1st ride after accessorizing PROS and CONS of the bike

[wjduke]

I kind of know what he meant. I do miss the noise and rumble a bit. It did feel like my VTX1300R would come alive when rolling the throttle, in a primal kind of way. Blipping the throttle at red lights just sounded cool. lol

But I love how responsive and smooth the F6B is, and wouldn't go back.

I don't see any of the CONS that the OP mentioned. I did replace the windshield with a slightly taller one, but that was more because I thought the tinted version looks better.

My thoughts exactly. My friend has an Indian. I rode it and it's what I said to him....you feel like you're riding a motorcycle more, in that noisy kind of way. I had an M109 and there's no comparison. I'll take this bike.

[pilotguy299]

My thoughts exactly. My friend has an Indian. I rode it and it's what I said to him....you feel like you're riding a motorcycle more, in that noisy kind of way. I had an M109 and there's no comparison. I'll take this bike.

Yeah, and even though the VTX had good torque from a start, it just isn't as much as there is with the F6B. First "enthusiastic" start I did with the F6B, I thought I was going to fall off backwards!

[LPMojo]

53driver and Steve 0080, you guys are cracking me up.
I don't get the dance. Rather, I think of the motorcycle as a modern day horse. Or, I admit, sometimes when on the Harley NT I feel like I'm riding one of those Stormtrooper speeder bikes from Return of the Jedi.


I get the soulless thing. I remember when my bro in law brought over his VTX1800. Faster and better handling than my NT. But it had no soul. I just kept thinking it over and over, no soul.
With the NT, I'm thoroughly engaged with the bike from the second I sit in the saddle til I get off. Starting it up, rolling on the throttle, it's this wonderful production of rider and bike going together down the road in harmony. You can feel every horse the thing has rumbling underneath you.
I admit, after 12 years of riding it, my NT fits me like a glove. It's always in the sweet spot, from cracking the throttle til hitting the rev limiter. I can thrash it and it has just the right amount of power and torque, so I never feel underpowered, nor do I overdrive my abilities. I just ride the heck out of it, and it's abundant fun.

I was concerned the F6 would be more like the VTX, all vanilla, no personality. But it has it! That f6 motor has personality. It's different, but it's no boring ride. I'm excited about it and looking forward to many years of riding that sucker and getting it to fit me as well or better than the NT.

Yeah, and even though the VTX had good torque from a start, it just isn't as much as there is with the F6B. First "enthusiastic" start I did with the F6B, I thought I was going to fall off backwards!

That's funny. I took my gf on a ride. She's only ever ridden on the back of my Harley with a back rest. She's not very experienced. She doesn't like to ride so much, or go fast, feel the wind. Everything I love. Part of getting the F6 was hoping a smoother, more comfortable bike would be enjoyable for her. So, on her first ride, I told her to use the handrails or hold onto me real tight. We get going and she's holding on real tight. She's not anticipating the take offs and stops, and is all over the place. Finally, she seems like she's getting in the groove of things. So, I leave a stop light into a left turn, come out of first and hit second pretty good. Her feet come off the pegs as her grip on me is slipping and she disappears from my peripheral vision. I let off and ask if she's ok. She yells at me, "My feet came off the pegs!!!" I told her to hold on. At least she didn't roll off the back. I have a feeling I'll be riding the F6 alone more often than not, just like the Night Train. Oh well!!!

[stevenolts]

I rode 4 Harley's at the Demos in Panama City Beach this past week.
I rode all for 45 mins each unescorted.

I have always thought that the Harley's were under powered compared to the F6B.
I must admit after riding the 103 and 110 motors they are not that bad if you thrash the hell out of them.

I rode the following bikes:

Fatboy S 110 motor
Very good power / felt like I was being blown off without a windshield / love that it feels like you are in the bike
(my previous bike was a Fatboy set up similar to the Heritage Classic without the Village people theme)

Road Glide with tour pack 103 motor
nice power / better with wind management fairing / seated not as in the bike as the Fatboy

Heritage Classic 103 motor
Plenty of power / nice handling / comfortable bike / all the added features I like / sit in the bike, mini apes, windshield, seat hieght, bags etc...

