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Currently riding a '17 Lowrider S. It vibrates all thru the rev range. My previous '08 XL1200R was a lot smoother. Now I'm toying with the idea of selling the Low S, and getting a new Heritage Classic. I'm not a power junkie, I just wanna ride my own (older rider huh) ride. So which is smoother running, the 107 or the 114? Or is there no difference at all?
How you perceive vibrations is very subjective, it's really hard to say. Outside of bike-to-bike differences, tuning, resonance due to different exhausts, tires, etc., etc., what RPM range you cruise in makes a difference too.
Having said that, my Sport Glide with 107 is the smoothest Harley I've had (better than a couple of V-Rods, and definitely better than my 103 Road King), and smoother than the Breakout 114 and FLXR 114 I test-rode. If you are looking into Heritage, I'd definitely test-ride both engines.
Keep the S. It is actually worth alot more since it is a rare model and last year of the dyna. I kid you not. You can probably sell it for what you bought it for.
To me the 107 is smoother than the 114 from when I test rode them.
The 107 feels punchier and revs a little quicker , the shorter stroke would explain those findings I think.The 114 has more grunt more push.Horses for courses. We've ridden every iteration at the shop back to back and sideways too and we just loved riding them all.
Peace to you Sir.
Im currently riding a 2019 FXDR-S Milwaukee Eight 114" Stage 4 and a 2015 FXDB (Devils Highway Edition) Twin Cam 110" Stage 2. I will say beyond, any shadow of a doubt, my new FXDR's 114" Stage 4 is a much smoother running engine than my FXDB's 110" Stage 2. Talking about the bikes and their over all vibration comparison, now that's a whole different story. If interested, I can share or discuss vibrations and Harley Davidson motorcycle over the last 52 years if you like LOL
Last edited by Rick Baker; Feb 16, 2019 at 08:07 AM.
I find vibration on a bike to be very subjective. People are sensitive to different frequencies is my theory.
I rode a Ducati X-Diavel at a demo day. Lots of folks were raving about how smooth it was, but I felt a weird vibration up through my feet that was just bugging the hell out of me in the first block of the ride. I rode to the demo day on a 97 Harley Sportster, the sales guys thought I was going to love the X-Diavel and I couldn't stand it. They said they hadn't heard anyone else complain about vibration.
Really suggest you just go to a dealership and take a 107 and a 114 for a test ride back to back and see which one shakes you the right way (or if either shake you the wrong way).
I find vibration on a bike to be very subjective. People are sensitive to different frequencies is my theory.
I rode a Ducati X-Diavel at a demo day. Lots of folks were raving about how smooth it was, but I felt a weird vibration up through my feet that was just bugging the hell out of me in the first block of the ride. I rode to the demo day on a 97 Harley Sportster, the sales guys thought I was going to love the X-Diavel and I couldn't stand it. They said they hadn't heard anyone else complain about vibration.
Really suggest you just go to a dealership and take a 107 and a 114 for a test ride back to back and see which one shakes you the right way (or if either shake you the wrong way).
It is also a product of what one is used to. I had the same experience as you with a BMW R1200GS. People testing them raved at the smoothness of the boxer engines. Some posters in the BMW forums complained about the vibrations at speed and blamed it on t'body sync. My dealer took it for a ride and told me it was one of the smooth ones. I chocked it up to me coming from a counterbalanced inline-4 bike that tingled a bit on the highway but was otherwise smooth. These others raving about the boxers must have come from a single thumper or something.
I am not opposed to vibration, as long as it doesn't start to put my hands or feet to sleep. I sprung for a new Heritage Classuc 107 a few days ago. The vibrations are all good ones!
I find vibration on a bike to be very subjective. People are sensitive to different frequencies is my theory.
Agreed. M8 engines are a lot smoother than Twin Cams, but every M8 i've ridden has sent my hands numb in 5 minutes, i don't get that with my Twin Cam.
I do have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both wrists, so i am very sensitive to vibration. Something about the frequency of the vibration from M8's really doesn't agree with me. My Dyna shakes a lot more, but the frequecy doesn't affect me nearly as bad.
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Which is smoother? 107 or 114?
