question to switchback owners
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,046
Likes: 398
From: sugar land, gulf coast, tx
question to switchback owners
Any Fld owners or riders who are current or previous riders or owners of Super Glide (Custom):
I have a Custom and love the way it rides and handles. My question is how the FL front end on the FLD changes the handling characteristics of the Super Glide based bike?
Having owned Fl based touring bikes myself, I think that the Dyna is a better handling machine, but want to hear what others think. All things being equal, the FLD is the only other Harley I would consider, if the "Dyna feel" is still there.
Thanks for any input....tomp/dd50
I have a Custom and love the way it rides and handles. My question is how the FL front end on the FLD changes the handling characteristics of the Super Glide based bike?
Having owned Fl based touring bikes myself, I think that the Dyna is a better handling machine, but want to hear what others think. All things being equal, the FLD is the only other Harley I would consider, if the "Dyna feel" is still there.
Thanks for any input....tomp/dd50
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 837
Likes: 1
From: Radcliff, Ky
what year glide do you have? the front end definately feels sturdier, i had 06 st bob , laced a 21 rim to the spool and changed it back , beause i liked the stiffer feel, in turns.. the fld is a badass to get busy with..
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,046
Likes: 398
From: sugar land, gulf coast, tx
I had an 07 street glide and an 08 road glide. I had a heritage, too, w an FL front end. The road glide handled the best of those three, but that was before the new chassis. It wallowed badly in turns, but I know that was the frame design.
I'm just wondering if the FLD still does twisties as well as the SGC I now ride.
dd50
I'm just wondering if the FLD still does twisties as well as the SGC I now ride.
dd50
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,250
Likes: 36
From: Montana
I just read an article about how harley put this updated touring front end on the switchback it is supposed to work similarly to a high dollar front end (kind of the intiminator concept I believe). I would love to hear how these handle with the so called improvements myself. Ill be watching this post to see what others have to say.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
I have an '05 FXD that I put a Fat Boy (FLSTF) front end on ... thus, I think I am uniquely qualified to respond to your question ....
I never really 'rode it like I stole it,' in a manner of speaking ... I took it pretty far, but not to the limit (as far as some brag on taking it) ....
I have always pushed pretty far on the design standards, however ....
Owning the '05, I had the stock 39mm narrow glide forks ... ended up with the 41mm 'wide glide' FLST front end ... as installed, the stock FLST forks were not really up to snuff for the FXD ... I installed Race Tech springs, (using the online calculator) I selected the 95 gram springs and I installed the Race Tech Gold Valve Cartridge Emulators ....
With the upgrades the front end works great ....
Aside from the upgrades, the thing I really like about it is that the 16" balloon front tire takes up a lot of the road feel over the 19" stock front wheel ... no worries about the road tar snakes, road seams, or rain grooves grabbing the front tire ... the bigger front wheel feels a lot more stable on all road surfaces vice the stock front 19" wheel/tire combo ...
Bottom line ... I think you would like the feel of the FLD front end vice a FXDC Custom front end feel ...
Good luck with your decision ....
R/
'Chop
I never really 'rode it like I stole it,' in a manner of speaking ... I took it pretty far, but not to the limit (as far as some brag on taking it) ....
I have always pushed pretty far on the design standards, however ....
Owning the '05, I had the stock 39mm narrow glide forks ... ended up with the 41mm 'wide glide' FLST front end ... as installed, the stock FLST forks were not really up to snuff for the FXD ... I installed Race Tech springs, (using the online calculator) I selected the 95 gram springs and I installed the Race Tech Gold Valve Cartridge Emulators ....
With the upgrades the front end works great ....
Aside from the upgrades, the thing I really like about it is that the 16" balloon front tire takes up a lot of the road feel over the 19" stock front wheel ... no worries about the road tar snakes, road seams, or rain grooves grabbing the front tire ... the bigger front wheel feels a lot more stable on all road surfaces vice the stock front 19" wheel/tire combo ...
Bottom line ... I think you would like the feel of the FLD front end vice a FXDC Custom front end feel ...
Good luck with your decision ....
R/
'Chop
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 964
Likes: 9
From: Acme Pa.
I own a 2011 Superglide custom. A very good freind of mine recently bought a switchback, which I have ridden. I am sorry to say between the two, I would have to say the switchback is a little heavier in the twisty's but still very capable. On the rougher roads is where the switchback shines, that thing just eats-up the bumps. I don't ride very aggressive so, I may not be giving you the answer you were looking for. I think with a little seat time I could be just as compfortable, if not more, on the switchback. Pains me to say that, cause I love my Superglide.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 3
From: Ca.
not that impressed w/ fld front end
Mine tends to bottom out on the front end. I will be trying a heavier fork oil to see if it corrects.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 5
From: Flatlander
The Super Glide (Custom) isn’t that far off from a Street Bob IMO.
I’ve ridden both and put 18,000 miles on the SB. With any new bike,
I have to learn how it handles and adapt to it, some more than others.
After that it’s ***** out. In my book handling is not an issue with any
of the 3 mentioned. Couldn’t get much easier handling than these.
No bottom out here either.
I’ve ridden both and put 18,000 miles on the SB. With any new bike,
I have to learn how it handles and adapt to it, some more than others.
After that it’s ***** out. In my book handling is not an issue with any
of the 3 mentioned. Couldn’t get much easier handling than these.
No bottom out here either.
Last edited by perryross; Dec 13, 2011 at 09:43 AM. Reason: sp
