Wide Glide owners, help me out...
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 227
Likes: 1
From:
Wide Glide owners, help me out...
Owner of an 05 RK, great bike, however, I'm thinking aboutswitchin for a WG. After riding a buddy's WG, the laid back riding position blew me away, and while I didn't travel from VA to MI the ride wasn't all that different than the RK. But I do believe I could travel from VA -MI with no problem (at least solo).
Couple of Questions though;
How is this thing for 2 up riding (not cross country), say, 100 miles, or an afternoon?
How is the stock seat?
How does it handle on those not so straight roads?
Best exhaust set up?
Not so great things about the bike??
Thinking real hard on this one, any and all responses are truly appreciated
Couple of Questions though;
How is this thing for 2 up riding (not cross country), say, 100 miles, or an afternoon?
How is the stock seat?
How does it handle on those not so straight roads?
Best exhaust set up?
Not so great things about the bike??
Thinking real hard on this one, any and all responses are truly appreciated
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Winston Salem, NC
RE: Wide Glide owners, help me out...
The stock seat sucks, in my opinion. I"m running a Mustang Wide Vintag Solo, with fider backrest, ane I'm very happy with it. I'm 52, and have back problems, so you may not need the backrest.
Two long trips from NC last year, once to Ohio and another to Pa. Was iin pretty good shape after both trips, going and coming. Adding heel stirrups really helped with the comfort as well.
I haven't ridden two up much, but the little I've done was no problem. If your passenger knows how to ride, you don't notice them being there.
I have a V&H BSS pipe and it is a good one. A Thunderheader would be even better. There's lots of good pipes out there to choose from. Definitely change the pipes and air cleaner and add a SERT, PCIII or something of the like if you get a fuel injected bike. You and the motor will both be happier.
Below are a couple of different configurations of my Wide Glide.
Two long trips from NC last year, once to Ohio and another to Pa. Was iin pretty good shape after both trips, going and coming. Adding heel stirrups really helped with the comfort as well.
I haven't ridden two up much, but the little I've done was no problem. If your passenger knows how to ride, you don't notice them being there.
I have a V&H BSS pipe and it is a good one. A Thunderheader would be even better. There's lots of good pipes out there to choose from. Definitely change the pipes and air cleaner and add a SERT, PCIII or something of the like if you get a fuel injected bike. You and the motor will both be happier.
Below are a couple of different configurations of my Wide Glide.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 227
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Wide Glide owners, help me out...
Thanks for the feedback Gary,
Nice looking ride you got there!!
When you mention Thunderheader are you talkin 2-1? The 2-1 on the RK made a heck of a difference.
Nice looking ride you got there!!
When you mention Thunderheader are you talkin 2-1? The 2-1 on the RK made a heck of a difference.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
RE: Wide Glide owners, help me out...
ORIGINAL: Jimbo59
How is this thing for 2 up riding (not cross country), say, 100 miles, or an afternoon?
Mine rides 2-up really well. I minor investment in a fork brace will make it much better still.
How is the stock seat?
Fine for the driver. Sucks for a passenger. I put a Sundowner on...MAJOR improvement.
How does it handle on those not so straight roads?
I love mine on the twisties. The laid-back position makes it handle really well.
Best exhaust set up?
I run SE-2 slip-ons with Big City Thunder baffles. Love the sound and performance.
Not so great things about the bike??
The stock seat.
The stock exhaust sounds like a sewing machine.
The stock license plate mount ruins the bobbed look of the rear fender. I installed a side mount plate and removed the old mount. Cleans the rear end up nicely.
How is this thing for 2 up riding (not cross country), say, 100 miles, or an afternoon?
Mine rides 2-up really well. I minor investment in a fork brace will make it much better still.
How is the stock seat?
Fine for the driver. Sucks for a passenger. I put a Sundowner on...MAJOR improvement.
How does it handle on those not so straight roads?
I love mine on the twisties. The laid-back position makes it handle really well.
Best exhaust set up?
I run SE-2 slip-ons with Big City Thunder baffles. Love the sound and performance.
Not so great things about the bike??
The stock seat.
The stock exhaust sounds like a sewing machine.
The stock license plate mount ruins the bobbed look of the rear fender. I installed a side mount plate and removed the old mount. Cleans the rear end up nicely.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 329
Likes: 1
From: Oldsmar, FL
RE: Wide Glide owners, help me out...
I have an '05, and I'm in agreement with the others. For two-up riding, it's fine. I do it a lot, and I almost never notice my gf back there, unless she needs to pull her jeans out of her butt. BUT, the stock seat does suck. I couldn't go 100 miles on it without my butt going numb. Switched to a Mustang vintage, and it's like night and day. Wished I'd done it a lot sooner. GF appreciates the passenger seat more too. It's an all-around great-handling bike; leans great into the curves. I, too, have the Vance and Hines BSS. Don't know too much about other pipes though; I just like the way they look and sound. Not so great, hmm, not much. Gotta agree with ktm_scott about the license plate. I may have to try his suggestion with the side mount. I also swapped out the ape hangers with drag bars. With the pullback and risers, the grips are still in just about the same place as before. Was thinking I'd be leaning forward a little more, but thankfully not the case. So I got the different look, with the same sitting position. There's lots of stuff you can do to a WG!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 0
From: SW Corner of NW Corner
RE: Wide Glide owners, help me out...
