2009 wolf

[partycrasher]

I have been looking at the 2009 wolf, on line, and i love the overall look of the bike. My local dealer does not have any so i am limited to the pics on the net. Not sure about the smaller rear tire--as opposed to the 300 and 330's i have become used to.

What do people think about the bike? Like it--don't like it--and why.

 

[KnotSo]

as opposed to the 300 and 330's i have become used to.

What do u have now that has the 300/330 that you are used to?

 

[Thumper169]

Love the wolf but the smaller tire is a little different but not bad thing. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and either you love it or dont,

 

[Raywood]

What do people think about the bike? Like it--don't like it--and why.

Love the new;

23" front wheel
styling que's
new speedometer (will be coming as retrofit for older bikes)
new handlebars and speedo mount (more room under it)
that new engine
clean left side rear wheel
smooth front end
line flow from tank to rear fender struts (looks like all one piece)
luggage mounts on the struts (hope leather bags are available)
EFI

Don't like;

not in a chopper style
headlight
new speedometer! All idiot lights and tach are included
single downtube but works with this model (no place to mount stuff)

 

[partycrasher]

Knotso--the last few years i have been lucky enought to have an 07k-9 , bourget python chopper (330 tire) and a harley bagger. Sold the k-9 and the pyhton at the end of last year.

so--i have been thinking about an 07/08 mastiff that i can put some real power to--or step into the new09 wolf. The mastiff's are available at a reasonable price...the wolf--is still a bit pricey, but certainly reasonable for what it is. Not having been able to see a wolf in person--i am seeking others opinions.

Thx raywood for the great pics of the wolf!! Has anyone been lucky enough to test ride a wolf--if so--please post riding impressions. I hav eread the reviews on line....but most of that is journalism.

 

[erldawg]

It's my understanding that due to the geometry of the bike and handing characteristics BD decided to place a thinner tire on the rear as apposed to a 300 or 330. I can see why after sitting on one.
I would love to test drive the Wolf however, snow and ice put the ca bash on it..

I would suggest test driving one for sure.... my :zz2cents:

 

[REMorris]

Here's my opinion:

cons-
1. Rear tire is way too skinny, looks wrong (if you buy one, you will probably hear this behind your back, get ready for this comment)
2. the engine is what I read as a smogger. it's designed to meet future smog rules.This is a weak complaint, but then it's just my opinion.
3. the engine is more than likely not going to have the same sound since it is not the same angle on the 2 cylinders. Again, I haven't heard a Wolf run yet so this is maybe not a truth.
4. I really don't like the flat sided tank. I don't like the new Pitbulls because of that same reason. This in general is my dislike of board track styled bikes.
5. It's too expensive

pros-
1. great flowing lines (sideview)
2. it's full chrome as standard
3. the seat was more comfortable than my Mastiff
4. It feels like it has a softer rear suspension my Mastiff.

I would certainly make sure I got a test ride before I bought one. Even if this means you have to go to the BDM factory.

Richard

 

[Eric]

over all bike looks awesome, would like a wider rear wheel & tire, i'd love to test ride, but dealer here only has 07 models

 

[Vegas]

It's the most comfortable big dog I have ever sat on. It's a show bike though. Your pant legs are going to wreak havoc on the paint around the seat. I still want one

 

[partycrasher]

rode the wolf..........

yesterday--i jumped on a plane an flew to a bigdog dealership to ride the 09 wolf. the weather wasn't great--18 degrees......but hey--after waking up in really cold weather -17 below zero, it seemed like a heat wave.

Here are some impressions of the bike--please remember that these are my impressions of the bike--and yours may differ--first--it is just awesome looking. The fit and finish is top shelf! The handling for a near 10 foot long bike is fantastic. The ride is smooth smooth smooth and the smaller rear tires allows you to push through corners aggressively. My buddy was on an 07 bulldog--and he had a hell of a time keeping up in corners...in fact--he just couldn't. There is NO vibration from this bike. In fact after getting off the wolf and getting onto the bulldog--i felt like i was going backwards in time about 10 years.

