softail question
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Jamestown, CA
........... Yuuuup .. HehHehHeh
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Upstate New York
Might be your riding style. Do you lean the bike way over in the turns and sit centered or upright? When I'm going fast in tight turns, I shift my body to the inside of the turn, which allows me to keep the bike more vertical.
I've dragged the footboards, but never the primary.
I've dragged the footboards, but never the primary.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
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From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
Hey I bought my first softail a few months ago 2001 standard. love the looks of the bike but hate the lean angle. everytime I lean hard into the turn I scrape the primary cover. Hit it pretty hard today. Now before you go in say that it ant a sport bike. I know but i ridden dyna's and a roadking that had alot more lean angle than this. I don't think this bike has been lowerd either. Do any of you guys hit your primary cover? Not that big of a deal around town but my friends will eat me alive in the mountains.
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hey you might be on to something. did not know you could adjust them. Glad someone on here has experience what I'm talking about. Thanks
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I have ridden RK's and E/Glides aggressively with only ocassional scraping. When riding my Heritage when I first got it, I was scraping constantly. I even opened a thread on it here. I heeded the advice I rec'd on the thread. You have to ride a Softail different then an FL. You have to go into a curve high and come down thru the apex and keep the bike as vertical as you can. I seldom scrap now after practicing and I have gotten good at it. I ride 2 up through the Smoky's daily and keep up with all the riders we run with. Softails handle well when you master the right technique.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 521
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From: Colorado Springs, Co.
If that's the kind of riding you're after, ditch the Softy and buy a Buell 1125R, most kick *** American bike there is...
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From: TOAK western branch
Funny thing. On one bad scrape I poked a 1/2 hole in it. Had to ride 15 miles with my finger in the hole. Had a back/neck cramp for 3 days after that. They are set really light. You basically have 4 threads to adjust them up. I did 3 threads. Mark both of the shocks then break the lock nut loose and rotate the body of the shock. I used a canvas oil filter strap wrench to rotate then and it was night and day. Should have done it the day I brought it home. Good luck.
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Funny thing. On one bad scrape I poked a 1/2 hole in it. Had to ride 15 miles with my finger in the hole. Had a back/neck cramp for 3 days after that. They are set really light. You basically have 4 threads to adjust them up. I did 3 threads. Mark both of the shocks then break the lock nut loose and rotate the body of the shock. I used a canvas oil filter strap wrench to rotate then and it was night and day. Should have done it the day I brought it home. Good luck.