Here ya go https://auto.howstuffworks.com/1978-...vidson-fxs.htm

 

 

The big marketing ploy back in '77 was the "butt scraping seat height" of the first year '77 Low Rider; something like 26" or 28" if I remember. I think the softails have had lower seat heights for some time.

Like models of vehicles, things change over time. Remember the first Civic, not it's borderline fancy.

 

I remember when the Low Riders came out. They were cool but a bit too fancy for my tastes.

 

That is a fact.

My buddy and I first saw the FXS when it was uinveiled at BikeWeek in 1977. When we got home my buddy bought one and I bought it from him in 1980. I rode that bike for the next 36 years! Personally I think the Low Rider was the best model Harley EVER produced.

 

Now the Softail Slim is the low rider.

The Softail part is whole other marketing ploy, unless you got air shocks.

 

 

This thread reminded me of the song:

 

Cause in the old days, the farmers would ride it through the field picking the "low hanging fruit"...