Hey all, I am fairly new to the harley scene and this is one topic I am not sure I could answer if I was asked.

Whatdoes the terms mean and what is the difference between a "hard tail" and "soft tail" bikes?

Also where did they come up with the acronyms for the different bikes.
FLHRC, FLXTB, FXD, FLXTF etc. these acromyms are mind boggeling, If someone spits out this acronym am I supposed to know what bike they have?

Thanks

 

Well, a hard tail is a rigid frame bike with no rear suspension. A Softail is a frame that has hidden suspension under the motor which gives the appearance of a rigid frame bike.

As for letter designations, here is one website that does a great job of making sense of the alphabet soup: http://home.ctlnet.com/~mcarroll/harleyalphabet.htm

 

go to , http://home.ctlnet.com/~mcarroll/harleyalphabet.htm

 

Yeah if you didnt know rigid equals sore *** lol

here is another good site that breaks down every model
http://www.factoryfat.com/hdbikemodels.html

 

Thanks guys those sites explained alot to me.

and yes the "rigid" just sounds like it would give a sore ***.. So what models are of the Rigid type? Ican clearly see that the sportster, dyna and touring all show a rear shock and the softail like the fatboy are not shown but you are telling me that they are hidden underneath.

So no shock at all is a "hard tail"
A hidden shock is a "soft tail"
So is there a name for the bikes that have a rear shock and show it?

sorry if this is becoming stupid it is just something that has always bothered me not knowing.

Thanks

 

There are no stock Harley rigids. And no special name for the bikes with exposed shocks.

 

Oh Ok!

Thanks Stro.....

 

Hard or Soft tail.............I'd hit it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

last stock harley ridgid was 1964 I believe then they came out with the duo glide

 

big twins were all hardtails up to 1958, I believe

todays dynas, sporties and tourers all have swingarm suspensions