XXXXXX Glide front ends
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Northeast, NJ
XXXXXX Glide front ends
Greetings,
I've read more than once about Wide Glide vs. Narrow Glide front ends. Can someone describe the differences from a functional perspective?
Does the bike actually ride differently with the different front ends? If so, how?
I've read more than once about Wide Glide vs. Narrow Glide front ends. Can someone describe the differences from a functional perspective?
Does the bike actually ride differently with the different front ends? If so, how?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 148
From: Northwest
WG has a greater angle of rake... how that comes out in difference?.. maybe a little different turning aspect, as the wheel is further out front.
Other than that... can't think of much as far as handling differences.
Other than that... can't think of much as far as handling differences.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 273
From: Minnesota
It's all about dampening the road surface and cornering abilities.
Three kinds of bike, Touring, Cruising and Sport and what kind of ride they're designed for.
In short, big forks and big tires smooth the rides for long term riding, smaller forks and smaller tires maneuver city streets 90° turns with ease. I'm not saying that any bike can't be used for any kind of riding style, it's about what they're designed for.
The wide glide is basically a Cruiser that was styled with a longer rake and smaller tire to appease a look, nothing more then aesthetics. It's uses Mid glide forks just set 1" wider.
Three kinds of bike, Touring, Cruising and Sport and what kind of ride they're designed for.
In short, big forks and big tires smooth the rides for long term riding, smaller forks and smaller tires maneuver city streets 90° turns with ease. I'm not saying that any bike can't be used for any kind of riding style, it's about what they're designed for.
The wide glide is basically a Cruiser that was styled with a longer rake and smaller tire to appease a look, nothing more then aesthetics. It's uses Mid glide forks just set 1" wider.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Nor Cal
Rauchman, this won't answer you question, but it may offer some info for you and others...
The "wide glide" term is commonly used and misused for different applications and commonly misinterpreted.
You have a wide-glide front end (in dimensions) on your FLD. It's just not the same wide-glide front end used on the Dyna Wide Glide (FXDWG). So people throw out "wide glide" at different times...ok, Wide glide in general? or the wide glide model? You probably can see how the confusion happens.
*Note: I'm glad HD doesn't have any models called "Narrow Glide" or "Mid Glide" or that would be a problem as well
You started me thinking about those FLD Switchback Trees and the fact that i've never seen them uncovered from the nacelle and definitely never had a set in my hands.
I wondered if they had any rake built into the trees...I found this thread https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...ple-trees.html
Interesting to see the appearance of the trees and one poster states that they have 0° rake...For now i'll assume that's true until I see them for myself
people make mistakes all the time because they just don't know.
For example, most people think that the 49mm Fat Bob (FXDF) trees have 0° Rake...Not True...they actually have a slight negative rake (inverse to the positive FXDWG)
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.
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The "wide glide" term is commonly used and misused for different applications and commonly misinterpreted.
You have a wide-glide front end (in dimensions) on your FLD. It's just not the same wide-glide front end used on the Dyna Wide Glide (FXDWG). So people throw out "wide glide" at different times...ok, Wide glide in general? or the wide glide model? You probably can see how the confusion happens.
*Note: I'm glad HD doesn't have any models called "Narrow Glide" or "Mid Glide" or that would be a problem as well
You started me thinking about those FLD Switchback Trees and the fact that i've never seen them uncovered from the nacelle and definitely never had a set in my hands.
I wondered if they had any rake built into the trees...I found this thread https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...ple-trees.html
Interesting to see the appearance of the trees and one poster states that they have 0° rake...For now i'll assume that's true until I see them for myself
people make mistakes all the time because they just don't know.For example, most people think that the 49mm Fat Bob (FXDF) trees have 0° Rake...Not True...they actually have a slight negative rake (inverse to the positive FXDWG)
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.
.
Last edited by multihdrdr; Feb 20, 2016 at 11:37 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: South of Mordor
I road for years with the Mid-Glide trees, which is stock on the 06' and newer Super Glides, Low Rider and Street Bob. Later I swapped the trees out for a set of Fat Bob trees which are the same width as the Wide Glide trees but without the added rake. The Wide Glide has added rake which kicks the front end out a little further resulting in wider turning radius and I believe better stability on at higher speeds. The Mid-Glide trees are about 1.5" narrower then the Wide Glide/Fat Bob trees. IMO going from the Mid-Glide trees to the Fat Bob trees, I didn't notice any handling differences, but guessing I would if I had used Wide-Glide trees. Now the front end on a Switchback is a whole different beast, I am guessing tit is more like riding a touring or softail (heritage, deluxe or fatboy) when it comes to the suspension aspect and maybe the handling too, I don't know.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,949
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From: South of Mordor
I did not notice any difference in the rake when I swapped out the trees, but I can not verify that there isn't any negative build into it at the moment. However, according to HD frame/neck descriptions (found in parts listing) and the steering rake found on the HD web site are as follows, I am guessing the difference degrees listed between the frame description and the HD site steering rake is the +/- in the trees rake itself.
