Was in a local dealer lately to get small parts (never stops...) and sat on a 2016 and a new 2018 Heritage. I own a 2000. Is it just me, and possibly my big seat, but both those bikes felt smaller than mone. Shorter and narrower. I asked the sales guy and got the shoulder shrug.

 

Not sure if they're physically smaller but yes they do feel smaller ,might be ergonomics though.

 

That was the first impression when I saw one.

I'm sure they're technically a better machine but they have lost the 'lines' and don't look as nice.

 

Rubbish, the new bikes look way better up close, no contest.
And from a distance you can't tell them apart anyways so nada.

 

As for them being smaller......the answer is yes and no!

I have the 2018 Softail Fat Bob. The bike is physically 2" shorter than my 2014 Fat Bob, but the wheelbase is actually a quarter inch longer. The older bike had 2" of fender overhang at the rear.

The 2018 is also about a quarter inch higher at the seat.

 

Which one? what portion of the bike, mass, weight, seat height, ...?
Deluxe: 2017 seat height 26.4, wheel base 64.4 weight 730
2018 seat height 26.8, wheel base 64.2 weight 697

 

On a spec sheet a new Heritage has dimensions that are smaller but it is only tiny fractions here and there but for some reason they look a lot smaller than previous models. My Evo looks enormous by comparison.