Harley dummy needs education

Hey, all. I'm an experienced rider, 31 and been riding in some form since I was 12. I used my dad's 73 CB350 for years and then bought my own Shadow. I just sold the Shadow and the CB is undergoing a refurb.

I'm a real cruiser guy and I figure I deserve a real-live honest-to-goodness American Harley this time around. Its a pretty confusing world, though.

I've cruised the HD website several times trying to make sense if all the FLHTDVXPRTMW letters. I'm just lost :)

Here's what I need to know. Can someone condense it for me? Which models share frames/engines/trannys, etc? Are there families, or are they all individuals?

I like long wheelbases, long rakes on the front, and LOW seats. That rules out sportsters for me, but otherwise I like pretty scarce amenities. I can add soft bags and a windscreen, but mostly I like the wind in my face and a V-twin between my legs.

Any help to condense the info for me would be appreciated.

I'll be honest, there are only a few Harley riders on the board here. We tend to attract a "younger" more "wild" crowd, so the bike of choice is exactly opposite from yours. I just wanted to warn you that we may be FAR from experts in your desired field of inquiry.

That aside, like I said, I am afraid I personally can't help you. But welcome, anyway!

Hey, all. I'm an experienced rider, 31 and been riding in some form since I was 12. I used my dad's 73 CB350 for years and then bought my own Shadow. I just sold the Shadow and the CB is undergoing a refurb.

Which means that the CB350 will be going back on the road soon(-er or later...)! Good to hear!

I'm a real cruiser guy and I figure I deserve a real-live honest-to-goodness American Harley this time around. Its a pretty confusing world, though.

I've cruised the HD website several times trying to make sense if all the FLHTDVXPRTMW letters. I'm just lost :)

Here's what I need to know. Can someone condense it for me? Which models share frames/engines/trannys, etc? Are there families, or are they all individuals?

I like long wheelbases, long rakes on the front, and LOW seats. That rules out sportsters for me, but otherwise I like pretty scarce amenities. I can add soft bags and a windscreen, but mostly I like the wind in my face and a V-twin between my legs.

Any help to condense the info for me would be appreciated.

There are five current HD families. These are:

Sportsters (XL): These are smaller, more standard bikes. These have undergone a revolutionary change in the 2004 model year in that, prior to 2004, Sportster motors were mounted solidly to the frames, causing the bike to shake like an unbalanced washing machine, especially if they were modded for more power. Since the 2004 model year, a new Sportster frame has been used which uses rubber mounts, making the bike more comfortable but also heavier and a bit less sporting.

The four 2004 Sportster models are:
XL883 - Base Sportster (base Harley, in fact), 883 cc (55") Sportster engine, flat-track handlebars, solo seat, peanut tank.
XL883C - 883 Custom, 883 cc (55") Sportster engine, buckhorn handlebars, dual seat, bigger tank, raked-out forks, forward controls.
XL1200C - 1200 Custom, 1200 cc (74") Sportster engine, buckhorn handlebars, dual seat, bigger tank, raked-out forks, forward controls, more amenities than 883 Custom.
XL1200R - Roadster, 1200 cc (74") Sportster engine, flat-track handlebars, dual seat, peanut tank, standard forks & controls, tach, triple disc brakes.

Dyna (FX): Midsize standard chassis with twin rear shocks. Currently uses rubber-mounted TC88 Big Twin engine without engine balancers. Descendent of the FX Super Glide of 1971.


Dyna models:
FXD Dyna Super Glide: Base Dyna.
FXDX Dyna Super Glide Sport: Dyna with premium suspension components, flat-track handlebars, and triple disc brakes.
FXDL Dyna Low Rider: Dyna with lowered suspension.
FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide: Dyna with ape-hangers, raked-out forks, forward controls, and flamed tank.


Softail (FXST or FLST): Cruiser chassis using hidden rear suspension components designed to make the bike look like it has a rigid rear suspension (hardtail) like all Harleys before 1952 and all big Harleys before the early '60s. Currently uses rigid-mounted TC88B Big Twin engine with engine balancers. FX models use either thin forks as used on Dynas (and maybe Sportsters...) or Springer forks that are unique to the Softail line (at least on stock bikes...) while FL models use either big forks as used on Touring models or the Springer forks. All 2005 Softails are available with fuel injection, and these have an "I" at the end of the designation, e.g. FXSTI is a basic FXST with fuel injection.

