Lean angle
Cruiser
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 104
Likes: 53
From: Yorktown Heights, NY
I’d add one more thing if you buy a softail with the big 240 back tire (fat boy, breakout)…change the back tire to the Metzler Cruisetec 260 back tire. Really makes it easier for the bike to lean. On the stock rim it’ll really only be about 245 but will be more rounded which makes it easier to lean. (Replacing both tires to the grippier Cruisetecs are a definite upgrade over the stock scorchers).
Definitely enjoying the upgrade on my 2018 Fat Boy.
Definitely enjoying the upgrade on my 2018 Fat Boy.
Last edited by YHNYDad; May 1, 2023 at 09:40 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 2,753
From: England
I’d add one more thing if you buy a softail with the big 240 back tire (fat boy, breakout)…change the back tire to the Metzler Cruisetec 260 back tire. Really makes it easier for the bike to lean. On the stock rim it’ll really only be about 245 but will be more rounded which makes it easier to lean. (Replacing both tires to the grippier Cruisetecs are a definite upgrade over the stock scorchers).
Definitely enjoying the upgrade on my 2018 Fat Boy.
Definitely enjoying the upgrade on my 2018 Fat Boy.
I ask because I had Metzeler Roadtec 01's on my KTM 1190 Adventure and they wore rapidly. The centre wore away in double quick time and that's on a bike that lives its whole life in the twisties.
The Cruisertecs are essentially the same tyre in cruiser weight and size as the Roadtec 01's. The tread pattern is more or less identical. My Scorchers are coming to the end at 5000 miles. I don't think they'll make 7K. I'm tempted by the Cruisertecs but on past experience I worry they'll struggle to hit 4K before the rear is down to the wear bars.
Last edited by Gimlet; May 2, 2023 at 05:13 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 104
Likes: 53
From: Yorktown Heights, NY
Have you tried Avon Cobra Chromes? I ask because I'm thinking of putting them on my LRS. In the Low Rider's case, it's for better grip and feedback over the stock Scorchers, rather than extra lean.
I ask because I had Metzeler Roadtec 01's on my KTM 1190 Adventure and they wore rapidly. The centre wore away in double quick time and that's on a bike that lives its whole life in the twisties.
The Cruisertecs are essentially the same tyre in cruiser weight and size as the Roadtec 01's. The tread pattern is more or less identical. My Scorchers are coming to the end at 5000 miles. I don't think they'll make 7K. I'm tempted by the Cruisertecs but on past experience I worry they'll struggle to hit 4K before the rear is down to the wear bars.
I ask because I had Metzeler Roadtec 01's on my KTM 1190 Adventure and they wore rapidly. The centre wore away in double quick time and that's on a bike that lives its whole life in the twisties.
The Cruisertecs are essentially the same tyre in cruiser weight and size as the Roadtec 01's. The tread pattern is more or less identical. My Scorchers are coming to the end at 5000 miles. I don't think they'll make 7K. I'm tempted by the Cruisertecs but on past experience I worry they'll struggle to hit 4K before the rear is down to the wear bars.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 3,392
From: Seattle
I’d add one more thing if you buy a softail with the big 240 back tire (fat boy, breakout)…change the back tire to the Metzler Cruisetec 260 back tire. Really makes it easier for the bike to lean. On the stock rim it’ll really only be about 245 but will be more rounded which makes it easier to lean. (Replacing both tires to the grippier Cruisetecs are a definite upgrade over the stock scorchers).
Definitely enjoying the upgrade on my 2018 Fat Boy.
Definitely enjoying the upgrade on my 2018 Fat Boy.
I really like these bridgestones, the front is a fantastic tire, and the rear is grippy and great handling, and they are lasting quite a long time. but those metzlers are calling my name because the price of them is much lower.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 487
Likes: 338
From: FL winter, northern MI summer
I like to do figure 8s for practice. I have an area I marked off with the length of two parking spots, and the sides with two marks, 20, and 18 foot. I do slow bar stop, and fast hard lean 8s. I don't like to hear the floor board scrape, thinking its doing damage. I let my feet hang over the floor boards a little, use them like a curb feeler. When I start feeling the road, I come out of the friction zone, or more throttle.
