The Very Appealing 2018 Softail Street Bob

Your first reactions show me that it may be for most of you the most attractive model of the 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail lineup. Harley describes the brand new Street Bob as a “bare-bones bike with a go-anywhere DNA, a fists-in-the-wind attitude and nothing extra to weigh it down.” It has the lowest MSRP in the Softail lineup, starting at $14,999 in vivid black, $15,249 for two-tone.(ABS option is $795 but Security System is standard)


It features a low profile with a total of 17-pound weight reduction versus previous model, a smooth-top 3.5-gallon fuel tank, black spoke wheels with chopped fenders, a low-profile, mid-mount controls, street riser-mounted digital instrument screen, an under seat spanner wrench for easy adjustable rear shock pre-load settings, and all the new technology featured on all other 2018 Softail models, Keyless ignition and security system. The Street Bob is powered by the Milwaukee-Eight® 107 V-Twin engine.

29 Responses to “The Very Appealing 2018 Softail Street Bob”


  1. 1 Fzzzz Oct 27th, 2017 at 8:44 am

    Not only a good looking bike but also handles like a dream and at a decent price.

  2. 2 chopmonster66 Oct 27th, 2017 at 9:02 am

    looks like all the rest , same ol same ol

  3. 3 Joe Oct 27th, 2017 at 9:45 am

    What don’t you like about the look? It looks damn similar to the old version, but much cleaner. My first Harley was a Street Bob, I’ve always loved this bike and the price for what you get is great.

    I don’t understand why everyone is hating on this new Street Bob. Makes zero sense to me. Compare it side by side with the old one. Its better!

  4. 4 highrpm Oct 27th, 2017 at 10:04 am

    the higher clearanced bobbed rear fender lends the bike a prissy look. generational preference?

  5. 5 USAYGO Oct 27th, 2017 at 10:35 am

    Damn, I like it

  6. 6 Guy Oct 27th, 2017 at 11:26 am

    I would buy one if it didn’t have that silly little fuel tank. Stick another disc on the front and give it cast wheels, result.

  7. 7 J.grif Oct 27th, 2017 at 11:48 am

    Good looking machine!

  8. 8 kingcycles Oct 27th, 2017 at 12:34 pm

    Best looking bike of the new softail line. I like the new gas tank. So tired of the same old fat bob looking tanks.

  9. 9 Easygear Oct 27th, 2017 at 1:59 pm

    As far as the advertised handling, don`t forget what clearance and lean angle was in recent years.

    What the 2018 models now offer as far as lean angle goes, is close to what was Standard in the eighties and nineties, and depending on the model, some have a bit less than those Evo years had.

  10. 10 Chris Oct 27th, 2017 at 3:16 pm

    I dig the gauges in the handlebar clamp. Nice and clean.

  11. 11 golfish Oct 27th, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    I thought I was looking at an Indian

  12. 12 BD Oct 27th, 2017 at 5:47 pm

    Nice lookin production bike for a change

  13. 13 Seymour Oct 27th, 2017 at 9:38 pm

    Not trying to be a jerk but “very appealing” is way far behind “highly desirable”, but I think Cyril knows that.

  14. 14 Boss Hawg Oct 28th, 2017 at 7:20 am

    Love the newer look with the tank and specs.

    Great price, too!

    Boss Hawg

  15. 15 calif Phil Oct 28th, 2017 at 8:13 am

    I think HD hit a homerun with the new softails.

  16. 16 Hdrider Oct 28th, 2017 at 8:37 am

    3.5 gal is too small for a gas tank – need 4.5 or 5 gal minimum.

  17. 17 Guzzigreg Oct 28th, 2017 at 10:21 am

    Good handling for a Harley still does not equate to good handling. Needs another disc and a real gas tank.Harley just can’t seem to get the function part right.Another fashion statement by HD.

  18. 18 Guzzigreg Oct 28th, 2017 at 10:28 am

    Another fashion statement for the pretenders.

  19. 19 Rob S Oct 28th, 2017 at 12:56 pm

    H-D is certainly getting closer to making a big twin that appeals to me with the 2018 line up. The Street Bob is especially good looking, but I’ll have to agree with Guzzigreg–the bike needs, at the very least, a 5 gallon tank and I’d prefer to see twin disks up front.
    However, I’d like to go farther and say that, for me anyway, the foot pegs are too far forward and I’m no fan of side mounted license plates. Who knows where H-D will take this bike in the future, but they are definitely zeroing in on my motorcycle taste esthetic. Time will tell if a Street Bob will replace my Sportster.

  20. 20 Uthinkuknowme Oct 29th, 2017 at 2:19 pm

    Go buy an early 2000’s FXDX for $5K, put another $2K in big bore kit and have a better bike for less than 1/2 the cost of new. I’ve owned an FXDX and a Street Bob and the FXDX outperforms. Done.

  21. 21 wheel time Oct 29th, 2017 at 5:31 pm

    Personally, All it really needs for starters…
    Rinehart Mufflers and some plain Mag wheels… I’m not a fan of the tubed/spoke wheel setups
    that’s just me….

  22. 22 Boomer Oct 29th, 2017 at 5:42 pm

    Looks good but with mag wheels and a fatter back tire it would look much better.

  23. 23 rcupp Oct 29th, 2017 at 7:45 pm

    Yep…looks like a 18 year old V92 Victory, just not as superior!

  24. 24 JohnnySpeed Oct 30th, 2017 at 7:16 am

    Gross. That swingarm is just ugly and the profile of the seat is terrible because of the underseat shock. Leave it to harley to make something uglier and cheaper to manufacture, then jack up the price.

  25. 25 nicker Oct 30th, 2017 at 8:34 pm

    Lots of room for some cleaning up….

    -nicker-

  26. 26 hacksaw Oct 30th, 2017 at 10:49 pm

    i like the tank. not sure what some of these guys have against it. what is it about street “bob” they don’t understand? find a different model with a big assed tank if thats your thing. this bike is for those whom like their sleds clean and mean.

  27. 27 Badams Oct 31st, 2017 at 2:36 am

    ironic amount of tank hate; seen countless axe jobs attempting what is a result here. Once someone gets the profile right with paint, etc I am sure opinions will change. Looks like a decent platform for a skinny bike that wont leave a hipster stranded.

  28. 28 beentheredonethat Oct 31st, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    really growing on me
    its a evolution of the FXR/Dyna look with the straight bottom tube of the swingarm.
    Great job HD

  29. 29 Pat h Oct 31st, 2017 at 8:56 pm

    Straight lower tube been there since the 1920s and later vl’s wl’s not a Honda Yamaha thing not commentating on any one here just some of the other comments on other posts to many know it all’s that know nothing

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Cyril Huze