Author: Joel Hathaway

Extending the frame of a sportbike may seem like a drastic way to make it into something that is more comfortable. However, some misconceived ideas about what the stretched motorbike is, and why someone would consider such a thing, may need to be brought out in the open first.

Stretched bikes are basically known for their use in drag racing competitions. The frame is extended in order to place the rider in a more aerodynamic position, making it possible for them to achieve higher straight-line speed than what they would be able to do on a conventional sport bike.

What Is a Stretched Sportbike?

A stretched motorbike is basically a sport bike that has had its frame and wheelbase extended in order to offer the rider a more comfortable riding position. Because of this added extension, it becomes possible for the rider to move around with ease and avoid placing too much pressure on their wrists.

The idea behind adding this kind of extension is so as to allow riders who have longer legs as compared to what they have in their upper body, an easier time riding. In addition, those who do not have long enough arms have been known to benefit from having their handlebars stretched since they can now pull them closer towards themselves instead of being stuck with reaching outwards which would cause discomfort eventually.

Why Consider a Stretched Motorbike?

Stretching a motorbike generally lowers its stance which in turn offers a more aerodynamic position which is beneficial for racing at the drag strip. A lower stance greatly improves the traction, which means less power is wasted on sliding, especially on corners. Extended swing arms, which hold the rear axle in place and are the key component of the rear suspension, aid in preventing the bike from taking an accidental wheelie posture when taking off. Also, the longer wheelbase makes it more difficult for a powerful engine to pull the front wheel off the ground during a drag race, maintaining control.

An extended swing arm allows for a wider track, which in turn allows the rear tire to keep its grip better. The suspension geometry is altered as the swing arm is stretched. The whole design of a stretched motorbike is aimed towards allowing the rider to go faster over time, and stay comfortable while doing that.

However, there are still some people who would rather have their sportbikes remain in their stock form since they feel that any modification will take away from the total performance instead of improving it.

Still, others have mentioned the fact that having a stretched motorbike may not necessarily mean more comfort, especially during long journeys.

Ideal Way To Extend Your Sportbike

What’s even more important is that you get to choose exactly how your bike is going to be stretched so that you can get one that has been modified to suit your preferences and needs. It’ll help if you know what exactly are your requirements before getting started with looking through what’s on sale at this point in time.

Many people have considered buying a sport bike from the showroom and having it stretched, instead of being stuck with purchasing one that is already modified. This way they can ensure their bike does not have any modifications done to it which may affect its performance or safety in a negative manner.

Having a stretched motorbike is not a bad thing as long as the person doing it knows what they are doing. Making sure all changes made to the original design are practical and functional before going ahead with them will make all the difference between owning a simply modified sportbike or one that has been worked on by someone who knows exactly how these bikes work.

Is a Stretched Sportbike Good for Commute?

There are many other reasons why someone would consider having their sportbike stretched, but the above-mentioned ones are some of the most common ones. When it comes down to it, the decision to consider such a change really boils down to personal preference and what someone feels more comfortable with.

With that in mind, riders should always remember that this is not an ideal modification for those who want to use them as daily commuters. The best thing about having a stretched motorbike is the fact that it can be used for racing, but not commuting.

Although the stretched motorbike is ideal for those that race, they might not be as ideal for daily use such as commuting. This kind of bike is best left to those who race and only race.

Conclusion

The idea behind having a sportbike stretched is not anything new, but it’s mainly used in the world of racing. That being said, there may be some other reasons why someone would consider getting their motorbike extended when they could simply get another bike that would fit them better instead. If you want, you can join a forum community dedicated to sport bike enthusiasts and owners for better understanding.

The only thing you should consider before stretching your sportbike is whether or not the change will affect the appearance of your vehicle in a negative manner. Despite what others might say about this kind of modification, it has its benefits if done right without compromising the engineering aspects found on every vehicle out there.

Although this modification can help increase one’s comfort while riding, it isn’t always ideal for daily commute. So we advise you to think carefully before having your own bikes stretched. I hope you guys get enough idea about stretched bikes from this article. Happy riding!

VIN or Vehicle Identification Number is a unique code that is present on each and every bike model that is manufactured or is there on the public road today.

The reason VIN is unique for every motorcycle is that it comprises of letters and numbers that can be used to accurately identify that particular bike model. These codes contain important information on the vehicle including when and where the bike was manufactured. But where the hell are they located on a motorcycle?

The VIN of any motorcycle is present on its frame. But locating exactly where on the frame can differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.

In this article, we will provide you with information on what is a vehicle identification number, what are the different components of VIN, where to find the VIN on your bike, and why VIN is important.

Where to Find The VIN on Your Bike?

VIN of any motorcycle is present on its frame which you might find difficult to locate depending on the type of bike you own. If it’s hard for you, then there are other ways in which you can locate it-

For Scooters: They have their VIN stamped right on the steering head just under your handlebars above your front wheel axle. If it still remains unseen, check under the plastic engine casing that you can easily access by removing all the bolts.