I'm on my third front tire, two Scochers, and last week I put on a Cruistec. The right side always completly bald, the rest plenty of tread. I put a Metz tripple 8 on the back for its first change a few weeks ago,
I only have 368 on the new front Crustec, but I feel a difference, seems more stable, but can't put my finger on what is different. The tripple 8 in back is wearing real well, it has a little over 5,000 miles on it. The 2021 Fatboy has 16,600 miles, I bought it January 2022, the day I picked it up, the 22s hit the showroom. I'm in Florida for the winter, I'll return north soon, and be riding the shovel. This bike gets six months a year use.
I'm liking the Metzelers front and back a whole lot, I sure won't go back to the Scorchers. Time will tell if the Metz will wear on the right like the Mitch, I hope not.
I'm on my third front tire, two Scochers, and last week I put on a Cruistec. The right side always completly bald, the rest plenty of tread. I put a Metz tripple 8 on the back for its first change a few weeks ago,
I only have 368 on the new front Crustec, but I feel a difference, seems more stable, but can't put my finger on what is different. The tripple 8 in back is wearing real well, it has a little over 5,000 miles on it. The 2021 Fatboy has 16,600 miles, I bought it January 2022, the day I picked it up, the 22s hit the showroom. I'm in Florida for the winter, I'll return north soon, and be riding the shovel. This bike gets six months a year use.
I'm liking the Metzelers front and back a whole lot, I sure won't go back to the Scorchers. Time will tell if the Metz will wear on the right like the Mitch, I hope not.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 536
Likes: 252
From: Western Australia
Dominion Floorboards, Sport Glide
I also like to hit the corners, and the pegs on my Sport Glide did hit down pretty early, but not as early as my old 2018 Fatboy.
I needed floorboards again so I just fitted a set of Dominion Floorboards, and it has definitely improved the lean angle available over pegs.
But the big gain in cornering has been the removal of tall bars, and back to stock- I instantly regained the ability to move over the bike to lean the bike less, and corner in a more natural position. I have taught rider skills and racecraft in the past and I'm quite shocked how I've overlooked handlebar position and how it affects body positioning mid corner.
I needed floorboards again so I just fitted a set of Dominion Floorboards, and it has definitely improved the lean angle available over pegs.
But the big gain in cornering has been the removal of tall bars, and back to stock- I instantly regained the ability to move over the bike to lean the bike less, and corner in a more natural position. I have taught rider skills and racecraft in the past and I'm quite shocked how I've overlooked handlebar position and how it affects body positioning mid corner.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 3,392
From: Seattle
I also like to hit the corners, and the pegs on my Sport Glide did hit down pretty early, but not as early as my old 2018 Fatboy.
I needed floorboards again so I just fitted a set of Dominion Floorboards, and it has definitely improved the lean angle available over pegs.
But the big gain in cornering has been the removal of tall bars, and back to stock- I instantly regained the ability to move over the bike to lean the bike less, and corner in a more natural position. I have taught rider skills and racecraft in the past and I'm quite shocked how I've overlooked handlebar position and how it affects body positioning mid corner.
I needed floorboards again so I just fitted a set of Dominion Floorboards, and it has definitely improved the lean angle available over pegs.
But the big gain in cornering has been the removal of tall bars, and back to stock- I instantly regained the ability to move over the bike to lean the bike less, and corner in a more natural position. I have taught rider skills and racecraft in the past and I'm quite shocked how I've overlooked handlebar position and how it affects body positioning mid corner.
And yet people don't get it.
Even after pointing out that King of the Baggers bikes all have low set back close to the rider moto bars, instead of massive tall T bars.
I have kicked back and low set bars on my bike because they let me use GP Body position. Apes and Tbars would just get in the way of my riding style.
Last edited by FranBunnyFFXII; May 6, 2023 at 02:28 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 536
Likes: 252
From: Western Australia
I've explained to people time and time again on reddit that people who have tall T-Bars on their Performance Harleys are just gimping themselves because any handling advantage they gain by going with T-Bars is negated in the fact that it makes you unable to use any real body position on the bike to get the bike to corner faster.
And yet people don't get it.
Even after pointing out that King of the Baggers bikes all have low set back close to the rider moto bars, instead of massive tall T bars.
I have kicked back and low set bars on my bike because they let me use GP Body position. Apes and Tbars would just get in the way of my riding style.
And yet people don't get it.
Even after pointing out that King of the Baggers bikes all have low set back close to the rider moto bars, instead of massive tall T bars.
I have kicked back and low set bars on my bike because they let me use GP Body position. Apes and Tbars would just get in the way of my riding style.
How I overlooked this with my riding history I don't know
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