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[HogBreath]

Terry and I had some interesting discussion this weekend about the difference between the 08 Nightrod and the 06 SE V-rod. I'd like to see some input from youse guys.

Both bikes have the fat 240 rear tire. Both bikes have the same rake. Both bikes have Bitubo rear shocks. Both bikes have the same engine and drive train. Besides chrome bits and the windscreen on the SE, the only difference is the AK20's on the SE.

The Nightrod handles differently than the SE. The rear tire doesn't seem to want to follow the front tire. It's not so bad that it's scary to ride, but, it is definately very noticable. I posted about it not long after buying the Night Rod last fall. With only 500 miles on her, I  haven't played with the suspension at all to see if I could improve it (except the Bitubos). Saturday, Terry, myself and Ed took the SE, the NightRod and the bagger for a 100 mile ride. After getting home, Terry took the NightRod for a short spin. He came back and first thing commented on the rear tire not following the front tire. I've rode the SE enough to know it doesn't do that. It takes a straight line.

Terry is convinced it's the front suspension. I'm not convinced. I also know I'm not knowledgeable enough to argue. I'd like to see some discussion on it.

[Chief]

Terry and I had some interesting discussion this weekend about the difference between the 08 Nightrod and the 06 SE V-rod. I'd like to see some input from youse guys.

Both bikes have the fat 240 rear tire. Both bikes have the same rake. Both bikes have Bitubo rear shocks. Both bikes have the same engine and drive train. Besides chrome bits and the windscreen on the SE, the only difference is the AK20's on the SE.

The Nightrod handles differently than the SE. The rear tire doesn't seem to want to follow the front tire. It's not so bad that it's scary to ride, but, it is definately very noticable. I posted about it not long after buying the Night Rod last fall. With only 500 miles on her, I  haven't played with the suspension at all to see if I could improve it (except the Bitubos). Saturday, Terry, myself and Ed took the SE, the NightRod and the bagger for a 100 mile ride. After getting home, Terry took the NightRod for a short spin. He came back and first thing commented on the rear tire not following the front tire. I've rode the SE enough to know it doesn't do that. It takes a straight line.

Terry is convinced it's the front suspension. I'm not convinced. I also know I'm not knowledgeable enough to argue. I'd like to see some discussion on it.

The best way to fix the problem is to sell the problem. No more problem.

I can spell V-Rod and that's about all I know about them.

[porthole]

The best way to fix the problem is to sell the problem. No more problem.

That is good advice Ken, you should heed it.


Since you beat me to the punch, sell me the SE Rod and then you'll be comfortable again on the Night Rod, will have nothing to compare it to 

[HogBreath]

That is good advice Ken, you should heed it.


Since you beat me to the punch, sell me the SE Rod and then you'll be comfortable again on the Night Rod, will have nothing to compare it to 

Hey, If you want it that bad, make me an offer. I only gave Terry 27K for it. 

[Midnight Rider]

Here's my take on this subject, and I personally think it applies to other makes of HD as well.  Since I've had two bikes with the Traxxion front end work, and ridden a couple of other bikes lately without it, this is my conclusion....

First, when we were riding Saturday, there were some fairly strong crosswinds coming across the fields out in the country in Kentucky...that adds a variable into the mix to make tracking even more unpredictable, no matter what kind of bike it is.  I think what the Traxxion does, in addition to providing a better ride, is it simply reacts more quickly to road surface irregularities, keeping the front tire firmly planted on the pavement at all times.  One of the first things I noticed when I had the work done on the Ultra was how much LESS it moved around, even going in a straight line down the interstate, and particularly when passing big trucks, etc.  I noticed the same thing when I got the Vrod done a couple of months later.

When I rode Ken's black V, one of the first things I noticed was how much "lighter" the front end felt going down the road at speed, and of course it was even worse when accelerating through the gears.  I think the front end is hopping around, and when it moves over even a little bit, the rear end has to follow, so it feels like the rear end is "wiggling", when in fact it's just lining itself back up with the front tire.

I honestly think this is happening to some extent on all the other bikes reporting "wobble".  If your front tire is "skipping" around on the pavement, the bike feels more unstable 'cause the rear end is constantly realigning itself with the front and it feels "loose".  If both tires are not firmly planted onto the pavement at the same time, all the time, the bike does not feel as stable.  I'm not saying the front end is jumping an inch at a time, but just very small loss of contact with the road surface from either end of the bike makes it do some strange feeling things.

That's why I'll never own another HD without putting a good solid suspension under it, on both ends.  My personal opinion is that is where people need to start out with the "wobbling" problems, and then if necessary, go to the alignment devices like True Trak, TWR, Ride Str8, Sta Bo, etc.

