difference between dyna and softail???????
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 11
From: Palm Harbor fl.
RE: difference between dyna and softail???????
if you buy a 06 or later Dyna your passengers get to feel every bump in the road through their legs....(pegs mounted to swingarm[:'(] )
softail seats much more comfortable than dyna ones.....(night train excluded)
Dynas seem to allow more legroom with the location of their foward controls...
with a Dyna you are less likely to bump into your bike at every stoplight...
occasionally the Dyna owner gets: "nice sportster"
40-100 bucks less a month on the 5 year payment plan....
if you want mids....Dyna
Floorboards...Softail
softail seats much more comfortable than dyna ones.....(night train excluded)
Dynas seem to allow more legroom with the location of their foward controls...
with a Dyna you are less likely to bump into your bike at every stoplight...
occasionally the Dyna owner gets: "nice sportster"
40-100 bucks less a month on the 5 year payment plan....
if you want mids....Dyna
Floorboards...Softail
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,870
Likes: 498
From: Alberta
RE: difference between dyna and softail???????
The Dyna frame is not so much "taller" but it goes from the steering neck back to the top of the shocks while the Softail frame goes from the steering neck back down to the rear axle; allowing a generally lower seat height on the softail frames. On the softail the "faux" rigid rear is a huge piece of steel structure, bolted to and pivoting on the frame, so the moter must also be bolted into the frame to keep the driveline aligned, then they counterbalancethe motor with gears, a chain and a couple of little flywheels to lower vibrations.On the dyna's (and flh's) the rear wheel and swingarm are bolted to the back of the tranny which is bolted to the back of the engine, all of which rides on rubber inside the rest of the frame to lower vibration. Better suspension system for handling on the twin shock bikes...make mine a Dyna; a fast good handling one.....
[IMG]local://upfiles/32069/2FDB564F045D4388B894544987F1E9C7.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/32069/2FDB564F045D4388B894544987F1E9C7.jpg[/IMG]
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 1
From: Abingdon, Maryland
RE: difference between dyna and softail???????
I chose my Low Rider over a Fat Boy at the "height" of the softtail craze several years ago...and while I can't say that I never doubted my decision, I did choose the road less traveled. No regrets now...
RE: difference between dyna and softail???????
It is just my $0.02, but Softtails are for "soft tails", beside I did not sacrifice style for proformance, there are Dynas out there that look very good, just look at all of the pics in the Dyna Forum
[IMG]local://upfiles/47348/1BDC37EBB2C84BCFBFB50C8D90D29ACE.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/47348/FD4DFF0C96FF4D81B11A4879979AAE94.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/47348/42482CCBFABE4B318FB18E0AE9F41D76.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/47348/1BDC37EBB2C84BCFBFB50C8D90D29ACE.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/47348/FD4DFF0C96FF4D81B11A4879979AAE94.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/47348/42482CCBFABE4B318FB18E0AE9F41D76.jpg[/IMG]
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Banned
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
From:
RE: difference between dyna and softail???????
Rounder - - no i dont wish 
i could have had any of the range bar the CVOs. I got married on a FatBoy and have always loved them right from when they first came out. But i spent the last 18 months riding and checking out the whole range, i was pretty sure i would get a FatBoy but figured i should look at everything Harley had to offer. I got on a Street Bob and that was it, despite not being a fan of mini apes and some other minor points, the Street Bob blew me away, it made all the rest seem positively pedestrian by comparison, now this is just for me and everyone is entitled to their own thoughts. I also agree that as long as its Harley then you cant lose, but the look and handling of the Bob is just awesome and every morning i cant wait to get back out on it
pete
i could have had any of the range bar the CVOs. I got married on a FatBoy and have always loved them right from when they first came out. But i spent the last 18 months riding and checking out the whole range, i was pretty sure i would get a FatBoy but figured i should look at everything Harley had to offer. I got on a Street Bob and that was it, despite not being a fan of mini apes and some other minor points, the Street Bob blew me away, it made all the rest seem positively pedestrian by comparison, now this is just for me and everyone is entitled to their own thoughts. I also agree that as long as its Harley then you cant lose, but the look and handling of the Bob is just awesome and every morning i cant wait to get back out on it pete
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
RE: difference between dyna and softail???????
No way that I sacrificed looks when I got my Fat Bob, I got better looks, better handling and a bit better performance for less money. Even if I sometimes get to hear "Harley Parkinson" from a friend of mine because of the vibrations.