2018 Sport Glides
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 444
Likes: 93
From: xx
I've spent a year with a Road King, trying to find a screen that would not buffet. I failed miserably. Every review of a larger screen I've read for the Sport Glide, mentions buffeting as an issue. It's just not worth it IMHO. Stock or no fairing, FF helmet, ear plugs, and I bet most people could ride 600 miles+ on a stock Sport Glide. With a decent seat of course.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 865
From: SW Ohio
Admittedly, my commute is 7-10 miles each way, depending on which way I go, but I've done a 300 mile run up to Blue Ridge Parkway with no screen, and didn't feel the need for one. I do wear a FF helmet though, and am used to standard bikes.
I've spent a year with a Road King, trying to find a screen that would not buffet. I failed miserably. Every review of a larger screen I've read for the Sport Glide, mentions buffeting as an issue. It's just not worth it IMHO. Stock or no fairing, FF helmet, ear plugs, and I bet most people could ride 600 miles+ on a stock Sport Glide. With a decent seat of course.
I've spent a year with a Road King, trying to find a screen that would not buffet. I failed miserably. Every review of a larger screen I've read for the Sport Glide, mentions buffeting as an issue. It's just not worth it IMHO. Stock or no fairing, FF helmet, ear plugs, and I bet most people could ride 600 miles+ on a stock Sport Glide. With a decent seat of course.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 245
Likes: 80
From: Mobile, Al.
I can answer the question - sometimes a rider doesn't feel comfortable on a bigger bike. HD bikes are bigger and heavier than most.
When I wanted to upgrade from an Indian Scout weighing 525 lbs as I built it, the bigger heavier bikes were just too much. The 750 lbs of Sport Glide was perfect and the monoshock was very comfortable and the bike was overall very simple; you could dress it up or strip it down in less than 5 minutes. I put a stage 4 upgrade on it and custom paint, seat, Rekluse Clutch, PIngle Shifter etc... loved that bike and as a commuter nothing was better!
But
The more I road the Sport glide the more and more comfortable I got on the heavier HD platform until a few months later I found myself wanting more protection from the elements; especially stability in the wind which made me uncomfortable at the higher speeds.
Eventually I traded my beautifully customized 2018 Sport Glide for a 2019 Road Glide Special and immediately did a complete stage 4 upgrade with legends suspension / lowering the bike to suit my height. Now I am very happy with my current HD, BUT I promise you, when I'm just jutting around town (commuting) I miss that Sport Glide.
So to summarize why someone would pick a sport glide over a street glide or road glide the answer is multi-fold. Use sometimes dictates form. How we use a motorcycle sometimes dictates how we customize it. Several people asked me why I chose the RGS over the Street Glide and the answer was based on stability in the wind. IMO - Nothing holds the road better than a frame mounted fairing. Even HD's competitor Indian realizes this and will probably come out with the Reengage? in 2020 which has a frame mounted fairing that looks just like the Road Glide to me.
When I wanted to upgrade from an Indian Scout weighing 525 lbs as I built it, the bigger heavier bikes were just too much. The 750 lbs of Sport Glide was perfect and the monoshock was very comfortable and the bike was overall very simple; you could dress it up or strip it down in less than 5 minutes. I put a stage 4 upgrade on it and custom paint, seat, Rekluse Clutch, PIngle Shifter etc... loved that bike and as a commuter nothing was better!
But
The more I road the Sport glide the more and more comfortable I got on the heavier HD platform until a few months later I found myself wanting more protection from the elements; especially stability in the wind which made me uncomfortable at the higher speeds.
Eventually I traded my beautifully customized 2018 Sport Glide for a 2019 Road Glide Special and immediately did a complete stage 4 upgrade with legends suspension / lowering the bike to suit my height. Now I am very happy with my current HD, BUT I promise you, when I'm just jutting around town (commuting) I miss that Sport Glide.
So to summarize why someone would pick a sport glide over a street glide or road glide the answer is multi-fold. Use sometimes dictates form. How we use a motorcycle sometimes dictates how we customize it. Several people asked me why I chose the RGS over the Street Glide and the answer was based on stability in the wind. IMO - Nothing holds the road better than a frame mounted fairing. Even HD's competitor Indian realizes this and will probably come out with the Reengage? in 2020 which has a frame mounted fairing that looks just like the Road Glide to me.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 245
Likes: 80
From: Mobile, Al.
Damn - what fairing is that? It looks frame mounted? https://customkings.harley-davidson....ike_detail/217
I would add / change one thing - convert to a Hydraulic Clutch then install the AIM Lightforce clutch for a super fine easy to operate ride!
