The Softail series has always been a fan favorite amongst the American cruiser motorcycling enthusiasts. Ever since the launch of the Harley-Davidson Softail Standard a few years back, it managed to bring forward the soulful character of the brand, which many of the previous monikers have missed out on. Coming with the same Milwaukee-Eight V-twin motor mated to the 6-speed gearbox and a belt-drive drivetrain, the Softail Standard is back in the 2022 avatar.

The Softail Standard comes with no major changes to the mechanicals, in comparison to the outgoing 2021 model. Design and features also see no changes. The beautifully crafted exterior with chrome and blacked-out elements, quintessential American cruiser design language, and the sweet sound of the V-twin motor remains unaltered too. Coming at a base MSRP of $13,599, the 2022 Softail Standard is here to compete with the likes of the Triumph Bonneville Bobber and the Harley-Davidson Street Bob.

RELATED: These Are The Greatest Harley-Davidson Softails Ever Made

10 The Milwaukee-Eight Motor Is A Torque Monster

The Milwaukee-Eight single overhead cam 45° v-twin motor that comes with the Softail Standard offers 72 hp and 99 lb-ft of torque. Being a cruiser, the torque is what sets this motorcycle apart from its rivals. The 99 lb-ft of torque comes out at a ridiculously low 2,500 rpm, and that makes the overtaking a very easy job.

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Just twist the throttle from any gear and the Softail Standard pulls forward like a freight train. Downshifts are not needed in most cases, and that makes the ride quite effortless. The mid-range performance is deceptive, too. When it comes to the gearbox, this 6-speed unit offers short initial gears and a tall 5th and 6th gear. This aids to city drivability as well as excellent cruising ability.

9 The Muted Rumble Of The V-Twin Sounds Lovely

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via: Harley-Davidson

Being an air and oil-cooled v-twin motor, the Harley-Davidson Softail Standard has that quintessential potato potato sound that the Harleys are quite famous for. This 45° v-twin sounds beautiful at the lower rev range, which could be experienced while riding through the streets. The adequate bass and loudness feel perfect for your daily commute.

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Even during fast riding, the stock exhaust is perfectly fine, as the sound is more than adequate for an enjoyable riding experience. Since the loudness is not over the top like some of the aftermarket exhausts, it doesn't pierce your ears, which is an added advantage while cruising through the freeways or the winding roads.

8 Braking Performance Is Nothing To Write Home About

2022 Harley Davidson Softail Standard
motor1.com

The braking hardware offered with the 2022 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard leaves a lot to be desired. Coming with a 4-piston fixed caliper with 300 mm disc for the front and a 2-piston floating caliper with 292 mm disc at the rear, the brakes don't have adequate performance, especially to in an emergency.

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The front brakes lack the feel and feedback that you expect from such an expensive motorcycle. The initial bite and progression are mediocre at best, too. When it comes to the rear brakes, it could easily be one of the worst of the lot. The rear brakes are not enough to stop this heavyweight motorcycle from the freeway speed. However, ABS is offered as an optional extra.

RELATED: 2021 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard Costs, Facts, And Figures

7 The Design Will Attract A Lot Of Eyeballs

2020 Softail Standard
via YouTube

The 2022 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard looks cool and imposing from all angles. The front view is highlighted with the help of the vintage-inspired circular headlight, a shortened fender, and the chrome bits that are stuck on to the conventional forks. The ape hanger handlebar looks exceptional too, making it stand out from the rivals.

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However, it is the side profile that looks the best for the Softail Standard. The beautifully crafted tank with the Harley-Davidson embossing, chrome wrapped headers, exhaust, and engine heads, and the invisible rear suspension makes it look very premium. The rear end gets an LED taillight and massive 150/80B 16" tires, which is not something that is commonly seen on many motorcycles.

6 Mild Vibrations Won't Bog Down The Riding Experience

Black 2021 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard in showroom
via YouTube

The Harley-Davidson Softail Standard comes with the same 1,746cc Milwaukee-Eight 107 V-twin motor that does duties on many other motorcycles from the Harley-Davidson stable. Since this is an air-cooled long-stroke motor, the vibrations are always there irrespective of the speed and RPM you are in. However, it is not a deal-breaker by any means.

