Im looking to get my 2nd bike. Really like the Fat Boy Lo and the Softball Slim. Friends tell me that the suspension in the Dyna series is better that the Softail. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

What is your current bike? How many miles experience do you have?

What do you like about the models you've chosen for your 2nd bike?

Are you thinking of touring? Twistys? "Around town?"

 

For me my Fatboy Lo rides great and does it all for me from short hops to long all day rides. You really need to test ride some different bikes to see what you like the best.

 

Every rider is different. While I love my Heritage for putting around town, I would never buy a softtail today...especially a FatBoy. Once you are used to riding a touring HD, you won't ever want to ride any other Harley for any significant amount of time.

If you are thinking of working your way up to a touring bike, just go ahead and get the touring bike now. Save your wallet. A touring bike is no more difficult to operate than a dyna or a softail.

If you don't like touring bikes or can't afford one at the moment, I would go for a lowrider or a wide glide. Those are probably the best handling bikes HD makes that aren't in the touring line up.

But again, every rider is different. If you mostly do city riding and want a bike for its looks, you can't go wrong with a Heritage or Deluxe.

 

I say go for the Fatboy

 

What style do YOU like?

Dynas are said to be a bit "sportier"...you can push them harder through the twisties. You sit a little "higher" on an FX chassis. Can have plenty of room for 2-up riding on a Dyna...my prior bike was one, had it setup old school Superglide style, nice 'n comfy for my 6'5" 215lb frame and my 5'6" 140 lb wife on the back.

'course the best sport riding chassis, the FXR, is no longer made.

Softy's were sometimes named "slop tails"...was said the rear end didn't track as well when being pushed hard through the twisties. And that if you're riding 2-up heavy with either you and/or the passenger being on the large size...they can bottom out a bit more. You sit a "lower" "IN" the FS chassis....many people love how you sit in them instead of on them. The seat itself is down lower in the frame, behind the tank. But the average rider won't push a Softy enough to really feel the slight loss in super hard sport riding through the twisties.

A friend of mine that is a SERIOUS rider..he rides around the entire US every year...doing a full lap of the country every year. His "daily rider" is an old Evo Softy classic.Puts more miles on that bike than probably 75% of this forum combined.

Touring...FLH chassis, yeah they're cushier. Obviously roomier and softer riding...as they're meant for touring.

But what do YOU like? What is your intended riding style?

 

What Stone Cat said....what do YOU like?

Not knowing what you can afford, what bike you "fit on", your riding habits, doesn't help anyone to pick out your next bike. Go to a dealership and test ride the ones the you like and go from there.

 

Here's a nice site to check out if your looking . Nationalpowersports.net

 

I say to go to the dealer and test ride a few, then make a decision.

 

Just get the bike that you want to begin with.
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