Handling Stabilizers!

[Mike Benis]

Originally Posted by Tony Cross

Ah, Donny. The reason I buy AIM. A great writer.

Not a bad wrench either

[grbrown]

As apparently the only contributor to this topic with first hand experience of the extra stabilizer link(s) I look forward to someone else getting off the sofa and trying one for real!

[woody07]

Is there anywhere you can purchase these units in the UK? I am looking for one to fit an 07 FXDLI.

Thanks

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by woody07

Is there anywhere you can purchase these units in the UK? I am looking for one to fit an 07 FXDLI.

Thanks

After I had bought my kits from TrueTrack they wrote to me saying they had just established a UK importer. Trouble is I cannot recall who! Bicester rings a bell.

I suggest you email them to ask:

tracktrue@netscape.net

Their website is here - turn up the volume!

Going Down Start

It was no problem buying from them, which I think I did using PayPal. Be aware that in addition to shipping there will be UK import duties to pay, so the prices from a UK agent will be rather more than on their website.

[grbrown]

Woody,

I was wrong about Bicester! But I have found the people mentioned to me by TrueTrack. I have no idea if they actually import them, but try:

Welcome to Nick Gale Custom Cycles

who are actually in Wembley. I can't find a mention of TrueTrack on their website, so phone or email them.

Closer! Let us know if you are successful.

Graham.

[grbrown]

Visited our nearest Harley dealer at the weekend and spent a few minutes on my hands and knees peering under and around their 2009 model dressers! While Harley makes much of their new frame, they don't give us details of any changes they have made that might improve stability of the vehicle. Their emphasis is on the reduced number of components that make up the frame hence, to my cynical mind, the reduced costs to them! Their words do not promise any tangible improvement for prospective new owners.

My observations are that the rear swingarm/gearbox/frame mounting is similar to previous models, although the rubbers are visibly a different design. The gearbox casting is substantial in that locality and extends rearwards beyond the swingarm mounting, so there is every prospect they have improved stiffness and reduced sideways movement at that point. I could not see a stabilizer link, as per Erik Buell. The front engine mounting is entirely new. This is similar in principle to the rear one, using smaller rubbers in a horizontal mounting either side of the engine, close to the frame tubes, replacing the old single vertical one. It looks a lot neater. There is no stabilizer link here and the top link is at the front rocker box, just under the steering head.

So the new set-up maintains three mounting points, at front, rear and top, but with major changes that promise improved handling. It will be interesting to hear from anyone who has ridden an 'old' dresser alongside a similar 2009 model.

[Mike Benis]

I'm also curious about how these new ones handle, partly because it's now four mounting points now with two at the front rather than the single central on previous models, isn't it?

Cheers

Mike

[grbrown]

Mike,

Yes, there are now four rubber mounting points, two each end, the new front ones looking like small versions of the rear ones. Hopefully they have less give in them sideways now, making the whole installation less likely to move around in bends or on poor surfaces.

Personally I prefer the idea of stabilizer links as per Buells, current Sportsters and as I have retrofitted to my Glide. It is difficult to see how a rubber mounting, designed to reduce the effects of vertical plane vibration, can have no lateral movement in them. Seems a contradiction to me!

[Mike Benis]

I've got a 2008 Sportster which doesn'y have any stabiliser link. Are you sure you've not been confused by the rear brake caliper mounting block?

Curiously the rubber mount sportsters do have a front brack that mounts on either side - so there are two rubbers up front. For some reason this did not migrate to the new frame on the Dynas.

Had a brief look at one of the new bagger frames. Agree that it does look as if many of the changes are to bring production costs down by enabling everything to be automated. The new headstock also appear to be more robust especially where it is joined (more forward than in the past) by the front down tubes.

Cheers

Mike

[grbrown]

Mike,

I've been on my hands and knees again!

The current Sportsters do have a rear link, although it took some spotting. By contrast the XB Buells have one in full view above the rear of the gearbox, the frame mounting being just above the gearbox pulley cover.

On Sportsters it is behind the gearbox, tucked in under the swingarm pivot and painted black, to make it almost invisible. On the bike I studied, there was an earth strap fastened to the offside end, the strap being bright metal.

The stabilizer kit I fitted to my wife's Dyna adds stabilizers to front and rear.