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via Harley-Davidson

The Softail Standard has very minor vibrations in the lower rev range. It comes to the handlebar and footpegs and can be considered as the inherent character of this motor. However, you feel no major vibrations at mid RPMs (especially at freeway speeds). At higher RPMs, the Softail Standard does offer vibrations to the seats and handlebar. However, the motorcycle offers no grunt at the higher rev range and there is no pointing in revving the nuts out of it.

RELATED: Harley-Davidson Softail Slim: Costs, Facts, And Figures

5 Spot-On Ergonomics Makes It A Great Cruiser

2021 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard outdoors; side view
via Gator Harley-Davidson

Even though the 2022 Softail Standard comes with an ape hanger handlebar, it turned out to be surprisingly comfortable. The handlebar is adequately wide and tall and the switchgear is in the proper position, both of which make the ride pretty easy and liveable. The forward set footpegs are a boon during the freeway cruising too.

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When it comes to the seats, unlike the Fat Bob which comes with very soft seats, the Softail Standards seat is slightly on the harder side. This makes it more comfortable during long rides, which isn't the case with the Fat Bob. The side bolstering is excellent, and the rider will have no complaints regarding the legroom on offer, even for the tallest of the riders.

4 Quite Flickable Around Corners

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Even with an archaic suspension setup (49 mm telescopic suspension with dual bending valve for the front and Coilover mono-shock with adjustable spring preload for the rear), the 2022 Softail Standard is a relatively easy motorcycle to live with. The handling is easy and hence filtering through the city traffic is not as difficult as some of the other cruisers from the same brand.

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Coming with a wet weight of close to 650 lbs, the 2022 Softail Standard doesn't feel that heavy unless the motorcycle is at a standstill. With a decent weight distribution, the Softail Standard could go around a tight corner at a relatively fast pace without feeling nervous. The motorcycle also maintains the line perfectly well, and the rider will never have a lack of confidence when pushing this super heavyweight motorcycle.

RELATED: Is It Worth Buying A New Harley-Davidson Softail?

3 There Are No Fancy Electronics To Safeguard The Rider

This is one area where the Softail Standard disappoints many of the prospective buyers. Coming at a relatively high price tag (especially in comparison to the rivals), this American cruiser lacks most of the features that you expect at this price point. The only safety feature onboard is the dual-channel ABS (optional), which is a must.

Black 2021 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard in front of wooden wall
via Freedom Valley Harley-Davidson

In comparison, the Triumph Bonneville Bobber comes with multiple traction control modes, rider modes, a more advanced instrument cluster with digital display, and much more as standard. However, the Softail Standard gets LED headlights and taillights, a keyless start system, etc, all of which are good to have.

2 Build Quality And Refinement Levels Are More Than Acceptable

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Being a Harley-Davidson, many people expect the motorcycle to fall apart within a few years, as they were quite synonymous with mediocre quality control. However, the 2022 Softail Standard is quite the opposite. Everything that you could touch and feel is made of high-quality material and feels every bit as expensive as the steep price tag suggests.

Black 2021 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard in showroom; side view
via McGrath Hawkeye Harley-Davidson

The switchgear feels clicky and has a tactile feel to it. The chrome-wrapped handlebar, header, and exhaust looks like it could last a lifetime too. Apart from that, the sturdy mirrors, chunky footpegs, and top-notch paint quality are all pointing towards much-improved build quality and refinement level.

1 Priced Quite Steeply Compared To The Rivals

2021 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard; back angle view
via CycleTrader

The 2022 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard comes at a ridiculously expensive price tag of $13,599. If you wish to get the motorcycle financed, the monthly payment starts from as low as $191. In comparison, the rivals from Triumph, BMW, and Ducati feel like much more value for money. The lack of features and tech at such a high price tag is also not impressive.

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Apart from the base price tag, the 2022 Softail Standards optional accessories are very expensive and when fully kitted out, they could cost as much as half of the motorcycle, which is quite ridiculous. Since this cruiser misses out on many essential features, most of the owners are most likely going to kit it with all the optional extras, and that is going to skyrocket the price tag.