When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
So I've had my first Harley for a year now (came from metric cruisers) and possibly looking to change it up. Currently on a 2013 FXDC and looking real hard at a 2018 or '19 Slim. I rode one at a dealer demo day and liked it a lot, but you know, it's like a 10-minute ride. I guess I'm asking if anyone who's gone from Dyna to a new Slim can comment on what they like or don't like. And/or, folks who are super happy on a Slim now that they're a year or two in.
I ride as a daily commuter -- 25-mile round trip with stop-and-go traffic and some 65 mph country roads. I do some 100-mile rides with friends but always just one-up. I have no real complaints with the Dyna, as I have it pretty well dialed in, but I don't think it'll be my last bike and wanted to maybe trade it in while it still had some value left.
So I came from a 2008 Super Glide FXD to a 2019 Slim and I couldn't be happier. The Slim is a much more comfortable bike for me personally, shorter guy so the low seat height makes it much easier to maneuver and park. The ride is much more plush, lean angle seems as good if not better than my Dyna, get up and go feels quicker seat of the pants test, and bike feels much lighter physically when riding. If anything, the only thing I miss about the Super Glide is a bit of that non-refined feel that sort of represents Harley in my mind. That bike gave a lot more feedback to me as a rider in ways such as vibrations, bumps, whatever. As much as that's a pain when it's your daily rider, getting onto the new Softails almost feels kind of muted in comparison. That said, I would not go back for the life of me.
Thanks for the detailed reply -- it's very helpful. You're exactly right I think about the visceral experience of the Dyna. It's really great when out on a longer ride, but for everyday riding in cross-town traffic, the vibrations sometimes get a little grating. I might be ready for a little bit of a muted experience
I have an '18 Slim I bought back in Sept '18 when the '19s were being delivered to dealers. I am 5'9" and it fits me perfect. Since my wife isn't one for riding the solo style of the slim works for me. It does great both around town and on the open road albeit a bit fatiguing without a windscreen. If I have one issue its the seat. I can ride about a 100 miles before I have to stop and walk around. I'm looking at a few options right now to change that. As mentioned above the feedback is muted. My Sportster (1200 Custom) that I had before the Slim had a more intrinsic feel about the ride.
Agree with this as well. The stock seat and potentially the stock bars arent a great set up for longer duration rides. I changed both out and added a few things more that have really made this bike a great short little tourer as well. See pics below.
Once you change bars, add a windshield, pillion and sissy bar, it's no longer a Slim. It's personalised and that's perfectly fine. But, you could have started with several bikes in the softail range to get to a similar end point.
I bought the Slim because I wanted naked, didn't want a pillion and liked the look. On all day rides I found the seat too uncomfortable. I can't find a decent solo saddle. So, I've gone with a Sundowner. Hate the look! It's definitely temporary until I find a solo seat with the same comfort, or just maybe there's way to customise the saddle to a solo.
The bike rides well, plenty of pull. I'm 6' and did feel a bit leant forward, so rotated the bars toward me more, could do with the bars a little nearer, but fine for now. My only criticism is when going quicker, the suspension feels bargain basement. It quickly loses composure and bounces the rider around. Also, the lower ride height limits lean angle a bit too much. I can live with these things.
Thanks for sharing your impressions -- I like the stripped-down aesthetic of the Slim too. Good to know about the limits of the handling/suspension. I don't expect I'll be pushing the envelope on those things since the roads in Florida are mostly straight, flat and in decent condition, but it's something to consider.
Once you change bars, add a windshield, pillion and sissy bar, it's no longer a Slim. It's personalised and that's perfectly fine. But, you could have started with several bikes in the softail range to get to a similar end point.
I bought the Slim because I wanted naked, didn't want a pillion and liked the look. On all day rides I found the seat too uncomfortable. I can't find a decent solo saddle. So, I've gone with a Sundowner. Hate the look! It's definitely temporary until I find a solo seat with the same comfort, or just maybe there's way to customise the saddle to a solo.
The bike rides well, plenty of pull. I'm 6' and did feel a bit leant forward, so rotated the bars toward me more, could do with the bars a little nearer, but fine for now. My only criticism is when going quicker, the suspension feels bargain basement. It quickly loses composure and bounces the rider around. Also, the lower ride height limits lean angle a bit too much. I can live with these things.
You might want to check out the HD Badlander seat.
The Saddleman Renegade seat on my bike along with their passenger pillion may be a great way for you to retain the look of the stock bike and gain a lot of comfort. That has been probably the best upgrade I've done on mine, gives me much better lower back support and many miles comfort, the girl friend even likes the pillion compared to the Badlander I had on my Dyna.
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Super Glide Custom to 2018/19 Slim...
