Wolf: Bar Bike or Touring?

Energy One
SKOGDOG

SKOGDOG

One of the old ones.
Been looking at Bulldog Baggers and for the last few days, and got distracted by the beauty of the Wolf. Having second thoughts about the Wolf as a long distance bike. Anyone out there who has ridden one for a tour of say...a week of 500 mile days? Any way to have a backrest? Or should I forget about the Wolf and get a Bagger?
I know they didn't make very many of them and the ones I being sold seem to have low mileage...sure would appreciate some counsel on this issue....hate the thought of spending that much on a bike that is a poor fit for my riding needs.
 
V

Viking

Biker
Interesting question, I am wondering the same as I am looking for that one owner, low miles, fully documented, 2003 Harley Ultra Classic to pop up for sale below $10K in the neighborhood. No need to keep a Harley stock so I would change more items than what it might be worth and have played with the thought of a BDM bagger instead... Hopefully someone chimes in....
 
SKOGDOG

SKOGDOG

One of the old ones.
I'm pretty confident the Bagger would be comfortable for longer days. Floorboards, forward controls. Good reviews too, but not from long hauls. Kinda wonder about a backrest, tho. On the K9, I just put the T-Bag on the passenger pad and lean back against that. Works great. Not too sure the geometry is the same on the Bagger--or Wolf for that matter.
Can't help but think someone like Seatmaker could fashion a backrest out of a Bagger solo seat that would provide some lumbar support. It really doesn't take too much back there to really help my scrawny 150 lb ass....
And the Wolf seat sits down in the frame..dunno how you'd modify that.
Blacktopper was studying the Wolf and asked about comfort on long hauls, and Got me to thinking.....it's the most beautiful bike out there, but I have to ba able to keep up with the miles Roger stacks...a chore on some days....
 
KnotSo

KnotSo

Admin
Staff member
Ray and I rode the first Bagger and Wolf and we liked both. Only spent an hour or so, but I would ride a Wolf long distance and not be concerned. It is longer than my Mastiff but it handles very well, great throttle response and is comfortable. If you buy one, pay my airfare and I will ride it across country for you.
 
TapioK

TapioK

Well-Known Member
Why wouldn't it work! Just get an Airhawk cushion and you are good to go! I just did 3700 mikes trip on my K9, no backrest, no problem.


Tapio
 
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FrankBDPS

FrankBDPS

Well-Known Member
If I could do it financially I would be riding a Wolf. They are the best looking Big Dogs built. But doing a lot of mods to these bikes does not always look the best sometimes.

And I have to say I hate all you lucky fuckers who get to ride all those miles. It's cold already here in Ohio. After working 10 hours and driving an hour home last night I got my bike out for a short burn. Saw three deer in the road in fifteen minutes and said fuck this and went home.

You all ride safe!
 
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Th3InfamousI

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
TapioK said:
Why wouldn't it work! Just get an Airhawk cushion and you are good to go! I just did 3700 mikes trip on my K9, no backrest, no problem.


Tapio
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With an airhawk? Those things don't look great it doesn't slide around?

Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk
 
Th3InfamousI

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
pknowles said:
what about the x-wedge motors??
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Chacha a member here has one I think on his BBC and I remember on his cross country trip the belt broke. I think if it's stock it needs an update on some parts from S&S

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Nukeranger

Nukeranger

Nukeranger
I have used an air hawk twice for long trips in 10 years. Once on the Bonneville America and once on the Ridgeback. They do work well, don't slip around, and can easily extend your seat time. It's a little weird at first and you have to adjust the air pressure and position but it doesn't take much to get it like you need it. You only need about a half inch of air space between your butt and seat to be comfortable. I would only use it to get to where I am going and get back home from a multiple day bike trip if that makes sense.
 
