2016 Harley-Davidson New S-Series. Softail Slim® S And Fat Boy® S Debut With Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 Engines.

S-SeriesThe rush of acceleration never seems to get old. That instant when the light turns green, the throttle snaps open, and torque slams the back tire is a moment most motorcyclists crave. In 2016 Harley-Davidson gives riders more of that feeling with the launch of its most powerful lineup of cruiser models ever, including the new S Series Fat Boy® S and Softail Slim® S models powered by the fierce Screamin’ Eagle® Twin Cam 110™engine. There’s also more power and new features across the entire Softail® and Dyna® model range in 2016.

“Our engineers will tell you one of the best predictors of motorcycle acceleration is the power-to-weight ratio,” said Paul James, Harley-Davidson Director of Motorcycle Product Planning. “It’s something you can’t see on a dyno sheet, but you will feel it when you twist the throttle. We’ve put more power in our Big Twin cruisers for 2016, without adding weight, in a keep-them-lean and make-them-mean approach to delivering the performance riders are asking for.”

2016 S Series
It’s the classic hot-rod move. Drop in a bigger motor. Make that the biggest motor. The Screamin’ Eagle® performance once reserved for Custom Vehicle Operations™ (CVO) models is now available in regular-production motorcycles for the first time ever. The limited-edition Fat Boy S and Softail Slim S models feature the Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110, an engine tuned to make up to 109 lb.- ft. of torque. Rear tires will be begging for mercy. Both the Fat Boy S and the Softail Slim S feature Harley-Davidson® electronic cruise control, ABS, and H-D® Factory Security System as standard equipment.

1SoftailSlimSoftail Slim S
Classic, lean bobber style, from the clipped rear fender to the Hollywood handlebar, is the calling card of the Softail Slim® model. Now the S Series version ups the performance ante with a gloss-black Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 powertrain featuring the Screamin’ Eagle® Stage 1 high-flow intake and optimized jet-black over/under dual shotgun mufflers. Every speck of chrome has been replaced with gloss black paint. The Softail Slim S is offered in Vivid Black bodywork or the new Olive Gold Denim color with military-inspired tank graphics.

3SoftailSlim4SoftailSlim2SoftailSlim
While the Olive Gold paint and star graphic are reminiscent of the WLA military models Harley-Davidson built during World War II, the Softail Slim S pays homage to the post-war chop-ups made from those bikes after the war,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Director of Styling. “Those garage customs started the bobber era that continues to inspire our styling team today.”

Combination stop/turn/tail lights and a side-mounted license plate keep the minimal rear fender clean. Period styling cues include a gloss black cat’s eye tank console with a retro speedometer face, half-moon rider footboards, a round air cleaner cover, and laced wheels with gloss black rims and hubs. The cover of the solo seat is stitched in a tuck-and-roll pattern.

1fatboysFat Boy S
Harley-Davidson stylists give the iconic Fat Boy® motorcycle a darker attitude in the S Series, designing a menacing look that matches the muscle of its Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 engine, trimmed out for this application with a Screamin’ Eagle® Ventilator intake and optimized jet-black over/under dual shotgun mufflers.

“We kept the highlights on the wheels and the tank badge, but this is still the darkest Fat Boy ever.” said Richards. The Fat Boy S rolls with fat-custom style, an attitude that starts with the bullet-hole aluminum disc wheels and is reinforced by the massive headlamp and nacelle, half-moon rider footboards and a classic five-gallon Fat Bob® fuel tank. Slammed suspension and a low-slung seat put the rider just 24.25 inches off the pavement. Color choices are Vivid Black and Denim Black.

2fatboysHigh Output Twin Cam 103™ Power for Softail and Dyna
Harley-Davidson gives cruiser riders a dose of Project RUSHMORE performance by making the High Output Twin Cam 103™ engine standard in every 2016 Softail model (except the Softail Slim S and Fat Boy S). Tuned to deliver strong acceleration and passing power, the HO 103 engine is equipped with a high-flow airbox and camshaft that optimizes bottom-end torque. The result is an improvement in performance a rider will feel every day.
In 2016 the High Output Twin Cam 103 engine is also standard equipment in all Dyna model motorcycles except the Street Bob® model.

Softail Cruise Control
For the first time ever, the convenience of Harley-Davidson electronic cruise control is standard equipment for select 2016 Softail models and available as a dealer-installed accessory for all other 2016 Softail models. To accommodate the cruise control system, all Softail models are equipped with electronic throttle control. Cruise control will be factory-installed on the Heritage Softail® Classic, Softail® Deluxe, Fat Boy S and Softail Slim S models, and offered through Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories for the Breakout®, Fat Boy®, Fat Boy Lo®, and Softail Slim® models.

