Total Motorcycle

Harley-Davidson Softails have always shifted shape to match the custom trends of the day, from the Pro Street-styled Softail Deuce in the late '90s to the more recent, raked-out Rocker C. The new FXS Blackline's skinny rear tire and narrow drag bars mimic the Frisco-style choppers of the Hell's Angels' glory days, delivering exactly the stripped-down, vintage look that 2011 trendsters demand.
Like most new Harleys, the Blackline is little more than an artful reblending of existing hardware and styling cues. The rigid-look Softail frame, with its rear suspension hidden beneath the engine, has been around since '84, and the Twin-Cam B (for counter-balanced) engine is now entering its 12th year of production. Styling is similarly recycled. The round air filter and gray heads above black cylinders reference early Shovelheads, while the tank and graphics are inspired by the '77 Low Rider. The bobbed rear fender with integrated stoplights/turnsignals and the smooth tank strap are modern touches, but overall the Blackline looks as familiar as a pair of Levi's 501s.