page_title: Softail
section_title: Harley-Davidson Softail
hierarchical_section_title: Softail / Harley-Davidson Softail
caption_attribution_description: English: 2008 Harley Davidson FXSTC Softail Custom by Chad Muse
context_page_description: A softail is a motorcycle with its rear suspension springs or shock absorbers located out of direct view, so as to look like a hard-tail motorcycle.
  The word softail is a registered trademark of Harley-Davidson, coined for the FXST Softail in 1984. Softail has become a genericized trademark, referring to other brands of motorcycles with hidden rear suspensions, and extended to bicycles as well.
context_section_description: The Harley-Davidson softail frame is designed to look like the rigid frame bikes of the past, while still having the comfort of rear suspension. The shock absorbers are positioned along the axis of the motorcycle, tucked under the transmission on models from 1984 to 2017 and under the seat on 2018 models.
  There have been many Harley-Davidson models with the Softail frame, including the Softail Standard, Custom, Springer Softail, Heritage Softail, Heritage Springer, Night Train, Deluxe, Deuce, Fat Boy, Softail Slim, the Dark Custom Cross Bones, the Dark Custom Blackline and Breakout. With the exception of the Deuce, which has a 2 in (51 mm) longer backbone, these motorcycles have the same engines, transmissions, and frames, differing mainly in the fork, wheels, and accessories.
caption: 2008 Harley Davidson FXSTC Softail Custom
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