Evo flht compared to heritage
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Northern Ontario
Evo flht compared to heritage
I tried this in softail section but I think the info I was looking for should have been addressed in the EVO forum. Basically I want to know if I can get just as good
a long distance ride from an 89 Heritage as I do with my 89 flht? I'm looking to get this heritage for the wife's she wants to get away from her 99 sportster, it causes too much pain in her shoulder after a couple hundred mile ride. I realize the heritage is rigid mount compared to my flht which is rubber mount. So any experience on the old heritage? She would be quite happy if it at least gAve her a better ride than the sporty but really happy if it gave a ride like my flht.
a long distance ride from an 89 Heritage as I do with my 89 flht? I'm looking to get this heritage for the wife's she wants to get away from her 99 sportster, it causes too much pain in her shoulder after a couple hundred mile ride. I realize the heritage is rigid mount compared to my flht which is rubber mount. So any experience on the old heritage? She would be quite happy if it at least gAve her a better ride than the sporty but really happy if it gave a ride like my flht.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,439
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From: Route 66
I'm sure you will get many different opinions on this and this is just mine:I've owned all three bikes you mentioned and there is no doubt she would love the ride of the softail coming off the sportster.A lot of people tour on the Heritage and do just fine with it but no it isn't an e-glide and doesn't ride like one.The heritage will have more vibration at road speed.The advantage of the softail will be it seats you lower and more down in the bike as opposed to sitting up on the glide.I love the look of the heritage but myself I too was hoping it would ride more like the glide which I had owned a couple of before.My experience with the heritage was short as I got rid of it and went back to a glide and never looked back.I used to ride the sportster all over the country and at the end of the day sometimes I thought I would have to be helped off of it I was so sore(I have back injuries), the heritage would be leaps and bounds above the ride of her sporty.
Last edited by popawcritter; Oct 15, 2011 at 07:32 AM.
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From: NW AR
My friend has all 3 now, but new bikes. A 2008 Sportster (1200), 2009 softtail, Heritage, I think, shown here at the left:
and he just bought a new FLHTC. Are the 2012's out? It's probably that. He's still getting used to the dresser, but is amazed at how much more comfortable it is than his softtail. I've ridden his Sportster, and I found it to have a lot of power, more than Dr.Linda's '87 883, but he has these short bars on it and I didn't like those.
Besides replacing the bike, have you considered changing up the handlebars to something more comfortable for the OL? And a windshield? That will make a tremendous improvement for road trips. Here's a closer pic of Dr.L's set up for the road:
The buckhorn bars are original, adjusted to where they are most comfortable for her. The windshield we put on after she rode it from Alberta (where we bought it new on a road trip) to L.A. She was beat up pretty much after a day's ride without the windshield. Adding that let us do an extra hundred miles a day, easy. Also cut about 10 MPG off, but it's worth it.
and he just bought a new FLHTC. Are the 2012's out? It's probably that. He's still getting used to the dresser, but is amazed at how much more comfortable it is than his softtail. I've ridden his Sportster, and I found it to have a lot of power, more than Dr.Linda's '87 883, but he has these short bars on it and I didn't like those.
Besides replacing the bike, have you considered changing up the handlebars to something more comfortable for the OL? And a windshield? That will make a tremendous improvement for road trips. Here's a closer pic of Dr.L's set up for the road:
The buckhorn bars are original, adjusted to where they are most comfortable for her. The windshield we put on after she rode it from Alberta (where we bought it new on a road trip) to L.A. She was beat up pretty much after a day's ride without the windshield. Adding that let us do an extra hundred miles a day, easy. Also cut about 10 MPG off, but it's worth it.
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Northern Ontario
Thanks popawcritter that is some encouraging info, we are talking about the EVO Heritage that is your experience right?
Hess I was going to put some buck horns on her bike to get it sitting back more but after I road it on the hiway for a good 40 minutes I decided it was punishment that she didn't know she was getting and best part is she never complained. I did put a good memphis shade windshield on her bike as well as some leather lowers and a new Harley sportster chushy seat. She was very happy with the improvements but her 30 yrs of hairstyling is catching up with her shoulders and next year I plan on doing some longer touring.
The bike I'm looking at only has very low miles and although it is 6 hrs away and I can't really go see it from what I've learned about my Evo this would be a very fair deal at $8000 plus taxes.Actually I think I'll post some pics of it.
Hess I was going to put some buck horns on her bike to get it sitting back more but after I road it on the hiway for a good 40 minutes I decided it was punishment that she didn't know she was getting and best part is she never complained. I did put a good memphis shade windshield on her bike as well as some leather lowers and a new Harley sportster chushy seat. She was very happy with the improvements but her 30 yrs of hairstyling is catching up with her shoulders and next year I plan on doing some longer touring.
The bike I'm looking at only has very low miles and although it is 6 hrs away and I can't really go see it from what I've learned about my Evo this would be a very fair deal at $8000 plus taxes.Actually I think I'll post some pics of it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
I did a road trip on a Heritage a while back and it was fine, the low seat height was excellent but for extreme trips the FLH is way better....but compared to a Sporty on long trips its a sofa mate, she will love it!
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Northern Ontario
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: central Mississippi
I've owned all three and the Heritage will be a lot more comfortable than the Sportster, but nowhere near the ride of the FLH. If she can handle a Heritage, why not just get her an FLH?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Northern Ontario
She likes the ride of my bike but doesn't care for the fairing or hard bags, I've shown her pics of other EVO heritage bikes that were stripped of the rear seat and soft bags and it really turned her crank.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Route 66
Yes, Evo all the way.I have taken a demo on several of the twin cams and have no plans for one in the future.