.....You prolly ought'a go "sit on the throne" fer awhile,dude......the **** yer full of is eventually gonna run out yer ears.....already come'n out yer mouth...........
Dyna vs Softail
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 3
From: Vancouver, BC
I've put this off long enough. Softails are the direct lineal descendants of the original hardtail frame. In the '50s, Harley got WAY off track when they built those butt-ugly shock frames. I remember when they came out and thought WTF??? Is that their answer for a smoother ride, which was baloney. A hardtail with a pogo-stick seat rode smoother. And if you look at a mid-50s hardtail Harley they look tiny compared to the giant-*** stuff that comes out of the factory these days.
The Softail frame was a brilliant idea to add enough flex so that the ride was more than decent. It keeps the looks of a Harley, unlike the swing arm frame. To my eyes, an FXST or Night Train is the pure essence of the original Harley-Davidson.
Now, about posers. I like all Harleys although I think those giant-*** tourers are not for me. They look too top heavy, but the sell a jillion, and the guys who make the payments love them. Dynas are slow sellers on NorCal but I sure think they look good.
I like my '03 FXST -- it is perfect for me. I had my first V-Twin in 1964 -- a '48 Indian Chief -- and my first Harley in 1968. Poser? Don't think so friend, but you are a either a troll or an *******. Your call...
Oh yeah, counter balancers. My Hayabusa has two of them. What you need when you are running 170 hp. out of 1300cc. Stock. You obviously know squat about engine architecture.
Power robber? Not as much as a fat wife on the ***** pillow...
The Softail frame was a brilliant idea to add enough flex so that the ride was more than decent. It keeps the looks of a Harley, unlike the swing arm frame. To my eyes, an FXST or Night Train is the pure essence of the original Harley-Davidson.
Now, about posers. I like all Harleys although I think those giant-*** tourers are not for me. They look too top heavy, but the sell a jillion, and the guys who make the payments love them. Dynas are slow sellers on NorCal but I sure think they look good.
I like my '03 FXST -- it is perfect for me. I had my first V-Twin in 1964 -- a '48 Indian Chief -- and my first Harley in 1968. Poser? Don't think so friend, but you are a either a troll or an *******. Your call...
Oh yeah, counter balancers. My Hayabusa has two of them. What you need when you are running 170 hp. out of 1300cc. Stock. You obviously know squat about engine architecture.
Power robber? Not as much as a fat wife on the ***** pillow...
Not that it's bad; to each his own but lets not get carried away in trying to make any sort of link between actual hardtails and the fake ones.
Last edited by CRF; Sep 13, 2010 at 12:00 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 136
Likes: 24
From: Florida Panhandle
"I was hoping to hear more about the suspension differences"
Excellent idea lets get back on topic
Having owned a 07 Superglide Custom I can say that it was the best handling Harley I've ever owned. However for me my 09 Night Train is more comfortable to ride.
If you ride aggressively down winding roads on a regular basis then the Dyna works better. Part of the Dyna's magic is the wheels. My Dyna had a 160 rear and a 100/90-19 front tire and that combination worked great. FX softails like the Train/Custom have a 200 rear and a skinny 21 x 3.25 front tire. Wide rear tires look cool but they do hurt handling somewhat (200 isn't bad a 240 however sucks). That skinny 21" tire makes the bike want to fall into turns compaired to the Dyna. FL softails have a 17" 140 front tire and my guess is they handle better then my Train. The stock shocks on my softail work great; the bike handles bumps, etc just fine. Like any bike if you lower it you lose travel and ride quality suffers.
Ok now back to A motor vs B motor
Which one works better for you depends on how you plan to ride. The B motor is smoother below 2500 rpm (70 mph) and is very smooth at around town speeds. Above 65 the rubber mounted bikes shine staying smooth past 80+. At 80+ the counterbalancer system on the B motor doesn't do much for you and vibration gets uncomfortable. FL softails of course have rubber isolated foot boards so vibration may not be as big an issue on them as it is on FX softails that only have thinly paded foot pegs.
