Dyna- comfortable?
#21
#22
RE: Dyna- comfortable?
I rode out to Sturgis last year on my 2005 FXDI, Stock seat and forward controls. We rode 4 days 400-500 miles a day. By the third day I did stop at HD and I bought a windshield.
I have done many 300-400 mile days without a problem.
However I also did close to 600 miles, in a day, on a 2004 Sportster.
I find the bike to be very comfortable but I will most likely be picking up a Mustang seat for my bike at Americade this summer.
All in all I am very happy with my FXDI.
I have done many 300-400 mile days without a problem.
However I also did close to 600 miles, in a day, on a 2004 Sportster.
I find the bike to be very comfortable but I will most likely be picking up a Mustang seat for my bike at Americade this summer.
All in all I am very happy with my FXDI.
#23
#24
RE: Dyna- comfortable?
I traded a Gold Wing on my Wide Glide and although I have a lot of wind buffeting compared to the Wing, the ride is really comfortable. I have had the Glide for 3 weeks and have put 1200 miles on it with no ill effects.
I rented a Heritage Softail last year and put 1000 miles on it in 3 days. It was smooth, had plenty of power and was generally a very good ride. That is what clinched my trading to Harley.
Find one that you like the looks of and rent it for a day or two. Make sure you ride it the way that you are likely to ride the bike you buy. That is, if you make long trips, make sure you get some time in the saddle. If you commute on a bike, do that. If you cruise from one dealer to another and spend a lot of time standing and talking and looking at the bike, do that.
This way you will find out if the bike it right for the kind of riding that you are likely to do.
I rented a Heritage Softail last year and put 1000 miles on it in 3 days. It was smooth, had plenty of power and was generally a very good ride. That is what clinched my trading to Harley.
Find one that you like the looks of and rent it for a day or two. Make sure you ride it the way that you are likely to ride the bike you buy. That is, if you make long trips, make sure you get some time in the saddle. If you commute on a bike, do that. If you cruise from one dealer to another and spend a lot of time standing and talking and looking at the bike, do that.
This way you will find out if the bike it right for the kind of riding that you are likely to do.
#26
RE: Dyna- comfortable?
I have back problems too, and just about nothing fits me perfectly - but one great thing about Harleys is that absolutely everyone makes aftermarket seats, pegs, bars, you-name-it for them. I got a Mustang seat with driver backrest, pullback bars and forward controls with floorboards, and I can out-sit the bike's fuel supply now.
The Roadliner is an impressive bike and will leave even a fairly modified Harley in the dust. If you want to ride a cruiser but try to keep up with buddies on plastic sportbikes, it's a good choice, with the aluminum frame, kick-*** motor, etc. if you can stomach the styling (and the midnight looks best, because the black paint on the headlight makes it look less like a 20gallon chrome bucket). But if the 'Liner fits you comfortably, you must be one very large guy. To me it felt like the bars were about 10 feet wide, the tank forced a gynecological-exam posture, and the whole thing felt like it was designed for Shaq to put around on.
My '06 FXDI was the stripper loss-leader, but about $2k of extras later, it's very comfortable and functional. The new frame may not be light, but it's strong; the 6-speed shifts really well, the fork tubes are the size of tree trunks, and a few accessories later, there's not another bike in the country that's exactly like mine. Since the Roadliner is a new model and won't sell in nearly the numbers the Dyna does, you will be limited in the range of accessories and parts that work with it, just as you are with your Volusia. And the Dyna won't go out of style, because it already did 30 years ago. All the swoopy art-deco chrome stuff and Madonna-bra turnsignals and headlight-the-size-of-Idaho on the 'Liner may look different and cool now, but your resale value will depend in large part on people thinking it's cool 5 years from now. Reminds me of the Chrysler products of the 60's with their "rocket-ship" styling. They looked cool and innovative then. Now they just look hideous and overdone.
I have had more Yamahas than I have fingers, and of all the Jap cruiser makers, they come closest to "getting it" and their build quality is very, very good. But so is Harley's, and they are the original, genuine item. The Dyna is the screaming deal of the Harley line right now, with all the new stuff and a lower price than the other models that haven't been redesigned and don't function as well. You really can't go wrong with one, just don't challenge your sportbike buddies on canyon roads because the resale value does go down when you wrap a Dyna around a big ol' tree.
The Roadliner is an impressive bike and will leave even a fairly modified Harley in the dust. If you want to ride a cruiser but try to keep up with buddies on plastic sportbikes, it's a good choice, with the aluminum frame, kick-*** motor, etc. if you can stomach the styling (and the midnight looks best, because the black paint on the headlight makes it look less like a 20gallon chrome bucket). But if the 'Liner fits you comfortably, you must be one very large guy. To me it felt like the bars were about 10 feet wide, the tank forced a gynecological-exam posture, and the whole thing felt like it was designed for Shaq to put around on.
