FXST / Softail Standard

This nameplate was introduced as Harley-Davidson’s stripped-back Softail Standard in the 1999 model year, using the FXST code as the most elemental big-twin member of the Softail family. It was positioned as a blank-canvas cruiser: a minimalist, bobber-influenced motorcycle aimed at riders who wanted the classic Softail look with fewer factory extras and more room for personalization. The FXST remained part of the lineup through the 2000s before disappearing for a period, after which Harley-Davidson revived the Softail Standard name for the 2020 model year on the modern Softail platform. That revival carried forward the same basic idea—an understated, customization-friendly cruiser with traditional Harley styling—while updating the chassis and powertrain for the contemporary Softail era. Because the nameplate has appeared in separate production runs rather than one uninterrupted sequence, its history should be treated as a discontinued model that later returned.