'05 Softail(?)

'05 Softail(?)

Hi Shirley... plastic's on the bar... please serve out the libation of
choice for all. Around home it was up to 90F(+) yesterday and agtain today,
so I'll have a really cold Bud!

I haven't posted often so I'd better start by re-introducing myself. I
first stepped out of the lurkers' corner last August, right after purchasing
my first HD ('08 FXD). Then I pretty much fell off the 'net due to heavy
load of work and travel and some persistent medical problems. Even so, I've
managed enjoy the FXD, riding every chance I got.

However...

About a month ago I was riding north-bound on a flat, smooth and straight
rural two-lane, just a few miles from my home. Local speed limit is 55 mph,
I was running about 60 mph, and there was no other traffic in sight in
either direction. About one-quarter mile ahead of me was a large truck stop
on the northbound side, directly across from a gas station/convenience store
on the southbound side.

An 18-wheeler pulled out of the truckstop onto the northbound lane, then
pulled over to the right shoulder and was idling along with his left blinker
on. I figured the truck driver had seen me approaching and was waiting for
me to pass before pulling into the lane. I slowed to about 40 mph, keeping
a wary eye on the big rig.

A red pickup pulled out from the gas station on the southbound side and
stopped at the road edge. The pickup didn't have either turn signal
flashing, but from the angle of the vehicle it was obvious that the driver
intended to turn right into the southbound lane. Suddenly, the pickup
bolted diagonally across the southbound lane, continuing across the
northbound lane directly in front of me! There wasn't time or space to
swerve behind the pickup, and I didn't want to lay it down and find myself
under the truck. I remember clamping down on the brakes, the thump when my
bike collided with the pickup's passenger, then suddenly I'm lying on my
back in the highway.

I got up and walked away from the accident, but didn't get off scott free --
some injuries requiring further visits to the medics are still unresolved,
so the medical claim is still open and I shouldn't discuss that.

The bike was totalled and I just yesterday got the property settlement
check. Now I'm looking for another bike -- NO, this isn't another "which
bike should I buy?" thread!

Even before the crash, I had my eye on a cherry '05 Softail Deluxe (FLSTN).
I know the current owner, know the bike has been babied from day 1 and
looks/runs/sounds great, and it only has 4K miles on it. The owner really
wants/needs to sell (trying to buy a new house, needs to clean up credit
profile a bit, etc.), there's still two years on the extended warranty which
can be transferred, and the price looks good.

My only question now is whether there are any issues with that model that I
should at least make myself aware of? I've browsed the net and talked with
some Softail owners and several HD mechanics, learned nothing yet that
raised any concern.

BTW -- the pickup driver's explanation was that he had pulled into the gas
station intending to fill up, then realized that gas was a few cents cheaper
at the truckstop and decided to cross over to the other side. Of course, he
just didn't see me...

Happy to be alive!

PPBart
(next ride?)
'08 FXD (crashed)

.

Re: '05 Softail(?)

On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:37:40 -0500, "Bart" <bwesley8@cox,net > wrote:

>Hi Shirley... plastic's on the bar... please serve out the libation of
>choice for all.

Vodka/Grapefruit tonight!
<snip>
>BTW -- the pickup driver's explanation was that he had pulled into the gas
>station intending to fill up, then realized that gas was a few cents cheaper
>at the truckstop and decided to cross over to the other side. Of course, he
>just didn't see me...

Hard way to learn that lesson, but when there's bigger vehicles in *any*
position to do you harm, FUCKIN' EXPECT IT!!!!!! Some of 'em didn't "just
didn't see you", they TARGETED YOU!

>Happy to be alive!

You should be.

Can't think of any issues with the bike you're lookin' at other than
it's a sloptail, but a lot of people have put a lot of miles on those. If the
deal's good & you like the bike, go for it!
-

Jinks ('86FXRS, '07 FLTR)
#64
Remember, "No good deed goes unpunished"

Re: '05 Softail(?)

"Jinks" <Jinks@thecomputer,com > wrote in message

> Can't think of any issues with the bike you're lookin' at other than
> it's a sloptail, but a lot of people have put a lot of miles on those.

Yup, personally I'd find it "hard" going from a Dyna to a Softy. YMMV

Re: '05 Softail(?)

Schmoe wrote:
>> "Jinks" <Jinks@thecomputer,com > wrote in message
>>
>>> Can't think of any issues with the bike you're lookin' at other than
>>> it's a sloptail, but a lot of people have put a lot of miles on
>>> those.
>>
>> Yup, personally I'd find it "hard" going from a Dyna to a Softy. YMMV
>

I've yet to figure out where the word sloptail came from. There is nothing
sloptail about mine Its firm as hell.

