Switchback or not .....
Banned
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 12,594
Likes: 9
From: Bama
Any step up to a big twin is huge. Take one for a test drive but do yourself a favor and also drive a king and heritage. If you want to tour and bag size is important then take a long look......at all of your options.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
i bought mine b/c its a dyna touring bike to which to me means a "sporty" touring bike...I did a cam/pipe build on mine if you look up "cam pipe wow" under search...anyways i wanted a bike with hard bags that is a better handler and less weight than a RK...but on the other hand i sometimes long for the ride, bigger gas tank and bigger bags of the RK, but at the end of the day i really enjoy my switch...when i bought it, i did because i liked the idea of being able to take the bags off...but over 1000 miles later and the only time the bags came off is when i wash it..It is what it is and it aint what it aint...its not a full dyna sporty bike and it aint a full out touring bike...for me price was also a point...when i traded in my N-train my payment changed by 5 dollars that is a big reason i went with it and was less years on the loan...if that was the case with the RK i probably would have bought a king...Though to me i have always said why stop at a RK? Might as well buy a street glide or a road glide and get a radio..If you buy one you will not be unhappy...only thing is you may get a few road queen comments from some of the yahoo's on here..but for the most part i believe that nickname has past....biggest bitch i have about mine is the ride...after i do some looking around i will be doing the shocks and proabably the fork springs as well. good luck!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 5
From: Batesville Ga
Course the Switchback is just an update on the old Dyna Convertible with the logical move to hard vs. soft bags. Sharp looking bike and one that IMO nicely spans the gap between smaller town bike and larger tourer.
Having just sold my EG after having one or another for 8 years, I can say that there is a world of difference between a Dyna and a tourer. The tourer is the best out the door bike for long distance riding. Tons of luggage space, comfortable ride, enough heft to handle the blowby of a semi on the highway, radio and comm if you choose, cruise, ABS available.
But around town it's a pain. 880# of bike IS going over if you stop too quickly with the bars turned. Don't even think of trying to stop it, you'll just hurt yourself.
Dyna's my go to town bike. Quick and reasonably light (tho heavier than the Sporty) if I grab a bit too much front brake with the bars turned as I stop, I can recover without the bike dropping. In fact, I never think about it on the Dyna whereas I planned carefully for each stop on the EG.
But two 400+ mile days with another 400 miles of twisties in between last year (4 days total) on the Dyna left me wishing I'd taken the EG instead. You might chalk that up to age but my much younger g/f started shopping for Fatboys after that trip on her Lowrider. Not saying you can't do it - you absolutely can and many do. Just be aware you'd be more comfortable on a tourer. The Fatboys are our compromise ride - softer ride than the Dynas without the excessive weight issues of the tourer.
If I could only have one bike, it would very likely be a Switchback. Thank god I don't have to make that decision.
Having just sold my EG after having one or another for 8 years, I can say that there is a world of difference between a Dyna and a tourer. The tourer is the best out the door bike for long distance riding. Tons of luggage space, comfortable ride, enough heft to handle the blowby of a semi on the highway, radio and comm if you choose, cruise, ABS available.
But around town it's a pain. 880# of bike IS going over if you stop too quickly with the bars turned. Don't even think of trying to stop it, you'll just hurt yourself.
Dyna's my go to town bike. Quick and reasonably light (tho heavier than the Sporty) if I grab a bit too much front brake with the bars turned as I stop, I can recover without the bike dropping. In fact, I never think about it on the Dyna whereas I planned carefully for each stop on the EG.
But two 400+ mile days with another 400 miles of twisties in between last year (4 days total) on the Dyna left me wishing I'd taken the EG instead. You might chalk that up to age but my much younger g/f started shopping for Fatboys after that trip on her Lowrider. Not saying you can't do it - you absolutely can and many do. Just be aware you'd be more comfortable on a tourer. The Fatboys are our compromise ride - softer ride than the Dynas without the excessive weight issues of the tourer.
