Modest Street Bob Makes the Grade in New Softail Lineup

High Marks

As Harley-Davidson's entry-level Big Twin, the 2018 FXBB Street Bob is a retro-styled, stripped-down bobber. Despite the “new school technology with skip school attitude,” the Street Bob gets high marks and more. Once part of the Dyna Glide platform, the Street Bob moves up a grade with the latest performance and technology on offer from the Motor Company.

Popular Bob

Introduced in 2006, the FXDBI Street Bob was the first 'Dark Custom' of the Dyna Glide models. With its lean, bobber stance, the blacked-out FXDBI proved to be a popular machine. Surviving the much-lamented 'Death of the Dyna,' the Street Bob has now morphed into the new Softail lineup — along with its truant attitude.

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Motor Demands

While the styling is stripped back, the Street Bob is all motor. The counter-balanced Milwaukee-Eight 107 cubic-inch engine is a powerful, smooth-running, unit with enough throttle response to satisfy the most demanding of weekend warriors. On the downside, the Street Bob is not available with the 114 cubic-inch motor, although stage kits are available for those wanting a few extra ponies for their ride.

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Stripped Bob

The Street Bob is a cross between functionality and bare-bones styling. Emulating a bygone era when any excessive part was cut or removed to save weight, the 'bobbed' rear fender is trimmed to the minimum. With no passenger pegs and a stock solo seat, the minimalist message is clear. The classically-styled, blacked-out, 2-into-2 offset shotgun exhaust comes as stock.

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Tech-Savvy Bob

The look might be yesteryear, but the build is definitively twenty-first century. Perhaps in a bid to attract a younger, tech-savvy crowd to the Big-Twin family, Harley-Davidson designers removed the traditional dash-mounted speedometer and analog gas gauge. All the instrumentation is now digital with keyless ignition. ABS braking is standard, the forward lighting is LED, and there is even a USB charging port.

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Teardrop Tank

The new Street Bob receives a sleeker, one-piece teardrop tank. The new unit replaces the classic five-gallon 'split' tank that has helped define the Harley-Davidson-look since the early 1930s. A Vivid Black paint job is included in the price. For the 2019 lineup, $400 more buys a choice of Olive Gold or Red Iron Denim. An additional $750 nets a two-tone paint job.

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Minimalist Bob

With the Street Bob, bare-bones translates as minimalist, and functionality as modern technology. Sporting what appears to be a set of Iron 883 fork gators, the Street Bob is outfitted with mini-ape handlebars, laced wheels, and dark finishes. The new Softail frame is stiffer and lighter than previous platforms. While it has the appearance of a hardtail, it delivers a thoroughly modern ride.

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Get-Away Machine

Despite the no-frills approach, the Street Bob is a competent road-hungry mile-maker. It is as much an urban barhopper as it is a day-tripper. At $14,549, the Street Bob is the lowest priced Softail and a gateway into the Big Twin world. Smiles-to-the-mile performance is a compelling reason to check one out. A simple, uncomplicated getaway machine is another — no report cards required. 

Photo courtesy of Visor Down

>>Join the conversation about the Street Bob right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!

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