I would add / change one thing - convert to a Hydraulic Clutch then install the AIM Lightforce clutch for a super fine easy to operate ride!
Last edited by sportglide; Apr 28, 2019 at 07:55 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 245
Likes: 80
From: Mobile, Al.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 444
Likes: 93
From: xx
I can answer the question - sometimes a rider doesn't feel comfortable on a bigger bike. HD bikes are bigger and heavier than most.
When I wanted to upgrade from an Indian Scout weighing 525 lbs as I built it, the bigger heavier bikes were just too much. The 750 lbs of Sport Glide was perfect and the monoshock was very comfortable and the bike was overall very simple; you could dress it up or strip it down in less than 5 minutes. I put a stage 4 upgrade on it and custom paint, seat, Rekluse Clutch, PIngle Shifter etc... loved that bike and as a commuter nothing was better!
But
The more I road the Sport glide the more and more comfortable I got on the heavier HD platform until a few months later I found myself wanting more protection from the elements; especially stability in the wind which made me uncomfortable at the higher speeds.
Eventually I traded my beautifully customized 2018 Sport Glide for a 2019 Road Glide Special and immediately did a complete stage 4 upgrade with legends suspension / lowering the bike to suit my height. Now I am very happy with my current HD, BUT I promise you, when I'm just jutting around town (commuting) I miss that Sport Glide.
So to summarize why someone would pick a sport glide over a street glide or road glide the answer is multi-fold. Use sometimes dictates form. How we use a motorcycle sometimes dictates how we customize it. Several people asked me why I chose the RGS over the Street Glide and the answer was based on stability in the wind. IMO - Nothing holds the road better than a frame mounted fairing. Even HD's competitor Indian realizes this and will probably come out with the Reengage? in 2020 which has a frame mounted fairing that looks just like the Road Glide to me.
When I wanted to upgrade from an Indian Scout weighing 525 lbs as I built it, the bigger heavier bikes were just too much. The 750 lbs of Sport Glide was perfect and the monoshock was very comfortable and the bike was overall very simple; you could dress it up or strip it down in less than 5 minutes. I put a stage 4 upgrade on it and custom paint, seat, Rekluse Clutch, PIngle Shifter etc... loved that bike and as a commuter nothing was better!
But
The more I road the Sport glide the more and more comfortable I got on the heavier HD platform until a few months later I found myself wanting more protection from the elements; especially stability in the wind which made me uncomfortable at the higher speeds.
Eventually I traded my beautifully customized 2018 Sport Glide for a 2019 Road Glide Special and immediately did a complete stage 4 upgrade with legends suspension / lowering the bike to suit my height. Now I am very happy with my current HD, BUT I promise you, when I'm just jutting around town (commuting) I miss that Sport Glide.
So to summarize why someone would pick a sport glide over a street glide or road glide the answer is multi-fold. Use sometimes dictates form. How we use a motorcycle sometimes dictates how we customize it. Several people asked me why I chose the RGS over the Street Glide and the answer was based on stability in the wind. IMO - Nothing holds the road better than a frame mounted fairing. Even HD's competitor Indian realizes this and will probably come out with the Reengage? in 2020 which has a frame mounted fairing that looks just like the Road Glide to me.
My parents toured half of Europe on a beat-up Honda CB72. Now THAT was riding, and what got me into bikes.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 865
From: SW Ohio
"Riding" means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. No point in trying to paint your version of "riding" onto another rider.
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 245
Likes: 80
From: Mobile, Al.
I get everything your saying - but at age 62 the feeling I get from riding, well, it's more brutal than when I was 27.
Some days I just want one of those 125cc honda cubs - ya know the best selling scoot in the history of scoots.
but
then I wake up and realize the traffic I play in isn't scoot friendly.
Some days I just want one of those 125cc honda cubs - ya know the best selling scoot in the history of scoots.
but
then I wake up and realize the traffic I play in isn't scoot friendly.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 444
Likes: 93
From: xx
I get everything your saying - but at age 62 the feeling I get from riding, well, it's more brutal than when I was 27.
Some days I just want one of those 125cc honda cubs - ya know the best selling scoot in the history of scoots.
but
then I wake up and realize the traffic I play in isn't scoot friendly.
Some days I just want one of those 125cc honda cubs - ya know the best selling scoot in the history of scoots.
but
then I wake up and realize the traffic I play in isn't scoot friendly.
As a side note, when I was first starting out too many years ago, I took a 3-day racing class, and our on-track instructor was a 71 year old ex-fighter pilot. He was wicked fast and fearless. That's my model
