Switchback Impessions?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 34
From: Maryland
Took a long hard look at it last night. I was impressed. Seems there are a lot of guys needing bags to commute but don't really have the time to tour or the money for a touring bike.
One important prediction I have is that Harley is going to sell out of those floorboard brackets!!! I'd bet lots of Dyna riders want floorboards but didn't wanna pay to have them custom made.
Back to impressions...I looked up prices earlier today. Specifically the price of a Switchback and a Road King. Road King is $1,500 more. What does one get for that $1,500? Bigger bags, much better frame, over a gallon of extra fuel capacity, spotlights, impressive naccle, duel exhaust, better brakes, and heal/toe shifter. Plus the immense amount of aftermarket possibilities including the addition of a batwing.
Switchback looks better without bags on, but who really takes bags off once they have them?
I think the Switchback is a great idea and I applaud Harley for making it. I think a lot of first time Harley owners will be attracted to the Switchback. But...anyone having riders to advise them or does complete research may end up on a Road King?
One important prediction I have is that Harley is going to sell out of those floorboard brackets!!! I'd bet lots of Dyna riders want floorboards but didn't wanna pay to have them custom made.
Back to impressions...I looked up prices earlier today. Specifically the price of a Switchback and a Road King. Road King is $1,500 more. What does one get for that $1,500? Bigger bags, much better frame, over a gallon of extra fuel capacity, spotlights, impressive naccle, duel exhaust, better brakes, and heal/toe shifter. Plus the immense amount of aftermarket possibilities including the addition of a batwing.
Switchback looks better without bags on, but who really takes bags off once they have them?
I think the Switchback is a great idea and I applaud Harley for making it. I think a lot of first time Harley owners will be attracted to the Switchback. But...anyone having riders to advise them or does complete research may end up on a Road King?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
The only thing I don't like about the RK is the bars. Granted, that can be changed, but, by the time you have them swap out the bars, and cables, you're looking at a pretty good price difference between the two bikes.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 107
Likes: 3
Hi. I turned my 2010 FXDC into a mini-road king and now Harley has copied me for less money than I spent to do it..
. Anyone have first impressions on this bike? It looks like a decent package except for the bags. They look awfully small. Looking forward to reding your thoughts.
. Anyone have first impressions on this bike? It looks like a decent package except for the bags. They look awfully small. Looking forward to reding your thoughts.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 772
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
I have yet to see one in person. They sell 'em as soon as they get 'em here. No time on the showroom floor.
I thought "Torq-thrust D" when I saw them. Polished aluminum rim with black "spokes". Cooler than chrome Cragar SS wheels on any car. Remember Eleanor? I think she had 'em. I'd have to look it up, though. I know some stock special-edition Mustangs came with Torq-thrust D wheels.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 1
From: LI, NY
I loved the way the super glide looked when it first came out. Harley was giving it's customers a choice to have a heavy electra glide or go back to Harley's roots and have a light weight big twin.
It was not that the super glide was just lighter it looked leaner, athletic, not bloated.
So what does Harley do? Their making the FLD look bloated again.
FL forks look nice but they look fat on a dyna. The super glide headlamp is fine the way it is. Lean athletic look works. Lean look is the super glide DNA. So Willie G or whoever says we have to make the FLD look more bloated so lets put on a electra glide headlamp nacell.
Willie screams: we need more bloat so they scrap the old dyna front fender and put on an electra glide clone front fender.
Then they say we are making this girl to fat lets put her on a diet and give her a smaller gas tank. This makes total sense that if one wants to tour on a dyna one will chose to buy the dyna with the smallest gas tank (sarcasm). Why bother to put a windshield and hard bags on a dyna and market it to those that want to tour that has it's mileage range reduced?
Bags look nice but are too small.
Anyway for $1,500 more you get a lot more value with a road king. And that classic electric glide DNA.
For those that wanted a lighter touring bike all Harley had to do was take a super glide and put wide glide front forks with a wide front tire as on the custom 1200 or 48, but keep the super glide handle bar.
Then put on full sized detachable hard bags and a detachable windshield for the women. Make a comfortable two up seat as the sundowner standard.
It was not that the super glide was just lighter it looked leaner, athletic, not bloated.
So what does Harley do? Their making the FLD look bloated again.
FL forks look nice but they look fat on a dyna. The super glide headlamp is fine the way it is. Lean athletic look works. Lean look is the super glide DNA. So Willie G or whoever says we have to make the FLD look more bloated so lets put on a electra glide headlamp nacell.
