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Shovelhead FX vs Dyna FXD

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Old Jan 4, 2021 | 11:46 PM
  #31  
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Does anyone have any thoughts on comparisons of the handling characteristics of the dyna frame vs the FX frame? That's what I'm really looking for.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2021 | 06:26 AM
  #32  
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The Dyna frame and ride are far superior to the Shovel head 4 speed frame. But 4 speed frames have a much lower seat height which is great for the right person or stance. You are really at two different ends of the spectrum making comparisons difficult.

If you are only looking for questions for handling, a Dyna setup properly will run circles around a 4 speed. Better suspension, better suspension options from the aftermarket, better front ends, better ground clearance, 5 speed, bullet proof Evo motors, no oil leaks, etc, etc, etc.

But a Shovel is cooler all day long.

Asking about modern parts fitting older bikes is getting you nowhere. You are building a custom, nothing is going to fit without some massaging to make it work. Good luck.

 
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Old Jan 5, 2021 | 08:30 AM
  #33  
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It's interesting to see how your original post has gone unnoticed concerning engine / frame / trans / and your performance goals.

I wouldn't be building a stock Shovelhead. My plan right now is to base it around the S&S 93" Low compression engine, with a baker 6 speed.


I would definatly go for the build you described.

Also look at a few Tatro's garage video's on you tube, he is not a fan of twin cams at all.


 
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Old Jan 5, 2021 | 12:17 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by Blue Bob
It's interesting to see how your original post has gone unnoticed concerning engine / frame / trans / and your performance goals.



I would definatly go for the build you described.

Also look at a few Tatro's garage video's on you tube, he is not a fan of twin cams at all.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1Br_nhhAW8
That's funny that you say that. While I did take notice, you also noted he wants to take "journeys across the country". Building a one-off bike, going cross country, having an issue going thru Kansas, for example, and guess what, nobody has parts for your bike.

It is
obvious the OP does not have riding experience, hence my suggestion to first get a new bike, see if he even likes to ride like he is saying. It is one thing saying it, it's another thing doing it. Get caught in cold weather, oh, you don't have heated gear, freezing your *** off is not fun.

Building a reliable Shovelhead is not cheap. I have a Pan/Shovel I'm in the process of building. That's just going to be a bar-hopper. Taiwanese Ted parts is not going to get it.

Lastly, it funny with the Shovelhead guys. They'll bad-mouth the Evo and Twinkle, but they're way behind when traveling in the pack, and sometimes not even making it to the destination. Like I said, living in the past. It was all they had back then, but there's better options now.

Dave
 
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Old Jan 5, 2021 | 12:55 PM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by TOE_CUTTER
That's funny that you say that. While I did take notice, you also noted he wants to take "journeys across the country". Building a one-off bike, going cross country, having an issue going thru Kansas, for example, and guess what, nobody has parts for your bike.

It is
obvious the OP does not have riding experience, hence my suggestion to first get a new bike, see if he even likes to ride like he is saying. It is one thing saying it, it's another thing doing it. Get caught in cold weather, oh, you don't have heated gear, freezing your *** off is not fun.

Building a reliable Shovelhead is not cheap. I have a Pan/Shovel I'm in the process of building. That's just going to be a bar-hopper. Taiwanese Ted parts is not going to get it.

Lastly, it funny with the Shovelhead guys. They'll bad-mouth the Evo and Twinkle, but they're way behind when traveling in the pack, and sometimes not even making it to the destination. Like I said, living in the past. It was all they had back then, but there's better options now.

Dave
See that'a a bit of urban myth with just enough truth in there to keep it going, Shovel can be a very dependable and reliable bike and they'll do the long miles easy enough as long as the owner is up to the task and respects a few limits like not trying to run 80+ with all his " Bro's " . Most shovels suffer from owneritis, they just run them into the ground so little issues become big ones then here come the stereotypical horror stories about how bad or unreliable they are and all the broken down stories.
.
Evo is probably the most solid engine harley has ever made but it had its share of issues too, made a lot of money in the early years fixing them. That said I'll likely never own one , only model I was remotely interested in is the FXR platform, regret ever selling the the 82 I had. Twinkies you can have, give me one tomorrow I'd have for sale within the week. I skipped 2 generations of engines, finally bought my one and only new harley a 17 Road King with the M8 in it, yes they've had their issues too, mine thankfully hasn't but just like every other new generation engine HD has come out with there's growing pains, been that way since the first one.

