Harley-Davidson Deadwood Revealed As Latest Softail Offering

American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson has revealed the Deadwood, a new stripped-down cruiser drawing inspiration from post-World War II custom motorcycles. Priced at $17,999 in the US, the Harley-Davidson Deadwood will be sold only in the United States and Canada, with a public debut set for the 7th of August at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.

The Deadwood joins Harley-Davidson's Cruiser range and follows the classic factory-bobber template of stripped trim and blacked-out finishes. The Harley-Davidson Deadwood will arrive at authorised dealerships in North America soon after its public debut during the Sturgis Rally.

Harley-Davidson Deadwood: Exterior Design

The Deadwood strips away non-essential brightwork in favour of an all-black treatment. The powertrain, exhaust, rear fender struts, handlebar, fork covers, headlamp bucket and turn signals are finished in black, with chrome limited to the lower rocker covers and pushrod tubes to highlight the V-twin's shape.

Denim Black paint covers the 18.9-litre (5 gallon) teardrop fuel tank of the and both fenders of the bike which are topped by orange tank graphics that reference the Western imagery tied to the Deadwood name. Laced wheels use black rims, while a tuck-and-roll solo seat with a 647mm laden height exposes the rear fender for that vintage silhouette.

Saddlebags have been omitted for the Harley-Davidson Deadwood, revealing a Softail chassis shaped to mimic a vintage hardtail frame. The lowered rear suspension and a chopped, detachable windshield complete the slammed profile of the Deadwood.

Harley-Davidson Head of Design Bjorn Shuster said,"The Deadwood motorcycle embodies that spirit of rebellion and individualism that was so prevalent following World War II, when many returning GI rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to experience excitement and freedom."He added. "At that time, very few vehicles could match the thrilling performance of a stripped-down war-surplus Harley-Davidson. As designers, we find this era of customization and personalization, the early origins of the bobber-style custom, to be very inspirational. Our second key source of inspiration lies directly in the name Deadwood, a place linked to both the Sturgis Rally and to its own rebellious history. The graphic design for the tank art evokes a Western visual language which personifies that location."

Harley-Davidson Deadwood: The Mechanical Bits

Power for the Harley-Davidson Deadwood comes from the Milwaukee-Eight 117 Classic V-twin displacing 1,923cc that produces 98hp and 163Nm of peak torque, tuned for a flat torque curve and easy rideability.

A 2-into-1 exhaust with a single muffler improves scavenging efficiency and delivers a low rumble at idle that builds under acceleration. Riders can select Road, Sport or Rain modes, each altering throttle response and the level of electronic intervention.

The Deadwood uses the Harley-Davidson Softail chassis, which hides its rear suspension to preserve a vintage hardtail look. A rear monoshock offers 3.4 inches of travel with hydraulic preload adjustment accessible from beneath the seat, while dual-bending valve 49mm front forks manage the front end.

Braking duties fall to a single front disc with a 300mm rotor and a single rear disc with a 292mm rotor. The motorcycle rolls on tubeless laced wheels, a 19-inch front and 16-inch rear, wrapped in Dunlop Harley-Davidson Series tyres sized 100/90B19 and 150/80B16 respectively.

Harley-Davidson Deadwood: Technology and Features

A five-inch console-mounted instrument pairs an analogue speedometer with a multi-function LCD display showing gear position, fuel level, trip data and range. Two heated gear connectors sit below the seat, alongside a USB-C charging port on the front-left of the motorcycle.

Lighting is entirely LED, including a seven-inch headlamp with a signature ring, auxiliary fog lamps and combined stop, tail and turn rear lighting.

The Harley-Davidson Deadwood comes equipped with straight-line and cornering ABS, straight-line and cornering traction control, and straight-line and cornering drag-torque slip control. Tyre pressure monitoring is standard across the motorcycle.