I have a question
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 10
From: Orange VA
RE: I have a question
I've got both. I guess you need to achieve consensus on what "easier to ride" means.
The Sporty is very agile and quick. It falls into corners easily and great in the twisties.
The Softail is lower, ergo lower COG, which makes it feel more like a weeble (weebles wobble but they don't fall down....did I just date myself?). It handles nice on the highway but in the twisties it feels heavy and lumbering to me.
Since just about any bike will ride on the highway or in a straight line with few issues I define "easier to ride" relative to the ability to ride the bike at lower speeds and in curvy road conditions at any speed.
To me, the Sportster feels better in that regard. I'm used to the higher COG so it doesn't feel like its going to fall over to me. Rather it feels like it is naturally falling into the turns the way I want it to.
The Softail feels to me like it does the opposite. It almost feels like you have to force it into the turns. It wants to right itself and not tip over, even to turn. It doesn't feel like it can enter a turn as fast a the Sportster can either.
I love them both and won't get rid of either one. If you do more cruising and highway rides, the Softail might be a good choice. If you like more exciting backroad twisty rides, consider staying with the Sporty.
Or......my preferred course of action..........get one of each.
The Sporty is very agile and quick. It falls into corners easily and great in the twisties.
The Softail is lower, ergo lower COG, which makes it feel more like a weeble (weebles wobble but they don't fall down....did I just date myself?). It handles nice on the highway but in the twisties it feels heavy and lumbering to me.
Since just about any bike will ride on the highway or in a straight line with few issues I define "easier to ride" relative to the ability to ride the bike at lower speeds and in curvy road conditions at any speed.
To me, the Sportster feels better in that regard. I'm used to the higher COG so it doesn't feel like its going to fall over to me. Rather it feels like it is naturally falling into the turns the way I want it to.
The Softail feels to me like it does the opposite. It almost feels like you have to force it into the turns. It wants to right itself and not tip over, even to turn. It doesn't feel like it can enter a turn as fast a the Sportster can either.
I love them both and won't get rid of either one. If you do more cruising and highway rides, the Softail might be a good choice. If you like more exciting backroad twisty rides, consider staying with the Sporty.
Or......my preferred course of action..........get one of each.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 592
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RE: I have a question
ORIGINAL: bensonjv
The Softail feels to me like it does the opposite. It almost feels like you have to force it into the turns. It wants to right itself and not tip over, even to turn. It doesn't feel like it can enter a turn as fast a the Sportster can either.
The Softail feels to me like it does the opposite. It almost feels like you have to force it into the turns. It wants to right itself and not tip over, even to turn. It doesn't feel like it can enter a turn as fast a the Sportster can either.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 361
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RE: I have a question
It's probably the same feeling you got when you bought your sporty, it sort of creeps into the back of your mind and then one day you just have to do it. I have a '02 Night Train and I love the aggressive riding position, forward controlsand duece pullback riser,haven't got enough of it yet.
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
RE: I have a question
A Sporty, of almost any stripe, will always be able to out turn any Softail, and most Dyna's too. Its part suspension geometry, part overall weight, and part physical size.
If you list all the bikes that Harley makes (not counting the baggers) on a 'handleing' scale you would find that the Wideglides and Duces are near the bottom with the Buell's up on top.
The WG and Softail Customs, Standard's and Duces' are all the longest andlowest bikes with the most rake in the forks. The Sporty's and Buell's are the shortest, tallest, and have the least rake making them the easiest to toss around in the twisty's. And don't forget that big assed tire out back on the Softails. The gyroscopic influence of that much weight spinning around has adefinatlyeffect. The lower seating position of a Softail doesn't allow you to use yourweight with thesame amount of leverage to help tip those spinning wheels over.
The geometry and rake of the smaller bikes also helps them turn quicker because with less rake and a shorter overall length it takes less lean angle to generate the same turning radius.
Now that's all the 'technical' reasons why the Sporty's and Buell's can out turn a Softail. But if your on a Softail and know how to seriously push the envelope and your racing a novice onone of the smaller bikes all bets are off.
If you list all the bikes that Harley makes (not counting the baggers) on a 'handleing' scale you would find that the Wideglides and Duces are near the bottom with the Buell's up on top.
The WG and Softail Customs, Standard's and Duces' are all the longest andlowest bikes with the most rake in the forks. The Sporty's and Buell's are the shortest, tallest, and have the least rake making them the easiest to toss around in the twisty's. And don't forget that big assed tire out back on the Softails. The gyroscopic influence of that much weight spinning around has adefinatlyeffect. The lower seating position of a Softail doesn't allow you to use yourweight with thesame amount of leverage to help tip those spinning wheels over.
The geometry and rake of the smaller bikes also helps them turn quicker because with less rake and a shorter overall length it takes less lean angle to generate the same turning radius.
Now that's all the 'technical' reasons why the Sporty's and Buell's can out turn a Softail. But if your on a Softail and know how to seriously push the envelope and your racing a novice onone of the smaller bikes all bets are off.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 10
From: Orange VA
RE: I have a question
Agreed. I just haven't put enough miles on the Springer yet to feel as comfortable pushing the envelope. Part of it is feeling insecure about the front brake (typical Springer). Part is a recent handlebar swap (went from stock to 12.5" apes and still getting used to it). Most of it is just not having the time right now to ride as much as I would like. I'm sure in time I'll scrape the Softy mufflers in turns same as the Sporty.
ORIGINAL: Citoriplus
Now that's all the 'technical' reasons why the Sporty's and Buell's can out turn a Softail. But if your on a Softail and know how to seriously push the envelope and your racing a novice onone of the smaller bikes all bets are off.
Now that's all the 'technical' reasons why the Sporty's and Buell's can out turn a Softail. But if your on a Softail and know how to seriously push the envelope and your racing a novice onone of the smaller bikes all bets are off.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: my mommy and daddy :)
RE: I have a question
just went from a 06 883r to an 07 duece.... power, power, power.... oh baby... the duece is better on the e-way, and it just wants to go faster.... not sure if your riding 2 up, or not... don't have an opinion, on that but, as a solo, the only drawback so far, is the wind on my face.... even with the windshield, it still wants to blow the contacts out of my eyeballs.... rode my brother-in-law's 1200c (07) the other day, and it was a blast.... course when we hit the e-way , guess i was going 75, and he was hanging back.... go where the $ fits ya....
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,338
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RE: I have a question
On myTrain, I think Icould stick with 90% of Sporty riders on any type of road. I took the Train up in the mountains last weekend to ride some challenging roads I've taken many times on my previous bikes (BMW & Kawasaki). I expected that I'd need to slow way down with the Harley. But, not really! I was surprised how fast I was comfortable going on the Train. Sure, theSportbike boys would pass me--but only the really dedicated ones that knew how to ride.
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