Harley Davidson FLSTSB Softail Cross Bones 2008 Service Manual

Harley's own launch announcement leaned hard into the theatrics: "the new Harley-Davidson FLSTSB Softail Cross Bones cuts the aggressive profile of an authentic custom bobber, but with some dark twists that deliver a wickedly fun and emotional riding experience." Introduced fresh for 2008 and unveiled at the Winter Dealer Meeting in San Antonio, it joined the Dark Custom family alongside the Nightster, Night Train, Night Rod Special, and Street Bob — and Motorcycle.com's own reviewer called it, without hedging, their new favorite Harley.

Power comes from the rigid-mounted, counter-balanced Twin Cam 96B — the "B" in Cross Bones' engineering shorthand — a 1,584cc fuel-injected V-twin run through a 6-speed Cruise Drive gearbox, finished in a Black and Polished treatment with black-out crankcases against chrome rocker arms and cylinder heads. A straight-shot exhaust with chrome slash-cut mufflers gives it a genuinely raw exhaust note to match the styling.

Post-war bobber cues run throughout: a genuine Springer front end (a parallelogram fork design, not just Springer styling), an adjustable two-position sprung solo saddle that leaves the rear fender bare and accentuates the bike's long, stretched look, half-round rider footboards, a Gloss Black round air cleaner cover, and a chopped front fender. A massive 200mm rear tire fills out the stance. Front suspension travel sits at 3.8 inches, roughly an inch less than other Softails that year, with 4.3 inches at the rear. Dry weight comes in around 700-701 lbs, with a low 30.2-inch seat height. Production ran through 2011 before the model was discontinued.