Minus the Vrod series, what is the difference between Harley Davidson models,

B

Bart barthole

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The biggest thing you can notice is the way the suspension is different. dyna and sportster are similar with shock. The softail has a swing arm that provides a old school hard tail look. The touring line often often has the shock and an air ride suspension making thoses long trips much more comfortable. The differences make look trivial on line but to the experienced rider they make a difference. It is also note worthy that the 09 touring models came with a much more rigid frame and larger rear tire. This all equates to a smoother ride. All s have a special place place in the motorcycle world. weather the long haul tourer like the road king. or sexy look of the springer softtail on your night out with the boys. They have famously for sometime now become what can appeal to any type of motorcycle rider.
 
are they just different sizes?
They all look alike and the website uses descriptions like "braided fuel lines" "exposed battery box" "5 gallon fuel tank"...but don't they all have the same engine (minus the sportster or vrod)?
 
I'm no expert on harleys, but there are at least five different chassis: sportster, softail, Dyna, bagger, glide. That is just what I have picked up in my general reading over the years. There have also been changes in chasis design, adding such features as flexible engine mounts to damp vibration. Someone knowledgeable can probably give you the correct terminology. I doubt if anyone but a factory expert could run down all the model variations, even for the current year.
 
no some are actuall road bikes like the F.L.H.T.C.U.I. full touring bike,some are just cruisers [softails] some are light to light bar hoppers [sportsters] The Roadking is an actual highway bike.
 
Different sizes but also different engine types. Some might use Evolution type engine such as the Sportster Line ups. Or some variation or the Twin Cam either 110 or 103 now these are models 2007 and up. Before that time frame there are a multitude of engines but the concept hasn't strayed far since Harley's induction. Good,quality bikes built for touring at a reasonable price. I think the revolution engine is the way of the future for H-D. I think they could make some great liquid cool touring bikes or maybe a few nice entry sport bikes with that set up. But I hear the reason Harley doesn't make liquid cooled bikes is because it will ruin the lines on their cruisers.
 
Basically the same cake with different frosting....not just with models this year but going back 70+ years. A 900 knucklehead from the 1920's was the same antique 40 horsepower as the 883 sportster of today.

Compare that with any other brand of motorcycle. Honda for instance makes dozens of completely different bikes with completely different engines, 1, 2, 4, 6, cylinder, air or water cooled, Harley builds an antique V-twin period. Honda makes bikes from totally off road to the most luxurious touring bike, Harley builds crusiers period. And in 5 or 10 years Honda's bikes will in a large part be radically improved upon, leaving this years bike not worth much because there is better performance in a newer model.

The reason a 10 or 20 or 30 year old harley is still worth alot is that it is not that different from today's harley.
 
Basically the same cake with different frosting....not just with models this year but going back 70+ years. A 900 knucklehead from the 1920's was the same antique 40 horsepower as the 883 sportster of today.

Compare that with any other brand of motorcycle. Honda for instance makes dozens of completely different bikes with completely different engines, 1, 2, 4, 6, cylinder, air or water cooled, Harley builds an antique V-twin period. Honda makes bikes from totally off road to the most luxurious touring bike, Harley builds crusiers period. And in 5 or 10 years Honda's bikes will in a large part be radically improved upon, leaving this years bike not worth much because there is better performance in a newer model.

The reason a 10 or 20 or 30 year old harley is still worth alot is that it is not that different from today's harley.
 
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