New 2011 Wide Glide
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 4
From: Somewhere In NY
I picked up my new Wide Glide last night. In the end, the black with flames looked best to me. I took delivery with 2 miles on the odometer. The twenty mile ride home felt a little like killing a unicorn... but awesome.
Going from a Sporty to a Dyna is incredible. The ride was smooth and the skinny front tire handled better than I would have expected in the twisties. The service manager told me that sixth gear was really only useful for highway riding, as 60 mph would still feel like I was lugging. I found some truth in that. Although, the manual says to shift into sixth at fifty-five...
I spoke to the dealer about exhaust and what I could get away with in this area (I moved here three years ago, and in my last location even drag pipes weren't a problem). The consensus was that as long as you don't drive like an idiot, you'll be fine. Apparently the Vance Hines pipes aren't really that popular here. So, I plan to put on some Big Radius pipes. I know that everyone has 'em and they've become a cookie cutter part, but they look like they were made specifically for the Wide Glide.
All in all, I love this thing...
Going from a Sporty to a Dyna is incredible. The ride was smooth and the skinny front tire handled better than I would have expected in the twisties. The service manager told me that sixth gear was really only useful for highway riding, as 60 mph would still feel like I was lugging. I found some truth in that. Although, the manual says to shift into sixth at fifty-five...
I spoke to the dealer about exhaust and what I could get away with in this area (I moved here three years ago, and in my last location even drag pipes weren't a problem). The consensus was that as long as you don't drive like an idiot, you'll be fine. Apparently the Vance Hines pipes aren't really that popular here. So, I plan to put on some Big Radius pipes. I know that everyone has 'em and they've become a cookie cutter part, but they look like they were made specifically for the Wide Glide.
All in all, I love this thing...
grats on the new bike now show it to us haha
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 210
From: St. Louis, MO
I originally had no intention of taking that wrecked trans in to have it worked on. It was actually a transaxle out of an '89 Ford Probe. I was about 19 or 20 and had never worked on a front wheel drive vehicle before. I didn't know that once the axle shafts are pulled the gear in the trans is somewhat free floating and can fall out of place. Of course it did just that during transport. I found my limitations when I couldn't figure out out how to separate the cases to put it back in place. So we tossed it in a buddy's trunk and took it to a local transmission place. Luckily that was when I was in the Navy and had access to the base auto-hobby shop with any tool I could want so even with the cost of the transaxle and having the trans shop go through it and replace the seals, I was still under $500.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 184
Likes: 8
From: Georgia
So , you were in the canoe club too? I was a submarine A-ganger on a 688i. There's nothing right about guys who are willing to get on a boat designed to sink. Although, I did enjoy the hobby shops and other MWR services in Pearl.
It looks like it will be neither cloudy nor raining this afternoon. So after a ride, I'll get some pics to post. Might have to put a few miles on the sporty too, just to compare.
I've been in the bike and car scene long enough to know that there is always room for improvement on the factory designs. We're going to start with pipes, then... I am going to disconnect the horn and use the horn connector to power a relay for a garage door opener. I'll probably have it potted at work and hide it under the horn cover. Next up is the turn signals... I really want LED. I understand that the European XL1200N's used LED's. Does anyone know if they would be a direct swap?
After that... lose the passenger seat and we'll be just about perfect.
It looks like it will be neither cloudy nor raining this afternoon. So after a ride, I'll get some pics to post. Might have to put a few miles on the sporty too, just to compare.
I've been in the bike and car scene long enough to know that there is always room for improvement on the factory designs. We're going to start with pipes, then... I am going to disconnect the horn and use the horn connector to power a relay for a garage door opener. I'll probably have it potted at work and hide it under the horn cover. Next up is the turn signals... I really want LED. I understand that the European XL1200N's used LED's. Does anyone know if they would be a direct swap?
After that... lose the passenger seat and we'll be just about perfect.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 210
From: St. Louis, MO
So , you were in the canoe club too? I was a submarine A-ganger on a 688i. There's nothing right about guys who are willing to get on a boat designed to sink. Although, I did enjoy the hobby shops and other MWR services in Pearl.
It looks like it will be neither cloudy nor raining this afternoon. So after a ride, I'll get some pics to post. Might have to put a few miles on the sporty too, just to compare.
I've been in the bike and car scene long enough to know that there is always room for improvement on the factory designs. We're going to start with pipes, then... I am going to disconnect the horn and use the horn connector to power a relay for a garage door opener. I'll probably have it potted at work and hide it under the horn cover. Next up is the turn signals... I really want LED. I understand that the European XL1200N's used LED's. Does anyone know if they would be a direct swap?
After that... lose the passenger seat and we'll be just about perfect.
It looks like it will be neither cloudy nor raining this afternoon. So after a ride, I'll get some pics to post. Might have to put a few miles on the sporty too, just to compare.