If I could only have one bike, it would very likely be a Switchback. Thank god I don't have to make that decision.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 882
Likes: 126
From: Hahira Ga
Went from an 09 Nightster to a 2012 Switchback. Wish I could have both! Loved the Nightster, but for two to go off camping and riding for a few days the Switchback is of course much better. With the bags and a duffle bag across the back rack (more room than a rear trunk) it is doable and pretty comfortable, though I am sure not as comfortable as a touring bike. I am just not ready for a near 900lb papa bike. As with most bikes, the stock seat can easily be improved on; I went with the HD Signature seat which will raise you up and forward about 3/4 - 1". I did have my heart set on a RK, but a poor salesman pushed me to another dealership where timing, price, and the thought of 115lbs less weight led me to the SB back in August, 5400mile later happy with my decision, except I still miss looking at that black and orange Nightster in the carport!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 169
From: WPB, FL
Fyi
There was a "worrysome" posting in here yesterday about a Switchback fuel dripping problem a few owners have had to deal with. Not all owners reported having the problem but more than just the one did.
Trending Topics
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 5
From: Flatlander
I went from a 07 Dyna Street Bob to a 09 Softail Night Train.
http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/PerryJoseph/Street%20Bob/07to09.jpg
Then I seen a FLD 103, everything I wanted and then some.
Cruse down the interstate going 80 or around town going a
tad slower sometimes, it handles like nothing I ever had.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skateraid/
http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/PerryJoseph/Street%20Bob/07to09.jpg
Then I seen a FLD 103, everything I wanted and then some.
Cruse down the interstate going 80 or around town going a
tad slower sometimes, it handles like nothing I ever had.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skateraid/
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 3
From: Ca.
I've never owned a tourer so I can't really comment on that part or comparisons but for a cruiser, I think the switchback is awesome. About 50lbs heavier than a wideglide and about 100 lighter than a rk. To make it a truly functional tourer, you will need to drop some coin on it.
Everything has it's trade offs...it's up to you what's most important based upon what you are going to do with the bike. Stripped down, I liken the fld to the old duo-glides and cvo softtail convertable in relation to a cruiser but $13k less than a cvo and with a dyna platform. The CVO is totally loaded cruiser with a 110 and converts to wanna-be touring like the FLD. The cvo softtail convertable is the only softtail that i personally enjoyed sitting on as you sit in it like a dyna, instead of on it. That $13k price reduction is almost enough to buy a nice used RK, streetglide, roadglide, whatever.
It's all perspective and what you prefer as a end result. If I was to do it again, knowing what i know now, I'd buy it again if it was going to be my only bike and I only had $20k. Cruising is what I'm most into and the fld is great for short 250 mile trips (the distance to the colorado river from my san dimas house.)
If I had $30k to blow, I'd buy a streetbob and mod it out to my liking for about $15-16k total and then spend the other $14 or 15k on a used streetglide or limited. Best of both worlds.
Everything has it's trade offs...it's up to you what's most important based upon what you are going to do with the bike. Stripped down, I liken the fld to the old duo-glides and cvo softtail convertable in relation to a cruiser but $13k less than a cvo and with a dyna platform. The CVO is totally loaded cruiser with a 110 and converts to wanna-be touring like the FLD. The cvo softtail convertable is the only softtail that i personally enjoyed sitting on as you sit in it like a dyna, instead of on it. That $13k price reduction is almost enough to buy a nice used RK, streetglide, roadglide, whatever.
It's all perspective and what you prefer as a end result. If I was to do it again, knowing what i know now, I'd buy it again if it was going to be my only bike and I only had $20k. Cruising is what I'm most into and the fld is great for short 250 mile trips (the distance to the colorado river from my san dimas house.)
If I had $30k to blow, I'd buy a streetbob and mod it out to my liking for about $15-16k total and then spend the other $14 or 15k on a used streetglide or limited. Best of both worlds.
Last edited by FBinSoCal; Apr 1, 2012 at 11:11 AM.
It's up to you. If you like the look, buy it. You'll get use to the ride. I used to ride a 1200 sporty custom, liked it. My wife has a iron 883. I like to ride it whenever I need to zip around. Go with what you like.