cross bones
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 2
From: Carrollton, TX
Ya, that rear fender's gotta GO! I'd put a rounder, full coverage fender on it, ditch the spring seat in favor of a standard, lower profile seat, and jack up the apes a but (well...a lot...) for starters. I like the look, its just got a few issues.
Yeah, they shouldn't have slapped a standard softail fender on it...I think a chopped fender like a lot of guys have done on their Street Bobs would go great though. The Cross Bones is almost a springer-bob more than anything.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 512
Likes: 4
From: NW Arkansas
Crossbone
Ok.......About the seat. After 40 years of riding every kind of bike you guys can imagine let me simply state that the Crossbone seat is the only "stock" seat I've ever had that would allow me to ride for the east coast from NW Arkansas and when I arrived I had no complaints about the seat. It does indeed sit a bit on the tall side, but the shape is as close to perfect as I dare imagine. But if you look at the old HDs they didn't have super low seats. Sure the bike looks better with a frame mounted seat. But you got to make up your mind whether you want form or function. If you go for the frame mount seat change the floorboards out for pegs if you value your ankles, the angle of the boards is all wrong. And I will take function every time. As far as the fat front tire. There is no way that a skinny 21'" incher will hold the road as well the larger contact patch of the FL front end. I live in the hill country where handling is paramount. The 200mm rear tire develops a flat spot in the center of the tread which causes an ridge to form which makes for less than perfect adheision as you transition into a curve.
No stock bike is perfect. Which is why the aftermarket is doing so well. And it doen't matter whether your'e on an HD or Metric.
No stock bike is perfect. Which is why the aftermarket is doing so well. And it doen't matter whether your'e on an HD or Metric.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 670
Likes: 5
From: NJ
HUH?? Not trying to dog you but a 21 inch wheel on a crossbones??? Why even get the bones to put a 21 front its perfect with a 16 actually a 15 with whitewalls would be nice.. These bikes are oldschool and should be kept that way I dont understand guys that get lets say a FatBob and throw a 19 or 21 wheel on the front just doesnt make sense you know.. I see you like the big front wheels but thats what the bones is about that old school springer with fat tire.. And honestly have you ridden a fat front tire, I love my FatBob and that only has a 130 it handles great, my old chop had a 21 skinny and I didnt like the way it handles big front tire handle great, when I built my chop another guy at work got a exile $$$$ it was the barhopper or something anyway it had a 150 front and that thing handled GREAT.... I want to add a 140 or maybe a 150 to the front of my FatBob but not sure if I can..
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Southern New Hampshire
This is all a matter of personal taste ... right? No wrong - no right, just opinion. The styling doesn't do anything for me. It's like they're trying to make a vintage motorcycle but the only thing that can really make a vintage motorcycle is the passing of time. Just my opinion, if you love them ... enjoy, they're just not for me!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 837
Likes: 1
From: Radcliff, Ky
HUH?? Not trying to dog you but a 21 inch wheel on a crossbones??? Why even get the bones to put a 21 front its perfect with a 16 actually a 15 with whitewalls would be nice.. These bikes are oldschool and should be kept that way I dont understand guys that get lets say a FatBob and throw a 19 or 21 wheel on the front just doesnt make sense you know.. I see you like the big front wheels but thats what the bones is about that old school springer with fat tire.. And honestly have you ridden a fat front tire, I love my FatBob and that only has a 130 it handles great, my old chop had a 21 skinny and I didnt like the way it handles big front tire handle great, when I built my chop another guy at work got a exile $$$$ it was the barhopper or something anyway it had a 150 front and that thing handled GREAT.... I want to add a 140 or maybe a 150 to the front of my FatBob but not sure if I can..
This is all a matter of personal taste ... right? No wrong - no right, just opinion. The styling doesn't do anything for me. It's like they're trying to make a vintage motorcycle but the only thing that can really make a vintage motorcycle is the passing of time. Just my opinion, if you love them ... enjoy, they're just not for me!
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 512
Likes: 4
From: NW Arkansas
replica
Ok I'll grant you the Crossbones could be termed a replica. But isn't any new bike with old style a replica. Not a bad thing if one likes the looks of older bikes and wants the improvements of modern bikes. Back in the late 80s Honda built the GB500. A retro cafe bike. Neat little ride. Could the new Bonnevilles be termed replica bikes? Great styling never goes out of style.When I was growing up the old dudes rode Knuckles and Pans. And the styles are as valid today as they were then. We all have our favorite styles of bikes. I prefer older designs. And wouldn't consider spending my money on a "modern" chopper. But then again I've never found one style that fills all my needs. My next purchase will be a modern "sport" bike. Though I won't be getting rid of my HD. And along the way I'll be looking to add another dirt bike to the collection. I would love to get one of HDs military bikes. And know where two of them are. But I doubt if that will be my coice in a dirt machine. And I would think it would be slick as snot to go to the local bike nite on an HD badged dirt bike.
Ride what ya got.
Ride what ya got.