How do they ride? - Page 2 - Harley Davidson Forums: Harley Davidson Motorcycle Forum

Motive · 10-01-2009, 01:38 PM

A DX has forward controls, as well as the AW's, I believe. So your position is similar to a regular HD. The DX has less pull back so you're upper body would be a bit more forward. They're fast and a lot of fun to ride. They're not going to corner like a Sporster though.

I've spent about 11.5 hours in the saddle of mine, and my tailbone was killin me...the stock seat kinda sucks for long hauls, with the forward controls, IMO. I've got a 33" inseam, and I'd like my pegs about an inch more forward...but I think you may have a hard time reaching forward controls at 5'7"...you might want to look at a D model.

I wouldn't have thought this would be a good first timer bike, but since owning one I've run acrossed a few first time riders having no problems riding one.

Icepick · 10-02-2009, 05:49 PM

Tiff, I make/made my kids ride dirt bikes for a year or two first.
Wife wants to get her licence next spring as well and she's eye'd a Shadow Aero and the Sportster (found the 1200 to be lighter than the 800, go figger). I'm planning on getting her on a dirt bike first, good practice being alert , give you the change to make mistakes and live. I've found mud to be more forgiving than bumpers.

M.

Icepick · 10-02-2009, 05:50 PM

Motive.... thanks for the straight answer. I sold the sport bikes years ago I was doing dumb things that were gonna get me killed. I'm sticking to cruisers that don't lift the front wheel so easily.

M.

Motive · 10-03-2009, 09:00 AM

You'll have a harder time getting the front wheel up on the VRod, it's almost 8' long.

badinfluence63 · 10-04-2009, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icepick

Owned a few OTHER bikes before, just settling into the idea of a Harley now, looking at the Fat Bob,,,,, but,,,,, i'm curious.

What are these like to ride?
Are they comfortable, fast, do they handle? Do they still ride like a harley?

What do you like about them?

M?

Its definately different and I would test ride a couple first. It may take some getting use to on your part. The ride on any metric is different then the rumble of a Harley. Fast? Depends you definition of fast. Rice rocket fast? Not out of the box. Comfortable? You may need to tweak a few things to taste and then yeah, comfortable. Handle fine, even when having to negotiate threw a field to get to a party location.

I don't understand what you mean when you say "Do they still ride like a Harley"?

Nathang · 10-04-2009, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Hello everyone I am new to the site and Harley for that matter. I come from a family of HD's and it is my time to step on into the HD family.. My mom got a 07' Sportster few months back and I fell in love with riding.. I saw the 2010 Night rod special in the 2010 bike book and fell head over heals.. so my question is.. for a girl about 5'7 160 LB.. not much riding experience will I be ok on this bike as my "first"? My mom is a 20 year + experienced rider so i am confident she will teach me the ropes but I am more concerned with size, power, etc. I am looking to get a gently used 07'.

Thanks in advanced for any feedback comments and tips !!
Tiff

Quote:

I've been looking at Fatbobs..... but I was ALSO curious about the V-rods......and wondered what they were like to ride.

Interesting question and perspective from Tiff, and my answer addresses Icepick's question too.

I'm an experienced Harley rider and alternate almost daily between a LowRider, which is as traditional as any Harley short of a full dresser, and a V-Rod, and I consider the V-Rod a good bit harder to ride well.

A Sportster is a tall bike, the weight seems high, and compared to the V-Rod so is the LowRider, and oddly enough, it is that lower center of gravity that makes the V harder to ride in some ways.

Somebody who rides one every day with nothing to compare it to would get used to it, but I'll bet money VERY few new riders are going to try to take their riding test on one. The overall length and rake on the front end make it touchy in slow turns if you're not used to it.

My V-Rod feels very light compared to the LowRider, so much so that it doesn't seem possible that there is only 30 lbs difference, 595 for the V and 625 for the Low, and the V is VERY fast by Harley standards, and by any standard other than sport bike. It's a more manageable fast, compared to sport bikes, many of which I think I would find viciously fast.

I think a short slight rider who sits on a V-Rod and a Sportster in the showroom and stands them up to feel the balance will think the V-Rod is significantly lighter, and it is not. I don't know Sportsters well, but I would bet a V-Rod will give a much better ride, the extra weight will soak up the road much better.

If the forward controls seem a bit long for your legs, heel rest foot pegs will make a world of difference, ask 3OliveMartini. V-Girl also has both V-Rod and Big Harley to choose from, seek her advice too.

If you get a V-Rod I'd bet your Mom will want it.

I don't want to piss any Sportster fans off, but IMHO, the V-Rod is the much better motorcycle. Especially as a cruiser, a Sportster might be better if you were a canyon-carver, mountain curves rider.

For my personal tastes the V is not better than the LowRider.
I couldn't say it's not it's equal, and for me that's really saying something, I couldn't give it up.

big worm · 10-04-2009, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icepick

Owned a few OTHER bikes before, just settling into the idea of a Harley now, looking at the Fat Bob,,,,, but,,,,, i'm curious.

What are these like to ride?
Are they comfortable, fast, do they handle? Do they still ride like a harley?

What do you like about them?

M?

answer to that is no, you don't have the vibrating,oil leaking or parts falling off

i love my vrod and make some 3 and 4 hours trips with ease, i wouldn't want to tour the country on one though. well unless it was like danii's vrod bagger.
i bought my bike to race so it spends alot of time on a trailer hauled back and forth to tracks.

badinfluence63 · 10-04-2009, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big worm

answer to that is no, you don't have the vibrating,oil leaking or parts falling off

i love my vrod and make some 3 and 4 hours trips with ease, i wouldn't want to tour the country on one though. well unless it was like danii's vrod bagger.
i bought my bike to race so it spends alot of time on a trailer hauled back and forth to tracks.

I don't remember if I noticed this before but congrats and well done on being Farmington class champion.

XDixiecratX · 10-06-2009, 08:38 PM

msn1977 · 10-11-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icepick

Owned a few OTHER bikes before, just settling into the idea of a Harley now, looking at the Fat Bob,,,,, but,,,,, i'm curious.

What are these like to ride?
Are they comfortable, fast, do they handle? Do they still ride like a harley?

What do you like about them?

M?

1. They ride great.
2. Comfortable with stock seat for 100 - 200 miles. Better seat could be better. Yes its fast. They handle more like a sport bike. No there is no need to put parts back on after the ride.
3. Not the same bike as all the others in the parking lot.