Congratulations. I ride a LR and love it.

 

Congrats! Hand out the cigars! I remember mine ('06) like it was yesterday!

 

Great choice. Welcome to the Low End. I love mine, fits like a glove. Just got back in from a 150 mile ride and feel like I went 15.
Like I mentioned in an earlier post to you, get yourself a windshield. A quick detach low profile would be ideal.
Will be posting a new sig pic soon with the bike fully dressed for cruising - doing two trips this month - 1,700 miles and 2,000 miles.

 

Hi again, and thanks for the great responses, lots of good info, and you helped me feel that I've made the right choice. There is one thing still on my mind, and the previous poster hit it squarely on the head.

I've been torn between the Low Rider and the Road King, feeling that the built in bags are very useful, and frankly I think the Road King look is perfect. I stayed away from it because: (1) I'm financiallyh challenged and the RK is about $5K more than the Low Rider, (2) my wife rides with me infrequently and isn't likely to go on a several day trip on the back of a bike - any bike, she's just not comfortable compared to an air conditioned car with her coffee (I know, I know), (3) the added size and weight of the RK make it difficult to justify for the type of riding I plan to do - mostly short rides within an hour from home, an occassional (and I mean occasional) trip to the kids, about 175 to 400 miles round trip - most likley the longer one is overnight. Against all of that I've had some experience with brake lockup during unexpected turns and I am old enough to admit that ABS may be very useful, especially as I get more miles on my AARP card!

I love the '08 RK with the new ABS and the ISO rear end, but I have a hard time justifying it given what I just wrote. Several of you suggest that the Low Rider can be made into a more than acceptable short haul tourer - about the distances I've indicated, with a few mods. I've ridden "naked" bikes most of my life, staring with a Yamaha RD350 35 years ago, and into a Triumph Bonneville T100 today, with an stop over on a Honda Valkyrie with a detachable windshield and full time leather bags. I found the bags got "mushy" over the years, losing their shape and not being watertight or lockable, and the windshield was terrible, hard to see through and distroted at night, and lots of buffeting on my 5'7" frame during the day. Because of that I've stayed with the naked bikes, absorbing the wind turbulence in exchange for clean lines and a bike that I enjoy just looking at. That's another reason I don't want to do too much to the Low Rider right now - I don't really like the look of the seat riser, but I'll add them if it makes my wife comfortable. Comments are welcome, and thanks again.

 

Great to see another Custom!

Congrats!

 

Er.... wait a minute... I thought you said you got a Custom - never mind...

But, welcome anyway!

 

Lencap - The FXDL bagged up is still a pretty lean looking machine with the Mustang seat and passenger pillion. Should be able to post up the pics tomorrow. Have to wash the bike first, it's a little dusty & bug splattered after today's ride.

 

You can make any bike into a "touring" model depending on what features you're looking for and what compromises you're willing to make. (The 3rd place finisher in this year's Iron Butt Rally was riding a Sportster!)

I've owned two Road Glides and two Low Riders. I've found myself preferring the Dynas due to the lighter weight and more nimble handling. However, the Low Rider's suspension is pretty harsh. If I were going to have a pillion riding regularly, I think I'd go with the Road King. On the other hand, the Low Rider fits me like a pair of my favorite tennis shoes and I find myself riding it more than I did either of my Road Glides.

Given the amount of money you'll be spending for either, you should consider renting each for a day and be sure and test ride them with your wife. As they say, if she ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

Good luck - it's a nice problem to have!

 

Towjam, I love your new Lowrider. Hot colour!!
Lencap, you will enjoy the Harley. I came to Harley from 4 BMWs, and no regrets at all. I have a 2007 FXDC, Cobalt Blue. Great bike.

 

good choice Lencap, they are a great bike hope you enjoy it as much as the rest of the guys here