Street Glide CVO 110 motor
Love this bikes power for a Harley / nice fairing / ride on top not in bike /
I rode this like I stold it 125 on highway / 110 in long sweeping back roads
I enjoyed this bike.

F6B 1800
Best of all / even after riding all the best of Harley
more comfort / power / wind protection / quiet (I could hear the stereo better) / better stereo

Summary:

I like the quiet F6B (for all the features mentioned above)
on long trips it is so much better than the Harley / I do enjoy the Harley for blasting around town
On the F6B I still find myself bleeping the throttle at most stop signs just like when I was on the Harley accept now the sound is more exotic sports car like.
Steve

[adventurous1]

Not sure what you are talking about when you say you miss the power of the Roadliner. Is the B too much for you? Cause the B is making 25 more HP at the rear wheel than your Yammy. Only 6 more ft. lbs. of torque , but its there. You say it has no soul. That extra 25 HP shows me some soul. There is two things all of us on this forum knows , you don't have to make noise to make power and just cause you're making a lot of noise doesn't mean you're making power. I used to ride with a guy that had a Roadliner. Nice bike. Wouldn't run with my B. I've got a new Ultimate King also. Don't notice myself slipping around any. Didn't know Klockwercks made a 12 inch. Knew about the 14 and 16 inch. Good luck with all your issues.

When mentioning the liner's power wasn't specifically addressing the slight difference in the B's HP. Meant that with the Liner's massive 2 cylinders it feels like I'm on a motorcycle. At least to what I'm used to. May keep the liner for around town, and though I've pounded her hard with the massive cylinders repeatedly thrusting for about 60K miles and she kept begging for more (yes keeping with the sprinkling of porn subject matter), the B (though I'd prefer DD's) serves me quite well for the long rides.

With the liner, traveling to, and thru, the mtns to Zion, Bryce, Moab, Jackson Hole, Telluride, Banff, up the Pacific Coast, Bend OR, McCall ID, Glacier national Park, etc., etc. with 300-400 mile days left the body rather worn. So, the B's definitely going to be the bike - and, I'm not a racking up miles guy. I like going helmet-less along the vast 2 lane hwys enjoying the breathtaking majestic visitas of a 300 -400 mile, 10 hr day with multi stops for breathing in the purple mtns majesty and amber waves of grain, the mom and pop coffee houses, the local breweries to partake in the local flavors. Unfortunately to get to those lone 2 lane hwys, I have to use the interstate to get me thru Southern Cal to UT, or Southern Cal to AZ to begin memorable journeys.

Yes, my Werks shield is a 14 not a 12. May have to move to a 16 next season.

[adventurous1]

Oh, and similar to my initial 370 ish mile trip home from the dealer, I had to once again remind myself that the B is not a car - especially now w/ the Ergo III's. Yesterday, had the tunes blasting heading North on interstate 5 toward the mtns, and nonchalantly glanced down at the speedo to see that's I'm doing 80 plus Whewwww daddy.

[53driver]

Oh, and similar to my initial 370 ish mile trip home from the dealer, I had to once again remind myself that the B is not a car - especially now w/ the Ergo III's. Yesterday, had the tunes blasting heading North on interstate 5 toward the mtns, and nonchalantly glanced down at the speedo to see that's I'm doing 80 plus Whewwww daddy.

You can give yourself a bit more road feel by taking a few turns on the suspension pre-load. If I'm set to less than 10 clicks, that speedo needle goes clockwise in a hurry....

[Old Ryder]

You can have thump and you can have smooth----but never on the same bike.

At this point in life I choose smooth. ( To go along with dependable, maintanence free, powerful and some other words to describe my B)