Excellent idea lets get back on topic
Having owned a 07 Superglide Custom I can say that it was the best handling Harley I've ever owned. However for me my 09 Night Train is more comfortable to ride.
If you ride aggressively down winding roads on a regular basis then the Dyna works better. Part of the Dyna's magic is the wheels. My Dyna had a 160 rear and a 100/90-19 front tire and that combination worked great. FX softails like the Train/Custom have a 200 rear and a skinny 21 x 3.25 front tire. Wide rear tires look cool but they do hurt handling somewhat (200 isn't bad a 240 however sucks). That skinny 21" tire makes the bike want to fall into turns compaired to the Dyna. FL softails have a 17" 140 front tire and my guess is they handle better then my Train. The stock shocks on my softail work great; the bike handles bumps, etc just fine. Like any bike if you lower it you lose travel and ride quality suffers.
Ok now back to A motor vs B motor
Which one works better for you depends on how you plan to ride. The B motor is smoother below 2500 rpm (70 mph) and is very smooth at around town speeds. Above 65 the rubber mounted bikes shine staying smooth past 80+. At 80+ the counterbalancer system on the B motor doesn't do much for you and vibration gets uncomfortable. FL softails of course have rubber isolated foot boards so vibration may not be as big an issue on them as it is on FX softails that only have thinly paded foot pegs.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 868
Likes: 4
From: Warwick, RI
Doesn't mean the rider is a poser. Doesn't mean the bike is made for posers. Maybe it is a poor choice of words, as people here see poser + anything they feel connected to and go on the defensive.
I like softails. I like dynas. I decided on a dyna because I liked it better ... for me. If I wanted a bike that was comfortable for multiple day trips of 500+ miles/day ... my choice would be a touring bike. Not a softail or a dyna.
As for what makes more power ... hell, who cares. You people have way too much time on your hands.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: Bedford Nova Scotia Canada
I remember reading somewhere that the guy who designed the softail sold it to HD.I thought I also read he had a choice between a lump sum buyout or a per unit sold buyout, he took the lump sum OUCH.
Last edited by BlueNoser; Sep 13, 2010 at 12:22 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,590
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Compare-not degrade
Does anyone else find it interesting that a group of people cannot compare different aspect of motorcycles with out being negative of the others. All motorcycles have their own unique differences and as such are suited for each end user. On a simple note why on earth someone would call and I quote 'a Sporty is a girl's bike' 'a Softail is a poser's bike' 'a Jap bike' is beyond me. Does this type of person give the motorcycle's wave or nod as he passes or just the middle figure. Even the FP has become an expert at negativity.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 686
Likes: 1
From: KC MO
Does anyone else find it interesting that a group of people cannot compare different aspect of motorcycles with out being negative of the others. All motorcycles have their own unique differences and as such are suited for each end user. On a simple note why on earth someone would call and I quote 'a Sporty is a girl's bike' 'a Softail is a poser's bike' 'a Jap bike' is beyond me. Does this type of person give the motorcycle's wave or nod as he passes or just the middle figure. Even the FP has become an expert at negativity.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
My take...
Dynas you sit on the bike. With mid controls they will be more comfortable for shorter riders. With forward controls they favor long legged folks. They feel more raw with the rubber mounts at idle but handle and suspend better at speed.
Softails you sit in the bike. Leg room is intermediate between dynas with mid controls and those with forwards. They feel more refined at idle and at cruising speed but handling and suspension is somewhat inferior. Stock they are more elaborately styled and sell for a premium over the Dyna line.
For all intents and purposes, there is not a great deal of difference, ride-wise, between the two lines in the general context of motorcycling. Dynas may handle a little better than softails which may be a little more refined but its not like they are Ducatis or Goldwings. Someone looking for handling and performance in a big twin, or more comfort, will be upgrading components anyway further nullifying the differences in the stock models.
For me the main difference is the sitting position. I find the softail locks me into position with most of my weight on my tailbone whereas a dyna with forwards gives me the room I want for my legs while allowing a better weight distribution on my backside. I am not that enamoured with the faux hardtail look so the dyna is a no brainer for me.
Your miliage may vary and probably will.
