You should have did your home work before you bought it.
Harley design issues: Wide Glide
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: South Africa (Western Cape)
Harley design issues: Wide Glide
I just bought my fourth Harley - a brand new 2010 Wide Glide. I would like to point out a few issues and wonder if other Harley owners feel the same... maybe it is me??
1. The side stand on all the Harleys I had was awkward - difficult to reach for and one has to lay the bike over to the right to let the stand out. It seems to me that there may come a day I might loose my balance while leaning over, trying to find the damn tip of the hidden side stand.
2. On the newer 6 speed Harleys there is a small - I mean small - green digit 6 on the speedo indicating you have selected 6th gear. Come on Harley, who can see that in daylight? Why not making it bigger and brighter?
3. Now on the Wide Glide: The 21" front wheel creates a gyro effect at speeds above 50 mph when changing direction fast - not good! The tyre is so thin - surely it would absorb more rough road with a wider tyre - smaller diameter like on the Street Bob? The forward rake on the forks does'nt make for easy slow riding! I find the ride very firm on the Wide Glide - rear shocks set to softest setting. I get harsh road feedback from the handle bars. Why can the front shocks not be set... come on Harley.... this is an expensive bike!
4. Why use a single front disc? Picture double discs... better brakes and will look so much better.
5. The saddle (Wide Glide) has very little foam support and is really hard on a long jouney.
So... what do you think?
1. The side stand on all the Harleys I had was awkward - difficult to reach for and one has to lay the bike over to the right to let the stand out. It seems to me that there may come a day I might loose my balance while leaning over, trying to find the damn tip of the hidden side stand.
2. On the newer 6 speed Harleys there is a small - I mean small - green digit 6 on the speedo indicating you have selected 6th gear. Come on Harley, who can see that in daylight? Why not making it bigger and brighter?
3. Now on the Wide Glide: The 21" front wheel creates a gyro effect at speeds above 50 mph when changing direction fast - not good! The tyre is so thin - surely it would absorb more rough road with a wider tyre - smaller diameter like on the Street Bob? The forward rake on the forks does'nt make for easy slow riding! I find the ride very firm on the Wide Glide - rear shocks set to softest setting. I get harsh road feedback from the handle bars. Why can the front shocks not be set... come on Harley.... this is an expensive bike!
4. Why use a single front disc? Picture double discs... better brakes and will look so much better.
5. The saddle (Wide Glide) has very little foam support and is really hard on a long jouney.
So... what do you think?
Last edited by helenecillie; Apr 1, 2010 at 02:00 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 7
I just bought my fourth Harley - a brand new 2010 Wide Glide. I would like to point out a few issues and wonder if other Harley owners feel the same... maybe it is me??
1. The side stand on all the Harleys I had was awkward - difficult to reach for and one has to lay the bike over to the right to let the stand out. It seems to me that there may come a day I might loose my balance while leaning over, trying to find the damn tip of the hidden side stand.
2. On the newer 6 speed Harleys there is a small - I mean small - green digit 6 on the speedo indicating you have selected 6th gear. Come on Harley, who can see that in daylight? Why not making it bigger and brighter?
3. Now on the Wide Glide: The 21" front wheel creates a gyro effect at speeds above 50 mph when changing direction fast - not good! The tyre is so thin - surely it would absorb more rough road with a wider tyre - smaller diameter like on the Street Bob? The forward rake on the forks does'nt make for easy slow riding! I find the ride very firm on the Wide Glide - rear shocks set to softest setting. I get harsh road feedback from the handle bars. Why can the front shocks not be set... come on Harley.... this is an expensive bike!
4. Why use a single front disc? Picture double discs... better brakes and will look so much better.
5. The saddle (Wide Glide) has very little foam support and is really hard on a long jouney.
So... what do you think?
1. The side stand on all the Harleys I had was awkward - difficult to reach for and one has to lay the bike over to the right to let the stand out. It seems to me that there may come a day I might loose my balance while leaning over, trying to find the damn tip of the hidden side stand.
2. On the newer 6 speed Harleys there is a small - I mean small - green digit 6 on the speedo indicating you have selected 6th gear. Come on Harley, who can see that in daylight? Why not making it bigger and brighter?
3. Now on the Wide Glide: The 21" front wheel creates a gyro effect at speeds above 50 mph when changing direction fast - not good! The tyre is so thin - surely it would absorb more rough road with a wider tyre - smaller diameter like on the Street Bob? The forward rake on the forks does'nt make for easy slow riding! I find the ride very firm on the Wide Glide - rear shocks set to softest setting. I get harsh road feedback from the handle bars. Why can the front shocks not be set... come on Harley.... this is an expensive bike!
4. Why use a single front disc? Picture double discs... better brakes and will look so much better.
5. The saddle (Wide Glide) has very little foam support and is really hard on a long jouney.
So... what do you think?
why did you buy it then? or did you buy w/o riding first?
Sounds to me like alot if whining...your bike, if you don't like the seat or shocks, change them out.
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: St Peters, Mo.
im kinda with you on the kickstand bit of a pain to get to, and makes you look like a newb while your flopping your leg around looking for it.
