The Night Train was Harley-Davidson’s factory-custom Softail cruiser, introduced during the 1998 model year as a mid-year addition to the Softail lineup. It used the FXSTB designation and was positioned as a darker, stripped-down alternative to the more chrome-heavy custom and Heritage Softail models of the era. The name fit the bike’s look: a blacked-out, low-slung Softail with minimalist trim and a long, lean stance that appealed to riders who wanted a more aggressive custom aesthetic straight from the factory.
Harley-Davidson continued the nameplate through the 2000s, and it remained part of the Softail family as the platform evolved. By the late 2000s, the model was still listed in Harley-Davidson’s Softail model-code documentation, reflecting its place in the lineup alongside other core Softail variants. The final model year was 2009; it does not appear in the 2010 Softail model-code table, indicating the nameplate ended after the 2009 run.
The Night Train became notable among enthusiasts for capturing the early factory-bobber/custom trend in Harley-Davidson’s cruiser range. Its appeal came less from elaborate styling than from restraint: black finishes, simple lines, and a more purposeful, muscular presence than many of its showroom siblings. That combination helped make it one of the better-remembered Softail special-edition-style cruisers of its period.