For the longest time, reliability has been the USP for Japanese motorcycles. No one can question it, either, since Japanese bikes usually have the lowest maintenance costs. At the same time, they aren’t sensitive to abuse or neglect. In contrast, the notion has been different for American motorcycles. Road presence and thump have held more importance, and reliability has been average at best. After all, we’ve seen many Harleys “mark” their territory.
Things are rapidly evolving, though, as manufacturers are learning from each other. So you can find Japanese cruisers with large V-twins and more road presence than American names. Or American cruisers that promise Japan-like reliability and performance, thanks to proven engines. If the latter is what interests you, we have just the right thing.
The American Power Cruiser Space Has Grown In Recent Years
Whether they come from Indian or Harley-Davidson, American cruisers have always prioritized torque over horsepower. That still remains the case, but the focus on horsepower has grown in recent years. This is largely down to Europe and Japan stepping up their cruiser game, promising mighty power cruisers like the Ducati Diavel V4 and Triumph Rocket 3. So inevitably, the American giants had to step up their game to reduce the disadvantage.
Harley-Davidson is perhaps the flagbearer in this regard. It has whipped up a new Sportster range, armed with liquid-cooled Revolution Max engines. They focus on peak power by promising 91 hp from the 975cc engine and 121 hp from the 1,252cc engine. The latter is the highest output for a Harley cruiser today. In addition, the Softail lineup is more powerful than ever. That’s because the Milwaukee-Eight 117 is the new staple engine in place of the Milwaukee-Eight 114. Thus, the average Softail output is closer to the triple digits than ever before.
Reliability Has Improved, Too
In addition to eking out more power, Harley has worked to improve reliability as well. There have been notable internal changes in the past couple of years, such as an improved cooling system, new ECU tunes, and updated intake-exhaust systems. Sure, you can’t expect them to be as abuse-friendly as Japanese machines, but things are certainly better than the “marking the territory” days.
The Cruiser That Nails Comfort, Presence, And Practicality
Harley’s Nightster Special balances V‑Twin character with comfort and tech, redefining what a budget modern cruiser should be.
The Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Is Powerful And Reliable
Price: $18,999
Considering all these things, the Low Rider S is arguably the best cruiser to justify the title. In its latest avatar, the S features the most powerful version of the Milwaukee-Eight 117. This is also the most advanced version of the 117 yet, which means better long-term reliability than ever before. Take a look at the portals, and many owners claim to have racked up high mileage with this version of the 117 with just regular services.
More Reliable Than Before, But….
You should also know that the Milwaukee-Eight 117 has been in Harley’s portfolio for quite some time now. So all early issues (oil leakage, weak lifters, and overheating) have been periodically addressed. Harley’s supply chain woes are improving, too, so if something does go south, you should have parts and warranty to get you back on the road. Take this with a pinch of salt, though. Yes, it is better than ever, and the potential for failure has reduced. But the potential is still higher here than a Japanese bike.
The Low Rider S Promises A Premium Experience
In 2026, the Low Rider S is more impressive than ever before. That’s down to repeated updates, in terms of design, features, and of course, the powerhouse. At the same time, with new leadership, the pricing strategy is more aggressive. So you’re technically getting a better bike for less money than before.
Produces Over 110 HP And 125 LB-FT
Diving deeper, the Low Rider S features the Milwaukee-Eight 117 High Output engine. The ‘High Output’ suffix brings a forward-facing Heavy Breather intake, a performance-tuned 2-into-1 exhaust, a high-performance SE8-511 camshaft, and a raised redline. That helps achieve an output of 114 horsepower and 128 pound-feet, where the former is the highest for a Softail in 2026. To sweeten the pot, the power kicks in at 5,000 RPM and the torque at 4,000 RPM. Keep it pinned, and you will breach 124 miles per hour. Whereas, if you go easy on the gas, the V-twin chugs along to promise 47 miles per gallon.
Modern Showa Suspension Brings A Sporty Edge
We usually see Harley take a conservative approach with its Softail cruisers. A simple steel double-cradle chassis and telescopic forks are the norm. But here, the sporty intent is quite evident. Up top, 43 mm Showa upside-down forks take center stage, while the rear has a monoshock with preload adjustment. This is topped with sporty alloy wheels (19/16-inch), with the front housing dual disc brakes. The latter is a unique touch by Softail standards.
The Cruiser That Makes Harley Riders Look Twice
Here, you get an authentic vintage design with modern big twin performance that’s hard to ignore even by die-hard Harley fans.
Sub-700-Pound Weight And High Lean Angles
These chassis elements help keep the weight down. The Low Rider S weighs 670 pounds wet, which makes this one of the lightest Softails today. There’s also 5.7 inches of ground clearance, which enables a maximum lean angle of 31.3 degrees on each side (the highest for a Softail). Some other notable dimensions comprise:
- Ground clearance: 5.7 inches
- Seat height: 27 inches
- Wheelbase: 63.6 inches
- Weight: 670 pounds (wet)
- Tire size: 110/180-section (F/R)
Superbike-Like Rider Aids Ensure Safety
This might just be the most impressive aspect of the Low Rider S after the engine. While the design is retro, recent updates have brought a thoroughly modern set of electronic features here. Starting with the safety aids, a six-axis IMU enables cornering ABS, cornering traction control, and cornering drag-torque control. This is topped with ride modes that change the throttle sensitivity and engine map.
Then, there are the creature comforts. Harley has thrown in cruise control, a tire pressure monitoring system, a USB port, and LED lights as standard inclusions here. We just wish there were a crisp TFT instrument cluster to back up all this. The simple semi-digital LCD just doesn’t feel premium enough.
Source: Harley-Davidson