I ride with a friend who has a Wide Glide and he bitches about front end
wobble, so should the dyna's be called webbles? I've seen him take a corner
to fast and about end up in the ditch from no control because of it. Now
that I think about it I road with another friend with a Wide Glide and he
complained about speeds up to 95 with front end wobble too, so he too has a
webbles!
--



Carl
99 FLSTF
I started out with nothing and
I just about have that paid for

Remove one 9 to reply

Re: '05 Softail(?)

Carl wrote:
>> Schmoe wrote:
>>>> "Jinks" <Jinks@thecomputer,com > wrote in message
>>>>
>>>>> Can't think of any issues with the bike you're lookin' at other
>>>>> than it's a sloptail, but a lot of people have put a lot of miles
>>>>> on those.
>>>>
>>>> Yup, personally I'd find it "hard" going from a Dyna to a Softy.
>>>> YMMV
>>>
>>
>> I've yet to figure out where the word sloptail came from. There is
>> nothing sloptail about mine Its firm as hell.
>>
>> I ride with a friend who has a Wide Glide and he bitches about front
>> end wobble, so should the dyna's be called webbles? I've seen him
>> take a corner to fast and about end up in the ditch from no control
>> because of it. Now that I think about it I road with another friend
>> with a Wide Glide and he
>
>
> complained about speeds up to 95 with front end wobble too, so he


correction speeds after 95, and that's fast enough anyway!
--



Carl
99 FLSTF
I started out with nothing and
I just about have that paid for

Remove one 9 to reply

Re: '05 Softail(?)

"Carl" wrote:

>Schmoe wrote:
>>> "Jinks" <Jinks@thecomputer,com > wrote in message
>>>
snip
>>> Yup, personally I'd find it "hard" going from a Dyna to a Softy. YMMV
>>
>
>I've yet to figure out where the word sloptail came from. There is nothing
>sloptail about mine Its firm as hell.
>
>I ride with a friend who has a Wide Glide and he bitches about front end
>wobble, so should the dyna's be called webbles? I've seen him take a corner
>to fast and about end up in the ditch from no control because of it. Now
>that I think about it I road with another friend with a Wide Glide and he
>complained about speeds up to 95 with front end wobble too, so he too has a
>webbles!

Rode cross country with a fellow on a 1200 Sporty. He was scared
shitless of traveling very fast on any surfaces that tended to grab
the treads of that narrow tire. Don't know if this related to the Wide
Glide except that they both have the narrow tires with a different
tread pattern?

When I rode a 1000 Kawasaki I remember those tires wanting to wobble
on a matted steel or rutted surface. Makes you rear end pucker at
speed. A nasty surprise for the uninitiated.

Dean

Re: '05 Softail(?)

Dean wrote:
> "Carl" wrote:
>
>> Schmoe wrote:
>>>> "Jinks" <Jinks@thecomputer,com > wrote in message
>>>>
> snip
>>>> Yup, personally I'd find it "hard" going from a Dyna to a Softy.
>>>> YMMV
>>>
>>
>> I've yet to figure out where the word sloptail came from. There is
>> nothing sloptail about mine Its firm as hell.
>>
>> I ride with a friend who has a Wide Glide and he bitches about front
>> end wobble, so should the dyna's be called webbles? I've seen him
>> take a corner to fast and about end up in the ditch from no control
>> because of it. Now that I think about it I road with another friend
>> with a Wide Glide and he complained about speeds up to 95 with front
>> end wobble too, so he too has a webbles!
>
> Rode cross country with a fellow on a 1200 Sporty. He was scared
> shitless of traveling very fast on any surfaces that tended to grab
> the treads of that narrow tire. Don't know if this related to the Wide
> Glide except that they both have the narrow tires with a different
> tread pattern?
>
> When I rode a 1000 Kawasaki I remember those tires wanting to wobble
> on a matted steel or rutted surface. Makes you rear end pucker at
> speed. A nasty surprise for the uninitiated.
>
> Dean

In 2001 on the way to Sturgis he bitched about the road that was milled
getting the surface ready for re facing it. I just thought he was being a
ass. I didn't find it to be as much as a problem as he felt it was. I do
like a wider tire on the front.

