Dropping a Deuce
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 806
Likes: 1
From: Carquinez Straights - Northern CA
Dropping a Deuce
Folks, I bought a 2000 Deuce as a second bike. All stock with 3800 miles.
Though I expected different riding characteristics than my Road King and Heritage ST, I'm finding the different rake and narrow bars of the Duece a bit hard to handle in the curves. Frontend feels heavy when cornering slow, with a tendency for the front wheel to want to flop making U turns. No leverage in the bars so to speak.
I have 30+ years of riding and this is a first for me.
Anyone else feel the same in regards to the Deuce?
Though I expected different riding characteristics than my Road King and Heritage ST, I'm finding the different rake and narrow bars of the Duece a bit hard to handle in the curves. Frontend feels heavy when cornering slow, with a tendency for the front wheel to want to flop making U turns. No leverage in the bars so to speak.
I have 30+ years of riding and this is a first for me.
Anyone else feel the same in regards to the Deuce?
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Kansas
I felt that way at first. I picked up a 2001 in June as a project or second bike. The other day I scraped while making a left turn. I guess I am getting adjusted to the feel of it. Now I am more concerned with what scraped it wasn't the pegs so is this going to be a problem? I am use to scrapping floor boards on my other bike. I just don’t want to be scrapping the hard stuff. I did lower the rear - may be too much. I find it fun for the short rides it’s not a comfortable cross country bike by any means.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 221
Likes: 14
From: Georgia USA
The only other Harley I've had to compare my Deuce to was a Sportster. The Sportster bars were really narrow, but handling wise, it would run rings around the Deuce. The Deuce front end does feel heavy, and overall I don't get the warm fuzzy feeling in turns that I had with the Sportster. I think the sense of 'nimbleness' has more to do with the length of the wheelbase than anything else, especially at slow speed.
My suspension is still stock; at some point I'll upgrade it to see if I can improve the handling a little, I love my Deuce otherwise.
It's probably the extension on the side stand that scraped. My boot heels usually hit first, but occasionally it's my sidestand that makes contact in hard left turns.
My suspension is still stock; at some point I'll upgrade it to see if I can improve the handling a little, I love my Deuce otherwise.
It's probably the extension on the side stand that scraped. My boot heels usually hit first, but occasionally it's my sidestand that makes contact in hard left turns.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,477
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From: Western MD
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Connecticut
If you put apes on the Deuce you will see it turn faster, short drag bars make the front feel heavy
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Unofficial HDF Chaplain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 18,049
From: san diego
when I had my deuce, I raked it another 6*, and I thought it handled great. also lowered the back but had no complaints on handling, rode a little harsh, but that was it.
Last edited by harleycharlie1992; Dec 2, 2013 at 07:46 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 274
From: Milton, Delaware
My 06 Deuce handles just fine. I can scrape in a tight u-turn with the front end all the way to the stop. (took the Ride Like a Pro course this year
My suspension is stock so maybe the lowered suspension is hurting you a little.
I rented an EGUC last year in Vegas and had no problems with it. It took a few hours to get used to the heavier bike and riding two up. It almost made the wife agree to a touring up grade. lol
HarleyCharlie, I'll say it again...that's a nice lookin' Deuce man. Everything just seems to go together like it was built by HD that way.
My suspension is stock so maybe the lowered suspension is hurting you a little.I rented an EGUC last year in Vegas and had no problems with it. It took a few hours to get used to the heavier bike and riding two up. It almost made the wife agree to a touring up grade. lol
HarleyCharlie, I'll say it again...that's a nice lookin' Deuce man. Everything just seems to go together like it was built by HD that way.
Last edited by Deucedog; Dec 2, 2013 at 08:19 PM.