I have a 2012 Flhx. A friend of mine has a 2012 Fat boy. We both have the 103. Does anyone know why there is such a big difference in vibration at idle between the two? My street glide vibrates alot worse than his fatboy. Is there a difference in how the motors are mounted? Just wondering? Thanks!

 

Softtail engines are counterbalanced, street glides arent

 

Thanks alot!

 

Yes and while your bike may vibrate more at idle, your bike can corner better.

 

Love the Glides, we have a 2012 Flhx and wife has a 2012 fatboy lo..I like riding her bike, but I prefer my rolling sofa

 

Your Touring Bike has a 103 "a" engine and the soft ails have a 103"b" counter balanced engine. The touring bikes And the Dynas and Sportsters are rubber mounted engine and trans to help absorb the engine vibration. At idle you will see and feel your engine vibrating a lot but as soon as you start moving that will settle and the ride is smoother as it is being absorbed by the rubber mounted drive train. The softball engine is directly bolted into the farme and the addition of the counterbalances are to help smooth out the vibration produced by this setup, the soft ail may be smoother at idle but not at higher rpm and speeds as the engine vibration will transfer to the frame and handlebars.

I've also read that the "a" type engines may produce a little more power since they don't have to pull the counterbalances.

 

The FLHX vibrates more at idle but it is smooth as silk at higher RPM. The Fat Boy is smoother at idle but buzzes the heck out of your hands at higher RPM. My old bike was a Fat Boy and I will never go back...

 

My wife prefers the paint shaker idle of the 3 rubber mounted engines I've had, over the smooth idle of my softails I have owned in the past. Can't figure it out.

 

My first HD was a 2010 fatboy lo. It took some getting used to when I got may roadglide. I knew it would shake but it just felt strange for a while.

 

I had a 2007 Fat Boy with the counter-balanced motor. The Touring bikes are smoother on the road.
The Fat Boy had a slight humming vibration cruising at 70 mph. The Touring bike is smooth as silk at any speed.