I was just on mine yesterday on the highway and was thinking the same thing about the 6th indicator its a little dim and small.
But with the art of modifications that can all be fixed
I was just on mine yesterday on the highway and was thinking the same thing about the 6th indicator its a little dim and small.
But with the art of modifications that can all be fixed
Last edited by wglidetim; Apr 1, 2010 at 02:11 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 27
From: florida swamp
[QUOTE=helenecillie;6501238]I just bought my fourth Harley - a brand new 2010 Wide Glide. I would like to point out a few issues and wonder if other Harley owners feel the same... maybe it is me??
1. The side stand on all the Harleys I had was awkward - difficult to reach for and one has to lay the bike over to the right to let the stand out. It seems to me that there may come a day I might loose my balance while leaning over, trying to find the damn tip of the hidden side stand.
2. On the newer 6 speed Harleys there is a small - I mean small - green digit 6 on the speedo indicating you have selected 6th gear. Come on Harley, who can see that in daylight? Why not making it bigger and brighter?
3. Now on the Wide Glide: The 21" front wheel creates a gyro effect at speeds above 50 mph when changing direction fast - not good! The tyre is so thin - surely it would absorb more rough road with a wider tyre - smaller diameter like on the Street Bob? The forward rake on the forks does'nt make for easy slow riding! I find the ride very firm on the Wide Glide - rear shocks set to softest setting. I get harsh road feedback from the handle bars. Why can the front shocks not be set... come on Harley.... this is an expensive bike!
4. Why use a single front disc? Picture double discs... better brakes and will look so much better.
5. The saddle (Wide Glide) has very little foam support and is really hard on a long jouney.
So... what do you think?[/QUOTE]
It's a wide glide, not a sport tourer
1. The side stand on all the Harleys I had was awkward - difficult to reach for and one has to lay the bike over to the right to let the stand out. It seems to me that there may come a day I might loose my balance while leaning over, trying to find the damn tip of the hidden side stand.
2. On the newer 6 speed Harleys there is a small - I mean small - green digit 6 on the speedo indicating you have selected 6th gear. Come on Harley, who can see that in daylight? Why not making it bigger and brighter?
3. Now on the Wide Glide: The 21" front wheel creates a gyro effect at speeds above 50 mph when changing direction fast - not good! The tyre is so thin - surely it would absorb more rough road with a wider tyre - smaller diameter like on the Street Bob? The forward rake on the forks does'nt make for easy slow riding! I find the ride very firm on the Wide Glide - rear shocks set to softest setting. I get harsh road feedback from the handle bars. Why can the front shocks not be set... come on Harley.... this is an expensive bike!
4. Why use a single front disc? Picture double discs... better brakes and will look so much better.
5. The saddle (Wide Glide) has very little foam support and is really hard on a long jouney.
So... what do you think?[/QUOTE]
It's a wide glide, not a sport tourer
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: South Africa (Western Cape)
Please bear in mind that the price of a Harley in South Africa is much much higher than in the USA.
I am loyal but to a point!
Trending Topics
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 373
Likes: 2
From: Virginia Beach
Everything you described you didn't like, well, someone else probably does. Furthermore, everything can be adjusted to your liking. You can only please half the people all the time, or all of the people half the time.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,208
Likes: 374
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
1. Get the side stand extender tab thing.
2. Don't worry about the 6th gear light (never had a 5th gear (or 4th gear) light on the older bikes.
3a. You should have test rode it. Gonna be expensive to change the things that make a wide glide a wide glide.
3b.You can change the fork oil and possibly the springs.
4. You might want to go to dual discs when you make the other changes to the front end. Of course 1 disc is 1 more than many of the old choppers had and still better than a drum. High performance caliper, disk and pads would be affordable improvements.
5. It takes a while to break in a new seat. If you really don't like it it is easy to change and not expensive compared to other mods.
You left out a few issues like: it is underpowered, there is too much heat from running lean, tires wear out quickly, poor mileage, various noises.
2. Don't worry about the 6th gear light (never had a 5th gear (or 4th gear) light on the older bikes.
3a. You should have test rode it. Gonna be expensive to change the things that make a wide glide a wide glide.
3b.You can change the fork oil and possibly the springs.
4. You might want to go to dual discs when you make the other changes to the front end. Of course 1 disc is 1 more than many of the old choppers had and still better than a drum. High performance caliper, disk and pads would be affordable improvements.
5. It takes a while to break in a new seat. If you really don't like it it is easy to change and not expensive compared to other mods.
You left out a few issues like: it is underpowered, there is too much heat from running lean, tires wear out quickly, poor mileage, various noises.
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: South Africa (Western Cape)
im kinda with you on the kickstand bit of a pain to get to, and makes you look like a newb while your flopping your leg around looking for it.
I was just on mine yesterday on the highway and was thinking the same thing about the 6th indicator its a little dim and small.
But with the art of modifications that can all be fixed
I was just on mine yesterday on the highway and was thinking the same thing about the 6th indicator its a little dim and small.
But with the art of modifications that can all be fixed