Question about a touring frame
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I have a True-Track stabilizer on my old Glide, which significantly improves handling and ride quality. With the original two stabilizers, plus the extra True-Track one my bike now has support for both front and rear rubber engine mounts, as Erik Buell intended when he invented the system.
In the case of the latest touring bikes, they have a better design of front engine rubber mounts, but have no support for either front or rear mounts. So Harley has taken one step forwards and another backwards! While they should handle better, the design still has flaws.
Harley made every Buell with three stabilizers and every rubber-mount Sportster has three, so they know what to do, but seem reluctant to do it on the touring bikes. Very frustrating! True-Track makes a kit for those who want to sharpen up the latest models.
In the case of the latest touring bikes, they have a better design of front engine rubber mounts, but have no support for either front or rear mounts. So Harley has taken one step forwards and another backwards! While they should handle better, the design still has flaws.
Harley made every Buell with three stabilizers and every rubber-mount Sportster has three, so they know what to do, but seem reluctant to do it on the touring bikes. Very frustrating! True-Track makes a kit for those who want to sharpen up the latest models.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
From: Ft Myers FL
+1 , also sixspeed tranny and 96" motor. I traded in my 05 for an 09, I like it much better.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
Every year change, has had improvements. In '09 they had some major improves to a frame that was designed 27 years previous.
Buy what you can afford. The touring bikes are awesome and have been for years.
Buy what you can afford. The touring bikes are awesome and have been for years.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,208
Likes: 374
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
I will say that if you push really hard into a turn you will still get the "wobble" on the '09's and up. Before retiring mine for the winter I was a bit ambitious and hit a negative camber fairly sharp turn at way over the speed limit. When I realized I wasn't going to make the turn and let off the throttle/started applying brakes the bike started wobbling pretty bad. Luckily there's a 6'+ shoulder that I took advantage of.
Got home parked the bike in the shed and called it a winter.
Got home parked the bike in the shed and called it a winter.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, MO
I had an '05 EG Classic and now have a '09 EG Classic. The difference is VERY noticeable to me, but keep in mind I'm a bigger guy so I'm sure that plays into it.
The smoothness, handling of "bumps" in the road and cornering is where I really noticed the difference.
However, my '05 did NOT ride poorly at all and if a financial crisis hadn't hit, I would still have it. The '09 came about because a friend had laid it down (2nd bike in 2 years) and was wanting a 3 wheeler. She had the bike repaired and give me an INCREDIBLE deal.
The smoothness, handling of "bumps" in the road and cornering is where I really noticed the difference.
However, my '05 did NOT ride poorly at all and if a financial crisis hadn't hit, I would still have it. The '09 came about because a friend had laid it down (2nd bike in 2 years) and was wanting a 3 wheeler. She had the bike repaired and give me an INCREDIBLE deal.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 6
From: South Dakota
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 146
From:
The only reason Harley changed the frame for the '09 models was to have a two piece frame that could be easily converted to a 3 Wheeler for thier new model trike. It didn't have squat to do with handling! An older model framed bike is fine. The swing arm was beefed up in the later frame. Some older models did have a little flex in the swingarm due to it's soft mounting. The tires were changed on the latest bikes too, and that really improved handling. If you have problems with an older bike feeling squirrily go to Metzler tires and align the drivetrain, the swingarm is mounted to the tranny so a misaligned engine and tranny means your swing arm is misaligned too. There are also upgrade swing arm mounting systems available for pre '09 bikes. Too many of us rode the old frame a lot of miles for anyone to say it's unaccepatable. I've ridden bikes with the new frame. I didn't feel much difference. A buddy with an '09 Standard thinks my '07 Streetgled handles great. Bottom line....the frame shouldn't be a deal breaker.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 822
From: Nevada
Same here. I rented a 2010 EG Classic on vacation. Rode some twisties two-up. The bike didn't feel any different from my '08.
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 173
Likes: 6
Ran an older frame for years and now run a '11 SG.
The newer frames are little longer, wider and taller than the older frames, different rake on the trees and made with a lot less welds. Biggest difference is to me in the rear swing arm and the 4 point mounting of the engine and tranny. The newer frame does not feel mushy in turns, runs straight no matter what your doing and is overall much crisper in the way it tracks.
The newer frame also gets you Brembo ABS brakes, a 103" engine with compression releases, oil cooler, cruise, security, bigger rear tire and a 6 gallon tank all bolted to it as well. The 08 is the only year below the 09 that can get you some of that. and it's true for the 10 and 11 you have to deal with the cat in the headpipe, but it is a small price to pay for all the other things that it offers.
After having the new one and getting some highway, town and backroad miles on it as I wait for the spring, I would not go back.
The newer frames are little longer, wider and taller than the older frames, different rake on the trees and made with a lot less welds. Biggest difference is to me in the rear swing arm and the 4 point mounting of the engine and tranny. The newer frame does not feel mushy in turns, runs straight no matter what your doing and is overall much crisper in the way it tracks.
The newer frame also gets you Brembo ABS brakes, a 103" engine with compression releases, oil cooler, cruise, security, bigger rear tire and a 6 gallon tank all bolted to it as well. The 08 is the only year below the 09 that can get you some of that. and it's true for the 10 and 11 you have to deal with the cat in the headpipe, but it is a small price to pay for all the other things that it offers.
After having the new one and getting some highway, town and backroad miles on it as I wait for the spring, I would not go back.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
I've owned a '95, 96 and '02 Road King. Nice bikes all, BUT my 2010 SG is much, much better. The new frame is all that. Plus, the availability of ABS makes this an easy choice in my book. By and '09 or later if you can possibly afford it.