Dyna vs Sportster Vibration Qn : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

GJarrett · 10-11-2008, 08:12 PM

It's been sixteen years since I've had a bike and they were all big metrics. I had them as daily drivers and put a lot of miles on them, but once I got married and had a son those days were over. Now that I'm over 50 yrs old I've realized that it's always been in my blood and I've waited too long.... time to get back in the saddle. I've always wanted a Harley, so I've been doing a little research and shopping for the last month or so.

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.

The local stealership had a demo event today and I showed up for a couple of test rides, and came away musing over an issue big enough to make me second-guess my desire.

I'm used to smooth running metrics so I was expecting vibration, BUT not this. I rode a Super Glide Custom - the exact bike I want - and the dang thing vibrated so hard that I know that if I got one I wouldn't be able to ride very long (long story but I have a nerve problem in my left hand/arm) because the handgrips shook so hard it was like holding a jackhammer. The closest I can come to describing it was like holding an impact wrench. The footpegs buzzed enough to make me think that less than an hour on the highway would render them numb and crippled. If I took a week-long vacation on that thing I'd have to visit the dentist and have my teeth fillings replaced when I got back. Hoping it was just at certain RPM ranges and there would be one at highway speeds where it would smooth out somewhat, I opened it up and experimented all across the RPM band. There were no sweet spots at all where it smoothed out even a little bit.

Because of a physical nerve problem in my left hand/arm, and the fact that I knew without a doubt that my wife would balk at ever riding with me on that paint-shaker, I dismounted more than a little dejected, thinking that I'll find myself going back metric again.

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.

My question: why does the Dyna model vibrate so really bad? Are there any aftermarket widget somethings that can tame it? I've been lurking on this forum for the last couple of weeks and heard about crankshaft issues but was hoping to discount that possibility as internet over-reaction and not quite as common as some threads would have me believe. Could it be that?

Or, dare I hopefully ask: did I just happen to get on one that wasn't prepped right and some knucklehead in the service dept overtightened a mount or something - in other words, something was wrong with this particular one and they don't really vibrate that bad? Can someone assure me that it should have about the same vibration qualities as that Sportster did that I rode... or is there really that much vibration difference (and what I felt was in fact normal for a Super Glide?)

GJarrett · 10-11-2008, 09:25 PM

I should probably clarify.... I expect and I really like the rumble and shake while stopped at a light. I am not complaining about that - along with the sound, it's a large part of what makes it a Harley and I want that. But what I did hope for was for it to smooth out somewhat while underway like the Sportster did, not get worse.

hotrod1018 · 10-11-2008, 09:30 PM

i have an 08 super glide and mine does smooth out at highway shakes at idle but not that bad

Karsten · 10-11-2008, 10:03 PM

I have an older 1998 883 coverted to 1200 and it doesn't really bother me but it has after market grips to.

I would imagine the newer rubber mounts are smoother but you might need to change out the grips to some Iso or other aftermarket padded grips.

Also look into padded palm gloves witht he grips.

Karsten

GJarrett · 10-11-2008, 10:16 PM

Karsten if you're talking 883/1200 Sportster, that one's fine. When I rode the 1200 it felt just exactly like I was hoping the Super Glide would feel. I could live with the 1200's vibration qualities no problem whatsoever at all. It rode exactly like what I was expecting a Harley to feel like. I just find it hard to believe there should be so much difference between that and the Super Glide.

splatter · 10-11-2008, 10:54 PM

Individual Super Glides have differing levels of vibration, and sensitivity to vibration is different among individual riders. Mine has a real buzzy spot about 3000 rpm, but I actually like it. I don't know if anyone can really tell you if you should buy a Glide or not.

Dynas have rubber-mounted motors. Some people have reported vibration reduction by resetting or replacing the front mount. But it's never going to be a Gold Wing. The Sporty also has a rubber mount, I believe, but it's a much smaller engine.

I believe the softails and baggers have a compensation device on their motors that might be a better choice for you.

Fred1369 · 10-11-2008, 10:57 PM

if the Dyna vibrated enough for you to complain there is something wrong with it. Ride another one. Don't give up on the Sportster 1200. It's a fine bike and faster than a Dyna anyway. You could also look around for a used bike that someone has already fixed.

tranedlr2 · 10-11-2008, 11:34 PM

I would have to say you got on a Dyna that has something wrong with it. I have a 2000 and it has way less vibration than any sportster I have ridden. I have not ridden one of the new rubber mount sportys yet. Try again, maybe you got a bad one.

ultraplusrotax · 10-12-2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

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.

