depending on the year of bike, but if it is the same year as yours or newer then it def has the same counter balanced engine as yours. So that is the first place to start...year of the bike to see what engine it actually has.

sounds to me more like it is either the handlebars or the way the levers (throttle right have and clutch left hand) are positioned. Incorrect pocition, as in the angle at which he has to twist his wrist to use the controls can make a grave impact oh hand/wrist comfort.

on a standard handlebars, sitting straight, hands on the controls in the ready position (so no throttle twisting and no applying the brake/clutch just fingers resting on those levers), his lower arm and hands should be straight so no angling of the wrists (expect when turning the throttle). Try that

Also some handlebars are just not the right ones for his stature riding position, I once has a set of bikini bars from HD that gave me pains in the sholders (left side mostly) when i changed them to an aftermarket one with slightly different dimensions the problem went away.

look at all the smaller easier to change things first before you change out engines

 

http://www.vibranator.com/

Problem solved.

 

Not true. It is true they they both have the 96"s in em, but only the softies, as mentioned before, are counter balanced. They are rigid mounted to the frame so the counter balancer smooths the vibes at idle. The Dyna's are just a regular 96" with no counter balancer. Therefore they are rubber mounted to cut down on the vibes. They tend to shake a lot at the stoplights, but smooth at highway speeds, and its kinda the opposite with the counter balanced engine.

Do the vibes calm down when he hits highway speeds? It should be pretty smooth ride then.

 

Sorry bud, but what you stated is untrue. Only the "B" engine is counter-balanced and is used in all the Softail models. These are essentially vibration-free from idle well into highway cruising speeds. The "A" engines are not counter-balanced. These are used in all the rubber mounted big twins.
I have to agree about bar positions, control angles and such having a big affect on wrist and arm angle which in turn can cause numbness and bad tingling sensations.

 

First thing I would do is have the bike checked out. It's rubber mounted and even though not as smooth as the "B" it shouldn't cause pain. After that I'm with everyone else with a bar and grip change.I have the kuryaken iso grips and they are real comfortable.

 

There has been a lot of bum information in this thread! I'll never understand why people post stuff that they don't know about. The Twin Cam "B" motor has counter balancers and is only used in Soft Tails since 2000. No other models use that motor. The cases are different so counterbalancing a Dyna "A" motor is impossible. Using a "B" motor on a dyna would be a mess. They mount in a totally different way. The Dyna swing arm actually mounts to the rubber mounted tranny. The rubbermount bikes (all other models but softys) vibrate at idle and smooth out as soon as you take off. While a lot of Soft Tail guys don't like to hear it, the rubbermount bikes are even smoother than the counter balanced motors at speed. I know, I own and love both kinds. As someone else correctly posted, that why the touring models use the rubbermounted "A" motor. Softys can develop a little tingle at higher rpms. Your friend probably won't gain a thing changing models.

 

I'd post in the Dyna section ... lots of info about sorting vibration

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...per-glide.html

 

Northside is spot-on -- every word. My Streetbob shakes to holy hell when stopped but smoothes out great at speed. [But the rear-steer on long sweepers can be disturbing -- and is why I ultimately bought my Fatboy. Having the swingarm mounted to the tranny -- which is rubber-mounted to the frame --is questionable engineering IMHO.] When I sat on my smooth-idling Fatboy for the first time, I fell in love.

 

this is very true try new bars.. let him ride your bike and try that.

 

Hes right on with this! Try new bars they make a big change.. or at least let him ride your bike.