Hello everyone. I am looking for a little input here. I currently own a 07 fatboy. Great bike with the exception of the handle bar"forks?" being out a line. Seems to match the same issue others have posted on this site.

So here is the situation. The handle bar drives me nuts. So I went to the local dealer and while I waited for a service guy I walked the sales floor. I stumbled upon a 1998 heritage springer softail 95th edition. It has to be one of the nicest bikes I have ever been able to sit on.

I love both bikes. I am really leaning toward selling my fatboy and buying the springer. However, this fatboy is the only harley I have owned and rode. So I have no idea what to expect from the springer or what to look for. I know the motor is smaller and carb instead of injected, 5 speed instead of 6, and of coarse the springer front. Am I going to see a big difference with the springer in these areas or something I did not list.

I am just trying to make a good choice here. These damn harleys are addictive and this springer just screams buy me. I just dont want to walk away from my fatboy and regret it later with the ride quality or power.

Thanks for any input.

 

Hey man, welcome to the forum! Will they let you test ride the springer? If so I would recommend that so you can get the feel for it before you make a decision. But what I have found from my own personal experience as well as others, is that if you really fall in love with a bike, you are always going to wonder if you should have gotten it.

 

The 98 springer has soul.The twinky doesn't.

 

Twinky? LOL now thats funny. Never heard a fatboy called that. Thanks for the laugh.

Thanks for the welcome. I have lurked in the shadows since I bought the bike. Just never signed up since I can't really offer any advise to the questions.

Yea it has soul and it surely is drop dead gorgeous.

Two issues with my "twinky" that I have never been able to change and be happy with. The handle bars being out of line like I stated before and the sound. My father in laws 81 1000 iron head has a mean sound compared to mine. I have tried V&H and Rush slip ons. Rush being on it now. Sounded ok but not loud enough. Took the baffles out, removed the fiber glass and then put the baffles back. Still not the sound I want. I know the right way to do it is K&N filter, fuel pak, and a full exhaust system. But I just want to make sure I have the bike I will keep before investing that kind of money.

Something to add to my orig question. Is it me or does the 98 springer have a different exhaust sound than mine? They were not able to get the springer outside the day I was there for me to hear it. But I did some looking on the net and found some recordings. Looked to be the same bike in the video and had a more traditional harley sound. Of coarse the recording wasnt great. I will be at the dealer in the morning to beg for a test drive. Will update this thread with my results.

Again thanks for the input. This is why I love this site.

 

Test drive the springer!!!
Teamster

 

The "twinky" comment is in reference to the twin cam and not just the fact that it's a fat boy. Any twin cam can be called a twinky. I agree that if the heritage really grabs you then at least take it for a good ride and see what you think. As you said, it can become an addiction and don't buy another bike if you aren't sure about it. As far as mods and getting the sound you want, I would think it would be cheaper to get there with the abundance of parts available for the evo motors on top of the fact that all you have to do is change the jets in the carb if you put pipes, breather or whatever on vs. A fuel management system and dyno tune with the fuel injection. Let us know what you decide and why you decided and get some pics up.

 

Once you go Springer......You will never go back.....They are addictive....Just click my signature

It's the Springer that has soul......

 

Like james said I was referring to a twin cam motor.I never had an Evo motor until the BB.I went straight from 67 Shovel to 05 Night Train.Love the Train but always missed the Shovel.The older bikes talk to you thru vibrations and such.You might think I'm crazy but guaranteed I'm not alone here.The Springer ride is much more enjoyable to me even with only limited miles compared to the 49k that's on the NT.
Wish I had tried a springer before now,hell wish I tried an Evo motor BT before I jumped on a new TC.Could have saved some money for sure.I do most all my own work and I'm limited to what I can do with the newer bike.Just some things to think about.

 

Well put. We will see how it goes in the morning I hope. Im excited to get into an older style bike. The new ones are real nice but feel refined. Like when I sold my old Camaro and bought our caddy. The caddy is one sweet ride but damn if I dont miss the sound, raw power, and "ruff" feel. I knew I was driving a car. I think that is what you were saying about feeling the bike. And that is what I want. I will of coarse post some news and pics if it all works out. Selling my fatboy is not a hard chore this time of year. I have already received several calls just from friends wanting it. So maybe I wont have to take a hit as a trade in. Thats one thing about a Harley, they sale themselves.

 

I hope this helps, but the only way you are going to know is to ride the Heritage...I have an 09 X bones, before that a 1200XL. My friend has a 08 Wideglide and a 93 Heritage. I had never ridden with a windshield so my friend let me ride is 93 Heritage. His 93 is bone stock, it was a special edition called the CowGlide or MooGlide. Any ways I rode it, from my ride it has much less power than my 09, which is to be expected. I'm sure with some mods it would wake up just fine. The tranny was very loud while shifting, but besides that it was very easy to ride. The biggest thing to me was the power, but this can be fixed

Springer front end - you'll love it