My '06 FXDI was the stripper loss-leader, but about $2k of extras later, it's very comfortable and functional. The new frame may not be light, but it's strong; the 6-speed shifts really well, the fork tubes are the size of tree trunks, and a few accessories later, there's not another bike in the country that's exactly like mine. Since the Roadliner is a new model and won't sell in nearly the numbers the Dyna does, you will be limited in the range of accessories and parts that work with it, just as you are with your Volusia. And the Dyna won't go out of style, because it already did 30 years ago. All the swoopy art-deco chrome stuff and Madonna-bra turnsignals and headlight-the-size-of-Idaho on the 'Liner may look different and cool now, but your resale value will depend in large part on people thinking it's cool 5 years from now. Reminds me of the Chrysler products of the 60's with their "rocket-ship" styling. They looked cool and innovative then. Now they just look hideous and overdone.
I have had more Yamahas than I have fingers, and of all the Jap cruiser makers, they come closest to "getting it" and their build quality is very, very good. But so is Harley's, and they are the original, genuine item. The Dyna is the screaming deal of the Harley line right now, with all the new stuff and a lower price than the other models that haven't been redesigned and don't function as well. You really can't go wrong with one, just don't challenge your sportbike buddies on canyon roads because the resale value does go down when you wrap a Dyna around a big ol' tree.
#27
RE: Dyna- comfortable?
ORIGINAL: veniculum
I think the most important thing to understand...and I can say this because I came from owning a V-star 1100 and a Shadow Ace 750...is that as good as you think the metrics are, you pay all that money for a harley because there really is a difference. And I'm not saying, it's because you're "paying for a name"...I didn't understand until I bought my Wide Glide. I always thought my Yamaha was pretty cool. It wasn't until I sold it and bought a Harley that I realized the difference...and that is...there's no plastic on my harley..and when it's running, you really know it's running. It's heavy and feels powerful... and it sounds only like a "harley". Bottom line is, the metrics are fine...and they are definitely making some nice looking bikes nowadays. But until you ride/own a harley, you'll always want something else. I've reached the promised land...and I aint never lookin back!
Oh, and btw...the cool dudes pick the low riders..but it's the coolest guys that own Wide Glides
Todd
I think the most important thing to understand...and I can say this because I came from owning a V-star 1100 and a Shadow Ace 750...is that as good as you think the metrics are, you pay all that money for a harley because there really is a difference. And I'm not saying, it's because you're "paying for a name"...I didn't understand until I bought my Wide Glide. I always thought my Yamaha was pretty cool. It wasn't until I sold it and bought a Harley that I realized the difference...and that is...there's no plastic on my harley..and when it's running, you really know it's running. It's heavy and feels powerful... and it sounds only like a "harley". Bottom line is, the metrics are fine...and they are definitely making some nice looking bikes nowadays. But until you ride/own a harley, you'll always want something else. I've reached the promised land...and I aint never lookin back!
Oh, and btw...the cool dudes pick the low riders..but it's the coolest guys that own Wide Glides
Todd
The cool dudes pick the wide glides.. but it's the coolest guys that own low riders![sm=shades.gif] See todd that's how it goes[sm=smarty.gif]
Good luck with your search!!
#29
RE: Dyna- comfortable?
I think your height is an important factor. My friends that aren't as tall as me (6 ft.) are not comfortable with the forward controls or the distance to the ground on my wide glide. I wouldn't have it any other way. I love the forward controls. When I am stopped I can bend my knees slightly and reach the ground comfortably.
#30
RE: Dyna- comfortable?
As an owner of a 2006 St Bob I will say as a driver the ride is ok. Had a 2002 sportster before and did not enjoy the ride at 65mph.
BUT my wife who has had back surgery could ride on the back of the sportster but can not last 10 miles on the back of the new St Bob which is a Dyna.(of course I have installed a two up sundowner seat on the 2006 dyna) she is not rideing the fender.
I have talked to other 2006 Dyna riders and the ones that have passangers say the same.
See the test ride fron NY to milwaukee in the Jan 2006 cycle world issue. The test rides wife commeted that the 2006 Dyna did not like me back there. (page 44) of Cycle World Jan 2006.
If you ride alone you will be OK.
BUT my wife who has had back surgery could ride on the back of the sportster but can not last 10 miles on the back of the new St Bob which is a Dyna.(of course I have installed a two up sundowner seat on the 2006 dyna) she is not rideing the fender.
I have talked to other 2006 Dyna riders and the ones that have passangers say the same.
See the test ride fron NY to milwaukee in the Jan 2006 cycle world issue. The test rides wife commeted that the 2006 Dyna did not like me back there. (page 44) of Cycle World Jan 2006.
If you ride alone you will be OK.