Wrong choice Jarrett.
If you want bags + windshield, take the Electra Glide STD, Road King,... they will provide comfortable touring, more than a Sportster with bags.

BlueGlide05 · 10-12-2008, 08:29 AM

Like you I had a long lay off doing the family thing. Never owned a Harley before but wanted one this time around. To make a long story short ended up with a used 05 Super Glide FSD. The idle is low for the sound, which I'm thinking about turning up. Anyway the highway ride is fine. You may want to try other bikes as the one you rode for some reason had problems. Or as someone sugguested try other models. Thats my novice advice.

tdosthp · 10-12-2008, 09:44 AM

Here is my experience, so take it for what its worth. This last summer, I bought an 09 Sportster Custom. Just took my first road trip on it a couple of weeks ago. The vibration on the Sporty got to me for the first 100 miles. After that, I didn't notice it too much. After that trip, I gave serious thought to finding a bike that fit me better. I am 6'4" and about 220. I wanted to change the handlebars on the Sporty and the seat. Considering the cost of doing this, I wanted to look at a bigger bike. The price of upgrading the Sporty was going to put me in the price range of a Dyna anyway. To make a long story short, I took the plunge yesterday and traded my Sporty in on a Street Bob. I drove the Sporty 50 miles to the dealership on the interstate (70 mph) for about 35 of the 50 miles) and just like on my rode trip a couple of weeks ago (200 miles on the interstate) I was getting blown all over my lane because of the wind from passing cars and was getting pretty beaten up from the Sporty's light suspension. On the ride home on my new Street Bob, I noticed a world of difference. No more being blown around and the shocks are much better. I found it to be a much smoother ride at higher speeds, including the vibration.

Just my two cents. YMMV.

E

ChromeWelder · 10-12-2008, 10:19 AM

Jarrett...

Your experiance seems to be a bit out of the norm for vibration?

You'll get a lot more motorcycle for the money if you go with a Road King, but if you're looking for an FX so be it. I really don't recommend the Sportster. Nothing against Sportster owners, but it seems as though they are starter or transition bikes. It will cost you dearly to move up to a big twin.

You might also consider going with the "B" motor or the Softail line?
My experiance is that they don't vibrate, rather that they "buzz" when operated north of 3,500 rpm. I have hand tingling/nerve issues as well, and I prefer the "A" motor over the "B"/buzz motor.

Good luck to you....keep us posted on what you decide.

murphdog · 10-12-2008, 02:05 PM

GJarrett, I rode that very same FXDC yesterday and it vibrated much less than my own '07 FXDC. Mine is pretty buzzy between 2800-3200 rpm. As Splatter mentioned, there can be a lot of variation from one Dyna to the next regarding vibration and I thought the one Greenville Harley had yesterday was one of the good ones. I've ridden quite a few '06 and newer Dynas and, vibrationwise, most of them were comparable to that one .
The bike actually ran very good. It had aftermarket mufflers and stock air cleaner, so I'm guessing it didn't have a stage 1 flash. I'm not sure what mufflers it had on it, but they sounded good and they weren't the SE street legal ones.
I also rode the Sportster and was impressed with the lack of vibration and the power. It also had aftermarket mufflers and stock air cleaner.
The Rocker sucked; hard seat, hard rear suspension, no power.
The V-Rod muscle was uncomfortable as all get out with those handlebars and forward controls, but the power was quite impressive if you whacked the throttle at 5000 rpms.

tguil · 10-12-2008, 02:32 PM

I have both a 1200 Sportster (1995) and a Super Glide (2002). When I first rode the Super Glide, my first thought was, "This darn thing vibrates as much as my solid mount Sportster". Going back and forth between both bikes, I feel that the solid mount Sportster does vibrate more, but not a heck of a lot. I think that if vibration is a major issue for you, you should look into a touring bike or a Softail.

I have Harley's cushioned grips on the Sportster and they help some. I also wear gel-cushioned gloves.

I've done extensive "one up" touring on both bikes. The Sportster has a small sport windshield and the Super Glide has a detachable windshield. I'm not a saddle bag kind of guy, so for touring I using a T-bag attached to the sissy bar.

Good luck.

Tom

DavidH · 10-12-2008, 04:45 PM

I have a 2008 FXDC. I also have nerve issues in both hands. When I first got the bike I thought that it vibrated quite a bit but it's a Harley and it's gonna vibrate. I got used to it and don't even notice it any more and I suspect you will too. My previous bike was a GSXR 1100 and it was so fast I had no time to notice if it vibrated or not.