The seating postion is excellent. I suspect you can ride this bike all day long and never get fatigued. The controls are standard big dog friendly. The brakes are very good and quicks stops are not a problem. The chassis sucks up loads of street bumps and you never feel tossed around in the saddle. The fuel injection seems spot on--although the rev. limiter kicks in at 4k for the first 500 miles. The motor is silent, smooth and emits a great exhaust note. It is much like a 45-degree vtwin.


My only concern--so so performance from the 121 cubic inch x-wedge mill. This bike is plugged up like a bear hibernating in the winter. The 117 bigdog that had some aftermarket pipes pullled away from me....and it took all i could do to stay on his rear tire. The wolf is clearly designed to make it's power at or near the 4k rpm. BUT--the power that it is making is -best guess--...100-110TQ at best. I would suspect that the average rider is not looking for a hot-rod motor in a 10 foot long bike....and that the power it is making is sufficient. After all--it does pull nicely and certainly gets out of it's own way--But for 121 cubic inches of displacement, there should have been more. This bike is so epa compiant--that it just pissed me off to no end!!! it needs to breathe--and from what i know at the moment--no aftermarket pipes are yet available...i am told mid february. I suspect that pipes, and a hi-flo filter will wake it up---but to really do this thing justice--a fuel map mod is needed...but that's an epa no no.

Overall--despite hoping for more power--the bike gets a B+....and yes--it is worth every penny they are asking for it. It is the best looking production custom i have ever seen--hands down. If you buy this bike--you will be bombarded with questions everywhere you go!! I just can't give it an A because i needed more from the 121 mill....which i assume is in it--and just needs to be let out. when that happens--A+++ will be my rating....so i will wait and see what BIG DOG and the aftermarket come out with, and then ride again-- this time with my checkbook close at hand.

 

[06Mastiff_shawn]

Great review and thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Infinitro]

Nice writeup pc. Very thorough. I suspect someone will come up with a tuner and you will be able to go to your local shop and have any and everything done for you. There is always a way around the factory tune and someone will figure it out if they have not already. Fuel map on the bike may also change after the break in period. Just my $.02

 

[partycrasher]

as it stands....once some pipes come out--i guess one could--HYPOTHETICALLY--get a thunder max ecm and install it and run any map you want....

....maybe some of the folks on this board with more technical knowledge could chime in.

 

[slowrower]

Thanks for the great review .. its on my buy list for this year .. guess I am getting to dam old and want a softer ride and better handling than my 07 Mastiff.

 

[Gas Man]

It's the most comfortable big dog I have ever sat on. It's a show bike though. Your pant legs are going to wreak havoc on the paint around the seat. I still want one

Maybe a little paint protection film... should fix that problem

But I was thinkin the same thing.

 

[Cutter]

I am definately in the minority here, and I agree that the fit and finish look great...

I don't like the looks at all :down:, even though I do like the new Pitbulls :2thumbs:...

 

[Coolbreeze]

The smaller tire is so you can turn the damn thing. It really rides nice. You can lean it around turns very nicely. And believe it or not that little seat is comfortable.

 

[REMorris]

The smaller tire is so you can turn the damn thing. It really rides nice. You can lean it around turns very nicely. And believe it or not that little seat is comfortable.

I really don't think anyone has run the bike down for the way it handles. And I have sat on one and bounced the suspension up and down. I complimented it on both seat and suspension.

The skinny rear tire just doesn't look like a good part of the design. And I still think the engine is probably not as strong as the 117's. (read my earlier post)

That's my opinion. The wide back tire, performance and sound of the new Mastiff was what I liked about Big Dog in the first place and why I bought one.

Richard

 

[Mickeetwo]

Thanks for the review partycrasher. The wolf looks good from a side view. Just don't like the smaller tire on the back. I wish BDM would put a 360mm on there K9's or Ridgebacks. I just like the bigger back tires.

 

[partycrasher]

i too had mixed reviews about the back tire....but let me say this---the bike is so freaking awesome rolling down the road--that no-one....and i mean no-one --is going to stop you and say--hey too bad the tire is so small..............this bike looks and rides the bomb! i have a python chopper with a 330 tire---and it looks awesome....but i would wager that this big dog--at 1/2 the cost of the python....will get twice as many looks....and --will out handle it all day long.