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Harley-Davidson's Heritage Softail Classic was Harley's nod to tradition, while utilizing state-of-the-art technology. Looks-wise, nothing beat the old hardtail frame. Kidney-wise, the ride left more than a little to be desired. So, Harley took a set of gas shock absorbers, mounted them horizontally under the transmission, and attached them to a rear sub-frame. This smoothed out the ride by letting the rear wheel move, yet kept the shocks out of sight where they wouldn't clutter up the bike's lines.
This image is up to par as features go, with working front and rear suspensions, movable shifter pedals, and a drive belt that follows wheel rotation. There's a soft-feel "king and queen" seat with padded backrest, removable windscreen and matching helmet. This is the second kit that TFM has released. You can build the bike in red, or turquoise and white, and there is a matching helmet in each color. I found the kit to be easier to assemble than the '57 Bel Air. [A couple of tips: 1. Some of the tiny screws may not be in the right containers (which happened in my case), making you think they're missing. Compare each compartment's count with the list. 2. Be sure to dry fit everything before gluing, and read ahead in the instructions to avoid having to undo a step.] By carefully reading and following the step-by-step instructions (referring to the parts list often) you can put together a model to be proud of. (And, you'll have a leftover helmet for one of your other images.)
In two more years, Harley will celebrate its 100th anniversary. They've proven, with bikes like the Heritage Softail Classic, that they know how to keep tradition alive while utilizing up-to-date technology - keeping the phrase "Made in America" something to brag about. The issue price is $135.
(03/15/2001)
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