Calling all Springers!
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati
My Bad Boy
The springers definitely have a unique feel. I love the look but we do sacrifice some handling prowess. The rubber bushings on my shock mounts were so dry they were crumbling so I went to replace it & found someone had way overtightened the top shock mount bending the mount & making it too narrow to get a new shock in there so I just left it shock-less. I think it looks even better but the front end is easily upset by successive bumps. And using the front breaks while leaning is not an option.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 214
From: Delawere
Thought you guys might like to see this..Wishbone replaces the flat front pieces from Paughco and DNA units. http://www.threetwochoppers.com
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 47
From: Lake Tahoe California
The springers definitely have a unique feel. I love the look but we do sacrifice some handling prowess. The rubber bushings on my shock mounts were so dry they were crumbling so I went to replace it & found someone had way overtightened the top shock mount bending the mount & making it too narrow to get a new shock in there so I just left it shock-less. I think it looks even better but the front end is easily upset by successive bumps. And using the front breaks while leaning is not an option.
Ride safe.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 974
Likes: 4
From: Utah
If there is handling prowess lost, it is really due to your model's steeper rake, combined with a narrow front tire. I would consider getting all of the ill-repaired components repaired/adjusted/replaced to pass judgement on the ride quality of a Springer. The wider front tire and shallower rake on the FLSTS(I) units exhibit none of the issues you experienced.
Ride safe.
Ride safe.
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati
If there is handling prowess lost, it is really due to your model's steeper rake, combined with a narrow front tire. I would consider getting all of the ill-repaired components repaired/adjusted/replaced to pass judgement on the ride quality of a Springer. The wider front tire and shallower rake on the FLSTS(I) units exhibit none of the issues you experienced.
Ride safe.
Ride safe.
I very thoroughly inspected everything & I think everything (other than the missing shock) is in great working order. I'm sure the 17 years have taken a small toll on the springs but do you think they could've lost so much of their spunk as to harm my handling? I mean the bike has 11K miles on it & is a 1995 but it's been babied and the front end has never been taken apart or modified.
Very interesting to hear that your impressions of the springer are so different from mine. Maybe something is wrong with mine. I mean on a curvy road I could not keep up at all with my friend... He was on a 50cc scooter. Sure on the straights I caught him but he could brake so much later because his scooter is only 150 lbs and all the corners were banked even leading into them and it was hilly so I had to be so careful about braking early or I'd carry too much speed & not be able to slow down enough before I had to start leaning. It was still a blast, a curvy road through the woods is bliss
but I'm glad no one was watching the puny scooter that had to wait for me to catch up. I just assumed all springers sacrificed this much handling ability in favor of the looks & lack of need of maintenance.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 54
From: Mansfield, MA
i can dive mine into corners with no issues. All of them... you need to get a shock back on there, and check the overall health of the front end. Fall away, neck bearings, tire balance etc..