Thinking about a Switchback
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,051
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From: The Wasteland
Thinking about a Switchback
I currently own an 09 Road King Classic that I like but I am considering something newer. I had an 07 Street Bob a year or so ago and after only 6 months I sold it and bought the RKC I have now. I liked the SB but I found myself trying to make it into a Road King. I had plans to put on footboards, hard bags and touring shocks to get that ride I was looking for. Then it dawned on me that I was probably better off just getting the bagger so the wife can ride with me. So now the wife isn't riding as much or as often as we used to so I am back to thinking about another Dyna.
My question is how is the Switchback?
1- What issues I would need to deal with right off?
2- Are there known/common problems?
3- How is it for 2 up riding (bear in mind she is usually only good for 1-2 hours on the Road King).
4- Is there cruise control available?
5- Any other info I need to know about?
By the way, the one I am looking at is a 2013 with a 103' and 25,000 miles. The dealer has it priced at $12,000 but I think I could get that down a bit.
My question is how is the Switchback?
1- What issues I would need to deal with right off?
2- Are there known/common problems?
3- How is it for 2 up riding (bear in mind she is usually only good for 1-2 hours on the Road King).
4- Is there cruise control available?
5- Any other info I need to know about?
By the way, the one I am looking at is a 2013 with a 103' and 25,000 miles. The dealer has it priced at $12,000 but I think I could get that down a bit.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
My wife and I both have 2013 FLD's we bought for ourselves as 10 year anniversary presents for us. Previously, we had stints with Japanese cruisers and sporty standards (Suzuki SV1000S for me and Kawi Z1000 for her).
My question is how is the Switchback? - Overall, it is a bike with a lot of potential that is tour friendly. It handles very well and is very nimble.
1- What issues I would need to deal with right off? - A stock FLD is known to have offensive vibes in the 2700-3300rpm zone. Not all bikes are afflicted but a good amount are. 1HD1C has some great info on a $5 fix with some washers and what not, know as the Clevis Pin mod. The mod replaces the screw for the rear exhaust mount. If you replace the exhaust with an aftermarket full exhaust system, this goes away completely. While the FLD is a Dyna, there a lot of FLD specific parts. The forks are sourced from Softail models and are 41mm vs the 49mm Dyna forks for every other Dyna model. If your into suspension upgrades, this may be a limiting factor. The Quick Disconnect system for the sissy bar and luggage rack is also specific to the FLD. I, and my wife, find the stock suspension lacking and have upgraded the forks with Racetech springs and Gold Valve Emulators. This made a very positive difference in bump absorption and plantedness of the front tire. Shocks have been replaced on my bike and I'm shopping for shocks for my wife's bike as well. If you switch out the shocks, I highly recommend something with a 13" overall length vs. the stock 12". Visually, you won't see a difference on the bike if you run the hard bags, but the longer shocks will give you at least 50% more travel within the shock to absorb bumps. If your wife is going to ride with you, I can not stress enough the positive impact of replacing the shocks.
2- Are there known/common problems? If your bike has the vibes as mentioned above, that is the only thing that really needs addressing right off the bat. All else is subjective, but there are no "problems" with the bike.
3- How is it for 2 up riding (bear in mind she is usually only good for 1-2 hours on the Road King). - As previously mentioned, along with a potential seat change, changing out the suspension will very probably be the difference between an enjoyable ride and not. My wife and I were riding this past weekend. We're in northeast NJ and the roads are pretty shot this time of year. She's been very focused on cosmetic mods for her bike. I convinced her last year to let me do the forks and she noticed a very positive improvement in ride quality. After this past weekend's ride, she said she wants shocks. One in a very blue moon, she'll ride 2 up with me for a long day ride. I've switched out my shocks early on and she's always found the ride comfortable.
4- Is there cruise control available? - I don't have it, but I do believe there are aftermarket mods for this.
5- Any other info I need to know about? - The FLD is about 100lbs lighter than the RK. Having said that, the RK has more lean angle (29 degrees for the FLD vs. 31 degrees for the RK). I've test ridden a 2014 and 2017 and find the RK very nimble. Again the FLD is considerably lighter and it is easier to sling around than the RK. Once you get the bike situated to your ergos (seat / handlebar), and again the highly recommended shock replacement, the FLD is a great bike and is competent at 2 up.
My question is how is the Switchback? - Overall, it is a bike with a lot of potential that is tour friendly. It handles very well and is very nimble.
