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This is a super interesting topic to me. Whenever someone is able to provide real-life feedback based on actual back-to-back comparisons, I'm excited to read about it. I completely agree there should be a huge benefit to having a proper, multi-plane drivetrain alignment performed by experts. I've become pretty confident in my ability to make the swingarm completely "flat" in relation to the frame, but I know that's only one axis. I have no idea if the front of the engine should move left or right at all. I completely agree that there should be no wobble whatsoever if the two wheels are properly located with the swingarm, frame, and each other (obviously assuming there's no maintenance issue with steering bearings, wheel or swingarm bearings, or tires). The question mark for me is whether the Dyna platform is capable of keeping and maintaining alignment regardless of lateral cornering loads, road imperfections, and engine movement unless some form of stabilizer is used (or mounts that inherently limit lateral movement more than the OEM mounts).
I completely agree that it'll be interesting to see what happens when you can confidently assume alignment is completely correct. The only reason I suggested running with stabilizers first is to make sure you actually experience both scenarios. As I said, if it seems better than ever without the links, you may lose motivation to reinstall them... Then we'll never know!
Anxiously awaiting ride reports! Thanks for documenting everything!
This is such an interesting quote, since by it's very design, the Dyna frame CANNOT do this. Even though I have a well-handling Dyna (and so do lots of people), sometimes I just can't believe Harley left this crucial task to a pair of rubber chunks. I wish they had just evolved the FXR frame a bit... I'm sure they could've modified it for a more "conventional" look (which was a concern at the time) and to hold a twin cam, without giving up the swingarm-to-frame mounting situation...
Entering the Twilight Zone, I drew up a quick sketch of the existing lower motor mounts. The motor is being used as the structural attachment for the swingarm:
Now if we added an additional structure under the motor, use the same mounting points, just opposite side, and that supports the swingarm now. The swingarm mounting sleeve on the transmission is milled out making room for the new swingarm structural mount. The new swingarm mounting structure would take care of the pitch and yaw axis forces, and some additional bracing either from the bottom tubes or shock mounting points would be needed to take care of the roll axis forces:
Now there is no rubber in this system, and the structure is bolt on. The motor mounts now are strictly supporting the motor only. A couple of pics of some frames where I got this crazy idea:
In all these cases, the swingarm is bolted to the frame, helping with keeping the steering head and swingarm mount in the same position. Of course there is the loads trying to twist these locations apart.
Back to reality now, lol.
Dave
Last edited by TOE_CUTTER; Aug 9, 2019 at 02:03 PM.
I love this kind of thinking! When I said I wished HD had "evolved" the FXR architecture, these are the sorts of ideas I had in mind!
In some ways I think the new Softail frame is an evolution. It is just too bad they decided to go with with the mono shock and solid mount the motor. If they left the twin shocks and rubber mounted the motor and still called it a Dyna, THAT would be the cat's meow, IMHO. That would have left the motor further ahead, because the way it is now, the clutch housing on the primary is right where your leg is, and that's an engineer designing something, but not being a rider.
Here are my rods, one is OEM vs the beefy ones from Darkhorse. I did this for my 107", I can see your 117" didn't like them.
Exactly. After going thru all the expense of going thru the stock set-up, I would tell anyone just to skip that and go with S&S or Darkhorse set-up. The stock rods are for stock engines.
I wanted to give Carl at Legacy Baggers a huge thanks. The engine tags are aluminum and the Highrider emblem is acrylic. I still have to get the words and border filled with paint to match the tank emblem for the Highrider emblem:
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
