Heritage Softail Turning Capabilities
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Pine, CO
Heritage Softail Turning Capabilities
You can see my intro in the new members area, but I have a question. I decided at the new young age of 62 to buy my first motorcycle in 40 years. I test road a road king and a heritage softail. Liked them both, but liked the softail a little better. It just felt better. Couldn't really explain it, but it fit me like a glove. Found a smokin deal on an '08 with low miles and bought it.
Took the safety course here in Denver to get reaquainted with riding. Glad I did by the way. Bought the bike the day I got my license. I took it easy the first few days, nothing too fast, nothing two sharp. Not much in town or in traffic. But, I live up in the mountains west of Denver. So the road home demands that I put a little vinegar on it.
On one of my first really tight corners I feel my floor board scrape the pavement. Scared me a little. It wasn't hard, or even dangerous, I don't think. It just rubbed, I eased off the turn and that was that. I have scraped in tight corners twice more since.
So.....why? I look at the specs on this and the road king and I don't see much difference, but the lean angles are quite a bit better for the RK. Again, why?
If this is a dumb question, sorry, but it is really puzzling me, and has me questioning my choice.
Thanks all in advance.
Took the safety course here in Denver to get reaquainted with riding. Glad I did by the way. Bought the bike the day I got my license. I took it easy the first few days, nothing too fast, nothing two sharp. Not much in town or in traffic. But, I live up in the mountains west of Denver. So the road home demands that I put a little vinegar on it.
On one of my first really tight corners I feel my floor board scrape the pavement. Scared me a little. It wasn't hard, or even dangerous, I don't think. It just rubbed, I eased off the turn and that was that. I have scraped in tight corners twice more since.
So.....why? I look at the specs on this and the road king and I don't see much difference, but the lean angles are quite a bit better for the RK. Again, why?
If this is a dumb question, sorry, but it is really puzzling me, and has me questioning my choice.
Thanks all in advance.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Costa Mesa
I had the same problem. Went from a dyna street bob that was lowered cause I'm short and had NO problems in the turns. Bought the Heritage that someone else had lowered and was actually scraping my pipes. I thought it was the boards but it was actually the pipes. Took it in and had them adjust the suspension which brought it up about an inch. No problems since then. Now I just need to trust when I lean again.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
It doesnt even have to be lowered to scrape the floor boards. It depends on your weight, speed, how sharp you're turning and the camber of the road. It's a Harley thing. As a matter of fact, when my wife took her driver course the instructor even commented to that effect and told the group, it only noise so don't worry about it. I've drug mine a number of times, but the road conditions were right for it.
The first time I scraped my floorboards I was really shocked at the noise, then I smiled and realized I was no longer a floorboard virgin. The Heritage is a great bike, ok it's not the best in corners but you'll get used to it.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,177
Likes: 62
From: Michigan
It would seem you should have gone with the road king. The softails are classic boulevard cruisers and the road king is a tourer. They are completely different bikes with completely different designs. I've never scrapped the floorboards on my flstc because I know it's limitations and adjust to them. You should also look into a Dyna switchback.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,415
Likes: 5
From: San Antonio, Republic of TEXAS
It would seem you should have gone with the road king. The softails are classic boulevard cruisers and the road king is a tourer. They are completely different bikes with completely different designs. I've never scrapped the floorboards on my flstc because I know it's limitations and adjust to them. You should also look into a Dyna switchback.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 524
Likes: 167
From: New Jersey
Had the same problem. Checked the shock adjustment, was on the softest setting. Tightened them up was much better. Still will scrape if you really lean into a turn, but much better.
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Devil's Advocate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 36
From: Alberta, Canada
I had the same problem. Went from a dyna street bob that was lowered cause I'm short and had NO problems in the turns. Bought the Heritage that someone else had lowered and was actually scraping my pipes. I thought it was the boards but it was actually the pipes. Took it in and had them adjust the suspension which brought it up about an inch. No problems since then. Now I just need to trust when I lean again.
Same thing, from an 07 Street Bob to a 14 Fat Boy Lo. So far I have scraped both sides of the floor boards. It is just the way they sit. I had to laugh when I first did it, it meant it could lean and hug the corners!
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Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,460
Likes: 3,554
From: Idaho
The Heritage and Deluxe have the least lean angle of any Harley. I took a short test ride, and I was dragging the footboard just turning in the parking lot.
The Road King has more lean angle than a Sportster 48, it has the same as a V-Rod.
Huge difference in cornering capability between a Heritage and an RK.
You're going to have to get used to cornering your Heritage. The biggest thing you can do is to learn how much your body posture affects lean. Make sure you lean in toward the turn. You should be inside the bike, leaning more than the bike is leaning. The worst thing is to keep yourself more upright than the bike, this makes the bike lean even more.
Make no mistake, I love how the Heritage handles. It's smooth and solid in a turn. You just can't go as fast as you can on a Touring model.
The Road King has more lean angle than a Sportster 48, it has the same as a V-Rod.
Huge difference in cornering capability between a Heritage and an RK.
You're going to have to get used to cornering your Heritage. The biggest thing you can do is to learn how much your body posture affects lean. Make sure you lean in toward the turn. You should be inside the bike, leaning more than the bike is leaning. The worst thing is to keep yourself more upright than the bike, this makes the bike lean even more.
Make no mistake, I love how the Heritage handles. It's smooth and solid in a turn. You just can't go as fast as you can on a Touring model.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
One of the reasons that the Softail feels so well is that the floorboards are low enough for most peoples leg length. The issue is that the boards then are to close to the ground to allow the bike to really lean into a turn. You just need to slow down and pick better lines in the corners.