100% Counterbalanced
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 171
Likes: 22
From: Long Island, NY
100% Counterbalanced
Is anyone concerned that the new Softail bikes are 100% counterbalanced? I don't like having my teeth shaken out my head, but I do like to feel a little vibration. You know, that feeling of are riding a beast.
On them M8 touring models, 75% of the vibration is cancelled out allowing for 25% to pass through.
Seems to make better sense if it was the other way around. Touring 100 percent counterbalanced for longer tours and 75% counterbalanced for Softails. Would even be nice to have different degrees of counter balancing for each model of Softail. For example, Heritage (more touring) might be good with 100 percent, while Fat Bob (more sporty) at 50 percent counterbalancing.
All things considered, new models no doubt are better bikes. Still, when I heard they were 100% counterbalanced I went out to purchase a 2017 LR.
On them M8 touring models, 75% of the vibration is cancelled out allowing for 25% to pass through.
Seems to make better sense if it was the other way around. Touring 100 percent counterbalanced for longer tours and 75% counterbalanced for Softails. Would even be nice to have different degrees of counter balancing for each model of Softail. For example, Heritage (more touring) might be good with 100 percent, while Fat Bob (more sporty) at 50 percent counterbalancing.
All things considered, new models no doubt are better bikes. Still, when I heard they were 100% counterbalanced I went out to purchase a 2017 LR.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 171
Likes: 22
From: Long Island, NY
Older Softails were never really sporty type of bikes. They were mostly laid back cruisers.
The now retired Dyna line represented a more sporty style of bike compared to older Softails.
Now with the Dyna family moving into the Softail family, our sportier type of bikes (Fatbob, Lowrider) are now 100 counterbalanced.
Last edited by XL1200C_0112; Aug 29, 2017 at 10:54 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 156
Likes: 28
From: Southern AZ
That is the percent of primary balance. It is not to say the engine is 100% balanced, that would require the same exact mass as another cylinder running in the opposite direction to achieve that (think BMW twin). It does not cancel out all the vibration, it only addresses the primary imbalance.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 619
From: North Dakota & Minnesota
Is anyone concerned that the new Softail bikes are 100% counterbalanced? I don't like having my teeth shaken out my head, but I do like to feel a little vibration. You know, that feeling of are riding a beast.
On them M8 touring models, 75% of the vibration is cancelled out allowing for 25% to pass through.
Seems to make better sense if it was the other way around. Touring 100 percent counterbalanced for longer tours and 75% counterbalanced for Softails. Would even be nice to have different degrees of counter balancing for each model of Softail. For example, Heritage (more touring) might be good with 100 percent, while Fat Bob (more sporty) at 50 percent counterbalancing.
All things considered, new models no doubt are better bikes. Still, when I heard they were 100% counterbalanced I went out to purchase a 2017 LR.
On them M8 touring models, 75% of the vibration is cancelled out allowing for 25% to pass through.
Seems to make better sense if it was the other way around. Touring 100 percent counterbalanced for longer tours and 75% counterbalanced for Softails. Would even be nice to have different degrees of counter balancing for each model of Softail. For example, Heritage (more touring) might be good with 100 percent, while Fat Bob (more sporty) at 50 percent counterbalancing.
All things considered, new models no doubt are better bikes. Still, when I heard they were 100% counterbalanced I went out to purchase a 2017 LR.
All twin cam Softails have been 100%counter balanced so I don't understand your concern.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 68,021
Likes: 3,276
From:
Is anyone concerned that the new Softail bikes are 100% counterbalanced? I don't like having my teeth shaken out my head, but I do like to feel a little vibration. You know, that feeling of are riding a beast.
On them M8 touring models, 75% of the vibration is cancelled out allowing for 25% to pass through.
Seems to make better sense if it was the other way around. Touring 100 percent counterbalanced for longer tours and 75% counterbalanced for Softails. Would even be nice to have different degrees of counter balancing for each model of Softail. For example, Heritage (more touring) might be good with 100 percent, while Fat Bob (more sporty) at 50 percent counterbalancing.
All things considered, new models no doubt are better bikes. Still, when I heard they were 100% counterbalanced I went out to purchase a 2017 LR.
On them M8 touring models, 75% of the vibration is cancelled out allowing for 25% to pass through.
Seems to make better sense if it was the other way around. Touring 100 percent counterbalanced for longer tours and 75% counterbalanced for Softails. Would even be nice to have different degrees of counter balancing for each model of Softail. For example, Heritage (more touring) might be good with 100 percent, while Fat Bob (more sporty) at 50 percent counterbalancing.
All things considered, new models no doubt are better bikes. Still, when I heard they were 100% counterbalanced I went out to purchase a 2017 LR.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 171
Likes: 22
From: Long Island, NY
That is the percent of primary balance. It is not to say the engine is 100% balanced, that would require the same exact mass as another cylinder running in the opposite direction to achieve that (think BMW twin). It does not cancel out all the vibration, it only addresses the primary imbalance.
I'm still under the impression there no minimal shake on these new models.
I like what they did for design and style. They have some their traditional looking models, progressive looking models, and completely different looking models.
Would be nice to see them offer some variety in regards to counterbalancing/feel.
I'm 31, haven't been riding HD for all that long. But for me, there's just something awesome about having a shaking bike, and bringing her up to speed and having the bike resonate along with the engine and everything seems to be in harmony.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 171
Likes: 22
From: Long Island, NY
During the HD press release, they pitched the new Softail models towards the Dyna guys. I'm completely opened minded to that, bring on improvements, I'm all for it, but Dyna models were never counterbalanced. It would like to see a new Softail model not counterbalanced - maybe the former Dyna models like Fatbob and Low Rider.
Last edited by XL1200C_0112; Aug 29, 2017 at 11:12 PM.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,235
Likes: 65
From: Joliet, Illinois
I really don't care what they did to the 2018's. I have an 02 Wide Glide. It will always be an 02 Wide Glide. I don't need or want a new one.
If I, or anyone else wants a Dyna, there will be a boatload of them available on the secondary market for a very long time to come. Definitely for the rest of my lifetime.
I'm good.
If I, or anyone else wants a Dyna, there will be a boatload of them available on the secondary market for a very long time to come. Definitely for the rest of my lifetime.
I'm good.
