I sometimes get dirty when I see a rider or nonrider criticize Harley's based on outdated information or some guy doing a review while riding in a straight line. Why not test the bikes limitations from stock. What about modifacations, the fact is most bikes get modified for one reason or another, Throw a pipe on your bike and remap we set your back roughly the same on any bike. So why not test them out at different Stages, Stock, Stage1 and Stage2 would cover most riders. Lets look a one model, the Fatbob 103 and test it's outer limits in cornering. A Stage1 or Stage 2 will get the most out of a Fatbob103. There easy to ride and fun through the corners and would make an easy upgrade from a Street 500. This bike is a Stage2.

 

It's all a bit relative, the main limitation with HDs is the cornering angle limit.

A bike with a max cornering angle of just over 30 degrees is never going to 'handle' as well in tight corners as one with a max cornering angle of just over 45 degrees and there is only so far one can shift body weight to compensate for limitations in cornering angle.

Thats why a good rider on a Buell (for example) will be faster through the same set of tight corners than the same rider on a big twin (or why I was faster on my V11 Le Mans than I am on my Dyna).

Once the road opens up and the bikes are travelling through open sweepers its more about damping and suspension travel and the difference becomes more about suspension performance but even then a twin shock rear end is going to have a hard time matching other better performing rear suspension systems.

None of the above should be taken to mean that I don't love HDs (I do) but I love them because they're great cruisers not because they're sports bikes *hint* they aren't.
 

What are yas goin on about,,,, Harleys are the best handlin Tractors in the World !

Droping off the seat like a grand prix rider makes it look like hard work..I prefer to slow down and enjoy the ride,one of the reasons I bought a Harley and the main reason I ride by myself so I don't have to feel oblidged to try and keep up...But good video all the same...

I usually ride like that and shift my weight in the very tight stuff.
Good to see you pretty much stayed on the left side of the road.
I get pissed of with guys who think they can ride, but at the first sign of a corner, they cross over the white line.
I agree about being annoyed with non HD riders or others criticizing Harleys.
As I always say, It's not the bike, it's how you ride it.

I've done my time on Sportsbikes and found my nature to be "I can do that a little faster..." Had more than one off, but the last one left me with some bad shit messing with my mind - I still clench up in turns on occasion, even at low speeds, for no reason.
I bought a crusier so I would live longer and keep my licence. Fuck what anyone else thinks.

I live off The Old Pacific Highway north of Sydney and love getting out and riding it to Various place's and back.
I cruise though ( 84 Evo softail, slightly bobbed and Stroked) singing Easy Rider Tracks in my mind and wearing out my boots first before pegs going round corners.
Bliss, fuck trying to be a Stoner (Hmm) or Doohan.

+1 Sparra. Love the smell of cowshit on a lazy country road, not the smell of your own shit when you nearly get cleaned up by a cage halfway over your side of the road!

yeee haaaar

In my opinion the person in the video looks like a goose all over the seat like that. Who are they trying to be? The next Rossi or Stoner? If you want to ride in that manner through corners, get a bloody sports bike FFS.  As for the shoulder bag constantly moving about, that would piss me off big time every time I was going into a corner.

Agree with 06 softail , that guy is a goose also , gas terrible form into corners leaning onto the other side of the road , and body leaning to one side and head top half to the other lol , go to a riding school

It's all a bit relative the lean angle of a Harley is 30% and a Sportsbike 45%. Most model Harley's on the right hand side won't get 30% due to the pipes. This video isn't about track racing on the road, thanks for the comparison of Doohan etc, but honestly they'd be gone in the first corner. This is more about the limitations of Harley's and one way to get around these limitations using body movement and using all of your side of the road, not race track lines. Two different lines. One using all of the smooth race circuit with one way traffic, the other is our public road used by all creatures great and small. Perhaps a little more time needed to be spent comparing engine noise with a bike being ridden hard on the brakes as well as the throttle. Any rider worth there salt can hear the bike being ridden in a very controlled way, in fact most of the video is done with no brakes, only the hill, the gears and body movement to get through the corners. I chose a Harley because most of my riding is cruising, this bike does that well. My 2005 Anniversary Fatboy with side steps had a few keys on her,184000klms, what a great bike and when you went into a corner to hard you soon learnt what the sound of limitation means. There's nothing wrong with learning how to punt your Harley around a corner, and there's nothing wrong with having a bit of fear about coming off. Its not the bike, it's the rider that constantly needs to be aware of there ability and seek to be better.

I criticize Harleys for poor handling braking and the amount of power they produce for cubic capacity. But it still isn't enough to stop me owning one.

Harley's go very well for what they are with good suspension and a brace on the gearbox.

Whatever your ride is, it's really about the connection you have with your bike. Does it rock your boat. I have a 1966 Triumph as well, totally different feelings on the old girl, not the type of bike in stock form to push around to much, however with a bit of work a fun machine to have in the garage. Harley's throughout history have stood the test of time and part of ownership is customize your ride. New Harley's from the showroom floor to a Stage 2 gain roughly 30+HP and Torque. One way to look at it is learn to ride it then upgrade as you go for a faster and better handling bike. set up for your taste. Anyway my old man was a biker and he loved his English and American bikes. He loved to drink, get stoned, speak shit with his mates and listen to music. The bikes I have now remind me of family and those crazy nights so long ago. Dave Allen Co was one of his favourites and this song reflexes ownership when it comes to a Tractor.
 

 

Go around 2.15 in the video.....you were not in the USA a month ago....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN4tv5HtVv0

I think he is slightly more crazy.??

That silly looking chopper trying to corner that came around after the leg dragger Cracked me up thought he was going to fall over.

Winnebagos and Ferraris are very good at their intended purpose but lousy at each others.

So what your telling me is No one on this forum rides there Harley faster than there intended purpose or modifies there bike to go faster. Bullshit.