Calling all Springers!
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 47
From: Lake Tahoe California
Just traded my 2011 LO for an 09 Xbones w/ less than 3k miles, couple minor cosmetic issues but I don't care. I LOVE IT!!! Always loved the springers and wanted one. I had an opportunity to get on a new 2011 but I only liked the 08/09 paint scheme. The bones is exceptional in my mind. Some say they don't handle well with the front end. Never rode a springer except the bones. Handles way better than my LO did. I'll post pics of her soon as soon as I'm recovered, had a lil elective surgery to ensure wife and I don't have anymore kids. Got a small tribe in the house. Loving this thread...
Those of us who have put thousands of miles on both FL Springers and standard tube fork FL's know about the magical qualities of the Springer suspension and its superiority in handling. The trade off is there is a bit more maintenance to the Springer front end.
With the honey comes the sting.
Really raked out and extended Springers (a la '70's chopper) and narrower front tires on a Springer do degrade its performance. Though doing the same thing to standard tube forks does the same thing. When folks think of "bad handling Springers" it is usually those stretched, raked units that have generated the "bad press."
Congrats on your new scoot and ride safe!
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 281
Likes: 1
From: Ct
You will find that most folks who have strong opinions about how "bad a FL Springer handles" have never had any experience riding one. But they do not let those crazy "facts" get in the way of their opinions!
Those of us who have put thousands of miles on both FL Springers and standard tube fork FL's know about the magical qualities of the Springer suspension and its superiority in handling. The trade off is there is a bit more maintenance to the Springer front end.
With the honey comes the sting.
Really raked out and extended Springers (a la '70's chopper) and narrower front tires on a Springer do degrade its performance. Though doing the same thing to standard tube forks does the same thing. When folks think of "bad handling Springers" it is usually those stretched, raked units that have generated the "bad press."
Congrats on your new scoot and ride safe!
Those of us who have put thousands of miles on both FL Springers and standard tube fork FL's know about the magical qualities of the Springer suspension and its superiority in handling. The trade off is there is a bit more maintenance to the Springer front end.
With the honey comes the sting.
Really raked out and extended Springers (a la '70's chopper) and narrower front tires on a Springer do degrade its performance. Though doing the same thing to standard tube forks does the same thing. When folks think of "bad handling Springers" it is usually those stretched, raked units that have generated the "bad press."
Congrats on your new scoot and ride safe!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,006
Likes: 1,240
From: On the Front Range, CO
I have to agree with both of you, Dave and Ryan. My old FLSTS handled very well and had no ill effects because it was a springer. Now that I have an FX springer it still has the wide front tire and appropriate frame geometry. It handles equally as well as my FL springer.
Regardless of the front end construction, springer or not, the bikes will be 'off' if they're raked out and the frame geometry is changed. Each of my springers has handled the twisty mountain roads and wide open highways with ease and grace. There is no ride like a springer, and I can't see myself not having one in the garage.
And to add to it, I finally had a few minutes to snap some pictures of the my new-to-me FXSTSSE3. When I picked her up last weekend, she had 3101 miles. Now, I'm closing in on 4500. After a welcome home bath to wash away the rain grime, this bike is stunning. It's in mostly stock form for now, but I'm working to change that.
Regardless of the front end construction, springer or not, the bikes will be 'off' if they're raked out and the frame geometry is changed. Each of my springers has handled the twisty mountain roads and wide open highways with ease and grace. There is no ride like a springer, and I can't see myself not having one in the garage.
And to add to it, I finally had a few minutes to snap some pictures of the my new-to-me FXSTSSE3. When I picked her up last weekend, she had 3101 miles. Now, I'm closing in on 4500. After a welcome home bath to wash away the rain grime, this bike is stunning. It's in mostly stock form for now, but I'm working to change that.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 281
Likes: 1
From: Ct
I have to agree with both of you, Dave and Ryan. My old FLSTS handled very well and had no ill effects because it was a springer. Now that I have an FX springer it still has the wide front tire and appropriate frame geometry. It handles equally as well as my FL springer.
Regardless of the front end construction, springer or not, the bikes will be 'off' if they're raked out and the frame geometry is changed. Each of my springers has handled the twisty mountain roads and wide open highways with ease and grace. There is no ride like a springer, and I can't see myself not having one in the garage.
And to add to it, I finally had a few minutes to snap some pictures of the my new-to-me FXSTSSE3. When I picked her up last weekend, she had 3101 miles. Now, I'm closing in on 4500. After a welcome home bath to wash away the rain grime, this bike is stunning. It's in mostly stock form for now, but I'm working to change that.
Regardless of the front end construction, springer or not, the bikes will be 'off' if they're raked out and the frame geometry is changed. Each of my springers has handled the twisty mountain roads and wide open highways with ease and grace. There is no ride like a springer, and I can't see myself not having one in the garage.
And to add to it, I finally had a few minutes to snap some pictures of the my new-to-me FXSTSSE3. When I picked her up last weekend, she had 3101 miles. Now, I'm closing in on 4500. After a welcome home bath to wash away the rain grime, this bike is stunning. It's in mostly stock form for now, but I'm working to change that.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 47
From: Lake Tahoe California
I have to agree with both of you, Dave and Ryan. My old FLSTS handled very well and had no ill effects because it was a springer. Now that I have an FX springer it still has the wide front tire and appropriate frame geometry. It handles equally as well as my FL springer.
Regardless of the front end construction, springer or not, the bikes will be 'off' if they're raked out and the frame geometry is changed. Each of my springers has handled the twisty mountain roads and wide open highways with ease and grace. There is no ride like a springer, and I can't see myself not having one in the garage.
And to add to it, I finally had a few minutes to snap some pictures of the my new-to-me FXSTSSE3. When I picked her up last weekend, she had 3101 miles. Now, I'm closing in on 4500. After a welcome home bath to wash away the rain grime, this bike is stunning. It's in mostly stock form for now, but I'm working to change that.
Regardless of the front end construction, springer or not, the bikes will be 'off' if they're raked out and the frame geometry is changed. Each of my springers has handled the twisty mountain roads and wide open highways with ease and grace. There is no ride like a springer, and I can't see myself not having one in the garage.
And to add to it, I finally had a few minutes to snap some pictures of the my new-to-me FXSTSSE3. When I picked her up last weekend, she had 3101 miles. Now, I'm closing in on 4500. After a welcome home bath to wash away the rain grime, this bike is stunning. It's in mostly stock form for now, but I'm working to change that.
Ride safe!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 19
From: Oz
Yep cool bike 4 sure...
Would you call it an fx springer considering it has a left side brake?
Hmmm....
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 281
Likes: 1
From: Ct
Just picked this up last week. Traded my LO for it. 09 w/ 3k miles, almost bone stock. Slipons, stage 1, swingarm bag and badlander seat. Very happy...
Last edited by RyanC; Jul 27, 2013 at 11:22 AM.
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