Its a wonder they handle at all . . . weight bias
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
Now you know why heavy guys around here claim they get 22,000 miles out of a front tire 
I was unable to find an answer to the weight bias of a bagger, so I decided to found out for myself by weighing my bike (upright and level).
Bike: 14 FLHT, 1/2 tank fuel, no tourpak, no cat, a couple jackets and a multitool in bags. (bike in pic)
Weight lbs Bias %
Rear Front Rear Front
513 398 56.3 43.7
Weight (with 198lb Rider) Bias %
Rear Front Rear Front
661 448 59.6 40.4
So me and the bike are 1109 lbs, over half a ton!!!! Now add a passenger, whose weight is all on the rear, and the bias goes to 65/35 or worse. When you add a tourpack and luggage, its weight is all behind the rear axle, which not only loads the rear more, but it also unloads the front, so the bias becomes even worse!
Bike: 14 FLHT, 1/2 tank fuel, no tourpak, no cat, a couple jackets and a multitool in bags. (bike in pic)
Weight lbs Bias %
Rear Front Rear Front
513 398 56.3 43.7
Weight (with 198lb Rider) Bias %
Rear Front Rear Front
661 448 59.6 40.4
So me and the bike are 1109 lbs, over half a ton!!!! Now add a passenger, whose weight is all on the rear, and the bias goes to 65/35 or worse. When you add a tourpack and luggage, its weight is all behind the rear axle, which not only loads the rear more, but it also unloads the front, so the bias becomes even worse!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Indeed - we had a beautiful day yesterday, first of this year. Hopefully this coming week will be good enough to get some pre-season servicing done. 
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,788
Likes: 8,668
From: Edmonton, Alberta
I haven't had a good night's sleep since this thread was posted. Now I'm rethinking my plans of going to 2:1 exhaust, don't want to be constantly listing to the right when I'm riding.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
You'll be just fine - helps to offset the weight of the primary and clutch on the other side!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
this info is all fine and dandy, but what are the parameters? what should the ideal be? without knowing that, all we know is how much is on front and how much is on the rear.
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I ride 2-up pretty much 100% of the time. We recent returned from a 14 day trip from Norfolk, VA to Key West, FL. I have a bag that straps on top of the tour pack and it's chock full of stuff. Additionally, we strap two jackets on top of that with a cargo net; leathers when wearing our mesh jackets, and mesh when the temps drop and we're wearing our leathers. My Ultra Limited weighs in wet around 900lbs. I'm 225 and my wife is 135. I've never weighed our gear, but I would guesstimate it comes in somewhere around 50 or 60lbs. I can definitely feel how light the front tire is during low speed manuevers in a parking lot an when pulling in for a gas stop. Bike rides fine at speed though. 👍🏻