Lean on Me
Clearly, the Harley Wide Glide is not a motorcycle that puts handling at the top of its list of desirable attributes. Though steering is light and fairly responsive initially, as it leans over, it starts to resist and starts to feel somewhat uncertain and less willing to bend much deeper into the corner. Though cornering clearance is not excessive, I wasn't comfortable leaning over far enough to drag the bike, although it would do so when I forced the issue. I attribute this uneasiness to clashing responses caused by the skinny front tire and wider rear tire and the somewhat extreme rake, which has also been increased by two degrees from the previous iteration.
A skinny tire means you don't...
A skinny tire means you don't want too much brake. One disc is plenty.
This latests Wide Glide also wasn't as stable as I expected, especially with all that steering-head rake. If you give the handlebar a hard shake at highway speeds, the Wide Glide takes longer than the average big cruiser to settle down again. There are situations where this imparts a slightly uneasy feeling to the bike.
That narrow front tire obviously doesn't provide a lot of traction for braking, though during my panic-stop tests I got more braking force than I expected before it let go (after fair warning). Brake feel and control is good at both ends, and Harley's new stouter fork and frame make things feel a bit more connected and less dramatic as you begin to over-brake the front.
Not that I really believe that the typical Harley-Davidson Wide Glide buyer cares much about such things. If handling, braking, and even comfort matter to you, then you should be looking at one of the other Dyna models--any other Dyna model--because frankly the Wide Glide doesn't give a damn. The first three items on its agenda are attitude, head-turning power, and looks--and the rest of the list doesn't matter. In fact, its target is so far from functionality that it almost doesn't make sense to road test this Harley-Davidson. The surprise is that the redesigned FXDWGI is as acceptable to ride as it turned out to be, despite the fact it simply wasn't trying to make a good impression for a road tester. If you want to ride attitude and are willing to suffer some to do so, then take a ride on a Wide Glide.
The tank-top ignition switch...
The tank-top ignition switch allows you to remove the key after unlocking it.
SPECIFICATIONS
2006 Harley-Davidson FXDWGI Dyna Wide Glide
Suggested base price: $16,620
Standard colors: Black
Optional colors: Silver pearl, black cherry pearl, black pearl, blue pearl, cobalt pearl, white pearl, yellow pearl, brandwine sunglow, add $285; blue/blue, black cherry/black, red/black add $585
Engine type: Air-cooled 45-degree tandem V-twin
Valve arrangement: OHV, one intake, one exhaust, operated by pushrods, hydraulic adjusters
Displacement, bore x stroke: 1450cc, 95.2 x 101.5 mm
Compression ratio: 8.9:1
Carburetion: EFI
Transmission: 6 speeds
Final drive: Belt
Seat height: 28.5 in.
Wet weight: 680 lb.
GVWR: 1085 lb.
Fuel capacity: 5.1 gal.
Wheelbase: 68.3 in.
Overall length: 97.5 in.
Rake/trail: 34o/5.1 in.
Front tire: MH90-21 Dunlop tube-type
Rear tire: 160/70B17 Dunlop tube-type
Front brake: 4-piston calipers, 11.8-in. discs
Rear brake: 4-piston caliper, 11.5-in. disc
Front suspension: 49mm stanchions, 5.0 in. travel
Rear suspension: 2 dampers, 4.1 in. travel, adjustable for spring preload
Fuel mileage: 37 to 51 mpg, 43.6 mpg average
Additional motorcycle road tests and comparisons are available at the Road Tests section of www.MotorcycleCruiser.com.