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I went from an 09 SG to a 15 RGS in the fall of 15. My first full summer on it was 2016, definitely took some getting used to but I love the bike!
I think you can make any bike your own and there are lots of options out there to deal with buffeting and air flow.
As far as the road glide goes, air flow is smooth with no buffeting due to the design of the fairing with the vents through it. That being said you are getting air through the fairing and in your face to some extent. It's not a lot, certainly nothing like running without a fairing or windshield.
The big this is this bike feels so much bigger when you are on it, it's unreal! I was out the other day with my buddy who rides a 14 SG and we swapped for a few minutes, I could not believe the difference and couldn't believe that I used to ride one of them! I instantly felt cramped.
The road glide in my opinion is a far superior highway bike as well, just handles the wind better and offers a nicer ride on the highways.
Again these are just my opinions but I'm sold on the Road Glide myself.
I went from an 08 SG to an 11 RGU to a 16 RGS. I traded the 08 in 15 for the used 11. Had it 11 months bought the RGS. Never looked back. Love the roominess of the fairing not being in my face. Handlebar controls work just fine. No need to reach. For anything. I counter steer so I'm no longer pushing my headlight in the opposite direction of my turn. The RG lighting is better. I added lowers. Wind managed to the point it's a non issue. I have 0 buffeting.
I traffic on the freeway I have 0 issues with big trucks and most cross winds. A heavy wind will push anything. But for the most part. I can ride fully relaxed and not worry about recovering from being blown out of my lane. Not something I could always do on my SG.
as far as looks. I used to hate on the RG. But now to me it's a much better looking bike.
and as far as the reflection goes. On the boom 6.5. Anything at any angle is going to hit you if the timing is right. My dash was worse that the stereo. I swapped that out for a black dash.
your 20 minute right was what I took on a test ride and it had me sold on the 11. The 16 is now the bike I know I'll put 100k on.
I’m not the best one to ask about the radio, because I always wear a helmet/headset. I keep dreaming of the day that helmet speakers will sound as good as an expensive pair of BOSE headphones, but I doubt i will see it in my lifetime. Main function of my headset is to hear my buddies on our CB radios. I know it is very popular to spend 000’s on upgrading the bike speakers, but that will just never be my bag. I do, however, enjoy rocking to the bike speakers when it is parked in my shop!
KSGRU, Do you find the radio hard to hear on the Road Glide?
I have no issue hearing it. I wear a Shark Evoline 3 helmet. Front flipped down 99% of the time. Do I wish it was louder? At times. But it does the job.
....At 80, or 90, it just gets better. Smooth as silk, splits the wind. No buffeting, no wobble when a semi passes. Rock solid.
...... i made a 3 day run into/out of Kansas/Nebraska on I70/80 last week.
.... i was never passed by a semi
....... neither was i buffeted (LRS 14" shield) or wobbled or 'truck washed' while passing the convoys of 18wheelers on the freeway
.... 80-85 on cruise, no stops but for gas, great ride & ready to go some'or after 600 miles
......... you won't be sorry on a Shark
Rode thousands on a 2012 then a 2015 Ultra Limited Batwing. This year switched to a Road Glide Ultra and here is what I have found after a few thousand clicks:
- stuff on Road Glide is further away - touchscreen, speakers, fuel guage etc. I never used the toggles on the Infotainment with bat wing, now I use them all the time.
- I do find Road Glide stereo harder to hear, I think because speakers are farther away and are angled upward
- gas mileage is better on Road Glide, I'm thinking because it cuts wind better overall (both are 103 engines in my case)
- head buffeting is fine for me on both, on both I cut about two inches off the stock windshield
- love the fairing storage on Road Glide - use for extra glasses, heated gear accessories and such
- Road Glide steering is lighter at slow speed and when stopped
- Road Glide headlights more visible in broad daylight
- hands get colder on Road Glide, less protected by fairing IMO
- screen glare on Road Glide sucks
- it's kind of neat with Road Glide vents open you can see right down to the road in front of you
- with Road Glide have to get used to looking down to see speedo/tach
Last edited by Grouser62; May 31, 2018 at 11:25 PM.
Reason: spelling
1. What type riding do you do? Out on the back roads and hiways OR on the streets of the city....bar hopping?
2. Think of what the two name say. Street Glide....riding streets....Road Glide...out on the open road..mountains etc.
3. Rent a Road Glide for the day. Once you do you'll never look back at that Street Glide IMO.
MisteredEd-
1. My riding tends to be very mixed. Around town, back and fourth to work more days than not (25 miles on way), poker runs, 100 miles or so just to clear my head, I just got home from a 1400 mile trip to Washington DC for Rolling Thunder. Some months ago we rode a weekend trip of 850 miles. I have yet to do a "BIG" ride, several 1000 miles in one trip. But that is coming and often I hope. LOL
2.I didn't think about associating the name of the bike with the use. Makes sense. I still think I want a Road Glide even if the majority of my riding is "street riding"
3. I have two friends that ride Road Glides. One is a 2015 the other is a brand new 2018. Both of these guys have offered for me to ride their bikes. I'm hesitant to do so, but I could take either of them up on the offer. That would give me some ride time on a Road Glide.
Thanks for your input.
Last edited by WoodButcher66; Jun 1, 2018 at 09:17 AM.
Once you get on a Road Glide and ride it for a while, most will never go back to a Street Glide. JMO
The word Street & Road on these Bikes, says what it is all about.
I really just don't get all of this "Buffering BS" everyone keeps talking about on a SG - I can ride all day and not have an issue with semi's passing or getting "beat-up"
Get what you like best, it's your bike and you're the one riding it.....
If you don't like the wind, buy a car....
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