The Softail is a motorcycle suspension that mimics the look of a hardtail but uses hidden springs and shocks mounted under the frame. Harley-Davidson owns the patent and popularized the chopper motorcycle. Early motorcycles had no rear suspension, but the Softail offers a modern suspension with a nostalgic look.
A Softail is a type of motorcycle suspension. Designed to mimic the look of a hardtail motorcycle that contains no rear suspension, the Softail uses shock absorbers and a swinging-arm-type frame to cushion the ride. Unlike the typical swing-arm type motorcycle rear suspension that includes shocks and springs mounted outside the frame, the Softail uses hidden springs and shocks that are mounted under the frame. The entire swing arm is designed to fade into the surrounding frame.
Many motorcycle manufacturers use a rigid-type version of the dummy suspension; however, the Harley-Davidson motorcycle company owns the Softail patent and is the only brand to use this terminology in its product line. Borrowing against its early heritage lineup, the Harley-Davidson company helped popularize the chopper motorcycle, as well as influence nostalgia with the inclusion of the Softail frame. The popular frame allows riders to simulate the nostalgic look while enjoying the benefits of a modern suspension. Long rides are made a lot less harsh with the inclusion of a spring and shock-style suspension.
Early motorcycle designs did not include a rear suspension. The frame of the motorcycle was very similar to that of a bicycle. The rider was placed on a spring-mounted seat that served to absorb bumps in the road. The seats, while minimally padded, did nothing to eliminate the harsh handling characteristics of a rigidly mounted rear tire. The driver often lost control of the motorcycle when the rear tire bounced on the road when an uneven spot was encountered on the road.
As the motorcycle operator learned to use their knees as a type of suspension, allowing the motorcycle to sway and pivot under their body, motorcycle designers began to envision the possibilities of a sprung suspension. The front suspension was the manufacturers’ first attempt at designing a more rider-friendly machine. Following the spring front forks, the Softail frame placed a movable rear suspension under the rider. Eventually the rear suspension became the modern swing-arm type suspension with its shocks mounted outboard.
This type of rear suspension was used in most motorcycle designs around the world until the Harley-Davidson company reinvented itself and offered nostalgia-type motorcycles in its lineup. Leading the new designs was the famous Softail suspension design that offered the appeal of an early design with the conveniences of a modern motorcycle. The Softail was reintroduced to the world, quickly adapting to the range of many manufacturers.
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