Refreshed Heritage Softail Classic
Combining the look of a vintage dresser with smooth, modern Softail performance, the Heritage Softail Classic model combines classic cruiser attitude with modern touring comfort and amenities. In addition to its new High Output Twin Cam 103 powertrain and new electronic cruise control, the Heritage Softail receives refreshed styling for 2016. The leather saddlebags feature new conchos with red starburst inserts that match highlights in the seat skirt and tank badge. The saddlebags also have a new and improved internal support structure to maintain their shape. A new leather fuel tank panel matches the pattern of the backrest.

The Heritage Softail Classic retains its other popular features, including a passenger backrest, a full-coverage removable windshield with quick-release mounts, a deep FL-style front fender and chrome laced wheels with covered hubs. ABS is standard equipment. The 2016 Heritage Softail Classic is available in the following colors: Solid Vivid Black, Superior Blue, Billet Silver and Olive Gold; Two-tone Crushed Ice Pearl/Frosted Teal Pearl and Amber Whiskey/Vivid Black; Custom Color Purple Fire/Blackberry Smoke and Cosmic Blue Pearl.

23 Responses to “2016 Harley-Davidson New S-Series. Softail Slim® S And Fat Boy® S Debut With Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 Engines.”


  1. 1 Zenaldo Aug 24th, 2015 at 1:59 pm

    The SE 110 is the motor that should be standard on all the big twins if HD is planning on any attempt to keep the potential Victory & Indian riders from leaving the fold. At the very least the HP 103 should be the norm. C`mon HD..wake up..

  2. 2 B. D. Aug 24th, 2015 at 2:28 pm

    From the same press release:

    Harley-Davidson’s Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Mark-Hans Richer said… ‘Harley is now the No. 1 seller, in terms of new motorcycle registrations, to young adults, women, African Americans and Latinos — groups that Harley includes in its “outreach” program to target new riders’.

    Sounds like those HOG events may soon enjoy a bit more diversity.

  3. 3 boston jim Aug 24th, 2015 at 2:56 pm

    I never thought, this POS motor would go 18 years, same as the Panhead & Shovelhead, both Great motors, very desirable & in demand. The TC will never be desirable, it was a Bean Counter motor, too many issues from the Beginning in 1999. Now the New Indians are a different story, designed, & engineered Superbly, with an All Gear Design ! The Scout, WOW, 100 HP, out of the Box !

  4. 4 .357 Magnum Aug 24th, 2015 at 4:09 pm

    Zenaldo wrote, “At the very least the HP 103 should be the norm.”

    Uh… yeah… did you even read what you just responded to? This article just told you that the high-output 103 is, indeed, now the norm.

    Love the irony of you telling Harley to wake up when they did it even before you whined about it. 😀

  5. 5 SIGFREED Aug 24th, 2015 at 4:23 pm

    Whats next for the CVO range (now Touring only) – the 120R motor?

  6. 6 Fordaith Aug 24th, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    A variant of the 120ST should be likely for next year in the CVOs. I foresee an expansion of this “S” line, as it seems like the black version of a CVO lineup (albeit a couple of softails right now). Checking the Dyna pages on the HD website, the HP103 is the new standard motor for the smaller bikes. HD probably doesn’t see much sense in the development cost of a new motor platform right now. Maybe if sales take a hit, they do it as reactionary. Aside from a quad-cam design, there really isn’t much room for improvement of a push-rod style motor. After that, you might as well just produce a bigger Revolution and shove it in the entire lineup.

  7. 7 Rodent Aug 24th, 2015 at 4:48 pm

    The V-Rod is a POS, but the Porsche designed power train has more possibilities than keeping on punching out current air-cooled motors. But what do I know!

  8. 8 pinhead Aug 24th, 2015 at 5:16 pm

    At least they are starting to make the HO 103 the norm.
    I like the twin cam but wish they would use a true gear drive for the cams and not just run a chain from the crank with a plastic tensioner just like the Indian TS 111 also uses a chain with a plastic tensioner to drive the cams.

  9. 9 TJ Martin Aug 24th, 2015 at 5:28 pm

    SSDD Oh well . They’re still kicking everyone else’s rear end with the same ole same ole … so why fix what aint broken ?

