Dyna vs Sportster Vibration Qn

[Jefffree]

I ride a 04 WideGlide and it shakes at a stop but when you roll on the throttle it smooths out. I have had 3 back surgeries and I have a herniated disc as we speak and I've ridden all weekend. All the Harleys are going to give you some vibrations, but that's a Harley!!

[Jeffytune]

Hi.

It is not just the engine that vibrates the bike, the tires Harley uses well, are not smooth riding at all.

If you want a bike to do long rides, then you should be looking at a touring bike.

I would suggest you try a FLHT Electra Glide.

[GJarrett]

Whoa. I just tried to post an eloquent thanks and reply to this thread and got timed out. So much for extended replies. I guess I need to be quicker LOL.

I'll try this again in a minute; only much more succinctly.

[GJarrett]

I appreciate all the replies and it's given me a better picture of what I need to expect. Thanks murpdog for the input after riding the exact same bikes I did.

I was expecting the shake on the Super Glide but not the buzz at speed.... if I was wearing my cowboy boots my feet would have buzzed off the pegs. That was a surprize to me.

And from reading posts here I've gotten the definite impression that the newer Sportsters are much smoother than the old ones. For sure, the one I rode was a sweet ride.

I do value the input regarding looking at touring models, but that's not where I'm at now. I used to ride cross country and have done a couple of thousand mile days, but at this stage in my life I'm looking at using my upcoming new bike as a short range daily work ride with an occasional weekend trip up into the mountains or the other way a couple hundred miles over to the beach.

At that level it's a budget thing. My interest in a Super Glide Custom is partially because it seems to me to be about the best deal all-around and as far as I can tell is the best bang-for-the-buck. Put simply, I don't need and cannot afford to shell out another six thousand bucks for a touring bike with qualities I don't need to use but once a year. And besides, if I really wanted a touring bike, I'd not be here, but over at a Honda forum grilling some financial advisor dudes to buy the GoldWing they own courtesy of their clients that they advised to invest in the S&P... up until last week.

PS ~ I can argue with myself all I want, but I know you guys can already tell I'm toast and will soon own a Harley, LOL. If I get really serious, I may have to go find out why I need to locate Hwy 43

[GJarrett]

Originally Posted by DavidH

My previous bike was a GSXR 1100 and it was so fast I had no time to notice if it vibrated or not.

Yeah, my last ride was an '89 Kaw ZX10 that I drove way too fast way too many times. I sold it before I killed myself. I cannot wait to meet my guardian angel when I die.... he may have started as a private but he surely was a general by the time he got finished guarding me

[Jeffytune]

The MSRP of a Super glide is 13,6ish, depends on color.
The MSRP of a 2008 FLHT E-glide standard is 16,5K.

But with the release of the 2009 with it's all new frame, the dealers that have leftovers are giving them away right now.

My dealer here has three, one black and two in metallic red.
They sit there with a 1,500 off msrp sign on them, and the GM told me today, if I know anyone who would like one, they will listen to any offer right now.

Hell of a buy, I bet you could get one close to the same price as that Dyna.

[Harp247]

Originally Posted by Jeffytune

I bet you could get one close to the same price as that Dyna.

The guy wants to be talked into buying a sporty, not a bagger. He's already ridden thousands of miles, he now wants to ride across town.

[Jeffytune]

Originally Posted by GJarrett

I'm looking very seriously at getting a Super Glide Custom. I do a lot of riding and will get it set up with backrest, bags and removable windshield that I can put on when I go out of town.

However just for funzies (and because it was right there beside the Super Glide so why not take advantage of the free trip) I hopped on a Sportster 1200 Custom. The difference was night and day. The Sportster almost felt as smooth as a Goldwing after riding that Super Glide paint-shaker. I could easily handle riding that Sportster and have no problem imagining taking a long trip on it. But set up like I need to set up a bike - bags, fairing - it just doesn't look/feel "right" to me on a Sportster. I think of a Sportster as being; well, a Sportster - not a bagger.

I think you need to read the whole thread, he wants bags and a fairing.

No need to buy them things to bolt them on, you get them from the git go.

[Orange1200R]

This is the set-up I have on my Low its comfortable when touring. I just change the bag on the back for needs eg weekend or week long. Smooth at Highway Speeds.

[george248]

I agree with Jeff... have an 04 FXD, added bossbags and a windshield... for just a few more bucks, I could have got an EG Standard.


I like the dyna... does not vibrate when you get it above idle, and it's been paid for awhile


Can see riding the dyna for several more years...

[GJarrett]

Yeah, part of it is that I want a cruiser for mostly around town, but can still take a trip every once in awhile when I want to. The fairing/windshield would be a quick-detach that normally would not be on it. However I had no idea I could get an E-glide that cheap by going for a leftover 2008; I was only looking at the 2009 brochure and they are a lot more expensive than that. Hmmm.

I can see with my talk of fairing & bags that I may sound like I want a tourer, but to be more clear I am more interested in a cruiser - Sporty/Dyna/Softail type - for the 90% of local driving I'll use it for, but still have the capability to go on longer weekend or weeklong rides a few times a year. However if an E-Glide can be had for that cheap, now you've really messed up my choices and confused me with more possibilities I hadn't consdered LOL.

I do notice that many of you have suggested that I consider a Softail or touring model and I guess I'll head back to the dealership and try to wiggle a couple of more demo rides out of them. I am curious though ~ the Sportster was smoother, and evidently so are Softails and of course I expect the tourers to be so. The Softtails and tourers have the same engine though, right (?) So why is the Dyna buzzier? The sales brochure mentions a counterbalancer in the Softail line - is it not on a Dyna engine? Are there different motor mounts?

PS ~ I do promise to quit bugging you guys with questions sometime soon and actually go buy one, LOL. I do have to wait a month or so until I get my house refinanced. I don't want an additional monthly payment screwing up my mortgage analysis, so I have to wait for the mortgage refinance before taking on additional debt burden.

[murphdog]

The Softail motor is unique in that it has the internal balancer and the motor is solidly mounted to the frame. The Sportster, Dyna and Touring motors do not have the internal balancer and are rubber mounted to the frame somewhat like car and truck motor mounts. The rubber mounts are different on all 3 models with the touring model being the most effective at isolating vibration.
Any Softails I've ridden are a little buzzy at higher rpms but dead smooth at idle and lower rpms.
If you thought the FXDC you rode vibrated too much, you probably should forget about Dynas. As I said earlier, it was one of the better ones I've ridden.
If you're going shopping, don't forget about Spartanburg Harley and Timm's in Anderson. Spartanburg gave me a much better deal than Greenville would on my '07.

[lgkmrk1608]

Traded my 03 1200 custom for an 09 FXDC. Love the dyna. Much smoother to me. Long hours in the saddle are no problem. Sportster made my hand numb.

[198of3500]

I've rented touring bikes and they're nice, but they'll never keep up with a dyna when the road gets twisty. I've put over a 1000 miles on my wifes 2004 sportster-definitely not for me. I've ridden friends softails- they're okay if looks are the most important thing to you.

I'm on my third Dyna and in my opinion they are by far the best Harleys. They are fine for cross-country touring and still fun on a good road. Once moving they don't vibrate. My guess is that the vibration you experienced is a combination of too lean fuel mixture and too low RPMs.

[tguil]

Every time I start thinking that I should have a more comfortable bike for touring, I end up telling myself that if I want comfort, take the truck.

John Kay and Steppenwolf long ago told us why we ride. A little bit of discomfort just adds to the "trip".

Tom