Cruisers
2018Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic
36 fields on record
The 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic is a nostalgic cruiser on Harley's new Softail chassis. Its air-cooled 1,746cc Milwaukee-Eight V-twin makes 90 hp at 5,020 rpm and 148 Nm through a six-speed gearbox and belt drive. ABS, a 673 mm seat and 18.9-litre tank come as standard.
- Capacity
- 1746.0 ccm
- Engine
- V-Twin, four-stroke
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Dry weight
- 317.0 kg
- Seat height
- 673 mm
- Power
- 90.0 HP (66.2 kW) @ 5020 RPM
What’s new for the 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic
vs the 2012| Spec | 2012 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine capacity | 1690.0 ccm (103.13 cubic inches) | 1746.0 ccm (106.55 cubic inches) |
| Power | 75.0 HP (55.2 kW) | 90.0 HP (66.2 kW) @ 5020 RPM |
| Torque | 136.0 Nm (13.9 kgf-m or 100.3 ft.lbs) @ 3500 RPM | 148.0 Nm (15.1 kgf-m or 109.2 ft.lbs) @ 3000 RPM |
| Wet weight | 341.1 kg (752.0 pounds) | 328.0 kg (723.1 pounds) |
| Fuel capacity | 15.90 litres (4.20 US gallons) | 18.90 litres (4.99 US gallons) |
| Front suspension | — | Telescopic fork |
| Rear suspension | — | Twin shocks |
| Rear brakes | Single disc. 2-piston | Single disc. ABS. 2-piston |
| Compression | 9.6:1 | 10.0:1 |
How it rides
Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested- Best for
- Built for relaxed, classic-styled cruising and weekend touring rather than outright speed or sport riding.
- Built for
- A laid-back, torque-driven cruiser with classic Harley styling, valued for its relaxed low-RPM power delivery and comfortable long-haul ergonomics.
- Not ideal for
- Not a good fit for riders seeking sharp cornering agility, off-road capability, or high-speed sport performance.
Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.
Will it fit you?
Worked out in your browser - nothing is sent to usReliability & safety
Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaintsBike Reliability
How the score works →91
out of 100Excellent
The Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 91.5% of the time, 9.0 points above expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 91% of models.
This covers every year of the model.
91.5%Passed first time
6.6%Failed outright
1.9%Fixed during test
7,000Typical miles
106Tests
Against its rivals · ranks 3 of 6
| # | Model (all years) | Score | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Chief | 95 Excellent | 826 |
| 2 | Indian Chief Dark Horse | 93 Excellent | 282 |
| 3 | Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic | 91 Excellent | 106 |
| 4 | Indian Scout | 88 Excellent | 3,937 |
| 5 | Harley-Davidson Fat Boy | 83 Excellent | 6,083 |
| 6 | Harley-Davidson Softail Slim | 76 Good | 2,367 |
Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.
From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.
Engine
- Capacity
- 1746.0 ccm
- Power
- 90.0 HP (66.2 kW) @ 5020 RPM
- Torque
- 148.0 Nm (15.1 kgf-m) @ 3000 RPM
- Engine type
- V-Twin, four-stroke
- Power/weight ratio
- 0.2839 HP/kg (dry)
- Bore x stroke
- 100.0 x 111.1 mm
- Compression
- 10.0:1
- Cooling system
- Air
- Fuel system
- Injection
- Starting
- Electric
- Valves per cylinder
- 2
Transmission
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Transmission type
- Manual
- Final drive
- Belt
- Clutch
- Multi-plate with diaphragm spring in oil bath
Performance
- Top speed
- 155.0 km/h (96.3 mph)
Dimensions & weight
- Wheelbase
- 1630 mm
- Overall length
- 2415 mm
- Seat height
- 673 mm
- Dry weight
- 317.0 kg
- Wet weight
- 328.0 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 18.90 litres
- Ground clearance
- 120 mm
Chassis & suspension
- Front suspension
- Telescopic fork
- Rear suspension
- Twin shocks
- Rake (fork angle)
- 30.0°
- Trail
- 145 mm
Brakes & wheels
- Front brakes
- Single disc
- Front brakes diameter
- 300 mm
- Rear brakes
- Single disc. ABS. 2-piston
- Rear brakes diameter
- 292 mm
- ABS
- Yes
- Front tyre
- 130/90-B16
- Rear tyre
- 150/80-B16
Maintenance
- Oil capacity
- 4.70 litres
Specs last verified against published sources: .
Compiled from manufacturer documentation and user contributions, corrected on an ongoing basis. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What changed, year to year
Differences highlighted| Specification | 1998 | 2002 | 2006 | 2010 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1340 cc | 1450 cc | 1450 cc | 1584 cc | 1746 cc | 1746 cc |
| Dry weight | 317 kg | 317 kg | 317 kg | 317 kg | 317 kg | 316 kg |
| Seat height | 673 mm | 673 mm | 673 mm | 673 mm | 673 mm | 680 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 15.9 L | 15.9 L | 15.9 L | 15.9 L | 18.9 L | 18.9 L |
| Bike Reliability ⓘ | Too few tests | Too few tests | Too few tests | Too few tests | Too few tests | Too few tests |
Illustrative - generated automatically by diffing the year records already on file, not a manufacturer-published changelog.
Rider Reviews
Common questions
What is the engine size of the Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic?
The 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic has a Capacity of 1746.0 ccm (106.55 cubic inches).
What engine power does the Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic have?
The 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic has a Power of 90.0 HP (66.2 kW) @ 5020 RPM.
How many gears does the Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic have?
The 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic has a Gearbox of 6-speed.
What is the torque of the Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic?
The 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic has a Torque of 148.0 Nm (15.1 kgf-m or 109.2 ft.lbs) @ 3000 RPM.
How much does the Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic weigh?
The 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic has a Dry weight of 317.0 kg (698.9 pounds).
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