It may have sounded like I'm trying to say not to buy one, I'm not, but the
fact is there both of the people I've ridden with many times feel the front
end isn't stabile at speeds around and over 95. One has had his back to the
dealer twice and all they did was put a brace between the forks. He said it
didn't help at all and took it off. And, like I did say 95 is plenty fast
anyway.

I was to tall for a Wide Glide I thought I wanted one until I road it, my
hips felt like they were jammed back into my sockets! And I don't feel any
thing slop tail at all about mine, what's so slop tail about it there stiff
as shit!
--



Carl
99 FLSTF
I started out with nothing and
I just about have that paid for

Remove one 9 to reply

Re: '05 Softail(?)

In article <rnq614ls7sao47n21rr3qstilft211ilal@4ax,com >, Dean <> wrote:

> When I rode a 1000 Kawasaki I remember those tires wanting to wobble
> on a matted steel or rutted surface. Makes you rear end pucker at
> speed. A nasty surprise for the uninitiated.

If ya don't let the front wheel down, it don't weeble

--
Ryder Rick

Re: '05 Softail(?)

On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:15:38 -0500, "Carl" <softailfb999@yahoo,com >
wrote:

>Schmoe wrote:
>>> "Jinks" <Jinks@thecomputer,com > wrote in message
>>>
>>>> Can't think of any issues with the bike you're lookin' at other than
>>>> it's a sloptail, but a lot of people have put a lot of miles on
>>>> those.
>>>
>>> Yup, personally I'd find it "hard" going from a Dyna to a Softy. YMMV
>>
>
>I've yet to figure out where the word sloptail came from. There is nothing
>sloptail about mine Its firm as hell.

The early ones were kind of loose.
IIRC, 99 was the year they really upgraded that rear end.

Re: '05 Softail(?)

In article <7dm7149mhrq02l3ki12jit6d5lac0vepk2@4ax,com >,
Bob Mann <bobmann@mtssnip,net > wrote:

> On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:15:38 -0500, "Carl" <softailfb999@yahoo,com >
> wrote:
>
> >Schmoe wrote:
> >>> "Jinks" <Jinks@thecomputer,com > wrote in message
> >>>
> >>>> Can't think of any issues with the bike you're lookin' at other than
> >>>> it's a sloptail, but a lot of people have put a lot of miles on
> >>>> those.
> >>>
> >>> Yup, personally I'd find it "hard" going from a Dyna to a Softy. YMMV
> >>
> >
> >I've yet to figure out where the word sloptail came from. There is nothing
> >sloptail about mine Its firm as hell.
>
> The early ones were kind of loose.
> IIRC, 99 was the year they really upgraded that rear end.

"I" think it is a geometry thing. The swing arm pivot is below the axle,
makes for less than stellar handling. Although there are a million
owners who will argue the point....

--
Ryder Rick

Re: '05 Softail(?)

Bob Mann wrote:
> On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:15:38 -0500, "Carl" <softailfb999@yahoo,com >
> wrote:
>
>> Schmoe wrote:
>>>> "Jinks" <Jinks@thecomputer,com > wrote in message
>>>>
>>>>> Can't think of any issues with the bike you're lookin' at other
>>>>> than it's a sloptail, but a lot of people have put a lot of miles
>>>>> on those.
>>>>
>>>> Yup, personally I'd find it "hard" going from a Dyna to a Softy.
>>>> YMMV
>>>
>>
>> I've yet to figure out where the word sloptail came from. There is
>> nothing sloptail about mine Its firm as hell.
>
> The early ones were kind of loose.
> IIRC, 99 was the year they really upgraded that rear end.

That would explain it. Mine is stiffer than shit it lays over to turn
corners tight and as far as shock travel, what travel! That brings back a
memory. I had a 750 Kawi in 1979 and my girl friend had huge tits, she used
to hit me in the back of the head when I hit bumps she'd bounce so much!
Loved those jugs!
--



Carl
99 FLSTF
I started out with nothing and
I just about have that paid for

Remove one 9 to reply

Re: '05 Softail(?)

In article <4813554d$0$2859$ec3e2dad@news.usenetmonster,com >,
"Carl" <softailfb999@yahoo,com > wrote:

> I ride with a friend who has a Wide Glide and he bitches about front end
> wobble, so should the dyna's be called webbles?

Damm, I thought I was the only one who had that 'issue'.

> Now that I think about it I road with another friend with a Wide Glide and he
> complained about speeds up to 95 with front end wobble too, so he too has a
> webbles!

