I remember when development of the (then) new Milwaukee 8 was being discussed something to the effect that it would have been too smooth and so Harley build in vibration to make the engine feel more typical V-Twin.

I recently came into my new-to-me 2018 FLFBS, the 114 w/1800 miles. It's like new. I'm pretty sensitive to vibrations, I notice plenty of vibration. It doesn't seem to be any malfunction. I suspect it is built in. It is more vibration than I would have asked for if I were building vibration into the design.

I don't know if the Softtail engine is a balanced engine like the Twin Cam B used to be, or if it is the same M8 that is in the Touring models.

I do know that the vibration in the Twin Cam engine used to smooth out at speed. The vibration I'm feeling is constant. It doesn't smooth out at speed.

Does anyone else notice more vibration than they would have preferred? Is there anything else or any tuning that could minimize normal vibration?

 

The softails are twin balanced but hard mounted to the frame.

I've ridden all the newest softail and touring models back to back countless times and I can tell you affirmatively that the softails vibrate more than touring. Every softail model... Very noticeable in the floorboards and handlebars.

Like you've experienced, it just gets worse the faster you go too. Like high frequency hand numbing vibration.

I'm not trying to hate on Softails - they're pretty great - but, yeah, I think they vibrate a bunch.

 

The only place I get significant vibration on my 2018 RGU is the footboards. Above idle, the handlebars are very smooth all the way up to 5krpm. The footboards, however, do vibrate. It is never intrusive. I have to think about it to notice it.

 

Harleys vibrate...if you don't like that much vibration, then you know what to do...

 

FFS these are Harley Davidson motorcycles people, not Toyotas!

 

Finally, someone else has noticed the vibrations. I have searched this forum looking for comments about M8 vibrations.

I traded a 103 twin cam Road King I had for nine years for a 2020 Street Glide with the 107 M8 last November. I have 1,000 miles on it now, riding when weather and conditions allow. There is definitely more overall vibration with the M8 than the twin cam. The twin cam would convulse like a paint shaker at idle, but any running speed greater than 2K RPM and it was smooth. The M8 vibrates less at idle, but the vibration is more offensive than the twin cam idle. The M8 vibrations seem to vary with rev range. It's especially bad at about 2,500 RPM. I also feel the vibrations through the floorboards, especially when accelerating. Ironically, I think it's the counterbalancer that's causing the vibrations.

 

 

My bike is a goldilocks bike... she's just right!

 

One reason I loved my Vulcans and resisted a Harley for years was for the rumored “vibrations “ as my Vulcans were smooth as silk. But I can happily say after three years on a TC & M8 I feel no vibration at all and very comfortable.

 

I would consider my M8 pretty well vibration free after coming off my Sportster. Actually traded bikes with a buddy who has a Victory for a few miles one ride and my M8 had less vibration than the Victory,