Dyna's ride smoother than softails? : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

rlabutis · 09-26-2005, 09:49 PM

I have heard from some people that there is nothing soft about softails and the dyna's ride smoother than the softails.
Is there any truth/facts to this?

AustinFXDWG · 09-26-2005, 10:28 PM

Yes, it is true. The Dyna has greater rear suspension travel than a softail. The position of the Dyna shocks also makes it very easy to adjust the rear preload for carrying a passenger, or bags. On a softail, the shocks are under the motor and difficult to adjust without putting the bike on a lift table.

The Tourist · 09-26-2005, 10:43 PM

No question about it, the Dyna is smoother, even though I have it set firm for my wife and I.

But to be fair, the Soft-Tail is a design exercize to make the bike look like the old hardtail. And it succeeds. It's also a tad lower. There are numerous seats that help the individual rider.

stratslingr77 · 09-27-2005, 02:19 AM

Having owned both a Softail Standard and a Super-Glide, I'm going to pipe in by saying that while, yes, the Dyna is a little smoother, it's not by much. Neither suspension setups offer much travel and the stock shocks and fork springs are awful. Notice how easily the fork dives when you hit the front brake. The rear end on both my Dyna and Softail bottomed out way too easily as well. I would be curious to try the FXDX, though.

nidan · 09-27-2005, 06:28 AM

I rode all the 06 softails at Club Hog ( the line was always the shortest) and I found a number of them to be quite smooth . I'm on my second Dyna, my FXDX wasn't any smoother riding than the softails, my wideglide is a bit smoother than some . I think the Dyna's handle better , I've ridden all the models.

Of the softails ,the Deuce was very smooth and balanced, the Heritage was quite plush , I'm sure the 16" helped .

58GT · 10-01-2005, 04:42 PM

Take the time to dial in the FXDX susp and you can get a fine ridin' fine handlin' ride. Both forks and shox on the X are premium quality items and as good as anything else out there. Once they've got 3000 miles on from new they need re-setting to get the best ride.

buckanddot · 10-02-2005, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 58GT

Take the time to dial in the FXDX susp and you can get a fine ridin' fine handlin' ride. Both forks and shox on the X are premium quality items and as good as anything else out there. Once they've got 3000 miles on from new they need re-setting to get the best ride.

I agree...my OL still prefers the ride on the FXDXT over that of my Road King. Its too bad they took the adjustable forks off the later years FXDX. Friend of mine that works in R&D at Harley said people never used em. Same reason they quit makin the FXDXT and the FXDX(even tho wille G. himself said they were the best handling bikes Harley ever produced.) Most Harley riders care more about looks than performance and ride.I adjust mine all the time depending on load and never bottom out even two-up and loaded with a t-bag.If you don't readjust when ridin solo, she'll buck like a bronco over any and all bumps. Tune em down and she's smooth as silk. Unfortuately the rest of the Dyna line gets a pretty mushy P.O.S. stock rear shock and too light of fork oil to really realize the bikes potential. Changing one or both usually makes a world of a difference.

Player · 10-03-2005, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckanddot

I agree...my OL still prefers the ride on the FXDXT over that of my Road King. Its too bad they took the adjustable forks off the later years FXDX. Friend of mine that works in R&D at Harley said people never used em. Same reason they quit makin the FXDXT and the FXDX(even tho wille G. himself said they were the best handling bikes Harley ever produced.) Most Harley riders care more about looks than performance and ride.I adjust mine all the time depending on load and never bottom out even two-up and loaded with a t-bag.If you don't readjust when ridin solo, she'll buck like a bronco over any and all bumps. Tune em down and she's smooth as silk. Unfortuately the rest of the Dyna line gets a pretty mushy P.O.S. stock rear shock and too light of fork oil to really realize the bikes potential. Changing one or both usually makes a world of a difference.

That was my experience exactly. My stock FXD was mushy and bottomed-out over bumps. It amazed me that Harley set the bikes up this way from the factory. To me, it was unrideable. I put on a set of FXDX shocks, and filled the forks with SE heavy fork oil and now she rides and handles great. Looks are important with a Harley, but when a stock bike handles that poorly, looks aren't enough.