TapioK

TapioK

Well-Known Member
Nukeranger said:
I have used an air hawk twice for long trips in 10 years. Once on the Bonneville America and once on the Ridgeback. They do work well, don't slip around, and can easily extend your seat time. It's a little weird at first and you have to adjust the air pressure and position but it doesn't take much to get it like you need it. You only need about a half inch of air space between your butt and seat to be comfortable. I would only use it to get to where I am going and get back home from a multiple day bike trip if that makes sense.
Click to expand...
Yep, the key is to have as liitle air that is needed to barely rise your butt from seat.


Tapio
 
J

jsmuth

Member
I have a 2012 Street Glide custom and a 2009 BDM Wolf. IMHO the Wolf is a bar hopper. 200 miles in 1 day and I'm feeling it. 500 miles on the Glide no problem!
 
Jwooky

Jwooky

Well-Known Member
jsmuth said:
I have a 2012 Street Glide custom and a 2009 BDM Wolf. IMHO the Wolf is a bar hopper. 200 miles in 1 day and I'm feeling it. 500 miles on the Glide no problem!
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Why do you think that is, stiffer suspension, the seat, windshield?
 
BadDawg Bill

BadDawg Bill

Well-Known Member
You guys might hate what I have to say but this is how I feel at 63 yrs old...

The BD chopper is great for around town bar hoppin and gets a lot of attention. But for anything over 150 miles it's tough on the butt and back. I also had to Old school wire it to get there and back.

My 1996 custom built soft tail 107 S&S and Revtech 6 speed is great for Short trips no longer than 250 - 300 miles. Keep the speed down to below 80 mph and all is good. It's only let me down 3 times in 20 years...

My 2002 Harley FLH custom bagger with a 5 speed is good for nothing.... Can't wait to sell it... Slow, uncomfortable and vibrates so much you get an instant headache. Looks great but that's standing still...

My 2005 Road Star 1700 (102 CI) is smooth, always starts and can be ridden as long as you can stay awake. It looks like an old Knuckle head and handles better than any bike I've ever owned. It's a REAL pain in the ass to work on but then again it seldom needs work... I rode this bike from Tampa to Key West at an average of 90 mph + (460 miles) and got off and partied all night long. The best bike I've ever owned... and I've had a ton of Harleys and custom built bikes... The best thing about it? I've got just $7k into it..... 4th gear take it up to 80 mph and hit 5th and you are gone, hang on..you can still see out the mirrors... Something Harley/Baker/Revtech should have done with their gearing... No Harley can keep up with it and the cost to maintain it is a joke... It's really nice to wake up and know the bike will start, run great, get you there and get you home all with comfort and reliability totally customized at the same cost as a 124 S&S motor...

I can't count the times someone came in the bar and asked "Who owns the old Knucklehead" I just smile...

 
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StreetHog

StreetHog

Active Member
BadDawg Bill said:
You guys might hate what I have to say but this is how I feel at 63 yrs old...

The BD chopper is great for around town bar hoppin and gets a lot of attention. But for anything over 150 miles it's tough on the butt and back. I also had to Old school wire it to get there and back.

My 1996 custom built soft tail 107 S&S and Revtech 6 speed is great for Short trips no longer than 250 - 300 miles. Keep the speed down to below 80 mph and all is good. It's only let me down 3 times in 20 years...

My 2002 Harley FLH custom bagger with a 5 speed is good for nothing.... Can't wait to sell it... Slow, uncomfortable and vibrates so much you get an instant headache. Looks great but that's standing still...

My 2005 Road Star 1700 is smooth, always starts and can be ridden as long as you can stay awake. It looks like an old Knuckle head and handles better than any bike I've ever owned. It's a REAL pain in the ass to work on but then again it seldom needs work... I rode this bike from Tampa to Key West at an average of 90 mph + (460 miles) and got off and partied all night long. The best bike I've ever owned... and I've had a ton of Harleys and custom built bikes... The best thing about it? I've got just $7k into it..... 4th gear take it up to 80 mph and hit 5th and you are gone, hang on.... Something Harley/Baker/Revtech should have done with their gearing... No Harley can keep up with it and the cost to maintain it is a joke... It's really nice to wake up and know the bike will start, run great, get you there and get you home all with comfort and reliability at the same cost as a 124 S&S motor...

