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2018 Harley-Davidson DELUXE First ride | BIKE TESTS

The Deluxe is all classic Harley style – whitewalltyres, miles of chrome, big wraparound wheel guards and a choice of bold colours.

Once you’re moving, with your feet planted on the footboards, and gripping the wide, pulled-back ’bar, it doesn’t matter if you are going fast or slow, dragging a footboard or cruising the beach-front, you just feel relaxed, cool and comfortable.

Being a single-seat bike like the Softail Slim and Street Bob, you get a little more room to move.

Despite having lashings of chrome, It’s 17kg lighter than the previous model, and the 30-degree steering angle and

new chassis allows a serious crack at the twisties. No longer do you need to sacrifice handling and braking for old- school looks and style.

The Deluxe is closely related to the Heritage, but calling the Heritage ‘a Deluxe with a screen and bags’ would sell them both short. However, I would probably be happy with a Deluxe and

The vintage art deco styling turns head wherever you go

a set of removable bags and removable screen in the garage for those longer trips, and the single seat lets me tour alone.

At a Glance

Price:  $29,495 (ride away)

Engine:  107 standard (145Nm)

Seat Height: 680mm

Wet weight:  303kg (claimed)

Colours: Vivid Black, Twisted Cherry, Electric Blue, Silver Fortune/Samatra Brown, Wicked Red/Twisted Cherry