Rake/trail low speed handling:Dyna vs. Softail

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Feb 3, 2011 | 08:52 AM

dondee

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Rake/trail low speed handling:Dyna vs. Softail

Over the past weekend I was riding the Fatboy with the wife on back when the unthinkable happened. While trying to turn around and head back out of a dead end, I backed up with my feet and started a slow, tight left turn to ride back out the way we came in. You can probably guess the rest of the story: low speed drop over as the bike became overbalanced to the left. No one hurt and no damage, so I guess no harm no foul-just embarrassment.

But I got to thinking that my new SuperGlide seems a lot easier to maneuver around at low speed than the Fattie (I know it's lighter). Is this my imagination or is there something about the front end/chassis geometry that makes it easier to negotiate around at low speed?

If so, heck I may have to sell the beloved Fattie and replace her with another Dyna. There really does seem to be a difference. I'm sure if my assumption is true there's a trade off in higher speed handling but I'm old and fat, so my max top end rides are pretty much behind me.

Thanks for help from those who understand this better than me.

Feb 3, 2011 | 12:34 PM

QehQeh

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From: So Cal

If you were going slow enough to not do any damage, I doubt it had anything to do with front end geometry. Probably just the higher weight of the Fatty. I thought softails had lower CG's though... Maybe you would have dropped the Dyna also?
Regarding high-speed handling; I think the Dyna handles better than a Softie at any speed.

Feb 3, 2011 | 04:38 PM

dondee

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Quote:

Originally Posted by QehQeh

Yeah, maybe I'm just looking for an excuse.

Hasn't happened in a long, long time.

Feb 3, 2011 | 05:08 PM

Robtarra39

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From: Ottawa Canada

Is it possible that your passenger was leaning over more than usual, that would make bike feel heavier on slow turns

Feb 3, 2011 | 08:26 PM

dondee

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Robtarra39

Is it possible that your passenger was leaning over more than usual, that would make bike feel heavier on slow turns

Yes, that did occur to me. My wife is usually a very neutral passenger, but she is a fairly heavy gal-approaching 200 lbs. It's a possibility but I hated to ask her since she usually does such a great job of basically doing nothing.

It really has me scratching my head.

Feb 3, 2011 | 08:51 PM

bigdaddy33

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From: Long Island, NY

Don't own one, but I've put a few thousand miles on a Heritage (pretty much a Fatboy with bags and shield) and felt the low speed handling was very good. The dyna's are a bit lighter but don't think it should make too much difference.

Maybe just not enough throttle, or grabbed the front brake or passenger shifted weight. Anyhow glad no one was hurt and bike was ok.

Feb 3, 2011 | 10:35 PM

nigelgeast

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From: Durban South Africa

The fork rake will make a difference as to how tight a turn you can make. I dont know what the difference is between the Dyna and the Fatboy but I do know the more vertical the rake the tighter the turn you can make and the more vulnrable you are to the problem of dropping. glad no one was hurt.