Just got back from NC area , rode the BRP, The Rattler ( 209) and other local back roads with tight blind curves on a low rider and a heritage , great riding , worked out ok. But thinking maybe there’s better bikes out there for this type of riding. Know it’s a personal thing lot of variables but just putting it out there....

Thinking of a 2nd bike lighter in weight better geared for these tight , blind curvy roads. Sportster any good for these roads, I never rode one ? The new Fatbob ? Anyone with experience with that type of riding have any advise / recommendations is appreciated.

 

Seriously? I love Harleys and I love riding he twisties (I’m from Blairsville, GA) but Harleys suck in the twisties compared to just about everything else. Personally, I enjoy the extra challenge of making my Heritage do what It wasn’t meant to do, which is why I don’t get much life out of a set of floorboards. But if I was going to buy a second bike dedicated to twisties duty it would not be a Harley. I’m actually impressed with some of the adventure style bikes. The Suzuki V Strom and Kawasaki Versys come immediately to mind. I’m tall and have long legs so those bikes fit me very well and even a 650 V Strom will blow the doors off most any Harley. Of course, I have to keep reminding myself that if I had a more capable bike all I would do is ride faster. I’m always on the edge of the bike’s capabilities no matter what I’m riding.

 

for the cost of a good used rice rocket, you could have your pick of any one of a few hundred model choices....

I have had a couple of "sport tourers" the first was a Kawi ZZR1200 I picked up for next to nothing ( and still available used for CHEAP and they are bulletproof) , currently I have a 2017 Kawi Concours 14 in the corner. Kawi was blowing them out for 12 grand last summer with a 3 year warranty, The only downside is the 15K service is a tad pricey. Again used ones are out there for short money.

FJR1300 is also a choice by Yamaha, that one gets rave reviews.

 

It depends ... on whether or not you want a Harley. If so, the Roadster would be my choice for your mission profile.

That being said, here are a few thoughts of mine.

It's more rewarding to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. Touching the edge of the envelope on a fast bike means, as you correctly stated, you'll be going faster.

The one-lungers like the Suzuki DR650 and some of the more modern, higher performance dual sports can be a blast with an extra set of smaller wheels and tires. Jetting (or fueling module) and a pipe opens this bikes up pretty nicely and a set of 16" wheels with good tires makes them a hoot - given their light weight. That being said, I wouldn't want to ride one 12 hours to get to good roads. If a V-twin is your thing the V-Strom 650 (Wee Strom) is said to outperform it's liter big brother on tight roads.

Going Jap gets you performance and value - especially used. I've been a Harley guy for so long that I just don't know any better, but I still have a Suzuki Bandit 1250S that's faster than i need to go with plenty of torque ... and that's not even a performance bike by today's standards!

Happy hunting.

 

I've ridden the Dragon and most of the roads in that area several times on several Harley tour bikes I owned.. None of them even came close to the handling and power of my BMW K1600 GTL plus the trip to there and back from SC was smooth as glass on that bike. Harley's best handling bikes were the dyna series but they are gone. One of the new softails may work but generally in the past they sat lower and were much more apt to drag the pegs in tight corners. Happy hunting

 

Get a Buell XB9R or a XB12R. They'll run circles around any HD and are inexpensive. Powertrain is proven solid.

 

If you can find one of these. They are considered one of the best handling Harley Davidsons.

Model years: 2006–2007. The Street Rod was marketed as the “roadster-inspired” member of the VRSC line. The Street Rod was the first VRSC to use inverted forks made by Showa Corporation, with a steep rake and also was the first to use Brembo brakes.[5] It had the highest seat height at 30 inches (76 cm) of any VRSC model, and claimed the greatest lean angle at 40°, over the 32° lean of the other VRSC models. The Street Rod came equipped solely with mid-mounted controls. The Street Rod was the first with a 5-gallon tank in the 2006 year model, that would become standard for the line in 2007.Of the various versions of the V-Rod, the VRSCR Street Rod roadster was aimed primarily at the European market[3] and was best able to handle the engine's 120 bhp output. MCN wrote: "The Harley-Davidson Street Rod has sharper steering, four-piston brakes made for Harley by Brembo, new upswept exhausts for extra ground clearance, and a revised riding position makes this a Harley like no other – one that attacks corners with glee".

 

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.

 

A 2009 Vrod muscle was my 1st Harley and you are correct about the description of that. The one suggested is a special model that was changed (from the factory) for better handling, braking and lean angles.

In the latest lineup I would like a 114 Fat Bob for the twisties.

From this review:
While the Street Rod still shoots from light to light at the speed of it like the V-Rod, it’s in the corners that it really distinguishes itself. Gone is the tendency to fall into turns; in its place very predictable and neutral steering. I was surprised by how much I had to work to touch the footpeg feelers to tarmac. Though there’s no mistaking that this is a long and heavy motorcycle, it still gets around corners both tight and fast better than any Harley or cruiser to date, even the BMW R1200C or Moto Guzzi V11s. You’ll have to muscle the high-effort steering and be patient with the leisurely steering speed, but the reward will come from the wide-eyed, open-mouthed expressions of your sportbike riding buddies when your bike stays with ’em in the canyons and wins the beauty contest, too. Long sweepers are especially breathtaking, as the bike remains as planted and unflappable as a bullet train, even at full lean.

https://ridermagazine.com/2006/01/01...rod-road-test/

https://www.cycleworld.com/2012/11/2...est-used-bikes

 

If it had to be a Harley it would be hard to beat an FXR.