09+ touring frames: Am I the only person who doesn't think they're great?

[Ratfade]

I often wonder if I'm the only person in the world who doesn't think the newer (09+) touring frames are a great improvement over the older version. I had a 2000 Electraglide Classic, and I still have an '03 and a '94 version of the same model. For my money, they were all fine touring bikes, and I was always impressed with the ease and maneuverability of the low speed handling.

I've ridden tourers with the newer frame, and I now have a 2011 Street Glide. Although they seem fine while riding in a straight line, for tight curves and low speed handling, the older models just seem better. Maybe it's my imagination, but I feel like I can carve much tighter circles on bikes with the older frame.

When I read about people looking for bikes, everyone always advises to get one with the newer frame. What am I missing? Am I doing something wrong? Or do I just not get "it"?

[harborjohn]

Im sure the new frame is better but here are a few of my thoughts.  Ride a 08 with 1k miles on it and then ride a 09 with high mileage and then tell me which one rides better. I have a friend with a 07 and a 2013 Ultra. He rides the 2013 on long rides and rides the 07 when he is going to ride more twisty?? he said the 07 handles better, go figure. Hey some guys actually like the ride on their hard tails. I have heard some say the soft tail is the best ride and others say its by far the worst ride. Its personal choice and opinion. I now heard that Harley has twin cooled bikes. They must be much better and faster than the non liquid cooled bikes, yea right.

[rigidthumper]

Tire size and weight.  Heavier mass requires more effort to change lines.  Narrower tires make for a more nimble feeling bike.  The new fat tires make cornering slower for me. 

[PoorUB]

My 2010 Ultra is more stable in corners that my 2005 Ultra was. That said I got used to the "rear steer" my '05 would do in hard corners. I can see how some riders would freak out over it, but it was predictable. I am pretty try sure in hard riding my 2010 handles better.

[Bigbluff]

Right after I got my '09 (I traded in an '03 for it) I had occasion to ride my friend's '08. Riding 2up on both my '09 and the '08, I could really feel a difference in the stiffness of the chassis. The '08 chassis flexed over bumps a lot with the added weight of the passenger. I have also noticed that I don't get the wobbling handlebars on high speed turns with my '09 like I did the '03. Yes...there is add on bracing that you can use on the older chassis that can be installed to reduce the wobble, but I have never felt the need to add that on my '09.

[Ohio HD]

I have an '08 Street Glide, and I have an '09 Ultra. Although I much prefer the Street Glide as it's more fun to ride, the Ultra is more nimble, and feels more stable when laying it over in a corner. Nothing wrong with my '08, but the '09 is a better frame in my opinion.

[rbferg]

I had a '07 Street Glide and now have a '13 SG. The '07 had "bagger wobble" something fierce and took several steps to remedy. The '07 did seem more nimble on country backroads, but the '13 beats it hands down everywhere else. I'll take the newer frame over the previous any day.

[qtrracer]

I ride both now. '08 and '14. 08 has 7k so its fresh and the '14 is pretty new obviously. 08 has a '10 FLHX 18" front wheel, a True Track and ohlins. '14 is stock. The frame makes no difference at all to me once the  TT was installed. The air shocks on the '14 are better than the air shocks were on the 08 but they aint great. The forks on a '14 do have upper pinch bolts which should help but the forks are so damn soft in the stock configuration you can't really tell if they are better or not, LOL

[tomcat64]

my 14 is waayyyy better than my '08... no question,

[strokerjlk]

I often wonder if I'm the only person in the world who doesn't think the newer (09+) touring frames are a great improvement over the older version. I had a 2000 Electraglide Classic, and I still have an '03 and a '94 version of the same model. For my money, they were all fine touring bikes, and I was always impressed with the ease and maneuverability of the low speed handling.

I've ridden tourers with the newer frame, and I now have a 2011 Street Glide. Although they seem fine while riding in a straight line, for tight curves and low speed handling, the older models just seem better. Maybe it's my imagination, but I feel like I can carve much tighter circles on bikes with the older frame.

When I read about people looking for bikes, everyone always advises to get one with the newer frame. What am I missing? Am I doing something wrong? Or do I just not get "it"?

Your not the only one .
The rider and passenger stance , or seating is better for me .
My wife was the first to complain when we first rode a new frame bike .
She hates the way the new frame positions her behind me .
I like my 07 ultra so well I bought another one exactly like it with 11,000 miles . 

[PoorUB]

A few years back, Gonenorth and I were coming back from Red lodge, running through the big horn mountains. He was riding solo, I had the missus on the back. He was riding an '08 ultra, we were on my 2010 Ultra.

We were just starting down the east side of the pass and caught up to a couple cars, we rode their tails pretty hard and the one right in front of us pulled over to let us by, the second car refused to give us the road. I hollered over the CB to pass 'em because we were coming up to miles of switch backs and fun curves and this was about the last place there was room to pass. Gonenorth rolled on by the car, I hesitated a bit then rolled on by too. We were rolling pretty fast into a sweeping LH corner. I was scrubbing of speed dragging the rear brake slightly and trying to not run over Gonenorth. Later he told me he was dragging the foot board pretty hard and did not have any more room to spare and was nervous about making the corner as it was a decreasing radius corner, then he said he was surprised to see me rolling up on him pretty fast. Remember, he was solo and I was two up. We both have similar riding styles and chase each other over mountain passes. This one instance proved to us that the newer frame handles better. He has since bought a 2012 and I could probably keep up with him, but I get distracted with the missus hollering at me to slow down and slapping me in the side of the head. 