1- What issues I would need to deal with right off? - A stock FLD is known to have offensive vibes in the 2700-3300rpm zone. Not all bikes are afflicted but a good amount are. 1HD1C has some great info on a $5 fix with some washers and what not, know as the Clevis Pin mod. The mod replaces the screw for the rear exhaust mount. If you replace the exhaust with an aftermarket full exhaust system, this goes away completely. While the FLD is a Dyna, there a lot of FLD specific parts. The forks are sourced from Softail models and are 41mm vs the 49mm Dyna forks for every other Dyna model. If your into suspension upgrades, this may be a limiting factor. The Quick Disconnect system for the sissy bar and luggage rack is also specific to the FLD. I, and my wife, find the stock suspension lacking and have upgraded the forks with Racetech springs and Gold Valve Emulators. This made a very positive difference in bump absorption and plantedness of the front tire. Shocks have been replaced on my bike and I'm shopping for shocks for my wife's bike as well. If you switch out the shocks, I highly recommend something with a 13" overall length vs. the stock 12". Visually, you won't see a difference on the bike if you run the hard bags, but the longer shocks will give you at least 50% more travel within the shock to absorb bumps. If your wife is going to ride with you, I can not stress enough the positive impact of replacing the shocks.
2- Are there known/common problems? If your bike has the vibes as mentioned above, that is the only thing that really needs addressing right off the bat. All else is subjective, but there are no "problems" with the bike.
3- How is it for 2 up riding (bear in mind she is usually only good for 1-2 hours on the Road King). - As previously mentioned, along with a potential seat change, changing out the suspension will very probably be the difference between an enjoyable ride and not. My wife and I were riding this past weekend. We're in northeast NJ and the roads are pretty shot this time of year. She's been very focused on cosmetic mods for her bike. I convinced her last year to let me do the forks and she noticed a very positive improvement in ride quality. After this past weekend's ride, she said she wants shocks. One in a very blue moon, she'll ride 2 up with me for a long day ride. I've switched out my shocks early on and she's always found the ride comfortable.
4- Is there cruise control available? - I don't have it, but I do believe there are aftermarket mods for this.
5- Any other info I need to know about? - The FLD is about 100lbs lighter than the RK. Having said that, the RK has more lean angle (29 degrees for the FLD vs. 31 degrees for the RK). I've test ridden a 2014 and 2017 and find the RK very nimble. Again the FLD is considerably lighter and it is easier to sling around than the RK. Once you get the bike situated to your ergos (seat / handlebar), and again the highly recommended shock replacement, the FLD is a great bike and is competent at 2 up.
Last edited by rauchman; Apr 26, 2017 at 10:04 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
They are Racetech's Single Rate Fork Springs and Gold Valve Emulators.
If you already know this forgive me, but the FLD has forks sourced from a Softtail, I think it's the Slim model specifically. 41mm forks, one side is standard old school damper and the other is cartridge, albeit a very primitive one. Give Racetech a call. They have a kit specific for the Switchback. The Emulators will be a different design for each side of the fork (damper rod and cartridge). If you're willing to do the install, IIRC the kit is about $300 (includes the Emulators and spring....don't remember if it includes fork oil, but get their recommended oils). The tech will ask you specifics about your weight, how you ride, etc., to determine the optimal spring rate for your bike. The toughest part of the install will be drilling the additional holes in the damper rod. I used a free standing hand drill and it worked. If you have a drill press, that would be easier.
When I did the install, got the instructions wrong and had cut a spacer that had no preload on it at all. Remarkably, the bike still tracked pretty well and had much reduced fork dive. When I realized I didn't do the install correctly I went back in. I finally understood how to calculate the preload and made an appropriately sized spacer. The bike tracks really well now with much better bump absorption and much less brake dive. I can't get to it due to work firewalls, but there is an excellent install tutorial by member "Mark" on the Switchback Owners Group.
Last edited by rauchman; Apr 27, 2017 at 10:05 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
While I haven't dinked around with the Ricor options, I think Racetech's kit is the best option for a front end upgrade for the price. Good luck and let us know how the install goes.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 230
Likes: 25
From: ohio
I had a street bob that i did hard bags, floorboards. I liked it but then traded it in on a road king. The sb was a 96 and the road king is a 103. On the bagged sb it would get blown around after i did the bags. The road king is better planted.
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Cruiser
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Before I got my Switchback I was riding a Suzuki DL650 and one of the first things I noticed about the Switchback was I was no longer being pushed around by high wind compared to the Suzuki. This was with the hard bags on as they almost always are on because I have zip tied the bag lock mechanisms to insure they won't come off when riding. This zip tie mod is on the Switchback riders forum.