For Motorbikes: VIN of a two-wheeled motorcycle is normally present on its steering neck above the front axle and below the handlebars. In some bikes, it may also be stamped onto your engine block which will make it difficult for you to spot from a distance.

However, if you come across any difficulties in locating it from these positions, then do check the frame behind your petrol tank where most manufacturers stamp their codes with ease.

Different manufacturers put the VIN on different areas of the bike. If you cannot find the code on the steering neck after turning your bike’s handlebars, simply contact your dealer or manufacturer as they will guide you on the exact location of the code.

What is a VIN?

VIN is just like the fingerprint of your bike that can be used to identify it easily. It can help you keep a record of the vehicle’s service history along with its ownership details.

The vehicle identifier section for a motorcycle VIN shows the model year, factory code, country code, frame number, engine number, production number, social security number, and other factors.

Apart from this, VIN also helps in deterring theft as they are difficult to change or alter which makes them a handy tool for law enforcement officials.

Different Components of VIN

As mentioned earlier, VIN comprises of both letters and numbers which make it unique.

A typical VIN code will contain 17 characters-

The first character is always “1” except for motorbikes manufactured before 1981 where the first character is “0”. The reason behind having both these digits as the first digit is because many manufacturers preferred to use the model year as the first digit rather than the number 1.

The next character is the one that tells you where your bike was manufactured or assembled. The characters used are based on the alphabets present in the country which manufactures/assembles the vehicle-

A = United States,

B = Canada, C = Mexico,

D = Germany,

F = France,

G = Italy, H = Spain, I= England J=Japan K= Korea L= India M= China

After this letter code comes two more letters that represent the manufacturer of your motorcycle model.

After these two letters comes another number which is called a “check digit”. It is basically an extra digit added to ensure the accuracy of VIN so that there are no mistakes made during the manufacturing process.

The last six digits of the VIN code are numbers that can be used to decipher where and when your vehicle has been manufactured. It also shows whether the vehicle is registered as a passenger car or a motorcycle.

The 17 digits of VIN can also be broken into three distinct sections. This is how it goes –

World Manufacturer Identifier

The first three characters of the 17 digit code come under this section and are also known as the WMI code. As mentioned earlier, the information on the vehicle manufacturer and the country of origin are all uniquely stated with these three characters.

Vehicle Descriptor Section

From characters 4 to 9 of the VIN code is the Vehicle Descriptor Section which provides all the information regarding the overall characteristics of the vehicle, for example, the model type, the body type, etc.

Vehicle Identifier Section

Characters 10 to 17 of the VIN number, provides clear information on the identification of the motorcycle including their engine type, transmission, plant code, etc.

Why VIN Is Important?

You must know how important VIN is to understand what damage would be caused if this information gets compromised during theft or any other accident leading to damages.

If you lose your keys then you can easily get them replaced. But if your motorcycle gets stolen, then it can be a huge loss for you as you will never get compensated for the theft unless you have insured your vehicle beforehand.

Stolen vehicles can be easily recovered if they have any insurance coverage for their motor vehicles. The warranty claims of your vehicles have the VIN numbers along with the manufacturing company name.

This is why the VIN of any motorcycle is very important-

It tells all the necessary information about your vehicle such as the name and address of the manufacturer, model type, design year, engine type and size, transmission details, etc.

It helps to verify this information before buying any used motorbike. This means that by checking out their motorcycle VINs you can know more about their mileage and other things that affect the value of a two-wheeled machine.

It also comes in handy when trying to sell or buy a second-hand bike because you can easily get in touch with the owner and share all necessary information through VIN.

VIN is also an important factor when it comes to fixing motorcycle insurance premiums. It gives you a complete picture of the value and history of your bike which ultimately affects the price of your insurance policy.

Now that you know how important the VIN number is for your motorcycle, make sure you always keep it somewhere safe and secure where no one else would find it. This might be beneficial for you if there’s ever a need to recover a stolen motorbike.

Conclusion

The VIN is a very important code which you should keep somewhere safe and secure. If your motorcycle gets stolen, make sure you report the case to authorities along with the VIN of your vehicle so that they can track down your beloved machine.

However, even if it doesn’t get stolen, knowing this information remains beneficial to you both in terms of sale or purchase so make sure you check it out before hiring any mechanic or selling your bike.

VIN of any motorcycle is usually stamped right on the steering head just under your handlebars above your front wheel axle. If it still remains unseen, check under the plastic engine casing that you can easily access by removing all the bolts. You can also locate it on the frame behind your petrol tank where many manufacturers stamp their codes with ease.

So, keep this useful 17 characters code handy for your bike!