Softail models:
FXST Softail Standard: Basic Softail model, usually used as a starting point for customized Softails.
FXSTB Night Train:: Softail with flat-track handlebars, blacked-out engine finish, blacked-out chrome trim, and available in black or red only.
FLSTF Fat Boy: Softail with FL forks, big chrome headlight and disc wheels.
FXSTS Springer Softail: Softail with Springer forks and buckhorn handlebars
FLSTC Heritage Softail: Retro-styled Softail with tall windshield and leather-covered hard saddlebags.
I forgot about the FXSTD Softail Deuce with the stretched tank (that actually holds less fuel than the regular tank...). There are other new ones too, like the Springer Classic and the Softail Deluxe.


V-Rod (VRSC): "Modern" muscle bike based on the technology (but not the actual components) of H-D's unsuccessful SuperBike endeavours. Liquid-cooled DOHC bike in the midst of air-cooled pushrod engines. The most mortifying part is that this "ultra modern" Harley muscle bike still can't hold a candle to the Yamaha V-Max, a design that was over 15 years old when the V-Rod entered production. The VRSCA is the base version while the VRSCB has a blacked out frame and engine.


Touring (FL) This is the evolution of the basic Big Harley, a mile-eating highway Hog. Currently uses rubber-mounted TC88 Big Twin engine without engine balancers.

Touring models:
FLH Electra Glide Standard: Very basic Electra Glide with no amenities and no trunk on the tail. Usually used as a starting point for customized Electra-Glides.
FLHTC Electra Glide Classic: Electra Glide with creature comforts, including a radio. Fuel injected version called FLHTCI.
FLHR Road King: Touring chassis with BIG chrome headlight and tall, detachable windshield instead of the Electra Glide's "batwing" fairing. No trunk on the tail. Fuel injected version called the FLHRI.
FLHTI Road Glide: Touring chassis with angular, streamlined "Tour Glide" fairing instead of the Electra Glide's "batwing" fairing. No trunk on the tail. All current Road Glides use fuel injection.
FLHRCI Road King Classic: Road King with premium retro styling. No trunk on the tail. All Road King Classics use fuel injection.
FLHTCUI Electra Glide Ultra Classic: Electra Glide with even more creature comforts, including a CD player, CB radio, and intercom. All Ultra Classics use fuel injection.

Hope that helps.

.......
now THATS information!

Very good Info SamBlob!

My suggestion would be to look over what your needs are, find the bike that suits your needs and spend a hundred bucks to rent one for the day. Take it through traffic, ride some twisties and so forth.

Right off of the bat I would suggest a Dyna (FX) series. It is a good all around bike. It offers the best ride aside from a FL frame (I have a FLHR Road King). I had a Dyna-Glide and it was a great bike, but I needed more of a touring bike. The sportsters are fast but don't hold there value as well. I don't, but seems most everybody else on big twins look down on a sporty rider, unless your a girl.

Damn SamBlob now thats how you come correct. I like all the info submited, even bein a rocket man I still had to read those numbers.

I would stay away from Harley, unless you want to learn how to work on it.

I guess you need to stay with whatever you ride now, you are incorrect in saying to stay away from a harley unless you wrench. I have a 2000 FLHT a 1999 M2 Buell and I also ride a BUSA for the hell of it (and the 186 MPH top speed) I ride each for a drifferent reason none due to the amount of wrench time required. everyone need to remember that most harley riders from times past had bikes put together by the nice people of AMF (you may not remember back that far) or try and tune there harleys to go fast, then you may start to wrench more then wanted. Just buy what you want, say hey to everyone on two wheel, sometimes 3, or if me on one wheel (not on the flht) and judge people for how they act, not what they ride.

Roomate just bought an 04 vrscb front set footpegs and controls, long rake on the front fork, very low seat and it feels like you're strapped onto the top of a stinger missile. Best of all, it's a harley aaand you can give the sportbike guys a run for their money on the straights. I'd definitely recommend it. It's non traditional but HD all the way.

I would stay away from Harley, unless you want to learn how to work on it.

You don't know what you are talking about! Just because you prefer a sport bike does not give you the right to slam a cruiser.

I've had several Harley's and the only work that has had to be done was normal maintenance, of which I do myself. I visit the sport bike shops and there service area always seems full as well.

I ride a Harley and would love to have a sport bike also, and maybe will someday.

In the wind, is in the wind. No matter what your riding as long as your riding.

the next time your rear sturgis i have 300.000 friends that would TALK to the guy slamming harleys

Just a personal opinion without all of the data- unless you're eyeing a V-Rod, or you're a serious Harley traditionalist, Softail Standards and Dueces, and Wide Glides are the cleanest, coolest Harleys out there right now.
I'm also kind of an old CB Honda guy, and I've ridden both a newer Fat Boy, and Softail Duece. The Duece is where it's at. That tall front tire, nice rake, and low seating position are awefully damn smooth.