Heritage weight limit
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
Folks have been overloading their HD's for decades. The weight limits for HD's, their trunks, saddlebags and racks are set very low to protect themselves from law suits.
I particularly like the rear fender rack for the Dyna's with solo seats that lists 15 lbs as the limit. The next item in the list is a pillion seat that attaches to it that makes the bike two up. I'd like to see the poor gal that wouldn't overload that seat!
I am sure that everything with the OP will be fine. Just don't jump any ramps.
I particularly like the rear fender rack for the Dyna's with solo seats that lists 15 lbs as the limit. The next item in the list is a pillion seat that attaches to it that makes the bike two up. I'd like to see the poor gal that wouldn't overload that seat!
I am sure that everything with the OP will be fine. Just don't jump any ramps.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 84
From: Southern Maine / Seacoast NH
How important is it to stay under the weight limit allowance that is in the owners manual. I weigh 225 and my wife is 250, so that puts us over what the manual says we can weigh. I don't want to hurt the wife's feelings and say she cannot ride with me because she weighs to much, but I don't want to put us in danger either.
We did have some bottoming out issues initially, but haven't had any issues since I upped the preload on the rear shocks a couple turns.
Interestingly, I started looking into Ultras recently - and the '08 Ultra only has a 410lb payload - 60lbs LESS than the Deluxe, even with its more standard rear suspension setup and dual disc front brakes.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 13
From: georgetown ky
i have a new Heritage been riding touring line for 20 years. Never had a problem except with bottoming out.
you are fine just try to read the road when severe bumps come up, be alert on bridges as you know trucks are heavy and where the road and bridges meet you'll need to act accordingly.
My wife and i started dieting a couple months ago.
I am down from 222lbs to 195.
a couple weeks ago she told me to stop at krogers to get some slimfast. so i wander around the store to figure out i didn't know where it was. so i figured i will find someone that works there.
i want you to know, the three women that i located the smallest was at least 250lbs. I stop and look at these ladies and figure this is going to end badly.
Excuse me could you tell me where the slim fast is? I could already hear what trying to say?
or maybe come home with a black eye. my wife saying hey how did you get a black eye.
well i ask a fat lady where the slim fast was.
appearantly she didn't know.
you are fine just try to read the road when severe bumps come up, be alert on bridges as you know trucks are heavy and where the road and bridges meet you'll need to act accordingly.
My wife and i started dieting a couple months ago.
I am down from 222lbs to 195.
a couple weeks ago she told me to stop at krogers to get some slimfast. so i wander around the store to figure out i didn't know where it was. so i figured i will find someone that works there.
i want you to know, the three women that i located the smallest was at least 250lbs. I stop and look at these ladies and figure this is going to end badly.
Excuse me could you tell me where the slim fast is? I could already hear what trying to say?
or maybe come home with a black eye. my wife saying hey how did you get a black eye.
well i ask a fat lady where the slim fast was.
appearantly she didn't know.
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,840
Likes: 17,865
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Adjust not only the preload, but the ride height. Possibly go for a suspension upgrade.
Look at your tire pressure. In the Jeep world, we use a chalk test. I am not sure if the chalk test would correct on bike though because the tire's profile is more curved whereas automotive tire's are more square shouldered.
Brakes! People spend thousands to make the bike go fast but get bent out of shape at the thought of spending a dime to make it stop better. Stainless steel lines from Hel Performance will help as well as six piston calipers. If larger diameter rotors are available for your model year, they will also help due to more leverage and greater heat dissipation.
It would not hurt to look up the weight rating if your tires.
If you would have an older carbureted bike, I would say run premium gas and / or adjust the carburetor slightly richer. With modern EFI, detonation will not be an issue, so you really don't need to worry about this unless you hear it and it's obvious.
Allow more room to stop, maybe don't go into tight curves/turns quite as fast.
Look at your tire pressure. In the Jeep world, we use a chalk test. I am not sure if the chalk test would correct on bike though because the tire's profile is more curved whereas automotive tire's are more square shouldered.
Brakes! People spend thousands to make the bike go fast but get bent out of shape at the thought of spending a dime to make it stop better. Stainless steel lines from Hel Performance will help as well as six piston calipers. If larger diameter rotors are available for your model year, they will also help due to more leverage and greater heat dissipation.
It would not hurt to look up the weight rating if your tires.
If you would have an older carbureted bike, I would say run premium gas and / or adjust the carburetor slightly richer. With modern EFI, detonation will not be an issue, so you really don't need to worry about this unless you hear it and it's obvious.
Allow more room to stop, maybe don't go into tight curves/turns quite as fast.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 79
How important is it to stay under the weight limit allowance that is in the owners manual. I weigh 225 and my wife is 250, so that puts us over what the manual says we can weigh. I don't want to hurt the wife's feelings and say she cannot ride with me because she weighs to much, but I don't want to put us in danger either.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 79
If you are worried about the frame splitting in half. Not going to happen. Ride and have fun!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
I agree, but a suspension upgrade will really help with comfort and control. The Progressives with RAP would be good option or a air ride would be good too. Bottoming out on a straight road can hurt your back, but hit a bump in a corner and bottom out. That can lead to all sorts of terrible things.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
the wife and I go about 420 together, mostly me.. and we've rode 2up 90% of the time on ours for 8yrs.
I did adjust the shocks 1 turn from max setting because the stock setting was bottoming out too much and put 40 lbs in the rear and 38 in the front tires...
Works for us.
I did adjust the shocks 1 turn from max setting because the stock setting was bottoming out too much and put 40 lbs in the rear and 38 in the front tires...
Works for us.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 10,374
Likes: 518
From: Southern Arizona
doesn't want to hurt the wife's feelings. cause she's a few more then yourself, lol. now that's funny. the pot calling the kettle black.. put down the shovel and pick up a fork there chunks