ORIGINAL: Jimbo59
Owner of an 05 RK, great bike, however, I'm thinking aboutswitchin for a WG. After riding a buddy's WG, the laid back riding position blew me away, and while I didn't travel from VA to MI the ride wasn't all that different than the RK. But I do believe I could travel from VA -MI with no problem (at least solo).
Couple of Questions though;
How is this thing for 2 up riding (not cross country), say, 100 miles, or an afternoon?
Its fine for day trips. My wife has been on the back for about 200 miles. You feel the added weight, but it doesnt have a negative effect on handling. We have our first multi day trip planned for this summer, so we havn't done real long stuff
How is the stock seat?
Sucks - get the Mustang
How does it handle on those not so straight roads?
f'ing awesome. I shred the twisties. It does have that oversteer wobble thing though (don't they all???). My winter project this year is improving the front suspension as well as some other stuff
Best exhaust set up?
I started with a SE Pro II baloney cut slip ons... wanted a different sound though, so I went to a V&H Pro Pipe... much better sound now, only a couple points improvement in the HP/TQ arena (between the two, not from stock)
Not so great things about the bike??
I wish they made the quick release windshield for '05's or older. I don't want a windshield for around town, but all day long the wind does beat you up. I would like to have something for those days. The have the ones that leave hardware behind, don't want that either.
I think this is huge if you are into long, multi day rides. I figure once this one is paid of I will start talking to the wife about getting an Ultra
the rear wobble thing they all can suffer from
Thinking real hard on this one, any and all responses are truly appreciated
Owner of an 05 RK, great bike, however, I'm thinking aboutswitchin for a WG. After riding a buddy's WG, the laid back riding position blew me away, and while I didn't travel from VA to MI the ride wasn't all that different than the RK. But I do believe I could travel from VA -MI with no problem (at least solo).
Couple of Questions though;
How is this thing for 2 up riding (not cross country), say, 100 miles, or an afternoon?
Its fine for day trips. My wife has been on the back for about 200 miles. You feel the added weight, but it doesnt have a negative effect on handling. We have our first multi day trip planned for this summer, so we havn't done real long stuff
How is the stock seat?
Sucks - get the Mustang
How does it handle on those not so straight roads?
f'ing awesome. I shred the twisties. It does have that oversteer wobble thing though (don't they all???). My winter project this year is improving the front suspension as well as some other stuff
Best exhaust set up?
I started with a SE Pro II baloney cut slip ons... wanted a different sound though, so I went to a V&H Pro Pipe... much better sound now, only a couple points improvement in the HP/TQ arena (between the two, not from stock)
Not so great things about the bike??
I wish they made the quick release windshield for '05's or older. I don't want a windshield for around town, but all day long the wind does beat you up. I would like to have something for those days. The have the ones that leave hardware behind, don't want that either.
I think this is huge if you are into long, multi day rides. I figure once this one is paid of I will start talking to the wife about getting an Ultra
the rear wobble thing they all can suffer from
Thinking real hard on this one, any and all responses are truly appreciated
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: Jersey Shore
RE: Wide Glide owners, help me out...
Thats interesting you want to go to a wideglide from a road king. I would have thought the RK was a nice softe ride. Anyway, I agree with the other's there is a lot you can do with the WG. You can make it look cool and with a few changes it is packed up for a trip. I chose a diffrent seat right off.. I have 2 seat's, one from bar industries for 2 up and a saddleman for solo rides. The pipes that go on a WG are for your choosen. I think its all a matter of taste. The BSS are probably one of the better flowing exuast for torque and HP for the money IMHO. They have a nice line to them. I chose the looks of the VH big radius.
The bike really handles well through any kind of terrain. I don't do much of 2 up riding except with my son. He's only 95lbs so I hardly know he is back there.
Good luck..
The bike really handles well through any kind of terrain. I don't do much of 2 up riding except with my son. He's only 95lbs so I hardly know he is back there.
Good luck..
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 100
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Wide Glide owners, help me out...
I'm the opposite. At the end of the season I took my buddys for a 50 mile ride and the ride was awesome. I'm thinking of getting the R/K classic. I felt like I could ride all day. I got the mustang seat, foreward controls, VH St shots with the stage 1. I'm 6'3" and I could really usemy foreward extensions to go out a little further. My wife likes to ride and there is enough room to ride comfortably. The WG's do handle nice but that thin tire up front makes me edgy on them steel deck bridges. I went from an old FLH to the FXDWG so it was something for me to get used to. Good luck, your R/K is a beauty by the way
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[IMG]local://upfiles/12962/5A643C7AEF6748D692CDFAA9B83104C6.jpg[/IMG]
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 304
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Wide Glide owners, help me out...
I have the o6 wide glide. Love it and at this point wouldn't want any other model.
I do alot of 2 up riding and I might be nuts, but think it actually rides better with the extra weight.
As the others have stated the stock seat sucks. Bought the regal duke and love it. There are other mustang seats that are more comfortable, but I like the look of the regal duke.
I have the SE II slip -ons, along with theHigh flow ACwith down load and it works for me.
It handles the twistys just fine, if anything my riding ability is the down fall in that area
License plate is about the only complaint I have but that is a easy fix.
I do alot of 2 up riding and I might be nuts, but think it actually rides better with the extra weight.
As the others have stated the stock seat sucks. Bought the regal duke and love it. There are other mustang seats that are more comfortable, but I like the look of the regal duke.
I have the SE II slip -ons, along with theHigh flow ACwith down load and it works for me.
It handles the twistys just fine, if anything my riding ability is the down fall in that area
License plate is about the only complaint I have but that is a easy fix.