Hey guys, I usually hang in the touring section, but I am looking for some advice in the switchback.

My wife currently rides a Suzuki Boulavard M50, and it has been a good bike for her over the last 9 years. But we have been doing more and more touring type trips, and she is looking for more comfort. The touring bikes are just a bit to heavy for her to handle comfortably.

We both really like the dynas (rented them a few times) but haven't really rode them long distances. We want to start gearing up for a trip to sturgis in 2017, so we are starting to shop around for a bike for her that will get her there in more comfort, and something that will give more protection from the elements (rain, heavy wind, ect)

She really doesn't need much when it come to packing space, as we usually pack everything up in my bike.

What are your thoughts? Switchback? Or is there another model that would be sufficient? She likes a sportier appearance, like a street bob, or super glide, but bobbed fenders through up a lot of water.

Let me know your thoughts.

 

I have never had a tour bike, but my wife and I put 18k miles on a Switchback in just under two years. Had the HD signature seat with driver and rider backrest along with a back rack for duffle bag. We were both comfortable riding a 3 day get away ~ 1000 miles. Kept it very stock, easy to ride in the mountains, smooth, good power, no problems. Wind shield has the same holes as road king so more options on replacement screens. I liked the weight of a dyna and it handled well IMO.

 

Seeing a few Switchbacks out there; owners I talk to are happy... Wife and I like the lighter weight of the Dyna's and have toured 30 states and 6 provinces on ours. Tried a few FLH's but too pondorous for our riding style
I bought my Fat Bob the year before the Switchback came out; might have bought one instead.

 

I tour on my Street Bob and my wife rides a Wide Glide. Touring is comfortable enough. The saddlebags would be nice even though she won't be hauling the gear. Nice to have a long sleeve shirt, hoody, gloves, etc handy.

 

I like mine and a member of the switchback owners site makes a really nice quick detchable trunk mount that works with the HD hardware..

 

I see you have lowers, and touring air shocks, were they a direct bolt on or did you have to make some modifications?

 

If she likes a street bob or superglide, and you don't need to pack stuff on her bike, what about putting a different front fender on one of those?

 

minor mods to the lowers to make them fit and use the QD hardware so I can pop them off once it warms up, the touring shocks I swapped the oil to 10wt which made a big difference over the 5wt used in them from factory but a direct bolt on..


in hindsight I should have bought 1qt 10 wt and 1 qt 15 and mixed them for an effective 12.5wt oil which I think would be perfect BUT it rides and handles great as it is so I haven't done it yet..

 

My wife and I both have FLD's. Hers is basically stock with a solo Sundowner seat and lots of chrome. Mine has Racetech suspension fork components, Hagon 13" Nitro shocks, LRS windshield, Predator mount and Corbin seat. Aside from the Corbin seat, which I'm not finding all that comfortable, the bike works really well for touring. I'm 6' with 34" inseam.

When touring, I throw on a T-Bag on the sissy bar. I very much appreciate the lighter weight of the FLD compared to the touring bikes. When I had purchased the FLD, I had tested a variety of Dynas and a 2014 Road King. There were some things that I really liked about the Road King, but I felt every one of it's additional 100lbs over the FLD. I have no complaints about the smaller hard bags. I can still get a 6 pack in the hardbag! Love the floorboards as they give variety to foot placement.

Beware though that the FLD has a bunch of proprietary parts as compared to other Dyna's. The FLD has 41mm fork tubes, other Dyna's have 49mm. One side has a traditional damper rod, the other has a very basic cartridge. If you go custom seats, I had to have Corbin make a special tapered rear seat so it would fit correctly on the bike.

 

The bike is perfect for the job if you fit it! Does she fit it? The Suzuki is smaller than the switch back and I'm not talking about the motor! My wife went from a Suzuki to a new 1200t because it fit her. The bike is great for her size and weight isn't a problem. Yes it has plenty of power to travel on! No she isn't thinking about the next stop because she has trouble parking the bike. Go ride some and let her tell you what she thinks she is the one that knows best. Just my thoughts.