Choosing the Right Harley-Davidson Dyna

By Brett Foote - October 26, 2017

H-D Forum member seeks the perfect Dyna model, and as usual, plenty of fellow enthusiasts are ready with solid recommendations.

The Harley-Davidson Dyna family has remained quite popular among enthusiasts. Armed with big-twin engines and traditional styling, the Dyna umbrella has covered everything from the FXDB Sturgis to the Fat Bob.

Much to the chagrin of fans, however, the Dyna platform was discontinued for 2018, with some models folded into the Softail lineup. But that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about them.

While the loss of the Dyna still stings a little, enthusiasts can still get their hands on one. But of the many models available, making the choice can be a little difficult. So, what better place to figure out which Harley Dyna is right for you than in the H-D Forums? Here you’ve got thousands of experienced bikers who have ridden pretty much everything under the sun. So that’s exactly what forum member blackeg84 did when he considered downsizing from a bagger.

“I am considering getting rid of the ’17 RGU and downsizing to a Dyna. I’ve only owned and ridden baggers. I even learned on a Road King…lol. Have always loved Dynas and think it might be better suited for my current lifestyle. I ride fast, hard, and some days as much as 1,000 miles. I’m learning towards a 2002 Switch Blade. I love how rare they are as well as the look. Or maybe a Fat Bob or Super Sport. I’ve read they have great handling and braking in comparison to some Dynas.”

As you might imagine, plenty of folks have their opinions as to which Dyna is best. And while some consider them to be very much alike, others point out some stark differences.

“1,000 miles is a damn long haul on a Dyna. The Switchback might get it done, but any of the others will need some comfort mods,” says cggorman.

Quite a few people also point out that riding 1,000 miles in a day isn’t exactly something most people do on a regular basis. Regardless, k-weaver offers some relevant tips (derived from personal experience) for the OP.

“Doing 90+ on a Dyna for an extended period is not easy. You turn into a parachute. A fairing can fix this but I’m not sure if that is what you’re after (looks wise). Wind at this speed will also toss the bike around more vs a bagger (due to weight). Doing this on a Dyna is possible (trust me on this one ), but the bike needs to be setup for it and you need to be conditioned and ready.

The Fat Bob does have better braking compared to some other Dynas. This is due to the dual disc brakes. If you end up getting something with a single disc, you’ll instantly notice a lack of braking power compared to your bagger. There are options to help with this, just something to keep in mind.

IMO…you want a Dyna to ride fast and hard out of the box, get a Low Rider S, FXDX, or something that someone else has put a bunch of money into. Otherwise, whatever you get you’ll need to put money into suspension at the very least.”

A couple of folks also point out that the bike the OP is looking for might be the one he already has. With the right upgrades, of course. After all, baggers are designed to ride long distances. And they can be made to handle. Maybe not to the point where you’re carving corners like a pro, but at least competently.

“Save for a Dyna on the side,” suggests Dynaglide92.“Your bagger does exactly what you’re looking for, but the payoff is the weight that comes with it. I recommend looking into upgrading your suspension with premium components (not Harley’s “premium” suspension). You’d be surprised at how baggers respond with upgraded suspensions. That is, if you use them to their fullest capability, which not everyone does.”

So it would seem in the OP’s case that hanging onto his current bagger and adding a used Dyna might be the best course of action. Regardless, there’s no denying the fact that a Dyna is a fun alternative to heavier bikes. But we want to know what you think. Head over here and chime in with your Dyna recommendations!