Softail Motor Question

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Oct 23, 2016 | 08:11 AM

#11

Axis39

Road Captain

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 533

Likes: 57

From: Fredericksburg, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by thoner7

Yea the Dynas are rubber mounted but there are problems with the mounts and it's honestly a much rougher ride than my sportster.

The he dyna is long gone too bye.

i like the look of the slim, how does it handle?

Interesting... I expected the Dynas to be smoother, like my old FXR was. Ya learn something new everyday, huh?

How does the Slim handle? I love it. I feel like I'm sitting in the bike. I've heard others describe it this way too. My one and only complaint is that I do drag the floorboards for time to time. But, it ain't enough of a bitch for me to change anything! The 103" motor has plenty of *** to get my 220 lb behind moving nicely. It cruises beautifully at highway speeds (and above, thanks to the 6th speed). This is my first FI bike and it is so smooth... I was surprised by how much I enjoy EFI. I will also say that this is one of the quietest Softails I've ever ridden, motor-noise-wise. It doesn't have all the weird sewing machine noises I am used to hearing form the few I've ridden. Even with the headlight nacelle, there isn't that reflected engine noise. The one thing I do notice is a little more buffeting at 75+ MPH than my other bikes (including the Sportster below). But, it is only minor.

Sure, there are a few personality traits with my Slim, but really, nothing I would change or am stressed over. I do miss having ANY storage, and am looking at options. I'm thinking all I really want is some throw over saddle bags or a swingarm bag and a toolbox.

I also own a 2014 48 (I bought for my wife, but I ride ti a lot more than she does). It rides nicely too (it has a sprung seat) but is so much noisier. It sounds like a sewing machine that's got a bunch loose nuts and bolts rolling around... I think it's the tiny gas tank not blocking anything for the top end.

After my FLT, I admit that I never really want to go back to skinny tires and no floorboards. On the Sporty, I miss the floorboards. I'm trying to talk my wife into letting me put them on the 48... I'm sure I'll get it done next year.

Oct 23, 2016 | 09:06 AM

#12

jam436

Supporter

Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 2,912

Likes: 73

From: Pittsburgh, PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin10

The worst vibrating new HD I ever rode was a 103 Dyna Switchback. It was just awful and a common complaint with the Switchback. Not sure if that helped kill the Switchback or not but there were a LOT of complaints about it. The vibration was related to the mounting of the the 2 into 1 exhaust.

Exactly, same problem here with my '12 Switchback.
The vibration was mostly cured by a small modification to the exhaust mounting bolt but before that, the mirrors were useless at anything over 2500 RPM.

Last edited by jam436; Oct 23, 2016 at 09:19 AM.

Oct 26, 2016 | 06:40 PM

#13

thoner7

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2011

Posts: 489

Likes: 1

From: Upstate NY

Been reading more on this and keep getting conflicting reports. I am mainly concerned about vibrations at those highway cruising speeds. I love the rumble at idle personally. ---> https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...e-story-2.html

Is it possible I just had a really bad Dyna? Should it have been better? Is the Softail the way to go? Can you just put those gears on without the balanced crankshaft?

Oct 27, 2016 | 05:50 PM

#14

YeOldeStonecat

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 12,199

Likes: 7,743

From: Along the shoreline in SW FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by thoner7

You could have had a bad engine mount. The lower front mounts on Dynas could go bad pretty quickly. And when they did, it was bad...that vibe would make your teeth shatter at certain speeds...I know, I had an '06 FXDBi that had one go bad. There is at least one thread in these forums here about how to temp fix the lower front engine mount by making a shim. Cures it right up.

The Dyna with good mounts should be smooth at highway speeds.
Mine, when my mount was shot, was a hundred times worse than my Shovelhead was, and much worse than my current Evo Softail Springer.

But then after riding my broken mount Dyna for quite a while, and riding my Shovelhead for years, anything else I ride is smooth in comparison. And after all, it's an old style Harley I love, if I hated rough and lumpy, I'd get a goldwing!

Oct 27, 2016 | 06:15 PM

#15

LXT

Road Warrior

Joined: Oct 2016

Posts: 1,256

Likes: 620

From: Pittsburgh suburb

1st off - whats your budget? this is going to tell us what you can afford style, year, etc... I'm doing cams this winter & I can tell you this - everyone has the best cam, his is better because & no mines the best & so on!

the cam tensioners shouldn't scare you off 99 - 06 will need or should be replaced & at what mileage its up in the air, I hear guys saying gear drive - well anything after 02 & you are asking for problems & the cost to true it up - well you better have deep pockets.

I have an 02 Heritage & will be going with the Woods RCC2 with a mild cam, nothing radical probably the TW-6.

So get your budget in line, check out what you like, be informed & just enjoy it. Forget what happened & move on to the next chapter.