New bike kicking my a**
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 732
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From: Concrete jungle
New bike kicking my a**
I moved form a 2016 RG Ultra to a 2021 RG Limited. '16 (picked up just about a year ago) had aftermarket suspension, stock mufflers, 14" KST bars, LRS 14" winddshield. Rode many hours without issue, once I acclimated from the Sporty I had prior. Maybe a week to acclimate, and I was good. I put about 11000 miles on it without much thought including a ~950mile day.
Fast forward, and now I'm on a 21 RG Limited. Same windshield and seat installed to the new bike. Went on a 150 mile break in ride today and just about had to take a nap after putting bike back into the garage. Was only 3 weeks between bikes, and feels like I tried for an Iron Butt award today (150 miles - HA!).
Put the kid on back just to see how the suspension is, and she made the comment of "vibrations are different". This got me thinking and I think she might have recognized something. Am I crazy or does the 103 and the M8 114 have different engine vibrations transmitted to the driver/passenger?
I have a '20 Softail Standard, with a 107, and it doesn't wear me out like the new RG. Do the 107 <> 114 differ that much? Or did I drink too much beer for three weeks and am that out of shape?
Fast forward, and now I'm on a 21 RG Limited. Same windshield and seat installed to the new bike. Went on a 150 mile break in ride today and just about had to take a nap after putting bike back into the garage. Was only 3 weeks between bikes, and feels like I tried for an Iron Butt award today (150 miles - HA!).
Put the kid on back just to see how the suspension is, and she made the comment of "vibrations are different". This got me thinking and I think she might have recognized something. Am I crazy or does the 103 and the M8 114 have different engine vibrations transmitted to the driver/passenger?
I have a '20 Softail Standard, with a 107, and it doesn't wear me out like the new RG. Do the 107 <> 114 differ that much? Or did I drink too much beer for three weeks and am that out of shape?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,998
Likes: 915
From: Madisonville, La
The M8 has what H-D calls a 3/4 balancer. Not as smooth as a softail but smoother than a twin cam. If it's that bad your bike need to visit the dealer for a checkup. Do a demo ride too so you can compare your bike to another new M8 touring bike.
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Concrete jungle
I recognize there will be some differences in the motors. The Softy really impressed me being smooth compared to the 103. I guess it just caught me out, now that the initial delivery excitement is wearing off.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,467
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From: Charleston, SC
Although an "M8" is in both your Softail and Touring bike, they are two very different configurations.
The softail has two counter-balancers and is directly mounted to the frame where the Touring line has only one counter-balancer and is rubber mounted to the frame.
Typically softails will show no/low vibration at low to mid RPM but begin to high frequency(buzz) at high rpm and highway speeds.
The touring config will show moderate vibration at low to mid RPM but smooth out at high RPM/highway speeds - it is usually preferred for long distance as it does not wear you out with vibrations (hand numb etc).
A M8 touring will typically buzz more at speed than a TC 103 due to the counter-balancer... but have way less vibration at low/mid rpm than the 103.
That said, a touring bike will vibrate the most when brand new. Run it, let it break in, and the vibrations should settle down to a comfortable level - but it will never be as low as a comparable softail except at highway speeds where it shines.
If it never eases up, begin checking your exhaust alignment. If you remove the two mounting bolts holding the muffler to the saddlebag hanger and the muffler springs out and away, your exhaust is not aligned.
Misaligned exhaust will pull the engine down in the mounts causing more vibration which will transfer through the frame and especially up through the saddlebag hangers...
The softail has two counter-balancers and is directly mounted to the frame where the Touring line has only one counter-balancer and is rubber mounted to the frame.
Typically softails will show no/low vibration at low to mid RPM but begin to high frequency(buzz) at high rpm and highway speeds.
The touring config will show moderate vibration at low to mid RPM but smooth out at high RPM/highway speeds - it is usually preferred for long distance as it does not wear you out with vibrations (hand numb etc).