I've been in the bike and car scene long enough to know that there is always room for improvement on the factory designs. We're going to start with pipes, then... I am going to disconnect the horn and use the horn connector to power a relay for a garage door opener. I'll probably have it potted at work and hide it under the horn cover. Next up is the turn signals... I really want LED. I understand that the European XL1200N's used LED's. Does anyone know if they would be a direct swap?
After that... lose the passenger seat and we'll be just about perfect.
I think the first cosmetic change I want to make is to add a ducktailed rear fender like the one on the Fat Bob, I like the little pilon pad and sissy bar though.
Advanced
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Herndon, VA
I have an 08 Sporty that I'm thinking of trading up for a 2011 Wide Glide. Main reason is that I just flat out love the look of the WG, plus it's a little bigger bike. I actually really love my Sporty, but it's my first bike and now that I have a couple years under my belt riding, I have a pretty good idea of what I want now.
Thing is, handling is a big part of the riding experience for me. I've read more than once that the WG doesn't handle as well, which is understandable given the bigger rake (34 deg versus 29.6). I don't expect the WG to handle as well as the Sporty, but what I want to know from you all is your take on how it handles.
Here's mainly what I want to know:
- Does the WG handle well in the twisties? To me, that means not having to fight to keep it on the line through the turn. Is it pretty responsive and easy to get it to go where you want it? Not talking about low speed maneuvering in parking lots, I'm not worried about that.
- Does it handle well in high speed turns, or does the front end wobble?
- Is it easy to drag the pipes? I suspect that can be solved with aftermarket pipes that aren't as low. If so, please recommend which pipes would give more clearance. The V&H big radius pipes look like they were made for this bike. Those of you that have the V&H big radius pipes on the 2010 or 2011 WG, do they improve the clearance?
Thanks,
Mark
Thing is, handling is a big part of the riding experience for me. I've read more than once that the WG doesn't handle as well, which is understandable given the bigger rake (34 deg versus 29.6). I don't expect the WG to handle as well as the Sporty, but what I want to know from you all is your take on how it handles.
Here's mainly what I want to know:
- Does the WG handle well in the twisties? To me, that means not having to fight to keep it on the line through the turn. Is it pretty responsive and easy to get it to go where you want it? Not talking about low speed maneuvering in parking lots, I'm not worried about that.
- Does it handle well in high speed turns, or does the front end wobble?
- Is it easy to drag the pipes? I suspect that can be solved with aftermarket pipes that aren't as low. If so, please recommend which pipes would give more clearance. The V&H big radius pipes look like they were made for this bike. Those of you that have the V&H big radius pipes on the 2010 or 2011 WG, do they improve the clearance?
Thanks,
Mark
Last edited by prattbratt; Jun 4, 2011 at 08:48 AM. Reason: Fixed a typo
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 184
Likes: 8
From: Georgia
The biggest difference you're going to notice going from the Sportster to the Wide Glide is simply the ride quality. I drug the pipes on my Sporty quite easily. It was surprising how little lean it took to get them to drag.
On the Wide Glide I have the V&H Big Radius 2-2. I personally feel that I have much more ground clearance now. I have felt my heel dragging long before I worried about the pipes.
With respect to stability in the corners, my personal opinion is that most of that is due to the rider. I say this because someone who is used to sport bikes will be more familiar with "rolling-on" through the corners to set the suspension and transfer weight to the rear tire. The Wide Glide has plenty of tire in the back, so if you're comfortable giving it a little throttle in the corners, it settles down nicely.
One unsettling point for me was the engine vibration during gradual deceleration while down shifting. The vibrations tend to make the front tire hop a bit. It took me about 100 miles to get used to that. Now that I anticipate it, it's not that bad.
My advice: if you can swing it, get the Wide Glide... the ride is a night and day difference from the Sporty.
On the Wide Glide I have the V&H Big Radius 2-2. I personally feel that I have much more ground clearance now. I have felt my heel dragging long before I worried about the pipes.
With respect to stability in the corners, my personal opinion is that most of that is due to the rider. I say this because someone who is used to sport bikes will be more familiar with "rolling-on" through the corners to set the suspension and transfer weight to the rear tire. The Wide Glide has plenty of tire in the back, so if you're comfortable giving it a little throttle in the corners, it settles down nicely.
One unsettling point for me was the engine vibration during gradual deceleration while down shifting. The vibrations tend to make the front tire hop a bit. It took me about 100 miles to get used to that. Now that I anticipate it, it's not that bad.
My advice: if you can swing it, get the Wide Glide... the ride is a night and day difference from the Sporty.
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
You want handling? Get a Fat Bob! It surprises sport bike owners when they ride mine..AND it stops well with dual front discs. I'm amazed as heavy as it is how well it handles a twisty road. I too LOVE the look of the WG but I don't regret for a second the smooth ride/handling the Bob possesses..A 180 rear and 130 front tire certainly don't hurt!!! Just another opinion for ya...
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