My first bike was a Sporty XL1200 Custom. In 3 years I put 24K miles on it, and it was a great bike. 2 months ago I traded it in for a '14 Dyna Low Rider, and I put 2K miles on that so far. I love the Dyna! Here are some comparisons:

With the larger engine, 6 speed tranny, extra 100 pounds of weight, and wider tires the Dyna feels a lot more stable/planted on the highway. I used to get blown around, especially from big trucks, when on the Sporty. The Dyna is beefier. When on secondary roads and twisties, the Dyna is still a lot of fun. You can throw it around, but not quite as nimble as the lighter Sportster. I don't feel limited in any way on the Dyna. It has wider handlebars too, btw.

Mechanically, the Sportster was very easy to maintain & work on. The Dyna has 3 "holes" instead of 2 when it comes to oil. It's a little more challenging to jack up because of the design of the frame, and that the transmission sits a little lower that the frame rails. My Dyna has forward controls, and I need to disconnect a rod at the shifter so I can get the oil filter off without making an awful mess. The Sporty has little drain plugs to change the fork fluid, but the Dyna doesn't. It's much more involved to change fork fluid on the Dyna, as far as I know.

The stock seat & suspension on my Sportster were both really rough! I would get ejected into the air hitting bumps sometimes, I mean right off the seat! And after 30 min in the stock seat, my back ached. So I installed Progressive shocks and a Mustang seat, and it was much better. On the Low Rider, I have the stock shocks and seat, and both are fine. I can ride a couple hours without issue.

One other thing is engine heat. The 103 on my bike can get HOT! I was in a long line of cars backed up at an exit last week, it took 8 minutes to get to the front. The backs of my thighs felt like Smores. REAL hot! I never had heat issues with the 1200.

So there's my comparison, I hope it helps. I LOVE my Dyna. I'm still pinching myself.

 

In 2016 when I was looking to buy I seriously considered a Dyna,but after researching and talking to fellow riders and mechnics I wanted no part of any Twin Cam engine like the Dyna . Those Twin Cam engines have some serious design flaws that Harley has refused to fix . The plastic tensioner system where a plastic shoe rides on a chain, really Harley ? . That Sporster with it's Evolution engine is almost bullet proof, gear drive all the way . I bought a 2016 883 Iron and never looked back . It is almost comical how people with an emotional attachment to their so-called big Twin Cams will say, well you can upgrade to a gear drive and do away with the chain tensioner system . Yeah, I will buy a $25,000 bike and then spend more money to convert to an all gear drive, again really Harley ! Stay away from the Dyna and any Harley with a Twin Cam engine .

 

I would say it better ..but don't have the words.

 

 

 

You won't regret the Dyna. 94k on mine and still ripping up the asphalt

 

Congratulations You are gonna love the ride I still miss mine

 

Congrats on the new ride. I made that same move a few years ago going sportster to superglide and I enjoyed that bike a lot while i had it. Ive always thought the fxd was the best bike in the dyna line. Classic looks, solid handling, and mid or forward controls depending on how you wanted to ride it.

 

Good looking motor. Enjoy your new ride.

 

You won't regret the change. Switched from a Sporty to a Dyna Wilde Glide and loved it.