The Luxury Cruiser That Proves Practicality Can Be Fun

As part of the latest Softail generation, the cruiser we’re about to talk about delivers sharper handling and better ride quality than its predecessors, backed by modern rider-safety electronics and stout inverted forks. Its high-output Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine gives it serious muscle, enough to surprise riders who mistake its stripped-down look for modest performance.

That minimalist approach is exactly where its practicality shines: approachable ergonomics, no unnecessary bulk, and quality components where they matter most. With premium paint, premium power, and a refined ride, the Low Rider S leans into luxury while staying impressively functional.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Harley-Davidson. The information provided is current as of the time of this writing.

A High-Output Engine That Turns Practical Speed Into Pure Fun

When it comes to fun, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 High-Output engine is the best production engine you can get in a non-CVO bike. It packs nearly a liter in each jug with the usual offset firing order favored by Harley-Davidson, but with balancing doo-dads under the hood to take out much of the typical vibration. This makes it more comfortable to ride than its forebears, despite its top-shelf powerplant, for low-stress cruising, even at interstate speeds.

60 MPH Comes Up In Just Four Seconds

However, the real draw is the performance and the four-second 0-to-60 time. The torque is soul-crushing in its intensity with 128 pounds o’ grunt on tap, and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face when you grab a fistful and twist. It has overtaking power at any point in the range for passing with authority and confidence, adding its light-to-light capabilities to make for a fun ride. It also comes stock with the full range of Cornering-Enhanced Rider Safety Systems and a Ride Modes feature for quick personality changes on the fly.

Luxury Comfort And Cornering Confidence Are Aplenty

The Low Rider S chassis is extra sweet to those who remember the original Softails; it has the same classic faux-rigid frame geometry that produces those old-school angles, unseen since the advent of the articulated swingarm. Not only does this strike a classic pose, but it also lowers the seat, giving the pilot plenty of leverage at stops for peace of mind when you deploy those training wheels. The suspension is better than before, especially out back with a monoshock under the seat and easy to access, rather than the old dual struts under the transmission.

Steering geometry comes set for solid tracking, even at speed, to give it almost touring bike-like handling on the superslab for low-effort cruising, which is its own sort of luxury in a bike so light relative to a full dresser. The 31.3-degree lean angle points to a sporty ride that is loads of fun when the road gets twisty.

Low Rider S Chassis And Suspension Specifications

The Low Rider Has A Practical And Striking Design

The Low Rider S is as practical a motorcycle as it gets when it comes to overall design. Not an ounce is wasted on the superfluous. While you could be forgiven for pointing to the little café-tastic fairing, it does smooth airflow around the headlight and gauge, improving penetration. As such, it is not considered decoration, no matter how cool it looks. Seat height is 27 inches when laden, providing you weigh at least 180 pounds to compress the suspension a tad.

This is relatively low, making for an easy, comfortable reach to the ground, even with short inseams. The solo seat is typically firm, with a nice scoop shape meant to trap your butt and keep the bike from riding out from under you. Instead of forward controls that, admittedly, would look cooler, the mid-mount controls are more inclusive of the shorter rider base, making the lower layout usable by the majority of potential buyers for another practical point.

Low Rider S Dimensions And Capacities

The Breakout: Alternative H-D Cruiser With Attitude

Alternatively, H-D puts together another showroom-performance unit with a chopper-like mien in the Breakout. This is another modern Softail unit, with all the benefits thereof. The rake angle is really kicked out there, but it’s also slightly less handy in the corners than the Low Rider S because of it. Seat height is in the basement at 25.6 inches off the deck, but the forward foot controls make this a bike for taller riders; shorter riders should steer clear.

Power comes from a Milwaukee-Eight 117 Custom engine, but with a tad less performance than the High Output version. You can count on the full range of lean-sensitive rider-safety electronics as well, but you’ll pay another three grand for all of the above, and it isn’t quite as practical by comparison, but still a fun ride that fits the brief.

Low Rider S Vs. Breakout Engine And Performance Specifications

Indian Chief Bobber Is Another Alternative To The Low Rider S

If you’re looking outside the Harley lineup for luxury, practicality, and fun, the Chief Bobber from Indian makes a good rival for our Low Rider S. It channels a similar old-school custom vibe, but goes about it in a different way. The tins are snipped and minimal, and blackout reigns supreme except for the polished cooling-fin edges that highlight the shape of that big V-twin engine so very nicely.

Frame geometry is similar to the Softail, but instead of building a triangular swing-cage type structure, Indian just leaned the rear shocks over to mimic its lines. It may be less sophisticated, but the visual result is pretty much the same; it looks like an old bike. Torque is respectable at 108 pound-feet, even if it falls short of the Low Rider S, and should turn out a thrilling ride with its 694-pound curb weight.

Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Vs. Indian Chief Bobber Engine And Performance Specifications