FLHC vs FXLRST
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,671
Likes: 5,067
From: Georgia
interestingly enough according to the HD site it has slightly more luggage room than a Heritage but of course this is constrained by the same of the bags. In my case I always planned to throw the Chopped Tour pack on it; see everything low rider st thread; and it is pretty much a mini Road Glide sans the sound system and weight. I use music through blue tooth (Sena) which is what I did with my BMW RTs even though they had full sound systems. Helmet speakers don't annoy others and the clarity is better at speed.
One advantage not mentioned about the Heritage is is has both chrome and black out versions and while color selection isn't great this year you can get the anniversary paint if you look hard enough. I did not look at one simply because I had a 2017 Road King, oddly enough in a silver and blue combination like what is available on the Heritage for 23, and never could solve the buffeting issue with the big wind screen and coming up from below as air passed through the forks; I even tried hard lowers which helped a bit.
One advantage not mentioned about the Heritage is is has both chrome and black out versions and while color selection isn't great this year you can get the anniversary paint if you look hard enough. I did not look at one simply because I had a 2017 Road King, oddly enough in a silver and blue combination like what is available on the Heritage for 23, and never could solve the buffeting issue with the big wind screen and coming up from below as air passed through the forks; I even tried hard lowers which helped a bit.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 408
Likes: 363
From: CT
The love for the HC is understandable. I really like the feel of the HC but I like the look of the ST.
One thing that concerns me about the HC is the windshield vs the fairing and how effective it will be controlling buffeting at highway speeds.
One thing that concerns me about the HC is the windshield vs the fairing and how effective it will be controlling buffeting at highway speeds.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 542
From: MN
I'd ridden a Honda Shadow in the distant past with a taller shield and didn't have any head buffeting. Some here insist the front forks have a lot to do with head buffeting. I'll see if just a correct shield size is good enough. I don't really want to put fangs on a bike with an air cooled motor.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 783
From: France
I agree with you about the buffeting on the Heritage at highway speed, it is really anoying, this would really be the only problem for me on the Heritage, but I don't ride often on Highway, and when I do, I deal with it, I ride only at about 70 or 75 mph, and it is acceptableand, on the other hand I prefer all the others avantages of this bike, that's a choice....
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,193
From: Maryland
Buffeting isn't unique to the Heritage... It can occur on just about any model with a fairing or windshield. There are a lot of factors that impact whether a particular rider will have problems or not - where/how the rider sits on the bike, how tall they are (thigh length) and where their knees end up in relation to the tank, etc. etc. etc. Turbulent air generally comes from two places - over the top of the windshield and/or up from the sides of the tank. Most common solutions, get seating correct, make sure the windshield is sized correctly for the rider, get windshields with recurve and vent (relieve low pressure behind shield), install fangs, etc. etc. etc.
Personally, I would only install the fangs as a last resort. They tend to be highly effective (particularly with turbulent air coming up from the sides of the tank). However, they can greatly reduce cooling air to the rider - making things too uncomfortable (particularly for the crotch/lower leg) for hot summer day riding. There is also a possible impact on engine cooling. I've been able to get acceptable buffeting relief from just the recurve windshield with vent. Good enough that I wouldn't entertain the fangs.
Personally, I would only install the fangs as a last resort. They tend to be highly effective (particularly with turbulent air coming up from the sides of the tank). However, they can greatly reduce cooling air to the rider - making things too uncomfortable (particularly for the crotch/lower leg) for hot summer day riding. There is also a possible impact on engine cooling. I've been able to get acceptable buffeting relief from just the recurve windshield with vent. Good enough that I wouldn't entertain the fangs.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,287
Likes: 2,378
From: Florida
Buffeting isn't unique to the Heritage... It can occur on just about any model with a fairing or windshield. There are a lot of factors that impact whether a particular rider will have problems or not - where/how the rider sits on the bike, how tall they are (thigh length) and where their knees end up in relation to the tank, etc. etc. etc. Turbulent air generally comes from two places - over the top of the windshield and/or up from the sides of the tank. Most common solutions, get seating correct, make sure the windshield is sized correctly for the rider, get windshields with recurve and vent (relieve low pressure behind shield), install fangs, etc. etc. etc.
Personally, I would only install the fangs as a last resort. They tend to be highly effective (particularly with turbulent air coming up from the sides of the tank). However, they can greatly reduce cooling air to the rider - making things too uncomfortable (particularly for the crotch/lower leg) for hot summer day riding. There is also a possible impact on engine cooling. I've been able to get acceptable buffeting relief from just the recurve windshield with vent. Good enough that I wouldn't entertain the fangs.
Personally, I would only install the fangs as a last resort. They tend to be highly effective (particularly with turbulent air coming up from the sides of the tank). However, they can greatly reduce cooling air to the rider - making things too uncomfortable (particularly for the crotch/lower leg) for hot summer day riding. There is also a possible impact on engine cooling. I've been able to get acceptable buffeting relief from just the recurve windshield with vent. Good enough that I wouldn't entertain the fangs.
Driver comfort is different. The fangs I have now on my Heritage do indeed make the driver triangle hotter. That's why I take off the fangs during the hot months. I've had them off for about a month now.
Here's something else. I have a mustache bar, and when I'm on the interstate, I usually sit back, put my feet up on the mustache bars and cruise. The added benefit here is that your legs block the wind coming up from underneath, and thus eliminates almost all of the buffeting.
So between the fangs and the mustache bar, I don't have to deal that much with buffeting.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,193
From: Maryland
I did a test a few years ago, with and without fangs. This was on a Fat Boy, using the Power Vision I had at the time. There was negligible engine temp difference with the fangs on or off, a couple of degrees.
Driver comfort is different. The fangs I have now on my Heritage do indeed make the driver triangle hotter. That's why I take off the fangs during the hot months. I've had them off for about a month now.
Here's something else. I have a mustache bar, and when I'm on the interstate, I usually sit back, put my feet up on the mustache bars and cruise. The added benefit here is that your legs block the wind coming up from underneath, and thus eliminates almost all of the buffeting.
So between the fangs and the mustache bar, I don't have to deal that much with buffeting.
Driver comfort is different. The fangs I have now on my Heritage do indeed make the driver triangle hotter. That's why I take off the fangs during the hot months. I've had them off for about a month now.
Here's something else. I have a mustache bar, and when I'm on the interstate, I usually sit back, put my feet up on the mustache bars and cruise. The added benefit here is that your legs block the wind coming up from underneath, and thus eliminates almost all of the buffeting.
So between the fangs and the mustache bar, I don't have to deal that much with buffeting.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,287
Likes: 2,378
From: Florida
I've also done some test runs with fangs on/off while monitoring ET on a PV and oil temp with a dipstick gauge. I did occasionally note some differences... IIRC maybe +10 degrees or so. However, I never put too much stock into the observations. With the PV you are only measuring heat at one point on the head. What are the impacts of the fangs elsewhere on the engine? Better testing methods might be required to come to a valid/useful conclusion (maybe heat maps etc.). In the end it doesn't matter in my case. I feel that I get satisfactory performance with just the recurve windshield with vent. Bonus... Running with no fangs removes any question about impacts on engine temps.
I had a look at those Wedge fairings the other day. I might look into that further, for long highway runs.