You'd probably get a different mix of answers if you asked the same question in the Dyna forum.

Of course, us Sportster riders, we know the truth--both of those choices are just thowin good money away[sm=boink3.gif]

 

SOFTAIL

 

I have both a softail crossbones and a dyna street bob. l really like both of them. here is my two cents.

dynas definitely handle better. they have stiffer frames, better suspension capabilities and excluding the wide glide and low rider, less radical frame geometry. the best handling dyna would be the superglide or the superglide custom. those have the 12.6 inch rear shocks and the less radical rake and wheel base compared to the low rider and wide glide. the street bob is the same as the superglides except it has shorter rear shocks, which negatively impacts cornering clearance and ride quality since there is less suspension travel. I have swapped the shocks on mine to the same length as the superglides to get the same performance. to compare all the dynas, just go to the website and compare the models and you can see the differences in rake, wheel base (longer means worse cornering), and ground clearance. also, the skinnier the front wheel, the less of a contact patch you have which impacts cornering ability. the other handling issue to think about is forward vs. mid controls. i find it very awkward to blast through a corner with my feet up in the air in front of me. the neutrality and leverage that comes from having my feet under me helps me feel more comfortable on the bike in turns. this is probably more a preference/feel issue, however.

the softails are beautiful bikes, and i love mine. but it won't go around a corner like a dyna can, and it does not have the suspension potential of a dyna.

 

Rode both Dyna and Softail, like my FXSTC better...

Bone

 

I had my heart set on a WideGlide for the longest time (8+ years !). When it came down to the wire I ended up getting a new Softail, because it came stock in a color that I preferred (I didn't really care for the 105th anniversary colors). My lower back is sensitive to damage if I'm not careful. In my case all the 'feet forward' riding positions are a recipe for trouble if not for having a driver backrest. For me, that extra support is the difference between being able to ride or not being able to. YMMV, but that's what has worked for me.

 

Softail hands down the best! I have a friend that has a street bob and another has a wide glide and they both say they have a rough ride. They took a ride on the Night Train I use to have and they could not believe the difference. Now they'd like a Softail instead.

 

Comfort on the Softail is superb. Although I love my Night Train and wouldn't trade it for anything else, I have to admit it's not the best handling bike I've ever been on - hell, even my '76 ironhead was better. Try to get an opportunity to ride both and then decide.

 

You Sit on a Dyna, and you sit in a Softail.[sm=exactly.gif]

 

+1 for softail if you have back issues. No comparasion in the ride.

 

I would go with the Dyna and I did, but thats just me. Ride both,compare both pick what feels right to you.