I just watched a good video produced a few months ago celebrating the Harley Davidson Softail design. Harley Davidson Softail frames were first produced in 1983 and later upgraded in 2018. For those of you who don't know, the Softail name represents a Harley Davidson line of motorcycles that has the rear shock(s) hidden from view to make it look like the motorcycle is using a hard tail frame design, but still has the comfort of having a rear suspension. A hard tail design is used on a motorcycle with no rear suspension giving it a style and clean look many people still appreciate today. The Softail design has been very popular for Harley Davidson Motor Co., over the last 42 years.
As much as I like the Softail video, it didn't pay tribute to a very historical motorcycle known for having the first single shock rear suspension. The motorcycle is a 1937 Vincent HRD Series A Rapide (see photo). The rear shock on the Vincent is placed up high almost inline with the frame back bone much like the Monoshock rear suspension design first used on a 1975 Yamaha, and the new Harley Davidson Softail design first used in 2018. The Vincent company could have very easily hidden the rear shock from view and gotten the same look as the rear section of a Softail motorcycle
When you see something new and popular don't assume it didn't exist before in part or whole. A very popular saying is "there is nothing new under the sun," and it was Albert Einstein who said, "The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." And I'm not mentioning the Vincent single shock rear suspension to take anything away from Yamaha or Harley Davidson. The Softail design has been very popular for Harley Davdison Motor Co., and they should celebrate their success.
A 1937 Vincent HRD Series A Rapide motorcycle (click image to enlarge)
The newer Harley Davidson Softail frame design first produced in 2018 (click image to enlarge)