A M8 touring will typically buzz more at speed than a TC 103 due to the counter-balancer... but have way less vibration at low/mid rpm than the 103.
That said, a touring bike will vibrate the most when brand new. Run it, let it break in, and the vibrations should settle down to a comfortable level - but it will never be as low as a comparable softail except at highway speeds where it shines.
If it never eases up, begin checking your exhaust alignment. If you remove the two mounting bolts holding the muffler to the saddlebag hanger and the muffler springs out and away, your exhaust is not aligned.
Misaligned exhaust will pull the engine down in the mounts causing more vibration which will transfer through the frame and especially up through the saddlebag hangers...
Last edited by lp; Apr 19, 2021 at 07:04 AM.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 732
Likes: 909
From: Concrete jungle
Although an "M8" is in both your Softail and Touring bike, they are two very different configurations.
The softail has two counter-balancers and is directly mounted to the frame where the Touring line has only one counter-balancer and is rubber mounted to the frame.
Typically softails will show no/low vibration at low to mid RPM but begin to high frequency(buzz) at high rpm and highway speeds.
The touring config will show moderate vibration at low to mid RPM but smooth out at high RPM/highway speeds - it is usually preferred for long distance as it does not wear you out with vibrations (hand numb etc).
A M8 touring will typically buzz more at speed than a TC 103 due to the counter-balancer... but have way less vibration at low/mid rpm than the 103.
That said, a touring bike will vibrate the most when brand new. Run it, let it break in, and the vibrations should settle down to a comfortable level - but it will never be as low as a comparable softail except at highway speeds where it shines.
If it never eases up, begin checking your exhaust alignment. If you remove the two mounting bolts holding the muffler to the saddlebag hanger and the muffler springs out and away, your exhaust is not aligned.
Misaligned exhaust will pull the engine down in the mounts causing more vibration which will transfer through the frame and especially up through the saddlebag hangers...
The softail has two counter-balancers and is directly mounted to the frame where the Touring line has only one counter-balancer and is rubber mounted to the frame.
Typically softails will show no/low vibration at low to mid RPM but begin to high frequency(buzz) at high rpm and highway speeds.
The touring config will show moderate vibration at low to mid RPM but smooth out at high RPM/highway speeds - it is usually preferred for long distance as it does not wear you out with vibrations (hand numb etc).
A M8 touring will typically buzz more at speed than a TC 103 due to the counter-balancer... but have way less vibration at low/mid rpm than the 103.
That said, a touring bike will vibrate the most when brand new. Run it, let it break in, and the vibrations should settle down to a comfortable level - but it will never be as low as a comparable softail except at highway speeds where it shines.
If it never eases up, begin checking your exhaust alignment. If you remove the two mounting bolts holding the muffler to the saddlebag hanger and the muffler springs out and away, your exhaust is not aligned.
Misaligned exhaust will pull the engine down in the mounts causing more vibration which will transfer through the frame and especially up through the saddlebag hangers...
Supposed to have a dusting of snow tomorrow, so might be this weekend before I can get more saddle time on it.
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Flat Rock, MI
Do you have have still have the stock suspension and bars on the new bike? That could be the issue.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,926
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From: ohio
Thanks - Thought I read that someplace (differences in M8 softy<>touring). Just cracked 300m on it so hoping both it loosens up, and I get back in shape.
Delivered with rear set to 5. Chart in doc looks too complicated, but noted that it might not be optimal for my config. I did ratchet it up to 10 before the kid jumped on anticipating it was too soft. Too soon to tell on this adjustment.
Supposed to have a dusting of snow tomorrow, so might be this weekend before I can get more saddle time on it.
Delivered with rear set to 5. Chart in doc looks too complicated, but noted that it might not be optimal for my config. I did ratchet it up to 10 before the kid jumped on anticipating it was too soft. Too soon to tell on this adjustment.
Supposed to have a dusting of snow tomorrow, so might be this weekend before I can get more saddle time on it.