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Im the type that really could care less about which brand someone else rides. Important part to me is, that you ride. :oldthumbsup:
 
Jwooky

Jwooky

Well-Known Member
I'm good with it Bill, but I'm more interested in the mechanics behind it.

So same question to you, why? I can see from the pic, clearly the seat is more cushy.

I'm just trying to wrap my head around the science of how some bikes do better on long hauls.
 
BadDawg Bill

BadDawg Bill

Well-Known Member
Jwooky said:
I'm good with it Bill, but I'm more interested in the mechanics behind it.

So same question to you, why? I can see from the pic, clearly the seat is more cushy.

I'm just trying to wrap my head around the science of how some bikes do better on long hauls.
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Well, the stock seat is pretty hard so I had it redone with memory foam. The bike has a 1 shock system but is HD and it rides like a caddy. I put on the beach bars so my hands fall straight down and are very comfortable. The 16" tires make it pretty stable and easy to handle. The engine is at 52* instead of 45* so there is less vibration and the heads have 2 spark plugs and 4 valves. The total weight is 687 lbs so it's light and the seat height (lowered) is just 25". The floorboards are placed very well and the crash bar has pegs to stretch your legs. My soft tail is a great bike but vibrates so much that after a few hrs you get tired. 5th gear in the RS is geared so high that at 80 mph you are doing about 3000 rpm. It's like cruzing at 40 with a Harley... In fact you can't even hit 5th gear until 60 mph because it will stall out.

For your question, I guess comfort is the main reason for the long haul. The RS has a longer wheelbase than my soft tail and the floorboards are farther out. The engine doesn't vibrate as much so it's a smoother ride. The 1 shock is like a Caddy and feels like you are floating. It's lighter so easier to handle and well balanced and the gearing is so much better than any other bike I've been on. You can also put on a FLH fairing it will fit right on and Harley hard bags.

I have always built and bought Harley type bikes but when I took this one for a ride it was like day and night. Unlike a BMW or radiator bike it looks like a Harley, Sounds like a Harley but is way better than a Harley. I can't say enough about it... This is what a Harley should have been after the shovelhead... There is no basic difference between an old shovelhead and the EVO. Ya, they put rubber mounts in and twin cams but nothing much else has changed... Still under powered, still vibrating and still breaking down.... Sad but true. My brother inlaw has a 2014 road glide and I took it out for a ride... Doesn't start to compare with my 2005 RS.... The RS has never failed to start, had an electrical problem or an oil leak. My brother inlaw has had his bike in the shop more than he has ridden it.

The RS you can chop, make into a bagger or bobber... or like me make it look old school knucklehead... All for under $10k and you will have a bike that will last for over 200k miles... You can still keep your BD for bar hopping but have the RS for long hauls. If you told me a few years ago I'd be posting this I would have said you are nuts... Times change...

I was on another forum for RS motorcycles and there were very few problem posts. Most were upgrades or how to customize them. I think in the last year the only problem posts were dead batteries... That says a lot... If you do look at RS bikes look for 2005 and up because they upgraded the charging system and brakes. These are fantastic bikes that won't let you down .

If you want to know more about RS bikes just pm me. I now know as much about them as a Harley..
 
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J

jsmuth

Member
I can stretch out on the glide. The stock seat on the Wolf won't allow you to move back much. I think the Wolf is better suited for people under 6'. As for the X Wedge I've had nothing but problems with it. 2 timing belts, 1 cam gear, 3 studs that the exhaust valve rocker mounts to have snapped. S&S has designed a new pushrod geometry for this and I haven't had a problem since. I have a big bore kit on this bike with CNC ported heads.Perhaps these mods created the problem, but it's all S&S products and they stepped up to the plate and rebuilt the upper end. Their fix for the timing belt is to shim the cam chest cover from the case to release some trapped heat(I live in the Phoenix area). Bottom line is I don't trust the bike for long hauls, but damn I still love this bike.
 
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