Muscle has been Harley-Davidson’s USP since its inception. All that is thanks to its mighty V-twin engines. It’s a similar story for comfort, as the Motor Company builds some truly class-leading luxury touring bikes today. But every day rideability is where things get a bit tricky. After all, most Harleys are long and stretched out for excellent road presence, which comes at the cost of daily usability.
Things get even more difficult when you want all three things (muscle, comfort, and daily abilities) in a single bike. So much so that if you had asked us this a few years ago, we would’ve told you to get three different bikes instead of one. Luckily, though, H-D has made its bikes more and more versatile in recent times, and there is one Softail that promises to meet all three requirements. That too, under $20,000!
The Low Rider S Is The Harley That Balances Muscle, Comfort, And Everyday Rideability
MSRP: $19,999
No motorcycle from Harley-Davidson’s Grand American Touring range can offer a blend of these three. This is mainly because neither of them is easy on the pocket or on the weighing scale. That leaves us with the Sportsters and the Softails, out of which our pick is the Low Rider S. Why, you ask? Well, because it’s simply better than ever in 2025.
‘Muscle’ is via the new Milwaukee-Eight 117 High Output engine, while comfort has always been the Low Rider’s strong suit, and that continues now, too. As for daily usability, this is one of the lightest Softail bikes out there. The saddle height of just 27 inches and a tight wheelbase of 63.6 inches should help, too. Its design is also minimalistic, so you don’t have to think about splitting lanes or parking in tight spots.
Aside from this, you can also consider the Sportster S. Comfort is strong here, and so is the daily usability. The latter is thanks to its sharp dimensions–much tighter than the Low Rider S. However, it lacks the ‘muscle’ side of things in a way. We say so because the Revolution Max 1250T engine doesn’t have the old-school H-D character. Power is the focus here, with the peak torque at under 100 pound-feet. The power and torque also kick in at 7,500 and 6,000 RPM, which is super high by Harley standards.
Finally, there’s the Street Bob. It has the same engine as the Low Rider S, albeit in a milder state of tune. So ‘muscle’ is slightly lower here. It scores high on practicality, though, thanks to its lower curb weight and even more stripped-back design. Comfort is where it seems a bit lacking, though. The compact seat doesn’t seem good for daily long distances, while the ape-hanger will certainly be difficult to use in tight traffic situations.
A Mighty Milwaukee-Eight V-twin Powers The Low Rider S
Diving deeper, the Low Rider S employs Harley-Davidson’s new Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine. The company has three trims of this mill, and the Low Rider is the chosen one for the most powerful setup with the forward-facing Heavy Breather intake. The result is 114 horsepower and 128 pound-feet, where the former kicks in at 5,000 RPM and the latter at 4,000 RPM. That is some serious performance, not only for regular riding but also for weekend shenanigans. A six-speed transmission joins hands with the mill.
You Can Eke Out Over 45 Miles Per Gallon
Thanks to heaps of tractability, Harley claims a fuel efficiency of 47 miles per gallon for the Low Rider S. That gives it a theoretical range of over 230 miles. It goes without saying you’ll have to be really easy on the throttle to eke this out. On the contrary, maxing out all six cogs will take you close to 124 miles per hour. We don’t recommend that, considering there is no wind protection.
The Low Rider S Has A Feet-Forward Riding Position With A Chunky Saddle
Coming to comfort, the Low Rider S has a chunky single seat for your tushy and slightly forward-set footpegs for your feet. Meanwhile, your hands go on a curvy handlebar to create a laidback riding position. Harley also sells more comfortable seats and different handlebars as accessories, although there is no option for floorboards.
Showa Suspension Ensures A Smooth Ride On Bumpy Roads
Added comfort is courtesy of the Showa suspension. You get 43 mm USD forks and a monoshock, where the rear offers preload adjustment. This is topped with 19/16-inch alloy wheels, with the front housing dual discs to help shed speed. The suspension and wheel setup also enables a respectable lean angle of 31.3 degrees on each side.
A Thoroughly Modern Electronics Package Sweetens The Low Rider’s Pot
From afar, the Low Rider follows the retro brief we expect from Harley-Davidson. But the 2025 model is more technologically advanced than ever to keep up with the extra oomph on offer. A six-axis IMU headlines the list, which unlocks cornering traction control, cornering ABS, and cornering drag-torque control. In addition, there are ride modes, cruise control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. A USB port is present, too.
A Basic Instrument Cluster Might Leave You Dejected
As good as all this is, we can’t help but feel how basic the instrument cluster is. It’s a 4-inch digi-analog setup we’re used to seeing on way cheaper bikes. In fact, Harley offers a similar unit on its cheapest bike: the Nightster. For close to $20,000, we expect the Low Rider S to at least have a TFT with smartphone connectivity.