2020 changes?
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 433
From: Menifee, CA
I disagree they ride or handle better. In fact, I'd say they don't handle AS WELL AS my 2018 RGU. With its old school tubular frame. They do almost as well as the Harley, but never better.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 433
From: Menifee, CA
heck I don't know, to keep up with the competition perhaps..my 2016 Toyota Avalon with the 270 HP V6 did not need more power, but they upped it to over 300 hp because that's what their competition offered..you know the drill there..of course HD is always behind and late to the party on tech it seems and not overly concerned about all that
To use a modern aluminum frame on a Harley tourer would require a complete re-working of the motorcycle, and how the engine operates within, or as part of, the chassis. This doesn't seem like something MoCo would consider cost-effective in a line that is in process of going extinct.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 551
From: NH
The primary vent is still on all 2020 Touring bikes....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,593
Likes: 11,290
From: State of Confusion
Frames are always an area of roiling ruckus in Japan World. Frames are changed every couple of years, even on bike models that have been in production for a long time. It has an awful lot to do with cosmetics. They will design some new frame, use some new alloy, put some sprinkles in it and ensure that you can see it poking out around the fuel tank, and have a big beefy looking head on it. None of them work any better than a regular old well-designed and built tubular steel frame.
To use a modern aluminum frame on a Harley tourer would require a complete re-working of the motorcycle, and how the engine operates within, or as part of, the chassis. This doesn't seem like something MoCo would consider cost-effective in a line that is in process of going extinct.
To use a modern aluminum frame on a Harley tourer would require a complete re-working of the motorcycle, and how the engine operates within, or as part of, the chassis. This doesn't seem like something MoCo would consider cost-effective in a line that is in process of going extinct.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,382
Likes: 404
From: Illinois
Really don't get all the excitement over a mono-shock on a touring bike and wasn't thrilled riding the Indian with one.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,593
Likes: 11,290
From: State of Confusion
truth be told, not convinced it's a game changer for these either..when I bought my 2009 Electra Glide with the new frame I couldn't believe how much of an improvement it felt like, really carved up the river roads and canyons very well for such a heavy pig
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,382
Likes: 404
From: Illinois
Yeah, I mean I'm really happy with the "newer" frame over what I had with the 2007 SG I had. Yeah it is heavy, but I could also loose weight lol.
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,310
Likes: 1,079
That's a long time waiting! I'm not a HD expert, but seems like Soft Tails have been mono shock all along, and that's way over 20 years, isn't it? If they were going to transition the other frames over to the Soft Tail idea, surely they'd have done it by now. The reason for the Soft Tail was to make the chassis look more like a hard tail. It was copied by the Japanese.
I feel like most folks are very happy with the tubular cradle frame. It works fine. There's no good reason to abandon it. Putting a mono shock on the tourers would require an awful lot of re-working of the engine and exhaust. And for what particular benefit?
I feel like most folks are very happy with the tubular cradle frame. It works fine. There's no good reason to abandon it. Putting a mono shock on the tourers would require an awful lot of re-working of the engine and exhaust. And for what particular benefit?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,996
Likes: 417
From: Cranbourne, VIC Australia
The saddlebags have plenty of room for me as is. I don't see being able to store a FF helmet in the saddle bag as being a big selling point for HD but I could be wrong...