Why Are Touring HD's Non-Counterbalanced?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,051
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From: Between Chicago & Milwaukee
Why Are Touring HD's Non-Counterbalanced?
I'll preface this by saying I'm notfamiliar with HD's Touring bikes but gaining interest and thinking about moving into a Touring HD at some point.I have more I need to learnhere,but I want to start with something basic.
I like the RoadGlide but ElectraGlide and StreetGlide would be a possibility.All threerun the TC96 motor and although maybe there's some obvious reason I don't get.....My question is::
Why are none of bikes in the touring line-upequippedthe 96B counter-balanced engine ?
I like the RoadGlide but ElectraGlide and StreetGlide would be a possibility.All threerun the TC96 motor and although maybe there's some obvious reason I don't get.....My question is::
Why are none of bikes in the touring line-upequippedthe 96B counter-balanced engine ?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,253
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From: Southeastern Michigan
RE: Why Are Touring HD's Non-Counterbalanced?
Its rubber mounted, so the balanced engine is not needed. It is very smooth at speed. Plus if you build up the non-balanced engine you can move the red line to a higher limit due to the fact that it does not have that balance shaft, not that you would want to do that to a bagger
It just another way to do that same thing, I guess its more of a "old school" thing. Personally, I like the way it vibrates at idle.
It just another way to do that same thing, I guess its more of a "old school" thing. Personally, I like the way it vibrates at idle.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,183
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From: Burbank, CA
RE: Why Are Touring HD's Non-Counterbalanced?
well I'll give it a shot, cause they are rubber mounted.
they only vibrate at idle, at cruise they are actually smoother than the counter-balanced B models
they only vibrate at idle, at cruise they are actually smoother than the counter-balanced B models
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Mass
RE: Why Are Touring HD's Non-Counterbalanced?
Because it would be pretty hard to balance something while it's bouncing around on rubber mounts. The two systems would kind of fight each other. The rubber mount system is designed to eliminate vibration at higher rpms where it is assumed "Touring "bikes will spend more time,i.e,Highway. The counter balance is more helpful at lower rpms...at least that's how I see it...some engineer will chime in with the technical explanation I'm sure...
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Between Chicago & Milwaukee
RE: Why Are Touring HD's Non-Counterbalanced?
Ultimately I know the best thing is for me to borrow or rent an Ultrato see for myself,but that said....thecounter-balanced 96B motor seems really smooth to me anywhere from 0 to 85 MPH and there's no need to have any concern about possible motor mounttrouble.I haven't gone further than 550 miles in a day on my Nightrain,but smoothness wasn't an issue on the highway.I've heard some people say the counter-balanced motor gives a buzz at highway speeds through the handlebars,but I've never felt it.
I can fully understand the traditional Harley feel of the heavyvibrations at idle being desirable etc but think there must be more to it than that.
I can fully understand the traditional Harley feel of the heavyvibrations at idle being desirable etc but think there must be more to it than that.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 329
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From: Poultney, VT
RE: Why Are Touring HD's Non-Counterbalanced?
ORIGINAL: X TRAIN
and there's no need to have any concern about possible motor mounttrouble.
and there's no need to have any concern about possible motor mounttrouble.
Personally, I went with Harley because it still looks like a bike and not a car on two wheels. I love the sound and the vibration at idle. I can tell you from personal experience on the this that it is Real Smooth at any speed other than idle. And the g/f is liking the vibration at idle[:-]
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Joined: Jun 2007
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RE: Why Are Touring HD's Non-Counterbalanced?
I think it's the size of the frames. Touring has plenty of room to use the rubber mounting and let the engine shake. Softails are a smaller frame. No room for the shaking.So they use the counterbalancing method to control it on the softails.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 116
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From: IL / AR
RE: Why Are Touring HD's Non-Counterbalanced?
A better question would be why does your softail require a balanced engine. The design of your frame and suspension dictate the need for a more balanced engine.
Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
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From: San Ramon, Ca
RE: Why Are Touring HD's Non-Counterbalanced?
My .02
The other night, I rodewith my buddy who has an 04 Ultra. He had loaned it to me once before. On the way home we switched bikes. You really get a better comparison jumping off one, onto the other. Let's not kid ourselves (Attn Softail riders) The Ultra rides down the highway better. It's smoother, you can go around corners faster, and for me it's a better sitting posn (for longer rides). A couple of negative points, when it's 80+ degrees out, you can have those fairing lowers. Too F-in hot !! The wind does move it around (a little). The fairing . . . the tour-pak . . . who knows.The drive train does shake.I had my heel against the shifter going down the freeway. It was like a foot massage. But, riding, the Ultra is so smooth, you almost feel isolated from the road (It really is that nice) Where as the Softail with the B-Motor has the old time Harley feel, with your butt down in the frame w/o all the obtrusive vibration and parts falling off. And, in all fairness, my Heritage is pretty smooth at 70 or 80 mph. The B-motor is also deadnuts smooth at idle.
The Ultra is a BIG bike, taller, heavier, etc. If all I were doing were long distance ride, it's the bike. If I could justify/afford two motorcycles (well, it would be three counting the wife's) there would be an Ultra in the garage tomorrow. For now, the Heritage (set up more for touring) suits me very well. It would be hard to part with. The best part is, it's PAID FOR.
The other night, I rodewith my buddy who has an 04 Ultra. He had loaned it to me once before. On the way home we switched bikes. You really get a better comparison jumping off one, onto the other. Let's not kid ourselves (Attn Softail riders) The Ultra rides down the highway better. It's smoother, you can go around corners faster, and for me it's a better sitting posn (for longer rides). A couple of negative points, when it's 80+ degrees out, you can have those fairing lowers. Too F-in hot !! The wind does move it around (a little). The fairing . . . the tour-pak . . . who knows.The drive train does shake.I had my heel against the shifter going down the freeway. It was like a foot massage. But, riding, the Ultra is so smooth, you almost feel isolated from the road (It really is that nice) Where as the Softail with the B-Motor has the old time Harley feel, with your butt down in the frame w/o all the obtrusive vibration and parts falling off. And, in all fairness, my Heritage is pretty smooth at 70 or 80 mph. The B-motor is also deadnuts smooth at idle.
The Ultra is a BIG bike, taller, heavier, etc. If all I were doing were long distance ride, it's the bike. If I could justify/afford two motorcycles (well, it would be three counting the wife's) there would be an Ultra in the garage tomorrow. For now, the Heritage (set up more for touring) suits me very well. It would be hard to part with. The best part is, it's PAID FOR.