touring
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
Just to clarify, my 114 Heritage is definitely not “buzzy” or high frequency vibes like the Twin Cam Softails. It’s more of a pulse. I love this feeling.
3,000 RPM (80 mph) does seem to be a harmonic hot spot, but cruising below 78 or above 82 solves it. My hands don’t go numb, but that can be bar position too for those who suffer.
I’ll still say there are “smoother” models. Touring and TC Dyna’s.
3,000 RPM (80 mph) does seem to be a harmonic hot spot, but cruising below 78 or above 82 solves it. My hands don’t go numb, but that can be bar position too for those who suffer.
I’ll still say there are “smoother” models. Touring and TC Dyna’s.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,837
Likes: 1,430
From: NJ
Just to clarify, my 114 Heritage is definitely not buzzy or high frequency vibes like the Twin Cam Softails. Its more of a pulse. I love this feeling.
3,000 RPM (80 mph) does seem to be a harmonic hot spot, but cruising below 78 or above 82 solves it. My hands dont go numb, but that can be bar position too for those who suffer.
Ill still say there are smoother models. Touring and TC Dynas.
3,000 RPM (80 mph) does seem to be a harmonic hot spot, but cruising below 78 or above 82 solves it. My hands dont go numb, but that can be bar position too for those who suffer.
Ill still say there are smoother models. Touring and TC Dynas.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,324
Likes: 3,869
From: Upstate New York
I agree. With s better seat (a bit higher and not sloped backwards), I could ride the Heritage anywhere, anytime. As it is my tailbone goes numb after an hour. Worst stock seat on any Harley Ive ridden!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
Solid mounting allows for the classic frame lines of the Softail (mimicking the old rigid mounts). Rubber mounting (Dyna and Touring) requires a boxier frame to allow motor movement at the mounts.
The vibes on my Heritage dont bother me, but switching to my wifes Road King Special on our last trip it was remarkably smoother...so is my 09 Dyna at freeway speeds.
The Softail line has always been partly about the classic HD look. They engineered 100% of the vibes out and test riders complained it didnt feel like a Harley, so they dialed a bit back in....cant make everyone happy I guess.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,351
Likes: 2,310
From: Wisconsin
David Gilmour
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,324
Likes: 3,869
From: Upstate New York
I rode an Evo Softail (rigid mount and no balancers) for 25 years and 223,000 miles. I never complained about vibration on that bike and I dont see a problem with my new Heritage either.
Its like my ex wife used to say, they could hang you with a new rope and some of you would bitch about it.
Its like my ex wife used to say, they could hang you with a new rope and some of you would bitch about it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 865
From: SW Ohio
I don't notice any uncomfortable vibes on my Sport Glide, but my previous bikes where solid mount enginea also (adventure touring bikes), so it all comes down to what you're used to. I ride on the interstate every day as part of my commute, and I usually roll around 78-80MPH. My lonest trip I've done so far with the Sport Glide was down to Chattanooga (from Wilmington, OH). I ran straight down I-75 as I was traveling for work. When I got down there, I felt like I could have kept going to Florida...not really any fatigue to speak of.
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 574
Likes: 263
From: Spokane, WA
The op needs to try the bikes for himself because we are never going to all agree on what feels smooth and what feels vibey. I've ridden several twin balancer Softails and none of them feel smooth to me. I'm shaking my hands out every ride. It's not as bad as some but there are much smoother rides out there if that is your main concern.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 965
Likes: 297
From: NoVa
Re. solid mount vs. rubber mount: Solid mounting the engine lets the engine act as a "stressed member" of the frame. This can make the frame stiffer, but if the engine is a real shaker, you actually need a stronger, heavier frame to keep from breaking.
You can solid mount a Harley engine, but it really needs counter balancers to do it, just like HD did with the new Softails. The Sportster used a solid mounted, non-counter-balanced engine for years until 2004. I'll tell you, the old Sportys just come "alive"as the revs climb - it's part of their charm - but it's also very fatiguing to ride for more than an hour. Above 4-5000 rpm, the gauges become hard to read, everything in the mirrors turns into little circles, and small parts stress crack with time.
The counter-balancers in the Softails seem to do a great job hitting the sweet spot of "good" Harley vibration and not introducing too much high-frequency vibe. The balancers add some mass to the engine, but you lose weight in the motor mounts and probably the frame too, plus you get an overall tighter chassis, which is why these things handle so much better.
You can solid mount a Harley engine, but it really needs counter balancers to do it, just like HD did with the new Softails. The Sportster used a solid mounted, non-counter-balanced engine for years until 2004. I'll tell you, the old Sportys just come "alive"as the revs climb - it's part of their charm - but it's also very fatiguing to ride for more than an hour. Above 4-5000 rpm, the gauges become hard to read, everything in the mirrors turns into little circles, and small parts stress crack with time.
The counter-balancers in the Softails seem to do a great job hitting the sweet spot of "good" Harley vibration and not introducing too much high-frequency vibe. The balancers add some mass to the engine, but you lose weight in the motor mounts and probably the frame too, plus you get an overall tighter chassis, which is why these things handle so much better.