Dynas you sit on the bike. With mid controls they will be more comfortable for shorter riders. With forward controls they favor long legged folks. They feel more raw with the rubber mounts at idle but handle and suspend better at speed.
Softails you sit in the bike. Leg room is intermediate between dynas with mid controls and those with forwards. They feel more refined at idle and at cruising speed but handling and suspension is somewhat inferior. Stock they are more elaborately styled and sell for a premium over the Dyna line.
For all intents and purposes, there is not a great deal of difference, ride-wise, between the two lines in the general context of motorcycling. Dynas may handle a little better than softails which may be a little more refined but its not like they are Ducatis or Goldwings. Someone looking for handling and performance in a big twin, or more comfort, will be upgrading components anyway further nullifying the differences in the stock models.
For me the main difference is the sitting position. I find the softail locks me into position with most of my weight on my tailbone whereas a dyna with forwards gives me the room I want for my legs while allowing a better weight distribution on my backside. I am not that enamoured with the faux hardtail look so the dyna is a no brainer for me.
Your miliage may vary and probably will.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,580
Likes: 7
From: The Internet (& Dyer, Indiana)
Does anyone else find it interesting that a group of people cannot compare different aspect of motorcycles with out being negative of the others. All motorcycles have their own unique differences and as such are suited for each end user. On a simple note why on earth someone would call and I quote 'a Sporty is a girl's bike' 'a Softail is a poser's bike' 'a Jap bike' is beyond me. Does this type of person give the motorcycle's wave or nod as he passes or just the middle figure. Even the FP has become an expert at negativity.
It's a Harley Brotherhood thang. The infamous brotherhood.
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Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,580
Likes: 7
From: The Internet (& Dyer, Indiana)
I think the "Poser Hard Tail" comment is being taken personally and out of context. A Softail is a poser hard tail. Arguing that is like arguing that the earth is not round. The whole point of the bike is to give the LOOK of a hardtail without actually BEING a hardtail. HOw is this an insult?
Doesn't mean the rider is a poser. Doesn't mean the bike is made for posers. Maybe it is a poor choice of words, as people here see poser + anything they feel connected to and go on the defensive.
I like softails. I like dynas. I decided on a dyna because I liked it better ... for me. If I wanted a bike that was comfortable for multiple day trips of 500+ miles/day ... my choice would be a touring bike. Not a softail or a dyna.
As for what makes more power ... hell, who cares. You people have way too much time on your hands.
Doesn't mean the rider is a poser. Doesn't mean the bike is made for posers. Maybe it is a poor choice of words, as people here see poser + anything they feel connected to and go on the defensive.
I like softails. I like dynas. I decided on a dyna because I liked it better ... for me. If I wanted a bike that was comfortable for multiple day trips of 500+ miles/day ... my choice would be a touring bike. Not a softail or a dyna.
As for what makes more power ... hell, who cares. You people have way too much time on your hands.
"Meant to look like a hardtail" (better choice of words).
Considering that many are driven across country by folks that ain't posers,.... WTF.
Now the chromed out ones that are 10 years old with 100 miles on them and lawn chairs all around it facing the bike,....... maybe those are poser versions.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,095
Likes: 348
From: Ione, CA
CRF, you are 100 percent right. That was a poor choice of words from me. But to me the Softal is what it is o its own. Sure, it looks like a hardtail frame from a distance, but more importantly to me, it keeps the classic lines of the bike overall and not just the frame. I'm of an age where the shock absorber frames look wrong -- I'm talking the '58 and on ones of that era. I think Dynas look terrific and touring bikes hide their shocks.
It gets my goat when some tool comes on and makes inflammatory statements when he freely admits he doesn't even own a bike. He was being hurtful, notice the skirtster comments he brings on board later in the thread.
Harleys? I love 'em all, V-Rods, you name it, even the Italian jobbers from the '60s. It's all good for me...
It gets my goat when some tool comes on and makes inflammatory statements when he freely admits he doesn't even own a bike. He was being hurtful, notice the skirtster comments he brings on board later in the thread.
Harleys? I love 'em all, V-Rods, you name it, even the Italian jobbers from the '60s. It's all good for me...