Night Train maneuverability
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Indpls, In
Night Train maneuverability
Hey guys, I have a question/ observation. I recently had a 07' Dyna Superglide that I traded this Nov. for a 08' Night Train. I dropped the rear by an inch and installed the heartland kit. Now my question is this, I had always heard that the Dynas were the best handling bikes after the Sportsters. My brother owns a Sporty and I will agree that it is a nimble fun bike to ride, but I swear my Night Train is right behind it. I can stear this bike with my ***, if you know what I mean. Handles corners great and is just a fun bike to ride. So why do soft tails get a bad rap? Granted, I can feel bumps more since its lowered, but that doesn't take away from the agility. And it's a much better looking bike. IMO.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Central Jersey
Just my opinion, I've owned only a 1992 Sportster 883 Hugger, and a 2010 FatBoy Lo, and personally I thought the FatBoy Lo handled much better than my Sporty ever did. But also take in to account my size, I'm 5'10" and before I realized I was a big fatass, I was about 240lbs riding a 470lb bike(the sporty), therefore I always felt top-heavy on the Sporty..when I got the FatBoy Lo, I was sitting lower and more in to the bike, and the bike had a greater weight for me that it didn't feel like I was too heavy for it (follow?), anyways, since then I've lost about 50lbs, and being lighter and the bike the same weight, I think the FatBoy handles even better still than my Sportster ever did..
Now, with regards to a Train.. my dad owns one (a 2000 Train, 95") but he's not an aggressive rider, prior to him owning it, it was the neighbors bike who IS an aggressive rider, and had scratched the forward controls and pipes going in to turns and all that, and always told me that the bike will never fall out from under you as long as you keep power to the wheels (obviously not taking in to account ice and leaves and gravel etc etc etc)..you get my point..
Now, with regards to a Train.. my dad owns one (a 2000 Train, 95") but he's not an aggressive rider, prior to him owning it, it was the neighbors bike who IS an aggressive rider, and had scratched the forward controls and pipes going in to turns and all that, and always told me that the bike will never fall out from under you as long as you keep power to the wheels (obviously not taking in to account ice and leaves and gravel etc etc etc)..you get my point..
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Boston, MA
Ash16,
I respectfully disagree with the wider front tire. I think the chubbier the tire the less nimble the bike becomes and of course harleys are heavyweight cruisers and not sport bikes. My cousin has a 2002 softail standard and his bike can do a circle around mine with either one of us riding it. Maybe two if he is riding as he is very good but I'll never tell him that to his face. lol
I respectfully disagree with the wider front tire. I think the chubbier the tire the less nimble the bike becomes and of course harleys are heavyweight cruisers and not sport bikes. My cousin has a 2002 softail standard and his bike can do a circle around mine with either one of us riding it. Maybe two if he is riding as he is very good but I'll never tell him that to his face. lol
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Indpls, In
That's good to know, as I have the stock bars on her now. The riding position is a bit more stretched out than I would like, especially for long distances, so I was pondering some apes, but don't know if I wanna lose the highly responsive ride.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Rowlett, Texas
To each his own but when I had a 90 on the front my bike felt like it went wherever the road wanted it to more than where I wanted it to. Now that I have the 120 it feels more like I have more control. To me more rubber equals more control. If skinny wheels and tires equaled more control then you would think that they would put a 90 on the front of sport bikes. Then maybe they do. I haven't looked at a sport bike in over 20 years.