this should clear up any remaining questions you may have about softail frames http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/61...scription.html

 

Interesting article about HD chassis development while Erik Buell was working there:

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buel...817/14773.html

"Having a national-caliber road racer behind the bars of some big cruisers resulted in some stress tests the original H-D designers likely hadn't envisioned "We'd ride those bikes, and they'd be just flexed into a pretzel," laughed Buell at the memory."

 

There go that design

 

rubber mounted bikes have the swingarm mounted to the back of the motor/trans, to keep the belt tension and alignment right. Since they can't do that with the softail, because it would totally change the geometry and look, they had to keep it solid mounted. They only balanced it, so that softail owners would'nt cry about it, when other bikes got rubber mounted to reduce vibration.

 

i forgot that, buti beleive yourcorrect but if iremember it does pose another problem with primary sprocket, clutchor transmision that they had to problem shoot and limits the amount of torque it can hold I beleive its around 120 but who uses that most much on a regular basis but it would be fun. I still believe the best frame from the factory was the fxrs frame. It would be cool if they brought it back for another run

 

Have to agree, and agree again on this comment

Dynas are the best bang for the buck, the fastest stock Harley, the best handling of the bigtwins, and probably the most fun to spent tons of money on. Baggers may have a softer ride, cause they be heavier.

DougJ

 

It's not the weight - it's the air suspension. Pure heaven compared to the typical spring-over-strut.