  10. 10 Blackmax Aug 24th, 2015 at 5:29 pm

    I’ve never liked the twin cams in any of their various incarnations because of the cams/chain tensioners
    One of the most published modifications out there is is showing how to upgrade cams
    Oh, & while you’re in there, do this with the chain tensioners.
    I’m with Pinhead…
    1. Change it to a true gear drive
    2. Upgrade every heavy bike engine from Softail on up to the 110
    (Leave the Dyna’s & the Sportsters alone)
    3. Put the 120 we keep hearing about in the CVO’s
    You might be able to stop the bleeding of the faithful over to Indian & (somewhat) to Victory ….
    (Until they come out with their higher output liquid cooled engine)
    Competition, I LOVE it !!!!

  11. 11 Zyon Aug 24th, 2015 at 7:18 pm

    The TC will never be desirable? Isn’t that what people said about the Evo? I recall it having many issues with the early years yet you can find them on choppers left and right today. When the EPA force feeds us the first fully liquid cooled HD motor and the Evo motors get scarce and high priced you’ll eventually see the chopper guys scooping up the TC motors.

    As for HD loosing market share to Indian… It might be happening in the trailer queen market but out on the road it’s clear that Indian and victory are way behind HD. At least this is the case in PA where I live.

  12. 12 Sheridan Aug 24th, 2015 at 11:44 pm

    Have to admit that Softail Slim S in the military paint scheme does look pretty good for a stock bike

  13. 13 Heavy Metal Aug 25th, 2015 at 12:37 am

    Rear fender on the slim looks like a moto x bike.

  14. 14 BobS Aug 25th, 2015 at 6:05 am

    “…might as well just produce a bigger Revolution and shove it in the entire lineup.” THAT just might get me back on a Harley!

  15. 15 tony davidson Aug 25th, 2015 at 7:06 am

    WHAT NEXT ? 2017 FAT BOY PEDAL BIKE

  16. 16 mr dick Aug 25th, 2015 at 7:13 am

    Couldn’t just give all Softails cruise, right from the factory,eh?

  17. 17 Fla Nativ Aug 25th, 2015 at 9:04 am

    I agree with Rodent, have always wondered why HD never did any more with the V-Rod motor at least as far as the touring bikes go.

  18. 18 SIGFREED Aug 25th, 2015 at 2:45 pm

    Fla Nativ,

    If Polaris had half a braincell it would have bought Motus.

    A V-4 in a Polaris Roadmaster – now that would get me to Indian (wink, wink, BobS). Even if Victory returned the Vision with a V-4 it would have me.

    The Motus V-4 is essentially half a Corvette engine and as an L-Twin (90deg V-Twin) it must be beautifully balanced.

  19. 19 BobS Aug 25th, 2015 at 8:13 pm

    Great minds think alike Sigfreed. But they don’t need to buy Motus. They already own Swiss Auto whom they tapped for the Scout motor and the Project 156 motor which is reported to spawn a new Vic “to be released sometime in 2016. They also have already developed a Carb certified V-4 called the Weber V-4. 200+ hp from a V-4 that’s only 17” wide mounted lengthwise. Put that in a Vision and my dealer will have a deposit before the ink dries on the press release!

  20. 20 J Aug 25th, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    The army bike is kinda cool, the rest of it- zzzzzzz…….

  21. 21 SIGFREED Aug 26th, 2015 at 2:13 pm

    BobS,

    Without going into a long debate here – I know Swissauto (a friend of mine worked there at a time); but I had not idea they were planning to put that V4 in a motorcycle – is it mere speculation or are they in fact intent on doing it?

    The Weber V4 is a piece of engineering brilliance – I am sure they can fit it to an airplane and it will be great (if nothing else – great sounding).

    PS – I am not sure if Polaris ‘owns’ Swissauto, as a whole, or if they only acquired a portion of it – anyway if what you are saying will materialize, then WOW, there is a need for a uber-tourer; if you take note of the number of people who almost immediately upgrade their motor on (eg) a HD touring bike (to the max motor size they can squeeze into the frame etc) – then it speaks for itself.

  22. 22 BobS Aug 26th, 2015 at 5:29 pm

    I have no knowledge if they will or will not put the Weber V-4 in a new touring bike, but boy do I want them to. I was merely speaking to the speculation of them buying Motus. They already own what they would have to gain. My understanding is that Polaris purchased Swiss Auto a few years ago, 2010 or 11 time frame. They were investors prior to that and SA supplies a parallel twin, half the Weber V-4, for one of Polaris’ off road vehicles.

  23. 23 NoH2oh Aug 26th, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    Maybe Motus is not for sale?? It is not like it is owned by a couple of guys that are passionate about motorcycles and have poured their heart and soul into a bike that many said would never see the light of day or anything……..

Comments are currently closed.
Cyril Huze