***Frame info from 2013 parts book and steering info from web site 2015 models***
Street Bob Frame (PN-47745-06B) has 29 degrees of rake at the neck and the Site says total of 29 degrees of steering rake. (zero rake in tree)
Switchback Frame (PN-47745-06B) has 29 degrees of rake at the neck and the Site says total of 29.9 degrees of steering rake. (+.9 degrees of rake in tree)
Fat Bob NR Frame (PN-47760-10A) has 29 degrees of rake at the neck and the Site says total of 29 degrees of steering rake. (zero rake in tree)
Wide Glide Frame (PN-47748-10A) has 29 degrees of rake at the neck and the Site says total of 29 degrees of steering rake. (zero rake in tree)
***Frame info from 2013 parts book and steering info from web site 2015 models***
Street Bob Frame (PN-47745-06B) has 29 degrees of rake at the neck and the Site says total of 29 degrees of steering rake. (zero rake in tree)
Switchback Frame (PN-47745-06B) has 29 degrees of rake at the neck and the Site says total of 29.9 degrees of steering rake. (+.9 degrees of rake in tree)
Fat Bob NR Frame (PN-47760-10A) has 29 degrees of rake at the neck and the Site says total of 29 degrees of steering rake. (zero rake in tree)
Wide Glide Frame (PN-47748-10A) has 29 degrees of rake at the neck and the Site says total of 29 degrees of steering rake. (zero rake in tree)
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Club Member
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Nor Cal
but I can not verify that there isn't any negative build into it at the moment.
, but I can verify that it does have a negative rake I have many, many Triple Tree Sets...(and actually sliders too
)In 49mm, I have
Street Bob (with and without integral risers)...0° Rake
Low Rider...positive rake in between the SB and WG (disclaimer: Earlier 49mm LR, dunno about 14-later FXDL, haven't checked)
Wide Glide...positive rake
Vrod...Positive rake
Fat Bob...Negative Rake (FastHarley states 1.3°, but i haven't measured it)
I think the only 49mm Trees i don't have (and i'm sure that will change in the future) are 14-later Touring and Breakout
Hope i didn't miss one
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.
Last edited by multihdrdr; Feb 20, 2016 at 01:22 PM. Reason: Added low rider disclaimer :)
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,949
Likes: 150
From: South of Mordor
I guess you weren't looking for it
Kind of a double negative(negative)...tricky , but I can verify that it does have a negative rake
I have many, many Triple Tree Sets...(and actually sliders too)
In 49mm, I have
Street Bob (with and without integral risers)...0° Rake
Low Rider...positive rake in between the SB and WG (disclaimer: Earlier 49mm LR, dunno about 14-later FXDL, haven't checked)
Wide Glide...positive rake
Vrod...Positive rake
Fat Bob...Negative Rake (FastHarley states 1.3°, but i haven't measured it)
I think the only 49mm Trees i don't have (and i'm sure that will change in the future) are 14-later Touring and Breakout
Hope i didn't miss one
.
.
.
Kind of a double negative(negative)...tricky
, but I can verify that it does have a negative rake I have many, many Triple Tree Sets...(and actually sliders too
)In 49mm, I have
Street Bob (with and without integral risers)...0° Rake
Low Rider...positive rake in between the SB and WG (disclaimer: Earlier 49mm LR, dunno about 14-later FXDL, haven't checked)
Wide Glide...positive rake
Vrod...Positive rake
Fat Bob...Negative Rake (FastHarley states 1.3°, but i haven't measured it)
I think the only 49mm Trees i don't have (and i'm sure that will change in the future) are 14-later Touring and Breakout
Hope i didn't miss one
.
.
.
I don't see where the double negative is, I can't verify something when I don't currently have access to to the item to verify it, I the bike is at my house and I am not.
I was only trying to provide information I could verify from either both HD's web site, their parts manual and outside verifiable sources. Maybe I wasn't reading the info correctly. I was able to find that HD says there 2011 Fat Bob frame (PN-47760-10A) has 29 degrees of rake built into the neck (info from Ronnies HD Parts list). I also found that both HD compare option (2015 model, 2011 isn't offered to view on their site) and MotoUSA.com both say that the bike total rake is 29 degrees. Using basic math skill 29 in the neck and 29 overall says 0 difference.
Now, because I cannot physically prove that the tree doesn't in fact have negative rake, I can not say that FastHarley is incorrect or correct.