Lastly I completely agree with you on the OP, why I haven't gone in depth with anything yet. He has zero clue what he's asking about getting into.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2021 | 12:57 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by TOE_CUTTER
That's funny that you say that. While I did take notice, you also noted he wants to take "journeys across the country". Building a one-off bike, going cross country, having an issue going thru Kansas, for example, and guess what, nobody has parts for your bike.

It is
obvious the OP does not have riding experience, hence my suggestion to first get a new bike, see if he even likes to ride like he is saying. It is one thing saying it, it's another thing doing it. Get caught in cold weather, oh, you don't have heated gear, freezing your *** off is not fun.

Building a reliable Shovelhead is not cheap. I have a Pan/Shovel I'm in the process of building. That's just going to be a bar-hopper. Taiwanese Ted parts is not going to get it.

Lastly, it funny with the Shovelhead guys. They'll bad-mouth the Evo and Twinkle, but they're way behind when traveling in the pack, and sometimes not even making it to the destination. Like I said, living in the past. It was all they had back then, but there's better options now.

Dave
Just for the record, while I don't have experience with riding harleys, I do have riding experience, and I regularly ridden in almost zero temps with no heated gear.

While I understand the dangers of riding with a custom bike long distances, that's the risk associated with such an endeavor. You try and prepare your best for what can go wrong and hope the rest works out. Hopefully I'll design it in a way where problems will be minimal and predictable. What i'm trying to decide since it will be a custom-ish ride either way, is what inherent design advantages does one have over the other.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2021 | 01:00 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by TOE_CUTTER
That's funny that you say that. While I did take notice, you also noted he wants to take "journeys across the country". Building a one-off bike, going cross country, having an issue going thru Kansas, for example, and guess what, nobody has parts for your bike.

It is
obvious the OP does not have riding experience, hence my suggestion to first get a new bike, see if he even likes to ride like he is saying. It is one thing saying it, it's another thing doing it. Get caught in cold weather, oh, you don't have heated gear, freezing your *** off is not fun.

Building a reliable Shovelhead is not cheap. I have a Pan/Shovel I'm in the process of building. That's just going to be a bar-hopper. Taiwanese Ted parts is not going to get it.

Lastly, it funny with the Shovelhead guys. They'll bad-mouth the Evo and Twinkle, but they're way behind when traveling in the pack, and sometimes not even making it to the destination. Like I said, living in the past. It was all they had back then, but there's better options now.

Dave
You have excellent points but if he uses the parts described ie:S&S much improved shovel engine/ 6 speed modern trans and new custom frame along with modern suspension, tires, tubes, chains both primary and drive, clutch, ignition, 12 volt electrical, modern lighting what is going to be unreliable?
 
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Old Jan 5, 2021 | 01:03 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by Blue Bob
You have excellent points but if he uses the parts described ie:S&S much improved shovel engine/ 6 speed modern trans and new custom frame along with modern suspension, tires, tubes, chains both primary and drive, clutch, ignition, 12 volt electrical, modern lighting what is going to be unreliable?
That is my plan and is exactly one of the things I'd like to know. Especially compared to an S&S twin cam 124, although I'm starting to guess I'd be better off asking S&S directly.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2021 | 01:10 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by Blue Bob
You have excellent points but if he uses the parts described ie:S&S much improved shovel engine/ 6 speed modern trans and new custom frame along with modern suspension, tires, tubes, chains both primary and drive, clutch, ignition, 12 volt electrical, modern lighting what is going to be unreliable?
Look at the reliability and general history of every aftermarket chopper company ever been then come back with that question. It always looks great on paper and in theory it all should be great, reality is something else entirely...
 
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Old Jan 5, 2021 | 01:15 PM
  #40  
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Hello,

I’m looking for some help, I have a 2007 dyna low rider. I’m having a starting issue, it turns over but don’t want to fire. I’ve changed the spark plugs and gapped them to .038, I put a new battery in, and checked all my connections but still won’t fire up. If anyone knows something I could try or has felt with this before and knows the correct way to fix it please let me know. Thank you.
 
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