2013 Switchback
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
2013 Switchback
Greetings,
My wife and I recently purchased 2 2013 HD Switchbacks. Just got back from a 150 ride w/ some friends and am loving the bike.
10 years ago, my wife and I eloped on a hot air balloon on the north side of Phoenix, by way of 2 rented HD Fat Boys. We decided to celebrate our 10 year anniversary w/ a couple of new HD's for us.
She started riding in 2001 when she got the itch to ride. I never had much of a desire, but in 2002 when she got ride her Honda Rebel and brought home a brandy new Honda 750 Shadow Ace, I said "there is no way you're going to have one, and I'm not!". I started that Sep on a brandy new Suzuki SV650S in silver, the last of the Gen1's. Shortly thereafter, in the spring of 2003, I bought a Yamaha Road Star. After a get off on her Honda, she wanted something w/ better brakes, handling, etc. I went to a 2007 SV1000S in '08.
We decided, after doing several multi day trips, that neither bike was doing it for us to tour on. My buddy bought a BMW F800GS a couple of years ago. On a multi day excursion with him, I had occasion to ride it for 50 miles or so and gained an appreciated for the comfort afforded by an Adventure bike riding position. Over the summer, I had test ridden a 2013 R1200GS and thoroughly loved it. The way the bike made power was very similar to my SV1K, but w/ a bit more bottom end. Excellent suspension and brakes and excellent comfort. As wonderful of a bike it was, it didn't do "it" for me. High cost and, in my mind, enough reliability reports to give me pause, were also a consideration. Started looking at cruisers again. My local BMW dealer is also an HD dealer. Great dealer by the way. I had test ridden a 2013 HD Street Bob and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Much more agile than I would have thought. I've been going to the local HD dealers in the area in quest of seeing a Switchback since they came out. I loved the looks, it was tour friendly (comes w/ hard bags, floorboards and windshield) and not insanely priced. Problem was I couldn't find one anywhere. I've still never seen one on a showroom floor in NJ.
One day, just before our 10 year anniversary, we went looking at motorcycles in a more than casual way. We stopped by the local Big4 dealer, who also carries the Piaggio group (Moto Guzzi, Aprila & Vespa) and Victory. They had a Moto Guzzi California 1400, but in the end, it didn't do it for us in a visual sense and the dealer doesn't offer test rides. Outside of a Yamaha Raider, which I kind of really liked, but couldn't see myself on it, nothing else interested us. We wound up at the local HD/BMW dealer, and in the parking lot was a silver Switchback. This was the first time either of us had seen this bike, and we liked it. We like it a lot. Wound up taking a test ride on a used 2005 Super Glide, and it was ok, not great. Went to another HD dealer (who didn't have a Switchback) and got couple up in a couple of 2014 Road Kings. Gorgeous bikes. We went back that Tues (our anniversary) and I test rode the Road King and a Fat Bob. The Road King was very refined, w/ very good brakes and suspension. It felt very big though. I'm sure I could used to it, but it lacked a fun factor I was looking for. The Fat Bob was more fun, but I didn't like the feet forward riding position and the brakes blew. Surprisingly, there was a stretch of road where I was swinging both the Road King and the Fat Bob back and forth within the lane, and the Road King was easier to transition back and forth.
We found a dealer in PA who had 6 Switchbacks, and was open on Sunday. We drove out there and finally got a test ride. Both of us liked them. It hit all the buttons for us. Tour friendly, comfortable for both of us (surprisingly), was light enough that my wife, nor myself for that matter, were intimidated by the size and it had the fun factor. We found ourselves signing papers and walking out w/ a deal for 2 2013 Switchbacks. Within a week, the bikes were delivered to our house.
As mentioned, I came back from a ride today and up to just under 500 miles. We're striving to get as much seat time in before the end of the season.
Some thoughts on the bike…
Comfort - The ergo's work for me. W/ the floorboards, I have options on foot placement. In my sporty type riding, I hand the onto the floorboards w/ the ***** of my feet and tuck my knees to the tank. For slower pace or slogs, I spread myself out a bit. Handlebars have a good position and allow me to feel "in control" of the bike. Seat position is decent. If I wear leather riding pants, I stay where I want to. If in jeans, textile, etc., I have a tendency to slide here and there and find myself trying to skooch myself into the back of the seat. I may consider an alternative at some point to move me either up or back 1", or both.