Before we go into the details of Softail frame motorcycles, let’s begin with the fact that the brand, Harley Davidson introduced the world to the heritage Softail motorcycles, and therefore, they are the only motorcycle manufacturers who use this terminology for their product line.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what is a Softail motorcycle, what are the pros of a Softail frame motorcycle and what is the difference between Hardtail and Softail slim bikes.

What is a Softail Motorcycle?

A Softail motorcycle is characterized by its rear suspension. Harley Davidson Softail frame bikes have an oil-filled steel case hidden known as a swingarm. Harley Davidson Softail models have a differently shaped swingarm for each bike. One example is the triangular swingarm. The reason for this is that when the motorcycles are parked they look like regular bicycles with no parts sticking out from their backside. The rear tire and the rear suspension system vary for every different Harley Davidson Softail models.

There are plenty of Harley Davidson Softail bike models and all of them have shock absorbers with rear suspension. Some common Harley Davidson Softail frames include Springer Softail, Softail Deuce, FXST Softail and the Fat Boy. Motorcycle enthusiasts love spoked wheels bikes for better handling. Harley Davidson rigid frame bikes have Milwaukee eight engines.

Since there is no suspension visible on the backside, these types of motorcycles are called “Softail.”

What are the Pros of a Softail Motorcycle?

The biggest advantage of having a Softail motorcycle is that it gives you a classic chopper-type appearance while maintaining decent performance levels and comes at cheaper rates than most other Harley Davidson models.

However, keep one thing in mind here – although compared to regular Harleys, prices of Softails might seem higher because the materials used in manufacturing Softatils are of high quality which gives the motorcycles their desired endurance and longevity.

Also, the longer wheelbase of Softails adds to the factor of stability and smooth riding, especially at high speeds.

Harley Davidson Softail frame bikes have a direct view, turn signals, shield logo, detachable leather saddlebags, mini ape handlebars, and rear suspension system for a smoother ride.

Harley Davidson Softail bikes have shock absorbers to absorb bumps. All models have registered trademark and most parts are easily removable.

Cons of Softail Motorcycles

When it comes to Softails, the only drawbacks are that they are not that easy to handle because of the long wheelbase and these motorcycles are slightly on the heavier side.

What is a Hardtail Motorcycle?

A Hardtail motorcycle is a regular motorbike as opposed to a chopper.

In hardtail bikes, the rear suspension either uses springs or rubber bushings and therefore there is nothing hidden beneath the seat of the machine.

Now that you know what a Softail motorcycle is, let’s compare it with a Hardtail –

Pros of Hardtail Motorcycles

Most choppers are built on a Hardtail chassis and the biggest advantage of using a Hardtail frame is that it allows builders to create much shorter chainstays, which ultimately leads to higher maneuverability.

Since there’s no hidden suspension in a Hardtail motorcycle, they are lighter when compared with Softails.

Also, Hardtail motorcycles are easier to maintain than Softtails because they do not have springs, linkages, shocks, etc.

Cons of Hardtail Motorcycles

Since there are no rubber bushings or springs in a Hardtail frame, these motorcycles have less stability when compared with their Softail counterparts.

This means that handling can become quite tricky even for well-experienced riders because their weight balance tends to shift easily while riding at high speeds.

And finally, keep one thing in mind here – the prices of Hardtails are on the lower side compared to Softails because they are not as classy as Softails.

What’s the Difference Between a Hardtail and a Softail?

Although both motorcycles are designed to be similar, there are many differences between them that affect their performance and comfort level.

Hardtails do not have rear suspension but still, they come with shocks in the front forks while Softails have hidden suspensions which give Softail bikes more stability at top speeds.

Also, Hardtails are slightly lighter than Softails when it comes to the overall weight comparison of both models.

When it comes to handling, Hardtails tend to lose composure at higher speeds because of their low center of mass while Softails remain stable even at high speeds because of their shorter wheelbase.

When it comes to maintenance, Hardtails are easier when compared with Softails because they have fewer parts to take care of when compared with Softails.

The conclusion here is that both motorcycles have their own strengths and weaknesses but in the end, every rider has his own preference so therefore you should go for whatever bike you feel comfortable riding on.

Remember, Harley Davidson, designed the Softail motorcycles essentially to keep the brand’s signature aesthetic style in manufacturing bikes while at the same time, giving the riders the added advantage of modern specs and features, so that the brand can appeal to young riders.

With Softatils bikes you will definitely feel the difference when you are out on the road when it comes to the smoothness of the overall drive.

Conclusion

So let’s put it all together – Softail motorcycles are modern, classy, beautiful, stylish, and smooth while Hardtail bikes are easily maneuverable, easy to maintain, and have a rich history attached to them.

As a rider, you need to decide what kind of bike you prefer riding on because the choice is yours.

If you want a smooth ride on your two wheels, Softail bikes from Harley Davidson are what you should opt for. On the other hand, if you are someone to whom the classics and history appeal much, then you should settle for the more macho Hardtail models from the same trusted brand of Harley Davidson.

So, choose your own and ride happily!