Switchback Regret?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,135
Likes: 4,774
From: Sandpoint, Idaho
so, after an 04 rkc, an 07 rkc, and finally an '11 rkc, i finally traded for a switchback after one test ride. I rediscovered how much i missed being able to take a nice line through a corner, park in tight spots without having to muscle the big bagger around, the feel of quicker acceleration and nimbler handling in general. Nothing wrong with the big baggers if all you want to do is plant your butt on the interstate, or if you feel compelled to be just like your buddies who also hold up the parade when the road gets twisty.
When people tell me they are trying to choose, i give this advice: If 80% of your riding is truly long-haul highway touring, you'll probably be happier with a glide or a king. If, however, 80% of your riding is crusing or trips of 1,000 miles or less, go with a switchback. You'll have way more fun. Of course, if you're the size of the average gold wing rider, you might need that spacious seat on a glide just to haul yourself around! Lol.
When people tell me they are trying to choose, i give this advice: If 80% of your riding is truly long-haul highway touring, you'll probably be happier with a glide or a king. If, however, 80% of your riding is crusing or trips of 1,000 miles or less, go with a switchback. You'll have way more fun. Of course, if you're the size of the average gold wing rider, you might need that spacious seat on a glide just to haul yourself around! Lol.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,036
Likes: 19
From: Savage, MN
Switchback its all in the name people buy one and then switchback to something else. JK bad joke I know. In my opinion dynas in general get traded in or are a secondary bike becuase they are the bar hopper need for speed Harley vs the going across the country ride some people are looking for. If you want a gret looking bike you can go a couple hundred miles on get a dyna if you want a crosscountry bike get a touring rig.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 508
Likes: 2
From: Idaho Panhandle
and you FEW are the REAL riders... its like harley elitists too, if you ride anything but a harley they turn their nose up at you which is pure bullshit... there aren't many harley riders on the road today that actually started on a harley when they first started riding and they forget where they came from...
same goes for a lot of the sportbike riders, they think all harley riders are fat dirty people with beards and tattoos that don't wear helmets, these same Aholes will be on a Harley or bigger touring bike in 15-20 years IF they are still alive and riding..
to me it doesn't matter what you ride so long as you are riding and who GAF what you look like doing it..
same goes for a lot of the sportbike riders, they think all harley riders are fat dirty people with beards and tattoos that don't wear helmets, these same Aholes will be on a Harley or bigger touring bike in 15-20 years IF they are still alive and riding..
to me it doesn't matter what you ride so long as you are riding and who GAF what you look like doing it..
So, after an 04 RKC, an 07 RKC, and finally an '11 RKC, I finally traded for a Switchback after one test ride. I rediscovered how much I missed being able to take a nice line through a corner, park in tight spots without having to muscle the big bagger around, the feel of quicker acceleration and nimbler handling in general. Nothing wrong with the big baggers if all you want to do is plant your butt on the Interstate, or if you feel compelled to be just like your buddies who also hold up the parade when the road gets twisty.
When people tell me they are trying to choose, I give this advice: If 80% of your riding is truly long-haul highway touring, you'll probably be happier with a Glide or a King. If, however, 80% of your riding is crusing or trips of 1,000 miles or less, go with a Switchback. You'll have way more fun. Of course, if you're the size of the average Gold Wing rider, you might need that spacious seat on a Glide just to haul yourself around! LOL.
When people tell me they are trying to choose, I give this advice: If 80% of your riding is truly long-haul highway touring, you'll probably be happier with a Glide or a King. If, however, 80% of your riding is crusing or trips of 1,000 miles or less, go with a Switchback. You'll have way more fun. Of course, if you're the size of the average Gold Wing rider, you might need that spacious seat on a Glide just to haul yourself around! LOL.
Ain't No Doubt About That
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,135
Likes: 4,774
From: Sandpoint, Idaho
[QUOTE=Loner88;11526923]
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. The sales manger is pretty aggressive about moving the used bikes- if they don't sell pretty quick, he moves them someplace else. Some probably down to Lewiston, now that they have a franchise there.
Since they seem to price "used" at or above MSRP "new" I don't understand how they sell anything.
.
. The sales manger is pretty aggressive about moving the used bikes- if they don't sell pretty quick, he moves them someplace else. Some probably down to Lewiston, now that they have a franchise there.
Since they seem to price "used" at or above MSRP "new" I don't understand how they sell anything.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 3
From: Ca.
Swanny - I just bought a '13 FLD and am finding that I need to change the seat and bars up as well to fit my frame. I'm 6'1" 200 and feel like I have to sit on the hump of the stock seat just to stretch out enough.
What seat did you end up going with to gain more legroom?
What seat did you end up going with to gain more legroom?
Now my knees are close to level with the tank and going 300 miles in a day is no longer a biggie. If you want, pm me and I'll ask him if he's interested in making some of those extensions for you.
edit; I don't have any regrets for buying my FLD but run it 99% of the time without the bags. The bags are like little purses...lol (let's see how the haters take that ball/comment and run with it) and that's about my only real complaint. I got one of the first ones in Aug. 2011. I think it's a great bike but nope, it's not a touring bike. It's a dyna on steroids, hehe.
Last edited by FBinSoCal; Feb 17, 2014 at 08:11 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: IN
And ask my buddy with his Stage IV 103 Electra Glide how much he like getting his doors blown off by a Stage III Switchback
he makes 18 more horsepower than me, but that extra 215lbs of bike he has to get moving makes for a bad day for him lolWhen people tell me they are trying to choose, I give this advice: If 80% of your riding is truly long-haul highway touring, you'll probably be happier with a Glide or a King. If, however, 80% of your riding is crusing or trips of 1,000 miles or less, go with a Switchback. You'll have way more fun.
One last point:
My friend and I traded bikes for the day but still rode with each other. My Switchback, his Dyna LowRider. Both riding 2 up, same stock FLD seat in fact. We found out that the detachable docking hardware is NOT in the same location for all Dyna's!! The Switchback hardware place the passenger about 2 inches further back than on his Low Rider. His gf did not want to give me my bike back lol She loved the extra room
Last edited by flyin1200; Jul 15, 2013 at 05:58 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 508
Likes: 2
From: Idaho Panhandle
Yeah, they sure don't seem to cut any deals for anyone, not on used or new scoots. Funny thing is, that dealership is currently the number 1 volume dealership in the U.S.; at least that's what the Corporate types told the HOG types when they were in Salt Lake for 'officers training' this spring.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,540
Likes: 1,833
From: Albuquerque, NM
Switchback its all in the name people buy one and then switchback to something else. JK bad joke I know. In my opinion dynas in general get traded in or are a secondary bike becuase they are the bar hopper need for speed Harley vs the going across the country ride some people are looking for. If you want a gret looking bike you can go a couple hundred miles on get a dyna if you want a crosscountry bike get a touring rig.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 329
Likes: 22
From: Australia
Touring bikes with lots of luggage space are cool, but lead to overpacking because you can. I've rarely use my bags so I removed the mounts. I prefer to pack light. Here's my girl returning home from another (very wet) 2,000km 3 day weekend interstate run. Only other thing I carried was my SLR in a small shoulder bag.
