A few things I overheard over the weekend at a large Harley Barbecue:

* Dynas are really just 'juiced-up Sportsters'.

* Dynas are too small to be considered your 'classic Harley look'.

I love my Dyna Super Glide Custom to death, and I am not interested to 'trade up', whatever that means... especially since I have a little over 20k in my bike... but I must admit that it bothers me when the owners of larger bikes speak of Dynas as 'a little brother' in comparison to their larger bikes. Your thoughts on this?

 

FACT: The TC-88 in the Dyna and touring bikes make (slightly) more horsepower than softails TC-88B, due to lack of counterbalancers in the engine.
FACT: Dyna line is the lightest of all big twins.
FACT: The positioning of the suspension (less unsprung weight) in the rear along with the narrow glide front end make the Dyna line handle much better than the other lines of bikes.

All of this adds up to the Dyna being faster and handling better than all of the other Big Twins.

Too small? That's just because of the narrow glide front end and the shorter rake. If anything, that helps with stability and performance on the backroads.

I love my Night Train, but in my opinion, the Superglide I had was a much better handling bike.

No matter what you have, people are going to think that theirs is better. Don't worry about it and enjoy your ride.

You made a good choice!

 

I love my Wideglide and I don't give a rat's a$$ what anyone has to say about it!

 

well id tell them to get a ruler and look how big 4" is... if thats the difference between a "big bike" and "too small to look like a harley", well i guess im not riding a harley. the softail is about 4" longer, thats it. the softail seat height is lower by four tenths of an inch (0.4" or about 3/8"). the engines are the same size, its a big twin, theres really no debate about it. now, my dyna feels a little small for me. im not too big, 6'-1.5"- 200lbs. but id like to straighten my legs a tad more. the 4 extra inches on the softail is hardly noticeable to me, i was able to ride one about a week ago. besides, everyone has a darn softail.... like grimm said, the facts speak for themselves. fwiw, i think the styling of the dyna rear fender is very vintage harley.

 

I have an 02 wide glide and when I pull into a store for a break with my dresser buddies, the folks come up and look at mine first and say ooooh. I can ride 2 up and punch off with a bagger 1 up and walk away, I can get through the corners as good or better than the baggers. I don't have a stereo,(don't want one) and I can't carry as much, but for smooth and comfort, wearing my AeroVest, My WG suits me just fine and I don't give a s**t what the others think. If your bike is what you like, don't worry about the rest of them, of course that is just my opinion---jack

 

When I was at the 100th anniversary tour in Atlanta back in '02, I was able to speak to Willie G for a few moments about the new Super Glide T-Sport. He said, The Super Glide sports are the best handleing and one of the best riding units we sell. I agree. They are lighter and handle like a dream. They have the same engine and trans as the baggers with less weight.

Hey, there big, fast, tough bikes...whats not to like.

 

Is your bike for you or for them? This is almost the same argument as Jap vs. HD. Yes, a Dyna has the same front end as a Sportster, and that means....? Too, small?!? My FXDL (ok, it's longer than all the rest of the Dynas) is 1" shorter with a 1.5" shorter wheelbase than a Softail Std. Weighs 4 pds less. If that's too small then their bikes must be too small, too. My dad's Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 dwarfs all the HDs out there. So what? If you care what everyone else thinks, then get whatever they say you should have, but I wouldn't give two turds about the opinion of someone who badmouths another guy's ride. But that's just me.

 

Replace "Wideglide" with "Low Ryder" and you have my opinion.

 

I honestly don't understand people's feelings about Dyna's. My girlfriend rides a Low Rider, has ridden that bike from one end of this country to the other, and loves it! Hell, the few times I've had occasion to ride it were what convinced me to give up the Softail in favor of something rubber-mounted (although I ended up with a Road King; I still love riding her Low Rider..) They're quick, very good in the corners, and still reasonably comfortable.

But there are some Dyna owners out there with...self image issues? When I was in the dealership to buy my Road King, I met a man in for service. He asked which bike I was buying, and what I had. Told him that I was getting away from Softails for the RK. Asked him what he rode; he told me Low Rider. I said, "I love those bikes! My girlfriend rides one of those, they're a lot of fun!" You'd have thought I called his mother a #$%@! Got all indignant, asked what I meant by that, then walked away. I've met others who also kinda hang their heads or look away when they confess to riding a Low Rider. What I wanna know is: what's the big deal? To me, it's a matter of taste, a matter of choice. But if I had to do it again, I'd take a Dyna-anything over a Softail anyday!

 

I have an '05 Dyna Super Glide (FXDI), so I am biased. I did buy it because of a limited budget. It is the least expensive 1450cc. IT doesn't have a lot of chrome or touring stuff. That's okay by me. With my detachable windshield and bags which I purchased afterwards, I would feel very comfortable for some touring. I think it's a great and very versatile bike. When that engine roars into life and with my SEII's, SE air Kit and re-map, it certainly doesn't lack for Harley sound or power. It rides more stable than any other bike I've ever ridden. I wanted a Low Rider, but couldn't justify yhe extra cost for the lower height and handlebars. I've since changed the shocks to 11" Progressive and the handlebars to Buckhorns and am awaiting a new seat that will be narrower in the front and be like Harley's reach seat. I love my bike more and more each day.
I think the thing with Low Riders is that in some people's minds, they have totally dismissed the Sportster as anythin other than a starter bike, that's almost a Harley.
PLEASE NOTE..This is not my opinion, just my perception of some of the "new" Harley culture. They now label a Low Rider as a "girl's bike"...again not my belief, but my perception of "them", so they're offended to be seen associated with them. Guess they think it lacks *****, but I think that "perception" lacks brains and experience. Seems with many in the new Harley culture that T-shirt dealers push, that if your bike didn't cost at least $20,000, then it ain't a Harley. Bullsh*t!
I do like Most of Harley Bikes and if I put on anything close to the miles Markcuda does, I would want an Ultra Classic. Right now, the only other Harleys that interest me are the Night Train (dark, evil, retro look, The Springer Classic (I think that's the one, because it has the lowest seat height of any Harley, The Road King...If I wanted to do more touring and the Sportster 1200C, just because I think they look great and would be a lot of fun. My FXDI with some easily affordable add-ons, due to the cheaper price, is kinda like all of these bikes rolled into one. I do have one fantasy though, for which I can justify the work or the cost, but I would like to have my engine powder soated black with shiny edges.
Dynas and Low Riders, not true Harleys...Get a life. Since when in "true" Harley culture did it require spending 20 grand on a bike to join the club?