Springer Style: A Harley Comeback that Defined an Era
7 June 2021
We're joining you all in taking the day off for a long weekend, and as usual on easy days like this, we post a little Harley history for you to read. No motorcycle brand cherishes and holds tight to its heritage as Harley-Davidson does, and here's an unmatched example ......the Springer.
In an incredibly brave move, in 1988 the Motor Company brought back a front fork design unused since 1948, and the FXSTS Softail Springer became the peak example of the retro-stylings made available by the Softail frame. The 1988 Springer forks were lauded as a brilliant result of then-new CAD (computer-aided-design), and H-D wanted to show how the past can improve the present, and lead to the future.
And typically of Harley-Davidson's history, the MoCo made a perfect read of the zeitgeist, and the Springer was a world-wide success for 15 years. The last FXSTS models were in 2003.
For the 1997 model year, the Springer family grew to include the FLSTS Heritage Springer, with the fat 16' front wheel. Later re-named the Springer Classic, the model ran until 2006. There were also CVO Screamin' Eagle Springers (FXSTSSE) made for 2007, 2008, and 2009, and these are now in-demand and expensive motorcycles.
All the Springers had a couple of consistent characteristics for riders. They were a touch harsher over bumps than models with telescopic forks, they were a little heavier to steer at very low speed, but on the highways or the backroads they offered superb and precise handling.