Softail vs Touring
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 273
Likes: 151
From: Colorado
Softail vs Touring
I currently have a 2019 Sport Glide and love it. I do, however, like the proposition of the rubber mounted engine, as well as the fairing/bar/gauge setup of the Street Glide.
Anyone out there owned or ridden both long term have any feedback of the advantage/disadvantage of going from a softail to a touring?
Anyone out there owned or ridden both long term have any feedback of the advantage/disadvantage of going from a softail to a touring?
HDF Community Team
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 2,368
From: Wisconsin
I currently have a 2019 Sport Glide and love it. I do, however, like the proposition of the rubber mounted engine, as well as the fairing/bar/gauge setup of the Street Glide.
Anyone out there owned or ridden both long term have any feedback of the advantage/disadvantage of going from a softail to a touring?
Anyone out there owned or ridden both long term have any feedback of the advantage/disadvantage of going from a softail to a touring?
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 722
Likes: 374
From: Daytona
I had a 2017 Street Glide, it rode like a lumber wagon, and not like the nice ones with rubber tires, the ones with steel wheels. I bought Ohlins shocks, to no avail, still sucked.
I traded it for a Heritage 114 and WOW! The Heritage is the best riding bike I’ve owned since the FXRT. My wife even rides with me again, and I quote, “I thought I didn’t like riding motorcycles anymore, I just didn’t like riding THAT motorcycle “.
I traded it for a Heritage 114 and WOW! The Heritage is the best riding bike I’ve owned since the FXRT. My wife even rides with me again, and I quote, “I thought I didn’t like riding motorcycles anymore, I just didn’t like riding THAT motorcycle “.
Retired Admin
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 21,865
Likes: 9,047
From: Wisconsin
I went from a Heritage to a Street Glide. I like the lower seating position of the Heritage, but the SG was more comfortable. Both ride smooth and can be comfortable for long rides. It's just a matter of taste.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 16,271
Likes: 15,108
From: Somewhere SW
I had a 2017 Street Glide, it rode like a lumber wagon, and not like the nice ones with rubber tires, the ones with steel wheels. I bought Ohlins shocks, to no avail, still sucked.
I traded it for a Heritage 114 and WOW! The Heritage is the best riding bike Ive owned since the FXRT. My wife even rides with me again, and I quote, I thought I didnt like riding motorcycles anymore, I just didnt like riding THAT motorcycle .
I traded it for a Heritage 114 and WOW! The Heritage is the best riding bike Ive owned since the FXRT. My wife even rides with me again, and I quote, I thought I didnt like riding motorcycles anymore, I just didnt like riding THAT motorcycle .
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 296
Likes: 116
From: Vancouver BC and Palm Desert CA
I had two Street Glides (one in Vancouver and one in Palm Desert) and last year swapped the Vancouver one for a Heritage 114. I have done about 11,000 kms on the FLHCS so I have a reasonable basis for comparison
Bottom line I like pretty well everything about the Heritage - much lighter, better handling, much better stock suspension and looks very cool without the bags.
The only negative is I find the floorboards “ buzz” a bit over 2500 revs and I haven’t quite got the ergonomics figured out for my long legs yet. I think I can fix the ergonomics with extended brake and gear levers.
i have no regrets about swapping the Street Glide for the Heritage
Bottom line I like pretty well everything about the Heritage - much lighter, better handling, much better stock suspension and looks very cool without the bags.
The only negative is I find the floorboards “ buzz” a bit over 2500 revs and I haven’t quite got the ergonomics figured out for my long legs yet. I think I can fix the ergonomics with extended brake and gear levers.
i have no regrets about swapping the Street Glide for the Heritage
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,000
Likes: 11,441
Currently own a softail and a Touring bike. Like both different tools different work. I have owned and ridden both for many years. What is best is why it is not against the law to own 2 or more. One does not replace the other. Either direction requires compromises .
You will never make a Softail into a RGU or a RGU into a softail
You will never make a Softail into a RGU or a RGU into a softail
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 1,735
From: Variable
I did almost exactly what you are considering.
I went from a Softail Slim S to a Road King Special. But honestly I just could not get used to the heavier touring frame, and the higher center of gravity. Riding on the Road King made me feel like I was "balancing" on top of the bike. The Road King was great when going on highways, and was definitely a smoother ride. Also, the hard bags were definitely useful. But I did not like the ride overall - it was like riding on top of car, instead of in a car.
So, just after 3000 miles on the King, I traded back to a Softail frame (a 30th Anniversary Fatboy).
I just love the ride of the Softail frame. It has a lower center of gravity, and for me, I feel like I am "in" the bike, not "on" the bike.
Just looking now to mount some hard saddlebags on the Fatboy to get kind of a "Sport Tourer". So, if anyone has a lead on a good set of hard saddlebags for a 2020 Fatboy, let me know. Hogworkz is supposed to be coming out with the mounts for these, but not yet.
R,
Sanjuro
I went from a Softail Slim S to a Road King Special. But honestly I just could not get used to the heavier touring frame, and the higher center of gravity. Riding on the Road King made me feel like I was "balancing" on top of the bike. The Road King was great when going on highways, and was definitely a smoother ride. Also, the hard bags were definitely useful. But I did not like the ride overall - it was like riding on top of car, instead of in a car.
So, just after 3000 miles on the King, I traded back to a Softail frame (a 30th Anniversary Fatboy).
I just love the ride of the Softail frame. It has a lower center of gravity, and for me, I feel like I am "in" the bike, not "on" the bike.
Just looking now to mount some hard saddlebags on the Fatboy to get kind of a "Sport Tourer". So, if anyone has a lead on a good set of hard saddlebags for a 2020 Fatboy, let me know. Hogworkz is supposed to be coming out with the mounts for these, but not yet.
R,
Sanjuro
Last edited by Sanjuro; Jul 15, 2020 at 11:22 AM.
I did the opposite. Went from a 17 SG to a 20 Deluxe. I'm 5'8" and the street glide was getting harder for me to handle. I put 12,000 miles on it and I loved it on long rides but most of riding is local any more. I rode my wifes 114 Heritage a few times and I loved how much more nimble it was. So I got a deluxe. I'm much happier riding now, not stressed out, I feel like I can handle it in any situation. Confidence when riding is the biggest advantage for me.
