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Went from a 16 slim s,I know not the new frame,to 18 Roadking and never looked back,touring platform is a lot more comfortable for me but I'm closing in on on 60 and may reconsider later but am all good for now
I went from a 2008 Rocker C FXCWC to a 2020 Street Glide. To be honest I feel like the SG handles better and is more nimble.
yes the SG is a little more top heavy... but I think it handles better because the Rocker had a factory 240 rear tire, and a 36 degree rake in the front.
in closing, both different bikes, the rocker was cool to look at... the street glide is cool, and functional
I want a lighter more nimble bike but dont think I can live without the storage of the road king special .
I'm in the same boat. I love the look and storage of my RKS. But hate the top heavy handling. I think guys with touring models lie to themselves. Go sit and ride on a new Softail. It feels like a toy compared to a touring model and is way easier to handle. Im really thinking of getting a new 2020+ Softail.
I test rode a used 2017 RK and a 2020 Heritage 114 at the local dealer a few ago. For reference, I ride a Dyna Switchback with modded suspension front and rear and Woods 222 cam.
The RK was very smooth. IMHO it has the perfect "feel" of an engine". Great brakes and the suspension is not bad.
The Heritage 114 was faster than both the RK and my bike. The suspension was the real eye opener though Really nice. No question, the Heritage was very agile/nimble compared to the RK. The downside were the vibrations / buzzyness in the frame. In that test ride, the mirrors were almost always blurry. Specific to the Heritage, the bags leave a lot to be desired, and a skinny tubed rear tire is a no go for me.
Sport Glide is on my list to test ride.
I've rented an Ultra last summer on a trip to Montana with the wife on the back. Nice bike for what it is, but really heavy. Put 900+ miles on that trip, and never really got comfortable with it. The RK, and maybe one of the Glides would be my max for weight.
Dear Harley, bring back the FXRT in a modernized Softail.
You'll like the Sport Glide, but check that the saddlebags will do what you want.They are clamshell style and a bit limited compared to the top opening ones on the tourers. I also added a cheap ebay topbox to mine on the HD tourpack base for trips (I just use a regular sissybar and rack normally). Only problem is securing it since the locking latch, I'm told doesn't fit.
There will be trade offs no matter which you choose. One has touring bike ergonomics, weight to smooth things out, and the other does not.
personally I’m a touring bike guy, even around town / daily rides. I like the attributes of tourers.
rode a variety of BMW tourers for years ergonomics and design to seriously eat miles puts Harley to shame, however if you don’t have a 33 inch inseam you are not going to flatfoot the bike easily. Until 2018 you could not store a full face helmet in the saddle bags. Those are two trade offs for that particular bike.
everything will have a compromise
I currently have a 2020 Deluxe 107 with a Stage 2 and I love it. However, I find myself looking seriously looking at a bagger - the Street Glide. I've test driven the Street Glide many times over the past few weeks - along with the Road Glide. I test drove the Special and the CVO in both models. The 2 touring models are build for the wide open roads and highway speeds of 70-80+ MPH. Those things love being driven at 70+ and you are doing it comfortably. My Deluxe is not as comfortable at 70+ due to the wind factor and the gearing. On my Deluxe I'm in 6th gear at 60-65 MPH. The 114 engine on the Street and Road Glide Special I'm in in 5th gear at those same speeds. Where I live in the West there are a lot of open roads and lots of miles to ride in beautiful wide open spaces and to me the touring baggers seem a better fit. I was surprised how well the glides handled. Better than thought they would. The acceleration/torque is different between my Deluxe and the Glides. I like the throttle response and Torque better on my Deluxe with a 107 Stage 2 than the stock 114 Glide. That's just my opinion. I wonder what the 114 with a Stage 2 would feel like. Anyway, I love the Deluxe and this will be a tough decision.
You'll like the Sport Glide, but check that the saddlebags will do what you want.They are clamshell style and a bit limited compared to the top opening ones on the tourers. I also added a cheap ebay topbox to mine on the HD tourpack base for trips (I just use a regular sissybar and rack normally). Only problem is securing it since the locking latch, I'm told doesn't fit.
Yep, as of the last time I tried them, every single locking latch has fitment issues. Either it'll latch and never come off again (hey! it's secure that way, right?) or it won't pivot enough to latch at all.
You'd think the MoFoMoCo would have at least tried a fit and function test before they shipped them, but what do I know...
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.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
