I like my Heritage....I feel like I sit in the bike and not on the bike.....Feels real comfortable and easy to maneuver. Like others have stated....its between and touring and sporty.....

 

I have never quite understood the argument that dual shock Harleys with rubber mounted engines have a tighter chassis than a solid mounted engine in a softail. The extra rigidity of having the engine as a stressed chassis member would seem to argue that other than slightly compromised rear shocks---a softail has a "better" chassis. If you like stiffness and not flex.

OK now that I got that off my chest...I have fiddled around with Harley handling for almost 50 years. And I find that practically any Harley has enough potential in its chassis to yield a wonderfull, competent and comfortable ride. But the owner must take care to work with what you are given in order to get an HD to "lock in" and really behave.

I can't over emphasize how important it is to get the handlebars set up properly so that you get the chassis to point naturally. My Deuce came with some silly pullback risers and way too wide semi buckhorns. The initial position felt like steering a boat with a tiller, plus the bars were so wide and bent so unnaturally that I was in pain within 20 minutes of riding hard.

So I ditched the pullback risers and put on a set of Triumph Bonneville T100 handlebars cut narrower than stock and angled slightly down to meet my wrist angle. A sundowner saddle, 3 inch relocated front footpegs and now I have the most inspiring ride I have ever sat on. And that includes Suzuki crotch rockets, Sportsters, Hondas, all together over twenty something bikes I have owned plus all that my buddies and I switched out and compared.

As I explain it to my riding friends---"it makes me feel incredibly confident as I approach 100 mph and I am only limited by traction and road conditions in the corners." And I can sit in the saddle for ten hours without hitting the wall, endurance wise.

Compare that to stock. 20 minutes and then done.

So in short if you want a big comfortable road ride that is a joy to take anywhere on practically any road, the big Harleys can be set up to deliver a dream come true riding experience. Just probably not so much in stock form where one size fits none.

Just my two cents.

 

I love sportsters, they're a blast around town, but out on the highway, they're buzzy and you'll get blown around. Dynas are quick, nimble and powerful, too, but with the narrow front tire you feel every bump in the road.

Softails -- my favorite. You sit down in the bike and the ride is smooth as silk, at least my '06 Heritage is. Combines power and comfort. Never had a handling problem with mine at all. I did an interstate sprint yesterday about 40 miles at 75-80 mph and then hit the back roads at 55-60. Equally comfy.

Touring Harleys are surprisingly easy to handle, despite their huge weight. Still, if you want something that big, why not just get a car?

 

I aint never felt a
'at speed vibration on mine'.

 

+1. What he said!!

 

Had a sporty b4 my Deluxe it was fast on the curves uncomfortable as hell on long strait aways. Took my Deluxe for a 5 mile test rive and was instantly sold. The ride was what I was hoping for when I got my sporty. Nice low center of gravity & comfortable laid back ride. While I cant haul *** around the curves just because its so much heavier than my sporty the over all ride is so much more enjoyable that I dont miss it.

 

Seriously?
Do you mean with air ride? I like how the front rides.
It's those harsh bumps that shocks your spine from the rear susp,
or lack there of.
I'm torn here. Want a touring bike. Just the plain version. No tour pack (yet)
But they have their problems too. The "wobble", and motor mount issues.
Can't afford an 09 up so it would have to be older.
Or should I just STFU and just keep my tried & true (paid 4) ST?!!

 

I love the way my Heritage handles. I can dip it into corners with confidence - it just rolls very smoothly in and out.

I had a chance to take an FXDWG for a spin a couple of weekends ago, and it was entirely different. The size and mass felt similar to a 1200 Sporty that I tried out last Summer. The big stand-out thing to me was that it felt like it was ALL engine, with loads of rumble, compared to the Sporty, and to my Heritage. It also felt like it wanted to track straight, and I had to fight it more through the turns. So in that sense, I liked my Heritage WAY better.

But some guys at the dealer said if I tried a Dyna Fat Bob, that would feel a lot more familiar (relative to my Heritage) in terms of handling. I'll have to try one out next time.

 

Yup...

The only handling gripe I have is that it seems that whenever I mention I have a Springer someone always has to respond "I hear they handle like crap"...

 

Better. Has there ever been a word that is more subjective? There are different types of motorcycles from HD (and from other MFG) that are designed for different purposes and to give their riders (and passengers) different experiences. All bikes are a compromise, that is due to the laws of physics and many other factors. To have more of one thing usually impacts another thing. A full dresser offers a more isolated from the road feeling (often referred to as "comfort") due to its suspension, steering head design, seating position (for rider and passenger), aerodynamics (faring), and amenities. This might be very desirable for folks who like to be out on a motorcycle for long rides with a passenger and a lot of baggage, but do not like to feel the fatigue which is natural on a bike with less aerodynamics and creature comforts.

If one wants a bar hopper, a rigid frame chopper might be great. The chopper can be ridden cross country, but they are very, very uncomfortable to do so. Again, a compromise.

A softail, especially a Heritage variant, has, in my opinion, the most versitility of all of the HD line. They are very comfortable on long rides (and can support a fair amount of baggage), but can also be easily stripped down to the elementals for local riding. Anyone who tells you that Softails don't handle well hasn't ridden them. I get that a lot from others (always from folks who haven't ridden one) with my Springer front end.

You have to determine what kind of riding you do, most of the time. Get a bike to suit that purpose. The other type of riding you do is the excuse to get more bikes. It is like buying a pickup truck because you need a work truck for your daily job, and are pissed that it is not a convertible when you go to the beach. You need two cars if you want to do both. A Harley and a Triumph Bonneville, that covers most things. Unless you want a Ducati. And a ........ You get the point.

In the end, ride your own ride. Get what you want. I have what I want.