Nearly two years and 15k later and quite happy with mine. 6' 225lbs. G F is happy on the back. No more of a parts bin bike than any other member within a Harley family. It has unique suspension in the dyna line, bags redesigned to fit the bike, nacelle looks like a road king part but is in fact a different piece, unique bag mounts, unique wheels, seat.

 

I like the wheels. Would look good on my FXDB.

 

We just bought ours this spring but we are very happy with it. Different strokes, if everyone rode the same bike life would be boring. I like the touring models but they don't look as good with the bags off. Plus, Lighter is Faster....

 

I really like the switchbacks. I test rode one at a demo day and it felt perfect for me, 6ft but only 160lbs. If I could've afforded it I would have got one instead of my superglide, but my superglide was half the price of a new switchback

 

I never warmed to the Switchback until I saw a picture of one where the owner removed the bags, replaced the cast wheels with spokes, and added spring seat. Looked like an old FL. Totally cool.

 

Funny how perspective differs. First time I saw the switchback I imagined the bike you described. Bought one the next day without ever having seen one in the flesh. 2 months later she looks like this.

I've now had her a year and put 30,000km on her. Love it. Rekindled my love of Harleys. Granted she doesn't have the soul of an old UL, but she goes a damn sight better.

 

I bought mine a month ago or so, and it's my first Harley, so here's that kind of a perspective:

When I started looking, I didn't know the differences between the sportster, dyna and softail models, so I read a ton of stuff here. I knew I didn't want a bigger bike like a road king, and I wanted something that handled well (which led me to the dynas). I wasn't interested in the fat bobs or low bobs or sponge bobs style of bikes. It was either a super glide (and then add bags, wind screen, cast wheels) or the switchback. The Heritage Classic softtail also caught my eye, but not enough to 'switch' back...

If I hadn't found the cheap and effective fix to the vibration issue though, I'd be a lot unhappier with my bike. It fits me perfect, is big enough but not too big.

 

Damn, don't beautiful photos like this just make you want to get out and ride?
I like how the SB looks nice w/o bags. I wish they could incorporate this in the RK.

 

i bought a wide glide but after seeing/riding the switchback knew it was what i wanted.. traded the wide glide for the switch back after only 6 months of ownership and 2200 miles... nothing wrong with it BUT if you decide you like something better and you wait too long you will lose too much trade in value..

so i traded for what I really wanted and after a few mods to make it my own have been 100% happy for 18+ months.. biggest complaint for the switchback is that vibration from the exhaust design that for $5 can be fixed in about 15 minutes...

could be that a lot of the trade ins you are seeing are people that couldn't stand the vibration or take the time to research what a fix was for it OR it could be that they bought the switchback and decided that touring was what they really liked and wanted to move up to an all out touring ride such as a few of the members switchback owners site have been doing..

i am also 5'5" but unlike a previous poster do not find the switchback to be cramped
at all especially with the floorboards which allow multiple positions for your feet...

 

I'm very happy with mine. I thought I wanted to upgrade to a Streetglide for awhile until I actually spent some time behind the controls of my dads FLHX... I am however I firm believer that no matter what bike you get, you need to make it your own. Period.

I am 6'1 225 and wasn't truly happy with my FLD until I swapped the bars and changed the seat. Now I can stretch out and straighten my legs for a nice comfortable ride. I'v "made it my own" fitting it to what I feel to be comfortable.

In all honesty I could have gotten away with a RK and been just as happy. However the RK in its stock form looks like complete sh*t IMO. If I wanted a bike that looked like it came straight out of the 1980's, then I would have bought a RK.

However when I knew I wanted a new Harley I knew I wanted something with hard lockable bags, a removable windshield and was going to still be light enough not to feel like a tank and still have strong power for two up riding. Radio would have been nice but it was never high enough on my list to justify something different.

I would have been just as happy with a touring model. however its nice to see a bike that doesn't look like