Dyna vs Softail
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 136
Likes: 24
From: Florida Panhandle
Here we go again...
I like dynas, softails, sportsters and v-rods. Each model has good and bad qualities; there is no one size fits all motorcycle. Sure the EVO is simpler but the 88/96B motor has been around for 10+ years and there doesn't seem to me many riders reporting problems with the counterbalancer system. I'm not a fan of some of Harley's cost cutting measures on the twin cam (losing the timkin in 03 for instance) but it seems to me they got the balancing system right. True the "B" motor has something like and extra 13lbs of metal spinning in it's cases and that does hurt performance (my stage 1 07 FXDC would have smoked my stage 1 09 night train) but I didn't buy a softail for performance. If I wanted a better performing air cooled bike I would just buy a 10 year old 1200 sportster. The night train is comfortable and smooth and in the end that fits me just fine.
I like dynas, softails, sportsters and v-rods. Each model has good and bad qualities; there is no one size fits all motorcycle. Sure the EVO is simpler but the 88/96B motor has been around for 10+ years and there doesn't seem to me many riders reporting problems with the counterbalancer system. I'm not a fan of some of Harley's cost cutting measures on the twin cam (losing the timkin in 03 for instance) but it seems to me they got the balancing system right. True the "B" motor has something like and extra 13lbs of metal spinning in it's cases and that does hurt performance (my stage 1 07 FXDC would have smoked my stage 1 09 night train) but I didn't buy a softail for performance. If I wanted a better performing air cooled bike I would just buy a 10 year old 1200 sportster. The night train is comfortable and smooth and in the end that fits me just fine.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,095
Likes: 348
From: Ione, CA
Yellow Springs. We used to drive down from OSU to hang out with the hippie chicks, play guitars and smoke dope back in '66. They knew how to party down there. As long as you could pronounce dialectical materialism you were guaranteed to get laid... -L-
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,173
Likes: 177
From: East Coast
Is it wrong to love Softails as well as Dynas? How 'bout rubber mounted and counterbalanced engines? How about twins rigid mounted to the frame with or without counterbalancers? I love my FatBoy so much it's unreal, but I love all her sisters as well. If that's wrong, wow, I must be really, REALLY wrong.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
Some like the vibrations so you have the Dyna family. Some like the engine to be smooth unlike some have posted the TC96B is smooth with a slight amount of vibration left in. They could have balanced to to be perfectly smooth. HD left a little in so you still know that you have an engine and not an electric motor.
Less power? Well yes maybe .2 hp/torque less. You know the amount of power loss from using mineral oil instead of Syn.
I collect all the families of HD air cooled bikes. 010 Dyna Super Glide, 010 Ultra Classic, 09 Sportster XR1200, 08 Buell UlyssesXT and a 07 Softail Custom.
The softail is the smoothest most comfortable riding bike of the bunch. The Ulysses 2nd.
When my son visited a couple weeks ago, he took the Super Glide and I took the softail. They both have low restrictive air intake and exhaust along with a fuel programmer. He tired to pass me. He failed the 07 FXSTC does 12.4 in the quarter. It would hang with my VTX1800 when I had it.
It has the best style. Looks exactly like a motorcycle should to me.
Less power? Well yes maybe .2 hp/torque less. You know the amount of power loss from using mineral oil instead of Syn.
I collect all the families of HD air cooled bikes. 010 Dyna Super Glide, 010 Ultra Classic, 09 Sportster XR1200, 08 Buell UlyssesXT and a 07 Softail Custom.
The softail is the smoothest most comfortable riding bike of the bunch. The Ulysses 2nd.
When my son visited a couple weeks ago, he took the Super Glide and I took the softail. They both have low restrictive air intake and exhaust along with a fuel programmer. He tired to pass me. He failed the 07 FXSTC does 12.4 in the quarter. It would hang with my VTX1800 when I had it.
It has the best style. Looks exactly like a motorcycle should to me.
Last edited by lh4x4; Sep 11, 2010 at 07:11 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,173
Likes: 177
From: East Coast
Some like the vibrations so you have the Dyna family. Some like the engine to be smooth unlike some have posted the TC96B is smooth with a slight amount of vibration left in. They could have balanced to to be perfectly smooth. HD left a little in so you still know that you have an engine and not an electric motor.
Less power? Well yes maybe .2 hp/torque less. You know the amount of power loss from using mineral oil instead of Syn.
Less power? Well yes maybe .2 hp/torque less. You know the amount of power loss from using mineral oil instead of Syn.
I get PLENTY of shake when tolling it on at low RPMs!
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,580
Likes: 7
From: The Internet (& Dyer, Indiana)
Well said Ratster...
Most sensible post on this thread!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
Likes: 34
From: USA
BTW, I did have to take the Harley Davidson written exam when I bought my Lowrider. The first question was: Are You Gay? If YES go to question #2 if NO skip the remaining questions and ask your salesman to take you to the Dyna section where they keep the real motorcycles at your dealership.
Last edited by KBFXDLI; Sep 11, 2010 at 07:44 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,586
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee