Handling of WG vs narrow front ends. : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

sgott · 10-16-2004, 11:11 PM

I'm coming out of a 96 1200C & plan on pulling the trigger on the WG this week.

A number of people have told me that the wide front end does not handle as well as the narrow front ends. Are these people just jealous that they don't have a WG, or is there some truth to this? If so.. what are the differences and are they big enough to reconsider?

njmako · 10-17-2004, 12:01 AM

I had a 1200c and now have a 04 WG I did stop riding for about 5 years inbetween so i notice no difference. The sportster is a smaller and lighter bike so i would think it can out handle the WG which is bigger.. IMHO I think there just wishing they were getting one... Its a much nicer bike in many ways...

Topsail · 10-17-2004, 08:40 AM

The narrow glides do handle better; more responsive. It's not a day / night thing, but the narrow glides are better on the twisties imo.

I think most people just like the look of the big wide glide front ends and most people that buy H-Ds are cruisers, so no big deal..

sven · 10-17-2004, 03:46 PM

Yes a narrow glide handles better, or have you seen a buell with wide fork or a Hayabusa with a wide fork latley? However, you will never ride your HD as you would ride a japanese bike - so you do not have to care about that. ;-)

Sven

GrayRider · 10-17-2004, 04:42 PM

There's more to it than just the width. The WG has 4 degrees more rake (WG2 & WG3 have 6 degrees more) and a much narrower, 21" front tire as opposed to an 18" on the FXD.

sgott · 10-17-2004, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrayRider

There's more to it than just the width. The WG has 4 degrees more rake (WG2 & WG3 have 6 degrees more) and a much narrower, 21" front tire as opposed to an 18" on the FXD.

I am basically riding around town, in traffic or out on the open road. I am not doing any aggresive knee scraping riding. Will a guy like me see any difference?

tequacha · 10-17-2004, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrayRider

There's more to it than just the width. The WG has 4 degrees more rake (WG2 & WG3 have 6 degrees more) and a much narrower, 21" front tire as opposed to an 18" on the FXD.

A wide glide is just a hair slower in response and a narrower tire is more apt to track in rain grooves and such. when did they put 18s 0n fxs?

GrayRider · 10-17-2004, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgott

I am basically riding around town, in traffic or out on the open road. I am not doing any aggresive knee scraping riding. Will a guy like me see any difference?

I have a WG3 and a RK Custom. The raked WG is best at cruising speeds and can be pretty floppy at slower speeds and around town. Does the best in a straight line. The RK handles very well in tight spots.

GrayRider · 10-17-2004, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tequacha

A wide glide is just a hair slower in response and a narrower tire is more apt to track in rain grooves and such. when did they put 18s 0n fxs?

Sorry. 19.

JRA · 10-17-2004, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgott

I am basically riding around town, in traffic or out on the open road. I am not doing any aggresive knee scraping riding. Will a guy like me see any difference?

SGOTT, I went from a 90 883 Sportster to an 04 WG, I never test rode the WG and was expecting a big difference, not so. A few times around the parking lot, a couple figure 8's and I was adjusted, hit the road and never thought about it again. So in answer to your question; yes, the Sportster does handle better, but, man you will love the WG for the looks and the way it handles!

RevJim · 10-19-2004, 06:54 PM

I went from an 85 SuperGlide to an 02 Wide Glide. First thing I noticed was that the front wheel has a tendency to turn in on itself when making sharp turns. (It wants to make a tighter turn) Once you know that you will be fine. And it is a little more wooble at real slow speeds. On the straight aways it is just great.
I just love the look of the wideglide front end.