Can a dyna be a comfortable bike for touring?

A question that I get asked the most by people who are interested in a Dyna is; "Is it comfortable for riding long distances, like for touring?" Well, this involves so many things. You almost have to narrow it down to what type of long distance touring, what you are carrying with you, if you are riding solo or two-up, and how you fit the bike or how the bike fits you. There are several different Dyna models and they even vary in stock configuration depending on the year. But for the most part my opinions apply in some ways to all of them.

The Dynas are really fine riding and handling bikes in general. The key to long distance riding is having a bike that fit’s you well. But because of the differences in people’s height, weight, arm reach, leg reach, ect. not everyone can roll a stock Dyna off of the showroom floor and feel comfortable traveling long distances on it. But because of the many parts available it can be fit to practically anyone with the right modifications. You would be surprised what an inch or two less reach to the handlebars can do for long haul comfort. A different seat can make a big difference. Forward controls may be necessary for the long legged. Floorboards or highway pegs may be the answer for others. A windshield dramatically relieves the extra body fatigue for the really long rides. I’m not saying that modifications are needed solely for the Dynas either. Many people don’t fit any model perfectly. I am saying that for maximum comfort on any bike for long distance, especially Dynas, it can probably be improved upon to custom tailor it to the individual’s personal comfort level fit. I have found that after making modifications to my bike that I can ride as long and far as my bros on baggers and arrive feeling just as fresh. So, my answer is yes,,,,,,the Dyna is a fine riding machine and it can be as comfortable for long distances as any other Harley model.

I’ll have to give it to the larger baggers for two-up touring. The wider touring seats and the extra room for passengers is hard to match with the smaller Dyna. Not that two-up touring can’t be done on a Dyna; it’s just hard to match the comfort and ride for the passenger. A wider Dyna touring seat does help the passenger seat comfort but it is still a little more cramped feeling, especially for larger people.

Carrying the necessities when touring can be a challenge. But with all the racks, t-bags, sissybar duffel bags, and saddlebags available, you can carry an amazing amount of "stuff" with you. These items that are available can make packing, unpacking, and stabile carrying of these touring necessities a real pleasure compared to the old days of bungee strapping a shaky load of duffle bags to the seat. I find that a sissy bar is almost indispensable for these new types of assorted bags, just for an attachment point if nothing else. Because there is less room for storage on a Dyna, I recommend the largest saddlebags that will fit. The large t-bag style sissybar bags that can mount on a small rack or on the back pillion seat can hold an incredible amount of items. Some even have external D-rings for attaching other items such as jackets or duffel bags or sleeping bags. Everyone has there own thoughts on what works best for them. One thing that I do is to pack everything going into the saddlebags into a waterproof river bag (the kind used for canoeing or kayaking). This way everything stays extra dry and is easy to unload after arriving at the destination. For those trips when you for some reason come back with more than you took, you can unload the contents into the saddlebag and use the river bag to carry the extra stuff strapped to the D-rings on something else. The secret to touring on a Dyna is to pack light and pack tight. By properly utilizing the storage space that I have available with these bags, I can generally carry enough stuff so that I don’t feel too handy-capped over a bagger model.

I guess the bottom line for those who are interested in a Dyna is that it is a very versatile bike and it can be used for anything from bar hopping to touring if you want it to. And if it is not a perfect fit for you from the start, it can be custom tailored for a better fit.