Handling - While the Road King handled really nicely, this bike gets close. Taking corners, the bike has a nice balance of wanting to go into the turn and holding a line as you pull through. The front end comes w/ cartridge forks, and while travel is not the best, it's damped nicely. The rear is nothing special, but does have 5 position preload. Maneuvering the bike around at slow/parking lot speeds, it doesn't feel cumbersome. It has decent to good cornering clearance for a cruiser. I've only touched down the floor boards a couple of times in deep cornering.
Brakes - The front pads are now bedded and it's better than when I first got the bike. Front and rear braking is the way to go here. Front brake is best modulated w/ 3 fingers vs. 2 on the SV/Z1K. I'll likely put steel braided lines and better pads at one point, but for now, it's very livable.
Engine - Love the engine. Love how the engine is pulsy at idle, but smooths out once under way. There is a rough zone between 2800'ish - 3,200'ish rpm, but after that it smooths out again. I understand there are some remedies for this. The engine has more zing than I thought it would. A pull to 4000rpm in 2nd or 3rd gear gets you to highway speed quickly. It's not sport bike fast, but it still moves. Salivating to do the Stage 1. My buddy just did this to his 2013 Road Glide, and it boogies.
Other stuff - The windshield has some buffeting above 60. My wife doesn't find she has any, but her torso is shorter than mine by an inch of two. Looking into options to remedy that. Possibly lowers and/or a vented windshield. I put on the HD quick detach sissybar / luggage rack setup. Much more involved than I would have thought, but doable. Watchout for removing the bolts for the bobbins that hold the luggage on, and they are REALLY locktited in there. I couldn't get one out and had to bring it to the local dealer for them to get it out.
All in all, very happy w/ the bike and what it offers. Still getting used to riding "cruiser" vs. "sport bike", but I'm getting used to it. By the way, the paint on the bikes comes alive in the sun. Really really nice.
Some pics…
My wife and I recently purchased 2 2013 HD Switchbacks. Just got back from a 150 ride w/ some friends and am loving the bike.
10 years ago, my wife and I eloped on a hot air balloon on the north side of Phoenix, by way of 2 rented HD Fat Boys. We decided to celebrate our 10 year anniversary w/ a couple of new HD's for us.
She started riding in 2001 when she got the itch to ride. I never had much of a desire, but in 2002 when she got ride her Honda Rebel and brought home a brandy new Honda 750 Shadow Ace, I said "there is no way you're going to have one, and I'm not!". I started that Sep on a brandy new Suzuki SV650S in silver, the last of the Gen1's. Shortly thereafter, in the spring of 2003, I bought a Yamaha Road Star. After a get off on her Honda, she wanted something w/ better brakes, handling, etc. I went to a 2007 SV1000S in '08.
We decided, after doing several multi day trips, that neither bike was doing it for us to tour on. My buddy bought a BMW F800GS a couple of years ago. On a multi day excursion with him, I had occasion to ride it for 50 miles or so and gained an appreciated for the comfort afforded by an Adventure bike riding position. Over the summer, I had test ridden a 2013 R1200GS and thoroughly loved it. The way the bike made power was very similar to my SV1K, but w/ a bit more bottom end. Excellent suspension and brakes and excellent comfort. As wonderful of a bike it was, it didn't do "it" for me. High cost and, in my mind, enough reliability reports to give me pause, were also a consideration. Started looking at cruisers again. My local BMW dealer is also an HD dealer. Great dealer by the way. I had test ridden a 2013 HD Street Bob and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Much more agile than I would have thought. I've been going to the local HD dealers in the area in quest of seeing a Switchback since they came out. I loved the looks, it was tour friendly (comes w/ hard bags, floorboards and windshield) and not insanely priced. Problem was I couldn't find one anywhere. I've still never seen one on a showroom floor in NJ.
One day, just before our 10 year anniversary, we went looking at motorcycles in a more than casual way. We stopped by the local Big4 dealer, who also carries the Piaggio group (Moto Guzzi, Aprila & Vespa) and Victory. They had a Moto Guzzi California 1400, but in the end, it didn't do it for us in a visual sense and the dealer doesn't offer test rides. Outside of a Yamaha Raider, which I kind of really liked, but couldn't see myself on it, nothing else interested us. We wound up at the local HD/BMW dealer, and in the parking lot was a silver Switchback. This was the first time either of us had seen this bike, and we liked it. We like it a lot. Wound up taking a test ride on a used 2005 Super Glide, and it was ok, not great. Went to another HD dealer (who didn't have a Switchback) and got couple up in a couple of 2014 Road Kings. Gorgeous bikes. We went back that Tues (our anniversary) and I test rode the Road King and a Fat Bob. The Road King was very refined, w/ very good brakes and suspension. It felt very big though. I'm sure I could used to it, but it lacked a fun factor I was looking for. The Fat Bob was more fun, but I didn't like the feet forward riding position and the brakes blew. Surprisingly, there was a stretch of road where I was swinging both the Road King and the Fat Bob back and forth within the lane, and the Road King was easier to transition back and forth.
