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I beg to differ. Have you ever rode a VRod? They're reluctant to lean over and turn due to the raked out front end and wide rear tire, just like a Breakout. The handling trophy goes to the 2018+ Fat Bob or Sportster Roadster, or XR1200. VRods are straight line machines. I don't disagree that for the VRSC family it probably is the best handling, the chassis as a whole however isn't conducive to turning.
And I beg to differ with you. I have a 2006 VRSCR and a 2010 XR1200....oh, and a 2018 Fat Bob 114. The VRSCR is much better at handling corners than you think. Tweaks were made to it for doing just that. The motor is a gem and the chassis is as well for what it was designed to do. Granted, the XR1200 is a step up in handling the twisties but just doesn't have the oomph, or rev range, to be a serious contender. I would also say the softail Fat Bob is on line with the VRSCR in handling but lacks the motor flexibility.
Most HDs are set up with forward controls and tall handlebars. So you are basically a sail going down the road- not an ideal position to carve corners. I like to run through the twisties on my Road King and, for the most part it handles well for a big bike. However if I were seriously going to do some canyon carving I would look at something with a better riding position and better ground clearances.
For not much more than $4 grand ($4,399 if you want ABS) you can get a new 2018 Ninja 400. Will care the twisties better than any Harley and better than most larger sport bikes.
If you want to stick with Harley, it's probably worth waiting until the Street Fighter is released. The Buell Firebolts are definitely worth checking out, but i'm not sure i'd want to go long distance on one.
Personally, i have way more fun hustling my Low Rider S through the twisties than on any sport bike i've ridden, but i am planning on taller rear shocks for the extra lean angle and quicker stearing.
Each to their own but I can't afford a 2nd bike and I don't always know what kind of roads that I'm going to be riding on and what kind of twists and turns they have to offer. Granted, there are bikes out there that are better than others for various riding styles but I've known women that have taken their big Dynas and their big Softails through the turns and never had any issues. To each their own, my Springer has done everything I've asked of it whether it be the twisties or not. I guess what I'm trying to say is this, if a woman can do it, I'd feel kind of lame if i couldn't. Btw, I've been on some twisties in E. Oregon that were hair pin turns where the posted speed was around 15mph. with no issues. Good luck on finding your special bike
When people talk about riding curves it is always important to detail what type of curved riding they want to do. Cruising at speed limit is one thing but if you really want to carve you something light, nimble, powerful, with high lean angles.
It is a whole different type of eye opening and exhilarating riding.
Originally Posted by shorelasHD
BMW. Try one of these:
and you might want to attend a riding school to learn to ride it, My $0.02.
A lowrider and a heritage are actually a couple of the better larger Harleys for the twisties. They have practical wheel widths and rather good clearance as stock.
Of course, to make them even more fun in the twisties you could add performance wheels and tires, better brakes and calipers, performance shocks and forks, and engine upgrades and a proper tune to get you from corner to corner quick.
Even with forward controls, you can still hustle Harleys thru the twisties with confidence and speed.
An example....drew a red line to show how off-center I get on my Fatty. Around 60 MPh on this turn.
Anyone can go out and buy a performance street bike. The fun is turning something that really shouldn't be fun in the twisties....into something that is a blast.
Each to their own but I can't afford a 2nd bike and I don't always know what kind of roads that I'm going to be riding on and what kind of twists and turns they have to offer. Granted, there are bikes out there that are better than others for various riding styles but I've known women that have taken their big Dynas and their big Softails through the turns and never had any issues. To each their own, my Springer has done everything I've asked of it whether it be the twisties or not. I guess what I'm trying to say is this, if a woman can do it, I'd feel kind of lame if i couldn't. Btw, I've been on some twisties in E. Oregon that were hair pin turns where the posted speed was around 15mph. with no issues. Good luck on finding your special bike
WTF has being a woman got to do with it? I can outride most of the men I ride with
A few years ago we went with friends on a tour in Italy. Wife and I rode a BMW R1200RT, friend has never ridden any other big bike but HD and they were on a Heritage. There were also some solo riders on Road Kings. After one short mountain pass, we waited for nearly 10 minutes on the other side for all the HD's. It's not brand loyalty; simply physics...a much lighter, better suspended, more powerful bike WITH THE SAME RIDER beats a heavy, poorly suspended, lesser-powered machine in technical twisties. Personal favorite ride was on a 2010 Aprilia Tuono...weighs about the same as my old BSA with superb ergonomics and a powerful V-Twin motor. I didn't know there was a tell-tale function on the speedo. When I returned to the dealer who had lent it to me, he asked how it felt at 138 mph...it was so smooth and comfortable I wanted to keep going. Having said all that (and I could go on) I still prefer my Fat Bob (before that, a built FXDXT) for touring in USA and Canada. If my wife quit riding her bike and I was going to dedicate my remaining years (I'm 65) to just seeking out the nicest roads to ride, I would likely get a BMW R1200R. Just my opinion.....
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
