Sportster to Dyna Upgrade
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,312
Likes: 1,878
From: Conn.
Just remembered ( at the risk of sounding non- sequitur) another sporster story at a bar, a friend I had not seen in years asks if I am riding currently, I reply yes , told him about my 883, he says ( sportster , who did u buy that for your wife) a guy across the bar owned was the proud owner of a sporty, it got ugly , lol!! Now I am not putting down sporty , just think it's funny the way some think in this world!!
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,459
Likes: 8,291
From: Inland NW
all dynas have handling issues (rear steer) due to rubber mounts and just one engine-to-frame stabilizer link. some people can live with that just fine (not me!). a true-track device will add the 2 missing links and fix all handling issues or possible issues on a dyna.
twin cam blues : compensator sprocket, hard as hell hot starting (stopping for gas was a fun experience!), those pesky cam chain tensioners, etc...
twin cam blues : compensator sprocket, hard as hell hot starting (stopping for gas was a fun experience!), those pesky cam chain tensioners, etc...
I have yet to experience this hot start thing, either
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
I have a 2013 Switchback. Last summer I put in cams. The install took much longer than expected and my bike was not ready for the annual run my wife and I do. She has her own Switchback and my buddy was very gracious in lending me his 2013 Sportster Custom outfitted with midpoint pegs, screen Givi21 side bags, Mustang touring seat, Progressive springs in the forks and 13" Progressive 412 shocks.
We went from northeast NJ up to VT for 4th of July weekend. I had a blast on the Sportster. It felt like what I would expect a modern sport touring bike from the 50's/60's to be. The bike boogied and the motor has a different pulse to it than the 103 TC. Less boomy and revvier. No question, the Sporty handles quicker than the Dyna, but it feels less precise in it's movements. The Sporty feels raw compared to many other bikes of today, but in it's rawness it really does capture an elemental purity. The Switchback is a Cadillac by comparison. As a couple of people have mentioned already, the Switch, and I would guess any Dyna, is a much better highway bike. Much more planted, and while the Sporty may be 150lbs lighter, the Dyna tracks way better as well as being pretty nimble.
I'm very fortunate to have that good a friend to lend me a bike as well as having a great ride on a different bike. I fully enjoyed that trip on the Sportster. The Sporty is the bike I think of, when I think of a motorcycle in it's purest form. Would I want one, maybe as a 3rd bike. On the other hand, the Dyna does a lot well and with character all it's own. Refined raw is how I compare it to the Sporty. It hits a sweet spot between the Sporty and the touring bikes. I haven't ridden an LRS, but any day of the week I'd take that over a Sporty. Its hits a lot of buttons for the me that a Sporty doesn't.
We went from northeast NJ up to VT for 4th of July weekend. I had a blast on the Sportster. It felt like what I would expect a modern sport touring bike from the 50's/60's to be. The bike boogied and the motor has a different pulse to it than the 103 TC. Less boomy and revvier. No question, the Sporty handles quicker than the Dyna, but it feels less precise in it's movements. The Sporty feels raw compared to many other bikes of today, but in it's rawness it really does capture an elemental purity. The Switchback is a Cadillac by comparison. As a couple of people have mentioned already, the Switch, and I would guess any Dyna, is a much better highway bike. Much more planted, and while the Sporty may be 150lbs lighter, the Dyna tracks way better as well as being pretty nimble.
I'm very fortunate to have that good a friend to lend me a bike as well as having a great ride on a different bike. I fully enjoyed that trip on the Sportster. The Sporty is the bike I think of, when I think of a motorcycle in it's purest form. Would I want one, maybe as a 3rd bike. On the other hand, the Dyna does a lot well and with character all it's own. Refined raw is how I compare it to the Sporty. It hits a sweet spot between the Sporty and the touring bikes. I haven't ridden an LRS, but any day of the week I'd take that over a Sporty. Its hits a lot of buttons for the me that a Sporty doesn't.
I recently traded a 2005 sportster for a 2005 Superglide. Both set up the same long travel shocks and cartridge fork internals. Both with 1/4 fairing and 8" risers with tracker style bars. I like the dyna, but miss the sportster motor. Hoping a 95" hot set up will wake the dyna up and give it the acceleration of the sportster. If I get the chance I will have another sportster they are great bikes and fun to ride. The motor is one of the best Harley has put out.
Now if I had one of the new slammed sports and compaired it to the LR with a 103, we'll that's a different story LR all the way.
Now if I had one of the new slammed sports and compaired it to the LR with a 103, we'll that's a different story LR all the way.
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