Harley rear suspensions

[unhinged]

Since Barf loves talking about Harleys. I was curious. It looks like lots/most Harleys have very little rear suspension travel. Like, 2" or less in many cases. Even on their big tour bikes. Other cruiser brands all seem to have more. Less than 4" doesn't make sense for a bike that's supposed to be about comfort. Why do people put up with this?

 

[Ant]

I think we hit our Harley quota for the month. Maybe it's time for a Ducati thread or perhaps something BMW related?

I'll go first:

Why are BMW riders such nice, thoughtful, loveable people?

 

[louemc]

Umm...Harley had a tradition...Hard tail = no travel...and riders that took pride in that.

Then the RUB's came, and Harley made models that looked hard tail, but had shocks underneath. But...shocks or no shocks..we are talkin riders that don't care about such things, and Harley is not about to waste a few cents (or dollars) on a feature that the customer doesn't feel is important.

There will be a customer, now and then that does care...and they can buy working shocks from Works Performance. So ... there is no problem.

 

[Caddywumpus]

the rear suspension on cruisers is generally a weak point. but when you never take a bike off of a smooth paved road...

 

[louemc]

the rear suspension on cruisers is generally a weak point. but when you never take a bike off of a smooth paved road...

Uhh..it doesn't just involve travel...it also involves what happens in damping any travel.

The Harleys aren't called Wobbly Davidson, for nothing.

What State has Smooth paved roads, everywhere you go? Not California.

 

[corndog67]

I think we hit our Harley quota for the month. Maybe it's time for a Ducati thread or perhaps something BMW related?

I'll go first:

Why are BMW riders such nice, thoughtful, loveable people?

How come BMW guys don't wave back?

 

[unhinged]

Well that's the thing... they have so many models and basically every single one has crap suspension? When I was looking at other brands it looked like all of them have 4+" of travel. And some review I saw of Road Glide vs. other bikes was complaining a lot about the harsh ride.

I've never been into cruisers per se although I was sort of forced to learn how to ride on one. (a Kawi 750)

Anyway. So yeah how about them Kawasaki cruisers? Are their riders assholes or?

 

[Caddywumpus]

Well that's the thing... they have so many models and basically every single one has crap suspension? When I was looking at other brands it looked like all of them have 4+" of travel. And some review I saw of Road Glide vs. other bikes was complaining a lot about the harsh ride.

I've never been into cruisers per se although I was sort of forced to learn how to ride on one. (a Kawi 750)

Anyway. So yeah how about them Kawasaki cruisers? Are their riders assholes or?

You ride the KAwk?

I ride a big black Kawk thumper. :thumbup

 

[unhinged]

I did... it was my dad's and he wasn't riding much anymore so I rode it. And it was fun! I thought it was lame because it wasn't a sport bike. Although now that it's gone I kind of appreciate that type of bike more. Compared to a lot of other cruisers it was light and sporty.

 

[Ant]

How come BMW guys don't wave back?

We're not snobs, we wave at everyone. Research has shown that other riders are in such awe of us and their tiny pea brain can't comprehend that we would actually wave back so they assume we didn't and get all butthurt n shit.

 

[Caddywumpus]

I did... it was my dad's and he wasn't riding much anymore so I rode it. And it was fun! I thought it was lame because it wasn't a sport bike. Although now that it's gone I kind of appreciate that type of bike more. Compared to a lot of other cruisers it was light and sporty.

Depends on the cruiser. Most cruisers come standard with extra weight. Find it, remove it, and voila, you suddenly have a very light (mid 400s pounds) bike.

 

[ST Guy]

Harley's are about fashion, not function. Sad but true. The only Harley that was about function was the Buell. And unfortunately, all but the last few years were fitted with breathed on Sportster motors. More sadness. When Buell finally got a decent motor, it didn't take Harley long to pull the plug. More evidence that Harley is about fashion over function.

 

[Sharky]

Uhh..it doesn't just involve travel...it also involves what happens in damping any travel.

The Harleys aren't called Wobbly Davidson, for nothing.

What State has Smooth paved roads, everywhere you go? Not California.

Why do you hate America?

 

[aminalmutha]

REAR SUSPENSION is FOR PUSSIES.

 

[ob1ventura]

Umm...Harley had a tradition...Hard tail = no travel...and riders that took pride in that.

Then the RUB's came, and Harley made models that looked hard tail, but had shocks underneath. But...shocks or no shocks..we are talkin riders that don't care about such things, and Harley is not about to waste a few cents (or dollars) on a feature that the customer doesn't feel is important.

There will be a customer, now and then that does care...and they can buy working shocks from Works Performance. So ... there is no problem.

Only the soft tail has the look of a rigid and has the shock underneath the frame. The touring bikes, Dynas and sporties have standard shocks that work fine for their intended purpose and can be upgraded.

Harley's are about fashion, not function. Sad but true. The only Harley that was about function was the Buell. And unfortunately, all but the last few years were fitted with breathed on Sportster motors. More sadness. When Buell finally got a decent motor, it didn't take Harley long to pull the plug. More evidence that Harley is about fashion over function.

This shit gets old.

 

[gixxerjeff]

3 words.
Springer front ends.
Enough said. Have at it :rolleyes

 

[russ69]

Depends on the cruiser. Most cruisers come standard with extra weight. Find it, remove it, and voila, you suddenly have a very light (mid 400s pounds) bike.

Do you own a scale? Do you want to name these near 400 pound cruisers?

Edit: Ducatis don't count.

 

[gnstalodz]

Since Barf loves talking about Harleys. I was curious. It looks like lots/most Harleys have very little rear suspension travel. Like, 2" or less in many cases. Even on their big tour bikes. Other cruiser brands all seem to have more. Less than 4" doesn't make sense for a bike that's supposed to be about comfort. Why do people put up with this?

I have 13", wanna fight about it?

 

[aminalmutha]

This shit gets old.

That dude is the MOTHERFUCKING EXPERT on Harley Davidson, foo'! How dare you disrespet!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's ridden more miles and wrenched more hours on Harleys than you could ever imagine, you puke!!!!!!! arty

 

[LongGoneJohn]

I didn't put up with the shit oil / air bladder shocks.

I bought new ones with an actual preload spring and a gas filled shock. Even with 2" of travel it rode great.

And why 2"? Because its supposed to be low to the ground (mine was anyway).