Harley Davidson Softail Slim or BMW R18: Which is the better heavyweight cruiser?
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- čas přidán 24. 10. 2020
- The Jed visits Ventura Harley Davidson and demos a 2020 Harley Davidson Softail Slim. This is the bike BMW benchmarked when the developed their new R18 heavyweight cruiser. Having just published my take on the R18, I now ride a Softail Slim and give you my impressions of this one, and let you know which I prefer. Come along for the ride, and please like and subscribe.
R18 Demo Ride: • Harley Davidson Softai...
Special thanks to Patrick at Ventura Harley Davidson. If you're in the market for a Harley Davidson, consider stopping by and telling them The Jed sent you!
Ventura Harley Davidson
1326 Del Norte Rd, Camarillo, CA 93010
(805) 981-9904 - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I personally LOVE the R18. Just stunning...
Tanner, it's a great bike, and the recent announcement of the R18 B and R18 Transcontinental is interesting. I am looking forward to a demo ride of one of those soon!
Ive ridden the both not just road test but over a time, the BMW has more torque than the Harley its more like the 114 engine than the 107, the BMW is a totally different bike and needs to be ridden like grabbing it by the scruff of the neck in Rock mode not a lazy cruse. I love the both bikes the Harley is quite a bit lighter I am in the middle of making my R18 lighter and I am sure that will make things even more interesting. I also own a 131 Fatboy now that's another story. You seem like a new rider to be fair.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on both bikes. 👍🏼
you don't stop next to him at a stop light?
So, how about find neutral on HD? I know on bmw it’s no problem
I have no issues with neutral on either.
Felt good to be back on American Iron!
The slim is a beautiful machine classy and badass
We both agree on that!
@@TheJedRides great idea to compare both! I saw another comparison like yours on a german YT channel and they tended to see the BMW ahead, but the main market for these bikes is in the US and therefore I value more your assessment! Thanks.
@@tabuleirocmd thanks for the compliment! I prefer the Harley Davidson FXLRS to both bikes, by the way!
Before you (responders) bash the R18, go ride it. If you’re not familiar with the 1936 R5, the R18 is it’s grandson. The boxer engine has been produced since 1923. Its reliable and proven. Now I’m coming from a Road Glide so a different animal. I bought the R18 classic which rides different from the standard R18. Looks are subjective and the HD certainly has the look. It’s not a Harley. Never will be. It’s a stand alone cruiser built to BMW standards.
The R18 has more of a vintage vibe IMO.
Wayde, thanks. All of that rings true to me. It sure seems like there are a lot of R18s sitting at BMW dealerships, though. I am not sure whether most Americans riders agree with you and me.
@@TheJedRides remember the STSlim also weighs about 100lbs less, hence the increased feel of torque. Did you ride the R18 in Rock mode? Significant difference in throttle response between Rock mode and Roll mode. Good review.
@@waydegardner7373 Thanks, Wayde. Regarding Rock vs Roll, mode, I completely agree (and I talk a lot about it in the video). Rock mode is great. Roll not as much. I also really enjoyed the R18B of you didn't happen to catch that video. czcams.com/video/reNtwPwCP_M/video.html I really like what BMW is doing with the Heritage models. They have had a ton of success with the R NineT models, but they weren't taking on HD head on there. With the R18 they are. They are going to have to figure out a way to get guys like you to come from an FL model and give the R18s a try.
I have the same seat... much better than the stock seat. You set in the seat, not on the seat.
Agree, thanks Adrian.
Funny thing is that the Slim is based off World War 2 Harleys that were based off BMW. Anyway..! HD all the way for me. I think the Harley slim is one of the most underrated Harley's out there currently. Maybe Harley will bring back the Slim S at some point in the future ?
I agree - it’s a great bike. And yes, it would be so easy to drop a 114 in and call it an S. Thanks for your comments.
Build quality of Harley absolutely no comparison to the R18. Looks of the R18 are stunning
Well done BMW!
Not sure I would call it build quality so much as fit and finish. The R18 variants are indeed gorgeous bikes.
IMHO there's only one make of big cruiser. HD. The rest are imitations.
Can't argue with that!
I agree with you there’s only one HD
Awful(ly) straight roads ! Not exactly a good test ride environment.
Completely agree, but it was all they would allow. :-( The R18 demo was on roads with lots of turns, and was unaccompanied by the dealer! :-) czcams.com/video/AufCdfKlJD0/video.html That said, neither of these bikes is a handling phenom. My reaction to them is as much visceral as it is objective. The Harley simply wins the seat of the pants test for me between these two.
the harley has the looks , the heritage, and nowadays [at last] the ground clearance, the handling the motor , etc. the r18 does not look good in my opinion, also bad warranty issues.
Thanks Simon. What are the bad warranty issues on the R18?
@@TheJedRides engine wear at low miles in the uk also gearbox on 4 cyl models, dealers unhelpful.
Harley 's always the best sure ! R 18 a bad clone ! HD best song, best comfort, and many other things...
Not sure about always, LOL, but in this case, yes!
When you say always the best I don't know what bikes you are comparing, having two beemers and a Ducati I was thinking about a Touring Harley, during a trip I switched bikes for a few hours and I rolled on a Harley Ultra, my first impressions, slow, bad brakes, bad suspension, when we stopped they asked me what was going to be my next bike, I answered another Beemer but touring, well I ended buying a BMW Rt it is a superior bike, turns better, I have heated seats, heated grips, power windshield, electronic suspension, it's a boxer that will last 300,000 miles, the bad doesn't sound like a Harley, I'm wondering how many of the guys that say that Harley is the best have experience with other brands, I love Harley though, I have one to cruise the boulevard, potato potato potato=)
@@gerardorockerman69 me too. I have a BMW (GS) and a Harley (FXR). Each has it’s pluses, each it’s minuses. But the GS does many things the FXR cannot.
@@gerardorockerman69 It's a point of view like mine ! I would say Harley is always the best on a type of motorcycle : The softail family for exemple. I don't like the way of bmw today on the cruiser market because i think the r 18 it Just a marketing buzz it's no make sens for me, the boxer engine is not the most adaptated for cruising "where i put my legs ?" they build super bikes & fantastic engines for sure, it's real, but on their market : gs, nineT, and other road-motorcycle like yours. There is many many good motorcycles on the market. I really like the Ducati engine air-cooled & the boxer on the bmw nineT too. But the legendary sound of an Harley give me strills sorry (excuse my bad english,, i'm french)