Harley-Davidson has listed its latest Softail model, the Low Rider S, on its Indian website, priced at Rs 14.69 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). However, this is the price for it in the Vivid Black colour scheme. While the website does showcase the bike in the second colour option – Barracuda Silver – there’s no price for it, as yet. For reference, the silver colour scheme costs an additional USD 400 (around Rs 30,000) over the black model.
The Low Rider S differentiates itself from the standard Low Rider by taking its inspiration from the West Coast custom scene. As it is an S variant, or a Special, it has a blacked-out theme replacing much of the chrome. However, there are few areas where chrome is still used, like on the exhaust tips and engine fins. The bike also comes with a single seat as standard and uses a wide handlebar, giving it the custom style.
Harley has said that the bike has more in common, mechanically, with the Fat Bob than it does with the standard Low Rider. It uses a sharper 28-degree steering rake, a 43mm USD fork, and a twin-disc front-brake setup like the Fat Bob. Another big difference comes in form of its engine; the S uses a larger 1,868cc, 114 Milwaukee Eight V-twin which makes 161Nm of torque at just 3,000rpm.
The wheel-and-tyre combination on the Low Rider S is quite unique. It uses a 19-inch wheel up front with a 110/90 section tyre, while at the rear is a 16-inch unit with a 180/70 tyre. At 308kg (kerb weight), the Low Rider S is quite heavy, but as our first ride review revealed, it doesn’t mind a bit of play.
The closest rival to the Low Rider S in India is the Indian Scout Bobber Sixty. However, this hasn’t yet made the switch to BS6 emission norms.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
