softail line some mechanical love for 2025. The suspension has been retuned across the board. The engineers swapped out the previous dual-bending valve fork springs for single-rate springs in the front fork and similarly updated the rear monoshock. The goal was to improve the balance between front and rear suspension and to iron out some of the harshness riders reported on rough roads. The result is a more compliant ride – bumps and potholes are absorbed more smoothly – and the bike feels more planted and predictable when cornering.
You shouldn’t expect an adventure bike plushness or a significantly bigger suspension travel; Harley stayed with a similar travel as in the past (keeping the low look and stance). But the modifications do mean that when you brake the front end does not dive as much and is more linear and controlled, making it feel better, and mid-corner bumps will not hopefully panic the chassis. So in brief, the Softails still feel like cruisers, just a little bit tighter and more refined.
Harley also paid attention to rider controls. New adjustable brake and clutch levers are now standard, allowing riders to dial in a lever reach that suits their hand size – a welcome ergonomic improvement. And in a small but thoughtful touch, they added a “flash to pass” high-beam trigger near the left index finger, making it easy to give a quick headlight flash when needed (whether to alert a car or greet a fellow rider).
Milwaukee-Eight Muscle Across the Lineup
Tech aside, let’s not forget the heart of these machines: the engines. For 2025, every Harley-Davidson Softail model is powered by some form of the mighty Milwaukee-Eight 117 cubic inch V-twin – that’s 1,917cc of rumbling American iron. This is a notable bump because previously some Softails ran smaller 114 or 107 engines. Now, you get the top-tier 117 in all of them, though Harley has tuned it in three slightly different ways:
117 “Classic” in the Heritage Classic and Street Bob: This version focuses on a broad, flat torque curve for relaxed cruising. It pumps out around 98 horsepower and 120 lb-ft of torque (claimed) with an old-school round air cleaner look. It’s paired with a 2-into-1 exhaust on those models.
117 “Custom” in the Fat Boy and Breakout: Here, Harley opened up the intake and exhaust for a bit more breathing. You get roughly 104 hp and 126 lb-ft of torque. These bikes also sport a more modern intake and a 2×2 exhaust with separate pipes, emphasizing style and a deeper roar.
117 “High Output” (H.O.) in the Low Rider S and ST: This is the hot-rod setup. Borrowing camshaft tech from the company’s performance CVO models, the 117 H.O. cranks out about 114 hp and 128 lb-ft. It revs a little higher (redline up to 5,900 RPM vs about 5,500 on the others) and feels more urgent, especially in the mid-to-high revs. The Low Riders also get a “Heavy Breather” intake sticking out the side and a 2-into-1 performance exhaust.
No matter which flavor of 117 engine you get, there’s an undeniable thrill in twisting the throttle. The character remains pure Harley – loads of low-end grunt that makes the bike surge forward with just a crack of the gas, and a satisfying big-twin growl accompanying every pulse. Now, with the added traction control, you can actually harness that power more confidently. For instance, in Rain mode, the 117 will feel tamed and won’t overpower the rear tire even if you’re a bit too enthusiastic. In Sport, you’ll experience the full wail of that engine pulling you out of corners, but the electronics still give a safety net if traction gets dicey.
High-Tech Cruising into 2025
A “high-tech Softail” might have sounded like a contradiction in terms a few years ago, but Harley Davidson has convinced us that it can be done. What is more exciting is that they have done it without losing the essence of these bikes. Step onto the 2025 Harley-Davidson Softail and the first thing to strike you will be the old-feel weight, the characteristic potato-potato rumble of the V-twin, and that Harley silhouette lying in the glass reflection of the shop. Now you have the ride-by-wire electronics which adjust your ride and packed the safety features with the answer at a moment’s notice.
Long-time Harley riders might be skeptical of change, but one test ride usually wins them over. The ride modes and lean-sensitive ABS don’t detract from the experience – if anything, they allow you to ride your Softail with more peace of mind. You can push a bit harder on a twisty road knowing the bike’s got your back. Or you can tour with more confidence in mixed weather. And for newer riders or those coming from other brands, these updates make the Harley-Davidson Softail lineup a much more approachable and contemporary option.
To sum up, the Harley-Davidson Softails have become more versatile and user-friendly than ever thanks to the 2025 upgrades. Harley-Davidson has been successful to add in a bit of new technology whilst sustaining their foundational idea. What have you got? A Softail that can roar down to the local diner in the morning, sweep the mountain roads in the afternoon, and keep you safe if the rain comes on the way back. It’s the same spirit of freedom and rebellion that the bikes have brought for ages, now with a high-tech invisible friend, they can accompany along the way. Who says you can not have both worlds? Ride on, and enjoy the new age of Harley cruising.
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