Ken, don't misunderstand...your V rode out fine, but the feeling I got from it was it just wasn't as stable in the front end.  Not something that scared me at all, but I am just so used to the Traxxion, anything else feels strange to me now.  With the speeds the V's are capable of running, and how quickly they accelerate, it's just a little disconcerting to feel the front end acting "light".  But without something to compare it to, nobody would ever think twice about it.

That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it.

[HogBreath]

I know one thing you're right about, it feels like there's something loose. I'm like you, it's not scary bad, just an odd feeling. and the SE doesn't have that at all.

Mebbe it's totally the suspension.

[RJ749]

I have a vague memory of the first year V that I rode back then, mainly because the owner said it steered weird (his words) compared to his FatBoy.

I recall a similar memory to what TC describes as to the tentative feeling of it not settling into the turn and the description of slightest wheel hop causing it would describe what I recall feeling exactly.

With regard to feeling comfortable on a bike without a good suspension, after two baggers with Traxxion AK 20 frontends I won't ride without them again.

The AK's make riding so much more pleasurable its hard to imagine riding without them.

[Hoist!]

My take is you guys are all now spoiled because you finally experienced a REAL suspension on a HD motorcycle, previously unhread of in past days. Now when you get on a standard bike, you think something's wrong. Something was always wrong. Traxxion fixed it, and we'll accept nothing less now. I know I'll never have an HD without it. I bought a new front fork assembly for my '85FXWG, and when it came in, it went directly down to Traxxion. My FXWG overhaul includes the AH conversion, and bitubo rears.

So face guys, ya'll are just plain spoiled now!

Hoist!

[Midnight Rider]

My take is you guys are all now spoiled because you finally experienced a REAL suspension on a HD motorcycle, previously unhread of in past days. Now when you get on a standard bike, you think something's wrong. Something was always wrong. Traxxion fixed it, and we'll accept nothing less now. I know I'll never have an HD without it. I bought a new front fork assembly for my '85FXWG, and when it came in, it went directly down to Traxxion. My FXWG overhaul includes the AH conversion, and bitubo rears.

So face guys, ya'll are just plain spoiled now!

Hoist!

No doubt about that, Howie.  I had the Duc prior to getting the Ultra, and the Ultra and what was my Vrod, were as close to that as they'll ever get.

It's an expensive mod, and if I were not keeping a bike (didn't know I'd have to sell the V), I'd think twice about spending the money on it.  Only members here, like Ken, can appreciate the difference it made in the Vrod, and know what he's got.

[SBB]

  Only members here, like Ken, can appreciate the difference it made in the Vrod, and know what he's got.

So we should all be like "Ken" so we can appreciate the difference the Traxxion has made.
Come on Terry. There's not enough room on earth for that.
What would this place be like if we were, www.cvokenharley.com.
Besides, I don't like mold!

 

[porthole]

  Hey, If you want it that bad, make me an offer. I only gave Terry 27K for it. 

Now you know I was talking to him around the same time .........................

[HogBreath]

I guess the suspension is the difference. It's just hard to imagine that much difference. BUT, there is defintely a huge difference.

ME spoiled? Cheri??? Did you hear what he said?? NO way.

[Midnight Rider]

So we should all be like "Ken" so we can appreciate the difference the Traxxion has made.
Come on Terry. There's not enough room on earth for that.
What would this place be like if we were, www.cvokenharley.com.
Besides, I don't like mold!

 

Naw...they broke the mold with Ken, and I mean that in a good way.

I don't know of a soul here who hasn't appreciated that upgrade, once they bit the bullet.  And even if they haven't done it, they'd appreciate a bike that has it once they rode it one time.

[Midnight Rider]

I guess the suspension is the difference. It's just hard to imagine that much difference. BUT, there is defintely a huge difference.

ME spoiled? Cheri??? Did you hear what he said?? NO way.

I guess the windshield COULD create a little downforce on the front end when you go fast enough, but I really think it's 90% front end.  That little Windvest makes a hell of a difference in riding the bike though...it's really an amazing little piece.

The ride to your house was the longest I've been on the V...most of the rides have been 100-150 miles.  The 330 miles or so Friday was not a problem though....butt did not hurt at any time.  The only thing that got to hurtin' me a little was my knees when it started cooling off late that evening, and they got a little stiff.  With a full face helmet on, that windshield is the ticket for taking the blast off your chest, and the airflow over the helmet is smooth with no buffeting.  The handlebar position is good on the SE too....my arms didn't get tired, nor did my fingers get numb or anything.

That Cheri DOES spoil you...I've seen it with my own two eyes.  You're a lucky man, and I'll also say she's a lucky woman.

[Boatman]

Ken really knows he wants/needs the AK's on the Vrod, he's still trying to stay under that $750 spending limit.