Yo all,

Would like to hear from those that might be able to offer some comments about using their Wide Glide as a touring machine.

I've got a 2000 which I love for tooling around, but want to know if the bike works well for tours of say 300 to 400 mile days. Does the seating position work for that long of a period?

What mods did you have to make to make it work as an occasional touring machine? Would love to have two bikes, but can't swing that with a kid getting ready for college, and don't want to ride a bagger all the time.

Any and all comments welcome.

Thanks

Frankster

 

the Wide Glide is great for touring. I have taken a few long rides on my '06 WG. 500 to 600 miles a day are not a problem. The only mods that I did was buy a sissy bar and then straped on my duffle bag and a back pack. If you're riding two up, you will need some saddle bags and a fender rack and that should about do it. No need for a bagger unless you think you would like to have some tunes and all the extras.

 

The Wide Glide will tour and do 300-400 mile days with ease but it will not do to with the comfort and ride that a touring bike will. I do not know if you are still using the stock seat or not. If you are you will find that a touring type seat will make a great deal of difference on extended runs. A windshield will help keep the bugs and road debris off of you and tame the wind blast. A good set of bags will give you a place to carry your stuff, and a tool kit for the dreaded roadside repair would be a good idea. I am sure that others will have more suggestions.

Good luck with it.
Zykoln

 

I have begun to do a lot of touring since my wife got her own bike. The WG does just fine. I did put a removable windshield on and some removable bags as well. I have a Sundowner seat and that is really comfortable on long rides but right now I have the stock seat on. I certainly don't know why it wouldn't work for you. I have done several 500 mile days and it was fine.

 

I just purchased a mustang solo seat with back rest big difference over stock seat. 400 to 500 miles a day no problem.Rode from daytona to miami and back in one day nice ride no no sore butt

 

Ditto on the Mustang seat with backrest. Heel stirrups will help reduce leg fatigue as well. there's lots of good luggage available that fits on a luggage rack and sissy bar, or you can use the back seat if you are riding solo and don't have a rider backrest.

I'm probably in a minority here, but I wear my leathers whenever I"m traveling on the interstate for long periods... even in summer. Keeping the wind off your skin helps reduce fatigue. Here's my touring rig, and below, or in the next post will be my stirrups.

 

I have done a few 700 plus mile days. At the end of those long haul days I am pretty tired. 400 to 500 mile days are very easy to do on the WG. I have planned for this summer to ride to both coasts Maine on the East and Washington on the West. I love the WG for touring, though not for everyone.

 

I absolutely love mine for touring. I have the H-D touring seat, which is very comfy for my wide azz. I have a sissybar bag I put on the back seat and use as a back rest and 6-700 miles a day is nothing. Also have a detachable windsheild.

 

i love the dyna models, they are very versatile. here is a quick touring mod that only cost $150.00 total, and you have the quality of a tourbike for dirtcheap. its waterproof to. take a look at my sig to see my touring mod i did to my streetbob. great for a fast install and uninstall, about 10 minutes. awesome for touring. here is the info, if you want to take a look at it. jackyl



tourpak mounting kits for dynas, softails and sportsters>>http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...;rd=1&rd=1

[IMG]local://upfiles/8042/57A6288D9D40436FB51B60EF649AA8DA.jpg[/IMG]

 

A wideglide is a perfectly acceptable touring machine...and with the right additions can be just as road worthy as any proper tourer. That said, there is one inherent flaw...and this goes for any bike with forward controls. The majority of your weight goes to your a$$. So after an extended period of time, you will go numb there...no matter what kind of seat you have. Personally, it's the ONLY seating position for me...it's the only position that I truly feel comfortable in...and even with that, I still get numb butt after a couple hours.
I suppose, in my case, that's the double edged sword. If I want to do really long distances without getting numb in the rear, I'd have to ride a bike with mid-controls/floorboards....thing is, that's uncomfortable to me on a whole other level.
Guess everyone is different in terms of their tolerance to numb a$$. But you're certainly not limited based on the bike itself, or the accessories you can buy for it.

Todd