1200C vs 1200L
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10
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1200C vs 1200L
Hey, is there a big difference in the ride of between the low and the custom? Am looking at a custom but was wondering if the shorter wider fron tire on the low makes any difference in the ride. Get that one will have forwards and different bars but more interested if the ride. Haven't yet had a chance to test ride one after the other.
Have also considered a FXDC over the Sporty but why? Sporty is lighter more nimble and just plain fun. Am not a big highway guy so not sure why I would need the bigger bike. Am 6' but the custom seems to fit me just fine.
Thoughts???
Have also considered a FXDC over the Sporty but why? Sporty is lighter more nimble and just plain fun. Am not a big highway guy so not sure why I would need the bigger bike. Am 6' but the custom seems to fit me just fine.
Thoughts???
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 4
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
I would say the stance of the low is more of an action stance... Mids, and smaller front wheel. I've never ridden one though, and I hear in most reviews that it is too small. I was going to mention the seat height and ground clearance, but I saw that on the HD website they list them as the same... Weird. When I bought my 09, they said that the suspension on the C models was a little more heavy duty or something... It's still crap for me.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,179
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From: Great Falls, Va.
I'm riding my 2nd low...I prefer the hgt of the front wheel for looks and handling, as well as the mid mounts. I do have frame mounted hwy pegs so stretching on long rides is not a problem. I have ridden a C with forwards and frankly did not like it. I am 5'11" and 175 lbs.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 35
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From:
I had a 2001 Custom and put a ton of miles on it. It had the skinny front tire and forward controls. After I sold it I got a 2008 1200 Low because I hated the way the skinny front tire felt on the highway. The low handles awesome and has a much sportier stance. I feel like it is a more aggressive ride and prefer it over the custom. BTW I am 5'11 205lbs and the low is not too small. There really is not much more of a noticeable difference in the seat height. I say go with the low. Some dealers have them on the floor with forwards so try both. I went with mids and put on highway pegs. Its the best of both worlds. I was looking at an FXDX when I bought my 1200. But the sporty just felt better.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 606
Likes: 2
I got a 2009 1200 low, because I wanted mid controls, wanted the mag wheels, and loved the red paint and black with chrome motor.
It was too low and small for me, but I put a different seat and bars on and its nice.
I think the suspension on all the sportsters is very poor, but the low bikes might be worse than the others due to shorter shocks (less wheel travel).
I put one inch longer shocks on, progressive fork springs, and it rides nice.
The stock seat on the low has almost zero padding.
Mags have many advantages over spokes. You don't see many cars with spokes anymore. Plus you can plug a flat on a tubeless tire...
Brett
It was too low and small for me, but I put a different seat and bars on and its nice.
I think the suspension on all the sportsters is very poor, but the low bikes might be worse than the others due to shorter shocks (less wheel travel).
I put one inch longer shocks on, progressive fork springs, and it rides nice.
The stock seat on the low has almost zero padding.
Mags have many advantages over spokes. You don't see many cars with spokes anymore. Plus you can plug a flat on a tubeless tire...
Brett
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 35
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From:
+1 on the stock seat. Go with a Sundowner and it will sit you up a bit higher. I personally like the lower feel though, it makes you feel like you are sitting in the bike.
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Account Deactivated
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 8
From: Central Florida
Front tire width,,
The skinny front tire on the custom will feel like it falls away when
you lean it over on corner entry and will have to "Hunt a bit more
over road cracks and paint lines.
This is not an issue or a big thing.
The wider a front tire is, the less "Fall away" you will feel.
Think of it this way,,when you lean over the narrower front track is more to one
side of the wider rear track, kinda magnifies the counter steering effect.
I've riddin skinny,,had no issues but could feel the diff only because
I'm used to the Roadster's wider front tire.
For all kinds of "Normal" riding It matters not, But when your gettin busy
the wider front of the 19" makes a diff. I also assume the 48's fatty would
track very well but being so large and having more mass It should "Slow" response a bit.
And that should make the 48 feel like a bit larger scooter.
Also should give a very neutral feel wich is a good thing to most people.
you lean it over on corner entry and will have to "Hunt a bit more
over road cracks and paint lines.
This is not an issue or a big thing.
The wider a front tire is, the less "Fall away" you will feel.
Think of it this way,,when you lean over the narrower front track is more to one
side of the wider rear track, kinda magnifies the counter steering effect.
I've riddin skinny,,had no issues but could feel the diff only because
I'm used to the Roadster's wider front tire.
For all kinds of "Normal" riding It matters not, But when your gettin busy
the wider front of the 19" makes a diff. I also assume the 48's fatty would
track very well but being so large and having more mass It should "Slow" response a bit.
And that should make the 48 feel like a bit larger scooter.
Also should give a very neutral feel wich is a good thing to most people.
Last edited by Osco; Jun 18, 2010 at 08:58 PM.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 606
Likes: 2
Yes, and I even raised the sundown seat up some.
I ordered hiway pegs to stretch out on the hiway.
I figure you can change stuff like the bars, the seat and shocks without spending a lot of cash, but wheels, and paint are not so cheap.
Plus the custom has special risers for the bars which might complicate finding a good fit.
With the shocks giving some ground clearance (and a nice ride) my bike seems to like going around curves very well!
Its nice to have a bike you can take a long ride on, ride two up with some comfort, have some fun in the twistys, take to the store and strap something on the back seat, goes at least 140 miles on a tank of gas, and looks and sounds good.
Brett
I ordered hiway pegs to stretch out on the hiway.
I figure you can change stuff like the bars, the seat and shocks without spending a lot of cash, but wheels, and paint are not so cheap.
Plus the custom has special risers for the bars which might complicate finding a good fit.
With the shocks giving some ground clearance (and a nice ride) my bike seems to like going around curves very well!
Its nice to have a bike you can take a long ride on, ride two up with some comfort, have some fun in the twistys, take to the store and strap something on the back seat, goes at least 140 miles on a tank of gas, and looks and sounds good.
Brett
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From:
The riser is good for that pull back look but if you go with any type of ape (even short ones) the pull back riser looks weird. I liked the fact that the low has just enough chrome stock and the mag wheels look sweet (and easier to plug if yu get a flat). Go with the low and build it to your liking thats what I did!