Willie screams: we need more bloat so they scrap the old dyna front fender and put on an electra glide clone front fender.
Then they say we are making this girl to fat lets put her on a diet and give her a smaller gas tank. This makes total sense that if one wants to tour on a dyna one will chose to buy the dyna with the smallest gas tank (sarcasm). Why bother to put a windshield and hard bags on a dyna and market it to those that want to tour that has it's mileage range reduced?
Bags look nice but are too small.
Anyway for $1,500 more you get a lot more value with a road king. And that classic electric glide DNA.
For those that wanted a lighter touring bike all Harley had to do was take a super glide and put wide glide front forks with a wide front tire as on the custom 1200 or 48, but keep the super glide handle bar.
Then put on full sized detachable hard bags and a detachable windshield for the women. Make a comfortable two up seat as the sundowner standard.
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Banned
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 12,594
Likes: 9
From: Bama
I loved the way the super glide looked when it first came out. Harley was giving it's customers a choice to have a heavy electra glide or go back to Harley's roots and have a light weight big twin.
It was not that the super glide was just lighter it looked leaner, athletic, not bloated.
So what does Harley do? Their making the FLD look bloated again.
FL forks look nice but they look fat on a dyna. The super glide headlamp is fine the way it is. Lean athletic look works. Lean look is the super glide DNA. So Willie G or whoever says we have to make the FLD look more bloated so lets put on a electra glide headlamp nacell.
Willie screams: we need more bloat so they scrap the old dyna front fender and put on an electra glide clone front fender.
Then they say we are making this girl to fat lets put her on a diet and give her a smaller gas tank. This makes total sense that if one wants to tour on a dyna one will chose to buy the dyna with the smallest gas tank (sarcasm). Why bother to put a windshield and hard bags on a dyna and market it to those that want to tour that has it's mileage range reduced?
Bags look nice but are too small.
Anyway for $1,500 more you get a lot more value with a road king. And that classic electric glide DNA.
For those that wanted a lighter touring bike all Harley had to do was take a super glide and put wide glide front forks with a wide front tire as on the custom 1200 or 48, but keep the super glide handle bar.
Then put on full sized detachable hard bags and a detachable windshield for the women. Make a comfortable two up seat as the sundowner standard.
It was not that the super glide was just lighter it looked leaner, athletic, not bloated.
So what does Harley do? Their making the FLD look bloated again.
FL forks look nice but they look fat on a dyna. The super glide headlamp is fine the way it is. Lean athletic look works. Lean look is the super glide DNA. So Willie G or whoever says we have to make the FLD look more bloated so lets put on a electra glide headlamp nacell.
Willie screams: we need more bloat so they scrap the old dyna front fender and put on an electra glide clone front fender.
Then they say we are making this girl to fat lets put her on a diet and give her a smaller gas tank. This makes total sense that if one wants to tour on a dyna one will chose to buy the dyna with the smallest gas tank (sarcasm). Why bother to put a windshield and hard bags on a dyna and market it to those that want to tour that has it's mileage range reduced?
Bags look nice but are too small.
Anyway for $1,500 more you get a lot more value with a road king. And that classic electric glide DNA.
For those that wanted a lighter touring bike all Harley had to do was take a super glide and put wide glide front forks with a wide front tire as on the custom 1200 or 48, but keep the super glide handle bar.
Then put on full sized detachable hard bags and a detachable windshield for the women. Make a comfortable two up seat as the sundowner standard.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
i just picked up a switchback, traded in my 08 night train. after 100 miles here is my take..i bought this over the roadking because i like the sporty-er look of the switch back...if the roadking had the bags/rear end like a street gline i may have went with a king..also i like the fact that it is lighter..i am 5'9 or so and about 205lbs so i could ride either bike just fine..my twin brother has a 2010 street glide and it seems to ride a little better than the switch back but not but much IMO...but then again i am 28..if i was 48 i may think its a bigger difference..yes the bags aren't as big as a touring bilke..but big enough for me...big enough to put a size xl leather coat in. bike seems to handle good again i go back to the 2010 street glide i'd say it handles the same since it has the same size front tire. also the bike has the same ergo's or "feel" as a touring bike which is what i wanted..a biked that i sat more on top of vs a bike like my old softtail that you sit deeper in the frame...all in all a good buy so far...just can't wait to get pipes/ a/c...cams and a PC5