This nameplate first appeared in the mid-1980s as part of Harley-Davidson’s original Softail family, a line built to capture the look of a rigid-frame custom while using hidden rear suspension for real-world ride comfort. The model was introduced as a factory custom in 1986 and quickly became one of the more recognizable members of the Softail lineup, appealing to riders who wanted a long, low cruiser with classic Harley styling and a stronger custom-bike presence than the standard Softail models of the era.
The nameplate’s first production run continued through the 1999 model year, after which it disappeared from Harley-Davidson’s lineup for several years. It later returned for the 2007 model year and remained in production through 2010, giving the badge a second, separate era before it was discontinued again. Because of that gap, the nameplate should be treated as having multiple production periods rather than one uninterrupted run.
Historically, this model is best understood as one of Harley-Davidson’s more style-driven Softail variants: lower, leaner, and more custom-inspired than the broader touring-oriented Softail family members. In Harley-Davidson history, it sits among the bikes that helped define the factory-custom cruiser formula the company leaned on for decades, and it remains a familiar badge to enthusiasts of the classic Softail era.