I'm not 100% sure on his height but he's ~ 5'10"-6'. I would have thought that my WG would have had a harder time with roads like The Dragon but it turned out to be quite the opposite. Great surprise to me. Obviously I wasn't handling curves like a sportbike. My bud has an 06 Street Bob. I also forgot to mention, he has TT installed.

I think the higher bars makes it easier to hit the twisties but I'll say that on long sweepers, my dyna handles like poop. I think that is one area that an add-on like the true-track comes into play. We'll see, as I have one on the way.

To the OP, I'm not sure that lowering the rear would have affected handling in such as adverse way. You shouldn't have to horse the bike through a turn. Does your bike feel wishy-washy through turns?

 

Hey guys, just thought I'd let you know - I mentioned that my hubby lowered my bike's front on HIS lunch break as much as he could, so I went home on MY lunch and brought my bike back to work. I only work a couple miles from home, so did a "long cut", and went where there were a few good turns. My initial thought is - more comfortable, and a better ride overall. I know it probably wasn't a major move, but it seems already that the handling is a bit better/easier. So I need to go out after work and find some good twisties to test it out further.

It may not be the total answer, but I do think in my case, I believe it's going to at least be PART of the solution!

 

Maybe try a wider lower bar next, I'll bet you could get a set of stock Dyna buck horns for next to nothing.They have a bit more pull back than flat track bars but should give you more leverage than the Street bobs mini apes.The best part is you shouldn't have to change any cables they'll bolt right up.

 

I like buckhorns - had them on a previous bike for a while. However when I was recently looking at specs for buckhorns, a lot of them are actually a NARROWER width , grip to grip, than my stock mini-apes. I hadn't looked at the possiblity of the Dyna buckhorns though. I'll check that out.

 

If you like buckhorns, check out Flanders. They have a lot of options.

Also, a couple of handling suggestions (sorry if already mentioned): when you are pushing on the bars through turns concentrate on pushing forward rather than down. Just a little push goes a long way.

Another thing to concentrate is pressing on the peg and using the weight of your body and pressure of your foot to lean the bike through the turn.

And blind turn or not, look out in the distance through the turn.

 

I'm pretty sure that newer model buck horns for a Dyna are wider than the old Sportster buck horns.Probably the best thing to do would be go to an HD dealer and sit on a few bikes with different style of bars.I like the bars that come standard on a Nightster allot.Also because your bike came with mini apes just about any bars that are lower will fit on it without changing cables.

 

Just to add my useless .02 cents to an already populated thread...I read in one of your posts where you mentioned that you felt like you had to guide the bike around the turn. Maybe in the twisties you are forgetting to counter-steer? It's fairly natural to counter-steer on long sweeping turns, but since you are suffering from anxiety anyway, maybe you are over thinking the turn and forgetting the #1 rule about turning a motorcycle at speed?

 

Because by lowering the back, you took even more weight off the front. Taking weight off the front takes away it's motivation(for lack of a better word) to want to turn, or follow any track for that matter. The harder you push it in a turn, the more it's gonna want to run wide. It may even push or slide if ridden too fast in a turn. You'll tend to notice it the most when on the gas, which is when the bike shifts it's weight even more to the back

 

Well, as I mentioned, to ME it feels like there is some difference in handling after hubby lowered the front yesterday. Stuck on a business trip for 2 days but I'll definitely get the bike out when i get back and head for a road with some twisties!

Meanwhile, hubby took it for just a short spin and said he too thinks he may notice a difference, although since he doesn't ride it much or far (offers to go get gas for me now and then just to ride someting different, ha ha!). he's also taller than me, so maybe the difference wouldn't be as noticeable to him anyway.

So I am hopeful, but I also think I will be considering new bars for next season.

Got to say, this forum is great. Any time I have written with a question, problem, etc. I've always gotten great input.

THANKS!!

 

Perch, there isn't much I can add to all the good advise people have offered so far in this thread. I did notice that you said you feel as though you have to lean your bike a lot more than those ahead of you. A lot of inexperienced riders have an anxiety when it comes to leaning a bike into a curve. Because of your anxiety you might feel like you are having to lean the bike a lot more than the other riders when really you are not. I know it's easier said than done, but try to relax.

Also, I was wondering if you put the lowering blocks on because you needed the bike lowered for your height, or did you put them on just for looks. If you put them on just for looks, why not try taking them off and seeing how the bike handles back in stock configuration.