Deluxe handling/ground clearance
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Stage IV
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Deluxe handling/ground clearance
Gentlemen - my first post so take it easy on me.
I'm going to purchase a Harley and am torn between the Deluxe and the Fat Boy. I personally like the looks of the Deluxe better, but am concerned about the low ride height.
As background info, I used to be into sport bikes and raced at the club level for a few years. Then switched to an Electra Glide for some touring. Then switched to a BMW GS for some touring with an off-road twist. Now I just want to tool around town and make the occasional day trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I fully understand that these bikes are not intended to carve up the curves, but I don't want to be scraping every turn while riding at a casual pace.
Thanks for any input,
Todd
I'm going to purchase a Harley and am torn between the Deluxe and the Fat Boy. I personally like the looks of the Deluxe better, but am concerned about the low ride height.
As background info, I used to be into sport bikes and raced at the club level for a few years. Then switched to an Electra Glide for some touring. Then switched to a BMW GS for some touring with an off-road twist. Now I just want to tool around town and make the occasional day trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I fully understand that these bikes are not intended to carve up the curves, but I don't want to be scraping every turn while riding at a casual pace.
Thanks for any input,
Todd
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,104
Likes: 13,047
From: Texas, USA
Welcome to HDF and welcome back to HD.
Ground clearance:
Deluxe - 4.8"
Fatboy - 5.1"
Although I ride a Heritage, if you want to "tool around town", IMO a Deluxe would be a more comfortable ride than a Fatboy. If you wanted to "carve up the curves", I'd recommend the Fatboy. The difference in ground clearance between the two is slightly more than 1/4" which is unlikely going to be the difference between scraping the floorboards and not scraping them. Scraping them will happen. There is no preventing that. I'm sure you are aware that ground clearance can be increased by changing the tire size and (probably to a lesser degree) using an air suspension like Shotgun shock.
BTW, I hope I was easy on you. Don't get used to it
.
Let us know what you choose.
Ground clearance:
Deluxe - 4.8"
Fatboy - 5.1"
Although I ride a Heritage, if you want to "tool around town", IMO a Deluxe would be a more comfortable ride than a Fatboy. If you wanted to "carve up the curves", I'd recommend the Fatboy. The difference in ground clearance between the two is slightly more than 1/4" which is unlikely going to be the difference between scraping the floorboards and not scraping them. Scraping them will happen. There is no preventing that. I'm sure you are aware that ground clearance can be increased by changing the tire size and (probably to a lesser degree) using an air suspension like Shotgun shock.
BTW, I hope I was easy on you. Don't get used to it
.Let us know what you choose.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,177
Likes: 62
From: Michigan
Yeah the fatboy is going to have more clearance but not enough that it becomes a decision maker. You should go with which ever one you like more and it sounds like you like the deluxe the best. I say go for the deluxe and just get use to her. I went from 09 and up tourers in which I rode pretty aggressively in the corners I just changed the way I ride when I got the softail and I haven't scraped yet.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 2
From: Detroit
I dropped my deluxe 2inches front and back originally and didnt have problems. Just ride it like a cruiser and you will be fine.
Buy the bike you like the looks of or you will spend a ton getting the other one to the look you want.
And welcome to the board
Buy the bike you like the looks of or you will spend a ton getting the other one to the look you want.
And welcome to the board
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 487
Likes: 9
From: Yorkshire, England
Never had any probs with my Deluxe and I don't hold back. Forget the model name and just ride it.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 160
Likes: 5
From: indiana
If you get a Fatboy, Heritage, or Deluxe and want better ground clearance you can replace the boards with forward controls. The boards are going to scrape if you ride it very aggressive at all. Find a set of oem forwards on eBay and it will be a cheap fix.
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Novice
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: so cal
I bought my first Harley which was the Deluxe a year ago coming off sport bike. I scraped the boards liked crazy at first until I was able to know the limits of the bike. After a year I barely scrape if at all. I ride alot of canyons on the weekends. I would like to to get the shotgun shock to increase ride height. Not sure if it's worth the money to get a extra inch or so in height.
Between the fatboy and deluxe both bikes will scrape and not much difference in performance. A dyna would give you greater clearance and performance but I didnt like the rigid mounted engine.
Between the fatboy and deluxe both bikes will scrape and not much difference in performance. A dyna would give you greater clearance and performance but I didnt like the rigid mounted engine.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
I bought my first Harley which was the Deluxe a year ago coming off sport bike. I scraped the boards liked crazy at first until I was able to know the limits of the bike. After a year I barely scrape if at all. I ride alot of canyons on the weekends. I would like to to get the shotgun shock to increase ride height. Not sure if it's worth the money to get a extra inch or so in height.
Between the fatboy and deluxe both bikes will scrape and not much difference in performance. A dyna would give you greater clearance and performance but I didnt like the rigid mounted engine.
Between the fatboy and deluxe both bikes will scrape and not much difference in performance. A dyna would give you greater clearance and performance but I didnt like the rigid mounted engine.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 149
From: High in the Colorado Rockies
I have never had a problem with the Deluxe clearance and I ride twistys and mountain passes all the time. Love the bike once I dumped that stock seat which nearly sits you on the tank and added highway pegs & apes. SJ Ron