Harley's old-school hotrod cruiser has had a makeover for 2025 along with the rest of the Softail range. With more cubes, improved suspension and a suite of electronics at its disposal, the Heritage Classic is a beautiful amalgamation of retro looks with modern tech and performance.

The Heritage is aimed squarely at those folk with a deep sense of nostalgia - you know, those who picture themselves not riding a throwback from the eighties or even the seventies, but a ride that rock & roll icons like Elvis Presley or Chuck Berry may have cruised around on in the '50s or '60s.

Despite its classic appeal and old-school looks, the 2025 iteration of the Heritage has copped a raft of mechanical, and electronics changes along with the rest of the Softail range proving that you should never ever judge a book by its cover.

The electronics department is where the 2025 really spears away from previous models, and it is jam-packed with technological whiz-bangery. For the first time, the Heritage Classic is equipped with a suite of what Harley calls Rider Safety Enhancements, including selectable ride modes (Road, Rain and Sport), cornering ABS and traction control, Cornering Drag Torque Slip Control - which in lay terms means it keeps the bum of the Heritage under control if you're banging down through the gears with aggression - and tyre-pressure monitoring. And finally, the Heritage gets a full deck of LED lights for 2025. You can't rush these things.

Shoehorned into the steel frame is a shiny new Milwaukee-Eight 117 Classic powerplant that lifts performance and gives the Heritage a boost in usability and fun factor. There's 91hp of power and 156Nm of torque at your disposal now, and if you were wondering if all the fancy electronics are worth having, then you just try turning the traction control off and punching it off the lights with a 1923cc V-twin between your legs - the Heritage will happily fry its rear tyre if you're heavy on the gas. Needless to say, for the style of bike and for its intended usage parameters, there's more than enough poke whenever you need it.

The suspension has also come in for some attention, and in my opinion, it's second only to the Heritage's electronics game on the list of significant upgrades. Gone are the progressive-rate springs of the previous model, replaced now by constant-rate springs and a general fettling of the suspension at both ends, and it is a vast improvement over the old model. You can punt the Heritage through a set of corners with surprising ease and grace, yet it is still somewhat of a magic carpet ride when you're thundering down the highway or navigating cratered Australian B-roads.

Comfort is supremely good. The large removable screen does a sterling job of keeping the bugs from committing suicide on your face, the seat cradles your bottom like a caring pair of hands, and cruise control is also standard.

Now, you can't talk about the Heritage - or Harleys in general - without mentioning the fit and finish. Harley just seems to do it better every year, and the Heritage is simply gorgeous. From the deep and luxurious paint to the leather-wrapped saddlebags with blackened-nickel studs, it's simply beautiful to behold. For 2025 the Heritage is available with a bunch of aesthetic options. You can choose from either cast wheels or the handsome tubeless spoked wheels you see on this test rig here. The Heritage comes with black trim and is available in five different colour options, so there's something for everyone. On top of that you've got Harley's massive range of accessories to choose from, so you really can make your ride an individual statement.

Few bikes combine old-school looks with modern technology and thumping V-twin presence like the Heritage. Although I'm not old enough to have been around when rock and roll was born and its pioneers roamed the land on Harleys that bear a striking resemblance to the Heritage, this is my idea of what a true classic Harley should look like. With its improvements in the engine, electronics, and handling - and its handsome good looks - the Heritage Classic is a no-brainer for those looking for old-school cool.