We found a dealer in PA who had 6 Switchbacks, and was open on Sunday. We drove out there and finally got a test ride. Both of us liked them. It hit all the buttons for us. Tour friendly, comfortable for both of us (surprisingly), was light enough that my wife, nor myself for that matter, were intimidated by the size and it had the fun factor. We found ourselves signing papers and walking out w/ a deal for 2 2013 Switchbacks. Within a week, the bikes were delivered to our house.
As mentioned, I came back from a ride today and up to just under 500 miles. We're striving to get as much seat time in before the end of the season.
Some thoughts on the bike…
Comfort - The ergo's work for me. W/ the floorboards, I have options on foot placement. In my sporty type riding, I hand the onto the floorboards w/ the ***** of my feet and tuck my knees to the tank. For slower pace or slogs, I spread myself out a bit. Handlebars have a good position and allow me to feel "in control" of the bike. Seat position is decent. If I wear leather riding pants, I stay where I want to. If in jeans, textile, etc., I have a tendency to slide here and there and find myself trying to skooch myself into the back of the seat. I may consider an alternative at some point to move me either up or back 1", or both.
Handling - While the Road King handled really nicely, this bike gets close. Taking corners, the bike has a nice balance of wanting to go into the turn and holding a line as you pull through. The front end comes w/ cartridge forks, and while travel is not the best, it's damped nicely. The rear is nothing special, but does have 5 position preload. Maneuvering the bike around at slow/parking lot speeds, it doesn't feel cumbersome. It has decent to good cornering clearance for a cruiser. I've only touched down the floor boards a couple of times in deep cornering.
Brakes - The front pads are now bedded and it's better than when I first got the bike. Front and rear braking is the way to go here. Front brake is best modulated w/ 3 fingers vs. 2 on the SV/Z1K. I'll likely put steel braided lines and better pads at one point, but for now, it's very livable.
Engine - Love the engine. Love how the engine is pulsy at idle, but smooths out once under way. There is a rough zone between 2800'ish - 3,200'ish rpm, but after that it smooths out again. I understand there are some remedies for this. The engine has more zing than I thought it would. A pull to 4000rpm in 2nd or 3rd gear gets you to highway speed quickly. It's not sport bike fast, but it still moves. Salivating to do the Stage 1. My buddy just did this to his 2013 Road Glide, and it boogies.
Other stuff - The windshield has some buffeting above 60. My wife doesn't find she has any, but her torso is shorter than mine by an inch of two. Looking into options to remedy that. Possibly lowers and/or a vented windshield. I put on the HD quick detach sissybar / luggage rack setup. Much more involved than I would have thought, but doable. Watchout for removing the bolts for the bobbins that hold the luggage on, and they are REALLY locktited in there. I couldn't get one out and had to bring it to the local dealer for them to get it out.
All in all, very happy w/ the bike and what it offers. Still getting used to riding "cruiser" vs. "sport bike", but I'm getting used to it. By the way, the paint on the bikes comes alive in the sun. Really really nice.
Some pics…
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 625
Likes: 172
From: Massillon, Ohio
...almost bought a SwitchBack, but then my '12 Tequila Orange SuperGlide caught my fancy more at the time. Wish the SwitchBack would have came in Tequila Orange as I surely would have bought it. It's also neat they're the only Dyna with Floorboards, hardpainted saddle bags & a windshield. Ride safe!
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 10
From: TX
Great write up, I just brought home a 2013 Switchback myself after spending year on big HD touring bikes , my knees just could not take the weight and this bike is perfect.
I added a Klock Werks Billboard flare windshield and it took all the buffeting away.
IMO the bike handles better than my FLHTC did.
Best of both worlds...
I too can't wait to do a complete stage one and maybe some cams, wake her up.
Congrats on your new additions and many happy miles
I added a Klock Werks Billboard flare windshield and it took all the buffeting away.
IMO the bike handles better than my FLHTC did.
Best of both worlds...
I too can't wait to do a complete stage one and maybe some cams, wake her up.
Congrats on your new additions and many happy miles
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,960
Likes: 26
From: Sonoma County, CA
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the bikes....Those are sweet rides. I love that blue paint! I would definitely consider a Switchback if I was looking for a bike. Maybe even as a second bike, dare I say: "Bagger". Ride safe you two!
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