Best handling Harley-Davidson?

**kiwifruit** · 30th November 2011, 20:13

Can those of you who have ridden lots of different HD models fill me in on handling differences? Do the soft tails handle as well as the twin shock models?

Looking at a 15-20k budget. TC88 or 96. Night train, wide glide, super glide, street bob... that sort of thing. Not a vrod, or a sporty.

My watch list:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=402804149
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=373872903
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=424482405
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=428076845
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=428052976
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=428043865
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=428043863
amongst others

Yes, I know I should ride them all and see. I will. In the mean time, lets have your thoughts.

*The best "harleys are gay / harleys suck / harleys are slow / harleys, handle, lol / i hate harleys author will be awarded one (1) gentle pat on the head.

**riffer** · 30th November 2011, 20:15

Have you got a problem with Softails?

I reckon they hand better than any of those Dynas you've linked to...

**riffer** · 30th November 2011, 20:18

I know you don't like Sportys but I have to tell you the XR1200 is the best damn handling Harley I ever rode.

Followed by a number of Softails.

Except the Heritage Softail. Handled like a bag of sloppy arseholes.

**kiwifruit** · 30th November 2011, 20:20

Originally Posted by riffer

Have you got a problem with Softails?

I reckon they hand better than any of those Dynas you've linked to...

Not at all! I've heard they don't handle as well as the dynas.

Yeah, I really like the sportster's handling but i want more harley, if that makes sense?

**scumdog** · 30th November 2011, 20:21

No problems with my Dyna T-Sport, that model would be one of the better handling of the 'big' models - and can be improved..

Only they don't make them anymore.

**Subike** · 30th November 2011, 20:24

Originally Posted by scumdog

No problems with my Dyna T-Sport, that model would be one of the better handling of the 'big' models - and can be improved..

Only they don't make them anymore.

Hey scummy, you dont ride it fast enough to tests its limits

**scumdog** · 30th November 2011, 20:27

Originally Posted by Subike

Hey scummy, you dont ride it fast enough to tests its limits

You'll keep!

But Dangerous fanged it pretty quick around some corners and scraped bit I didn't know COULD be scraped - and didn't complain about the handling.

**jrandom** · 30th November 2011, 20:36

Harleys all handle sweet as bro, just get the best looking one

**doc** · 30th November 2011, 20:39

Originally Posted by scumdog

No problems with my Dyna T-Sport, that model would be one of the better handling of the 'big' models - and can be improved..

Only they don't make them anymore.

Surely with a little coin you can after market stuff to improve a dyna . What does HD "Squarking Budgie" have available nowdays ?

**Subike** · 30th November 2011, 20:44

true scumy , they do tend to touch down when ridden hard.
Haven ridden a few of the early evos in the late 80"s
they were rather forgiving once you got use to them.
Ok, I thrashed around on a sportster most of the time
but did get the opportunity to try out a few 1340;s ( biggest available then)
I think it was an FXR Sport, had twin disc front, which I enjoyed the most.
Plenty of ground clearance, and at the time reasonable power
I dont know what that model has mouldered into now,
But I would think it would have been an improvement, and once tammed, a great ride

**doc** · 30th November 2011, 20:49

Fxr is still probably the best handling bigblock (Triangular frame in all) But I think the Fruity one is looking for something less antique

**kiwifruit** · 30th November 2011, 20:52

Originally Posted by doc

I think the Fruity one is looking for something less antique

Correct. Gotta be a twin cam 88 or a twin cam 96.

**scumdog** · 30th November 2011, 21:00

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

Correct. Gotta be a twin cam 88 or a twin cam 96.

Have a look at a FXDX or FXDXT in that case, preferably later than 2000.

**kiwifruit** · 30th November 2011, 21:03

Originally Posted by scumdog

Have a look at a FXDX or FXDXT in that case, preferably later than 2000.

Thanks, I'll add those models to the list. Hadn't really looked at them because of the screen ensemble but that could be changed.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-426725546.htm

EDIT FXDX is the superglide... that's the one i like the look of most. That and the FXDWG. Still learning the model names!

**scumdog** · 30th November 2011, 21:06

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

Thanks, I'll add those models to the list. Hadn't really looked at them because of the screen ensemble but that could be changed.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-426725546.htm

If you buy one and decide you don't want the screen I know somebody who does!

Oh, and that stupid wrap needs ripped off that bike 'zorst and the dorky bars replaced with flatter ones IMHO..