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bike or upgrade

  • boxa
    boxa
    4 years ago
    Bike or  upgrade ,,, Question for you all that have a mechanical aptitude ,,, Right well i keep reading about   the new softails , I have a 2015 low rider ,, now the reports i've read from a lot  talk about the new ones are more comfortable , smoother and  handle better ,
    So I'll put the handling side to bed , I personally have 3 bikes and too be honest   where i consider handling to come to its own is in the hilly twisty stuff , and too be honest  all my bikes   i can only push to  a certain level   lets say the speed limit , so bend says 30klm , i take it at 8o klm  and can do that on all 3 bikes  , and on the dozen or so other bikes i've owned , so to me all modern bikes , handle better than the average guy can ride them anyway . Take the engine out of the equation ,   i just sold a mighty rocket ,  my dyna has a 103 , my other 2 bikes are a 1300 and a650 , and ALL of them had enough power for my needs they can all sit on 120 all day everyday .

    So that brings   the question of  comfortable and smoother ,   so the million dollar question is ,  If  lets say the new softail ,  is more comfortable and smoother ,  given its    gonna be say a ten grand changeover ,  would it be easier to throw a couple of grand at the dyna suspension  , could you get the same smootness and comfort they claim the new softails have
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    4 years ago
    Your chasing a 'subjective claim' so you could throw a 4x2 at it and have someone say it handles better and is more comfortable.
    Obviously good quality shocks matched to the bike, rider and intended bike use will ALWAYS go better than stock generics.  People do loose sight that the frame and engine mounts also are big contributors to ride handling and comfort (look at the FXR which is famous for its great handlin which is pretty much the frame)


  • RossW
    RossW
    4 years ago
    Quoting boxa on 30 Oct 2019 11:24 PM

    Bike or  upgrade ,,, Question for you all that have a mechanical aptitude ,,, Right well i keep reading about   the new softails , I have a 2015 low rider ,, now the reports i've read from a lot  talk about the new ones are more comfortable , smoother and  handle better ,
    So I'll put the handling side to bed , I personally have 3 bikes and too be honest   where i consider handling to come to its own is in the hilly twisty stuff , and too be honest  all my bikes   i can only push to  a certain level   lets say the speed limit , so bend says 30klm , i take it at 8o klm  and can do that on all 3 bikes  , and on the dozen or so other bikes i've owned , so to me all modern bikes , handle better than the average guy can ride them anyway . Take the engine out of the equation ,   i just sold a mighty rocket ,  my dyna has a 103 , my other 2 bikes are a 1300 and a650 , and ALL of them had enough power for my needs they can all sit on 120 all day everyday .

    So that brings   the question of  comfortable and smoother ,   so the million dollar question is ,  If  lets say the new softail ,  is more comfortable and smoother ,  given its    gonna be say a ten grand changeover ,  would it be easier to throw a couple of grand at the dyna suspension  , could you get the same smootness and comfort they claim the new softails have

    My suggestion would be to take one of the M8 softails for a test ride to see for yourself if there is enough improvement to make one worthwhile. I'd start with the M8 Low rider.  There might still be some bargains on 2019 models, or you could try the 2020 Lowrider S.
    I found my local dealer to be pretty generous with demo bikes.
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    4 years ago
    Quoting boxa on 30 Oct 2019 11:24 PM

    Bike or  upgrade ,,, Question for you all that have a mechanical aptitude ,,, Right well i keep reading about   the new softails , I have a 2015 low rider ,, now the reports i've read from a lot  talk about the new ones are more comfortable , smoother and  handle better ,
    So I'll put the handling side to bed , I personally have 3 bikes and too be honest   where i consider handling to come to its own is in the hilly twisty stuff , and too be honest  all my bikes   i can only push to  a certain level   lets say the speed limit , so bend says 30klm , i take it at 8o klm  and can do that on all 3 bikes  , and on the dozen or so other bikes i've owned , so to me all modern bikes , handle better than the average guy can ride them anyway . Take the engine out of the equation ,   i just sold a mighty rocket ,  my dyna has a 103 , my other 2 bikes are a 1300 and a650 , and ALL of them had enough power for my needs they can all sit on 120 all day everyday .

    So that brings   the question of  comfortable and smoother ,   so the million dollar question is ,  If  lets say the new softail ,  is more comfortable and smoother ,  given its    gonna be say a ten grand changeover ,  would it be easier to throw a couple of grand at the dyna suspension  , could you get the same smootness and comfort they claim the new softails have

    Quoting RossW on 31 Oct 2019 02:21 AM

    My suggestion would be to take one of the M8 softails for a test ride to see for yourself if there is enough improvement to make one worthwhile. I'd start with the M8 Low rider.  There might still be some bargains on 2019 models, or you could try the 2020 Lowrider S.

    I found my local dealer to be pretty generous with demo bikes.

    But its an M8!  May as well buy a Honda.
  • leachy
    leachy
    4 years ago
    Hi Boxa,
    I struggled with the same question. Take one for a ride and see what you think, they are smoother due to the balanced engine. I ended up keeping my 2016 Low Rider, its got a Stage 1 setup, so the power is similar to stock 107 and I have changed the rear shocks ($1100), just installed a sputhie engine stabilizer ($300) and about to fit Legend cartridge forks ($1200). At the moment after fitting the front engine stabilizer that made a big improvement to the vibrations around 2000rpm. I bought it new and add a options so probably close to $30K spent now.

    The question is what dont you like about your current bike? Its a big old cruiser not a cutting edge Ducati Panigale or Honda Fireblade 

    Regards
    Leachy
  • RossW
    RossW
    4 years ago
    Quoting boxa on 30 Oct 2019 11:24 PM

    Bike or  upgrade ,,, Question for you all that have a mechanical aptitude ,,, Right well i keep reading about   the new softails , I have a 2015 low rider ,, now the reports i've read from a lot  talk about the new ones are more comfortable , smoother and  handle better ,
    So I'll put the handling side to bed , I personally have 3 bikes and too be honest   where i consider handling to come to its own is in the hilly twisty stuff , and too be honest  all my bikes   i can only push to  a certain level   lets say the speed limit , so bend says 30klm , i take it at 8o klm  and can do that on all 3 bikes  , and on the dozen or so other bikes i've owned , so to me all modern bikes , handle better than the average guy can ride them anyway . Take the engine out of the equation ,   i just sold a mighty rocket ,  my dyna has a 103 , my other 2 bikes are a 1300 and a650 , and ALL of them had enough power for my needs they can all sit on 120 all day everyday .

    So that brings   the question of  comfortable and smoother ,   so the million dollar question is ,  If  lets say the new softail ,  is more comfortable and smoother ,  given its    gonna be say a ten grand changeover ,  would it be easier to throw a couple of grand at the dyna suspension  , could you get the same smootness and comfort they claim the new softails have

    Quoting RossW on 31 Oct 2019 02:21 AM

    My suggestion would be to take one of the M8 softails for a test ride to see for yourself if there is enough improvement to make one worthwhile. I'd start with the M8 Low rider.  There might still be some bargains on 2019 models, or you could try the 2020 Lowrider S.

    I found my local dealer to be pretty generous with demo bikes.

    Quoting tussuck on 31 Oct 2019 03:29 AM

    But its an M8!  May as well buy a Honda.

    Right. Because <Deity> forbid Harley Davidson should make a bike that works properly.
    People said the same thing when the Evo replaced the Shovelhead
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