[autoworker]

When the rear tire is over half worn out on the newer models handling seems to suffer more than it does on the older models with a worn rear tire.
Having said that,I like the stability of the newer frame.Especially high speed cornering on a less than smooth and flat road surface.

[Reddog74usa]

I thought I was the only one that thought this also. I have a 99 RK and rode it to my local dealer for a test ride on an 09 RK and noticed the difference right off. The 09 did not handle near as good as my 99. It was a big disappointment after all the hype. My 99 is a much better handling bike however I will say I did like the Brembos on the 09. My 99 doesn't wobble or have any of the handling issues I have herd others talk about and I do ride it pretty hard on occasion so I have no plans on replacing it.

[zeke383]

I will tell you that the '14-up front ends (upper pinch bolts and larger diameter tubes) are a huge improvement. You can actually throw the bike into a corner and get positive feedback. No more spongy, washy feeling.

[Ultrashovel]

The best-handling Harley-Davidson I ever owned was my 1993 FLHS. It was a joy to ride. Good low speed, good high speed and everything in between. I've never ridden a really late model one but they would have to be pretty good to match the 1993 model.

[harpwrench]

I much prefer my still-tight 90 Ultra over the newer frame. Had a 2010 Ultra, felt like driving a yacht, and wife now has a 2014 street glide. I like it better than the 10 ultra but the 90 fits perfect.

[Bigs]

Had a '06 RG and it handled fine in the twisties except the boards would scrape at times. The '11 RGU that I now have seems to handle better at slow speeds than the '06 but the board on the right and jiffy stand on the left drag at times and it seems a little easier to do but I guess that is good because if not I would probably be scraping the saddle bags. The touring frames are just that, touring,  not sport touring.
   Bigs

[ndmp40]

I think the new frames are far superior to the old.  Not even close. 

Although I still ride my 04 bagger fast, my 10 is a much better handling bike in every way.

And the wider tires are a huge improvement in handling and ride. 

[glens]

The previous-generation-framed touring bikes had a generally more supple ride but that's the only thing that was better.  The newer bikes' heavier wheels/tires along with less rear wheel travel probably has most to do with that difference.

I can't argue with the better tires on the newer bikes, either.  Just about 20k miles largely two-up on the original set and the rear profile ain't drastically different yet on my Ultra.  Certainly still a rounder profile than my '07 RK had by any 10k miles.   And I /love/ the transition to the softer rubber on the sides while under power.

[brokenwing]

I get a new HD every two years since 2002. Either FLHT or FLHX. My 2015 FLHX is by far the best handling touring bike i've ever ridden.

[Tollbooth]

The old touring frame vs the new touring frame is like comparing a mack truck to a limo.
Tollbooth

[BUBBIE]

Might Not be the bike/ride for everybody the way it sounds...

Not a race bike for me... I have NO problems in or out of corners or Single/Double with gear...

Best bike I have ever owned... Thought about the ride on my Dads 51 pan... He'd Not believe where we are today AND how far HD has come...  AND some of you guys Bitch..?...

THINK About It  Old Days....

signed....BUBBIE

[PoorUB]

When I read about people looking for bikes, everyone always advises to get one with the newer frame. What am I missing? Am I doing something wrong? Or do I just not get "it"?

These comments might be it. The newer frames do handle differently. The wider rear tire means you need to put a bit more effort in low speed corners, but not much more. Because of the wider tires the motorcycle does not lay over as easy as the early frames. On the other hand, once you get some time in the saddle and get used to the differences the bikes can be pushed harder and faster into corners. I used to do full lock turns with my '05 without much thought and I have not mastered full lock turns with my '10, but I can turn tight enough for any parking situation. Again, the wider tires make this a bit more difficult. I suppose if I practiced a bit more I could master it. I don't see it as a bad thing, just different. Same as if you rode a HD all your life then switched to a Gold Wing or BMW. Either one handles well, but different from what you are used to.

I know when the new frames came out riders that do the slow speed skills competition were complaining that the steering stops did not allow them to turn as tight as they wanted, so full lock turns can be done.

Before I bought my first Electra Glide I was riding a Honda V30 Magna. I could whip the little bike all over, small circles were no issue, it was like riding a mini bike. Then I bought my 2005 Ultra and did not ride the Honda for a year. One day I got back on it and about crashed leaving the garage. I had to retrain myself how to ride the smaller Honda.

[bill57]

it looks like the handling aspect of this topic is a personal preference situation and needs to be given some time in the saddle to get use to it, but I haven't seen anyone comment on the extra length of the new frame. With the change does this frame offer a less crowded ride for those with longer legs? Does it help with comfort on the longer hauls?

[rigidthumper]

Passengers have more room on the rushmore bikes. Some need it, too