Why a Dyna?
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 4
From: Johnson City TN U.S.A.
Check out the Dyna in my Garage here...
It corners better than Sporty's and is under 10 seconds in the 1/4.
To hear it running is a treat in itself, which is possible in part to the "A" engine on Dyna's.
It corners better than Sporty's and is under 10 seconds in the 1/4.
To hear it running is a treat in itself, which is possible in part to the "A" engine on Dyna's.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
Fatbob has a shorter wheelbase than the Streetbob = tighter turns.
Wide glide has an extended rake = much slower turning than either the FB or SB.
Wide glide has an extended rake = much slower turning than either the FB or SB.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,158
Likes: 68
From: Martinsburg, WV
.5" shorter.
http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/technical/200801perfindex.pdf
Also shows the softail standard faster in the 1/4 than the super glide or street bob as well as traps higher. That huge power loss everyone one a Dyna claims the TCB engines suffer from must not matter that much.
http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/technical/200801perfindex.pdf
Also shows the softail standard faster in the 1/4 than the super glide or street bob as well as traps higher. That huge power loss everyone one a Dyna claims the TCB engines suffer from must not matter that much.
Last edited by Village Idiot; Aug 2, 2012 at 08:20 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
.5" shorter.
http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/technical/200801perfindex.pdf
Also shows the softail standard faster in the 1/4 than the super glide or street bob as well as traps higher. That huge power loss everyone one a Dyna claims the TCB engines suffer from must not matter that much.
http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/technical/200801perfindex.pdf
Also shows the softail standard faster in the 1/4 than the super glide or street bob as well as traps higher. That huge power loss everyone one a Dyna claims the TCB engines suffer from must not matter that much.
As for Softails...the counterbalancer robs HP and torque, period. Harley quotes 100tq on 103 Dynas and 97tq on 103 Softails. As for HP I've always heard around 4% less. Not a huge amount, but it's there and it will continue to be a factor if you build up the motor.
The 1/4 mile test in the link looks way off to me comparing stock bikes, and 1/4 mile tests are notoriously unreliable as you can see the numbers change radically on a given day with different drivers. I've ridden my share of Softails and Dynas and I have never felt that kind of difference, and I'd still have to give the nod to the Dyna. That said, someone is standing behind that result and I certainly can't explain it unless the fxst weighs much less than a SB. Also, I've always heard the counterbalancer reduces top speed which makes sense considering its adding drag to the motor (same place the HP/tq loss is coming from). Maybe somebody has more numbers they can post regarding this.
(edit: just noticed that fxst was tested in '99 which would also make it an Evo unless it was an early twin cam build? If it's an evo that would mean it didn't have a counterbalancer).
All that aside I'm really not a numbers guy. I ride for the feel. The fatbob tracks and handles the best out of the dynas in my experience. As for Softails, I love everything about TC Softails except the motor (just don't expect to cayon carve as well on one). I put over 30k on my Deluxe. Great bike, but the counterbalancer sucked the life out of it for me personally. The simple solution to the counterbalancer is to get an Evo.
Last edited by Thingfish; Aug 2, 2012 at 10:44 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
From: Western KY
Yeah.....I'd say go for the fatbob and make it your own like you did that sporty.
I chose the superglide due to money, but I do like it a lot and it handles pretty good.
not as good as the fatbob though. I agree the fatbob is the best handling bike harley has put out for a long time.
love the looks of the softails, and I absolutely loved my fat boy....for cruising it's awesome.
but in the end, dyna is the best feel for power and handling.
ride hard and safe
I chose the superglide due to money, but I do like it a lot and it handles pretty good.
not as good as the fatbob though. I agree the fatbob is the best handling bike harley has put out for a long time.
love the looks of the softails, and I absolutely loved my fat boy....for cruising it's awesome.
but in the end, dyna is the best feel for power and handling.
ride hard and safe
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 3
From: Corona, CA.
Broken is right about the narrow front tire....my FXDL gets sucked into any parallel groove in the road it seems. I really would like to get a larger tire up there.....
Also. For all the owners who HATE their dual headlight.... could you upgrade to a single & sell me your old one cheap
I would love to rig a dual light on my bike.
Also. For all the owners who HATE their dual headlight.... could you upgrade to a single & sell me your old one cheap
I would love to rig a dual light on my bike.
I looked at many as well as was able to ride quite a few as I work on them and had some friends let me take theirs for rides.
I think the Dynas are much more geared towards the performance minded rider than the softtails as well as ride a bit better although I really like the looks of a stretched out lowered soft tail.
I think the Fab Bob and Street Bob have the best ride of the Dyna line up. That said, I just had to have the sleek, raked, stretched out, 21" front tire look of the Wide Glide. I also wanted 2010 or newer because I liked the side mounted license plate and position of the tail lights as well as the six-speed transmission and the 49mm front tubes..
It does have a tendency to follow seams in the road more so than the Street Bob or Fab Bob but I can live with that for the looks.
Mike.
Here is how mine sits currently.
I think the Dynas are much more geared towards the performance minded rider than the softtails as well as ride a bit better although I really like the looks of a stretched out lowered soft tail.
I think the Fab Bob and Street Bob have the best ride of the Dyna line up. That said, I just had to have the sleek, raked, stretched out, 21" front tire look of the Wide Glide. I also wanted 2010 or newer because I liked the side mounted license plate and position of the tail lights as well as the six-speed transmission and the 49mm front tubes..
It does have a tendency to follow seams in the road more so than the Street Bob or Fab Bob but I can live with that for the looks.
Mike.
Here is how mine sits currently.
As for the Softails...handling is nowhere near as good as a Dyna don't care what anyone says, and I don't like the balanced motor either. The "B" motor sounds good in theory and is smooth at idle, but the non-balanced motor of the Dyna and touring bikes are smoother at speed, which is what matters.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,046
Likes: 398
From: sugar land, gulf coast, tx
Pick the Dyna you like and buy it. I've owned softails, touring, and a Dyna, and for me the Dyna is the best bike MOCO makes. A no frills motorcycle, period. Personally, I ride an FXDC. Would have liked to have gotten a Fat Bob, but my back went nuts with the forwards. Instant lower back pain, even while sitting still. They do handle better than the other lines, lighter weight means better slow speed handling, and still plenty of power with a simple stage 1.
I go to the Harley shop regurlarly and still haven seen or sat on anything I would trade my Custom for, period... tomp dd50
I go to the Harley shop regurlarly and still haven seen or sat on anything I would trade my Custom for, period... tomp dd50
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: California
Think about it. The same displacement motor and 6 speed trans in the Dyna is also in the bigger HD bikes. But the Dyna weighs much less. If you want the best performance and handling in the HD line the Dyna is the way to go. That being said, for long distance riding, the Ultra is king.
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