I've noticed on mine ('99) that the front tire is exceptionally
sensitive to inflation. A few lbs low and it dances a lot. Generally,
pulses to the handlebars get damped out quickly at 80, but at 90 don't.
At about 100-110, depending on road, throttle position, etc, it can
either want to dance or not. Generally front end, the rear never gets
very loose. Theoretically, a fork brace helps, the local shop says a
steering damper would help, but I hate the idea of tossing a steering
damper on it (for some reason, it just doesn't sit well with me...).

Between that and a few other things, I've all but given up on the idea
of tossing a 117 into it - I'm starting to think that the dyna chassis,
or at least the Wide Glide, just isn't suited for that much power. And
it's a heavy beast anyway - would be more fun to put that much motor in
a lighter frame :)

Sucks too, the WG is arguably one of the nicer HDs out there otherwise.

Short of inverted forks and all, anyone here figure a way to cure the
front end on these suckers?

Re: '05 Softail(?)

In article <nasadowsk-FB12FE.14090127042008@news.optonline,net >,
Philip Nasadowski <nasadowsk@usermale,com > wrote:

> In article <4813554d$0$2859$ec3e2dad@news.usenetmonster,com >,
> "Carl" <softailfb999@yahoo,com > wrote:
>
> > I ride with a friend who has a Wide Glide and he bitches about front end
> > wobble, so should the dyna's be called webbles?
>
> Damm, I thought I was the only one who had that 'issue'.
>
> > Now that I think about it I road with another friend with a Wide Glide and
> > he
> > complained about speeds up to 95 with front end wobble too, so he too has a
> > webbles!
>
> I've noticed on mine ('99) that the front tire is exceptionally
> sensitive to inflation. A few lbs low and it dances a lot. Generally,
> pulses to the handlebars get damped out quickly at 80, but at 90 don't.
> At about 100-110, depending on road, throttle position, etc, it can
> either want to dance or not. Generally front end, the rear never gets
> very loose. Theoretically, a fork brace helps, the local shop says a
> steering damper would help, but I hate the idea of tossing a steering
> damper on it (for some reason, it just doesn't sit well with me...).
>
> Between that and a few other things, I've all but given up on the idea
> of tossing a 117 into it - I'm starting to think that the dyna chassis,
> or at least the Wide Glide, just isn't suited for that much power. And
> it's a heavy beast anyway - would be more fun to put that much motor in
> a lighter frame :)
>
> Sucks too, the WG is arguably one of the nicer HDs out there otherwise.
>
> Short of inverted forks and all, anyone here figure a way to cure the
> front end on these suckers?

Inverted forks are not going to cure a problem caused by the rear wheel
being connected to the front wheel by rubber parts....

Keep it under 80 mph, buy a Buell (Ducati, SV650), or build a 100 hp
Sporty.

--
Ryder Rick

Re: '05 Softail(?)

Philip Nasadowski wrote:
>> In article <4813554d$0$2859$ec3e2dad@news.usenetmonster,com >,
>> "Carl" <softailfb999@yahoo,com > wrote:
>>
>>> I ride with a friend who has a Wide Glide and he bitches about
>>> front end wobble, so should the dyna's be called webbles?
>>
>> Damm, I thought I was the only one who had that 'issue'.
>>
>>> Now that I think about it I road with another friend with a Wide
>>> Glide and he complained about speeds up to 95 with front end wobble
>>> too, so he too has a webbles!
>>
>> I've noticed on mine ('99) that the front tire is exceptionally
>> sensitive to inflation. A few lbs low and it dances a lot.
>> Generally, pulses to the handlebars get damped out quickly at 80,
>> but at 90 don't. At about 100-110, depending on road, throttle
>> position, etc, it can either want to dance or not. Generally front
>> end, the rear never gets very loose. Theoretically, a fork brace
>> helps, the local shop says a steering damper would help, but I hate
>> the idea of tossing a steering damper on it (for some reason, it
>> just doesn't sit well with me...).
>>
>> Between that and a few other things, I've all but given up on the
>> idea of tossing a 117 into it - I'm starting to think that the dyna
>> chassis, or at least the Wide Glide, just isn't suited for that much
>> power. And it's a heavy beast anyway - would be more fun to put
>> that much motor in a lighter frame :)



>> Sucks too, the WG is arguably one of the nicer HDs out there
>> otherwise.

There all nice, beauty is in the eye of the owner,


>> Short of inverted forks and all, anyone here figure a way to cure the
>> front end on these suckers?

My friend has had his back to the dealer twice, and like you he's just
learned to live with it.
--



Carl
99 FLSTF
I started out with nothing and
I just about have that paid for

Remove one 9 to reply