Which model is right for me?
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 214
Likes: 42
From: Texas
Seat height is within about an inch of each other on all the models you listed. Don't rule out the lowrider or any of them before a test ride. The lowrider is basically the discontinued super glide which is why you don't see it on the website.
Also the forty eight is way more badass than the seventy two imo. Google Harley 48 with apes if you like the apes on the 72 and you'll see.
Anyway, good luck.
Also the forty eight is way more badass than the seventy two imo. Google Harley 48 with apes if you like the apes on the 72 and you'll see.
Anyway, good luck.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,234
Likes: 7,814
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
For "nimble"...a Sporty...or a Dyna.
For "laid back"...yet still a bit nimble, look at an FXST Softail.
What's your height 'n weight? If you're smaller, a Sporty will do OK if you don't mind a Sporty. The most "nimble" of the Harleys.
Dyna...the next "still sporty" model...but you're a bit more upright in your position.
The Softails...you sit lower, the seat is set lower and back a hair...so you sit "IN" the bike instead of sitting "ON" the bike like a Dyna or Sporty. Really gives you that laid back ez-rider position. The Softails don't handle as nimble as the Dynas...but if you're not trying to rip through the twisties like on a sport bike...who cares? And decent riders can still push the Softails pretty well anyways....and they maintain that "laid back" style.
For "laid back"...yet still a bit nimble, look at an FXST Softail.
What's your height 'n weight? If you're smaller, a Sporty will do OK if you don't mind a Sporty. The most "nimble" of the Harleys.
Dyna...the next "still sporty" model...but you're a bit more upright in your position.
The Softails...you sit lower, the seat is set lower and back a hair...so you sit "IN" the bike instead of sitting "ON" the bike like a Dyna or Sporty. Really gives you that laid back ez-rider position. The Softails don't handle as nimble as the Dynas...but if you're not trying to rip through the twisties like on a sport bike...who cares? And decent riders can still push the Softails pretty well anyways....and they maintain that "laid back" style.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,471
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
The 2014 was the last model year for the Super Glide, so you'd need to go used.
If you want to "rip all that **** off" a Road King, then you really don't want a Road King, because they look like **** when you take the bags off. The rear end was never meant to be seen, and it shows it.
I would suggest your two best choices for your requirements are the Sportster 1200 Custom and a used Super Glide.
If you want to "rip all that **** off" a Road King, then you really don't want a Road King, because they look like **** when you take the bags off. The rear end was never meant to be seen, and it shows it.
I would suggest your two best choices for your requirements are the Sportster 1200 Custom and a used Super Glide.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 641
Likes: 30
From: Clovis, CA
If you get a King, don't rip all that suitcase crap off too early. The first time I had someone tell me to drop by to hang out, I offered to bring the beer. Then I realized I was on the bike. Almost went home to get the car. Then realized I've got bags. THEN REALIZED I COULD ICE DOWN THE BEERS IN THE BAGS WHILE I WAS RIDING TO THE GUYS HOUSE. I fit a twelver and bag and a half of ice in one bag. Locked the lid so the you Law Abiding types didn't get me on some technicality and headed out. Pulled up, hit the kill switch, rolled to a stop, pulled the helmet off, opened the bags and the bottles were already cold.
I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THOSE BAGS THE SAME WAY AGAIN.
I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THOSE BAGS THE SAME WAY AGAIN.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
I went to a different Harley Dealer today and I was totally unmolested. I spent a good 2 hours sitting on all the bikes and going back and forth. I wore shorts on purpose so the sales people would ignore me.
So now that I studied up all the models before going, it was easy to make all the right conclusions now that I knew all the bike names and features.
1. The entire sportster line is too small for me.
2. I didn't like the way I sit on ANY dyna. Fat Bob, Lowrider, Wide, etc
3. The bike that felt best while sitting on it (which I never considered before) was the fat boy. I seemed to like the Fat Boy Lo better than the non-lo because I seemed to sit a little more leaned back on it. I guess it's only 7/10 inch difference but the lo felt more "right".
4. Another bike that I liked (but it wasn't as leaned back) was the soft-tail breakout. This seemed like a mean little bike and it was the only other bike that I liked today.
The key was being able to look for 2 hours unmolested.. Although I must have worn out my welcome because one salesguy came over and got in my face with a very abrupt "Are you going to buy that bike?" I said: "I just might but not today since I need to feel really sure about a bike before I test drive it". He gave me a crappy look and walked away.
So, given that I am 5' 10" and 200lbs, do you think I am going to be too tall for a fat boy lo? It felt good to me but I didn't ride it yet and if I buy used I'll never be able to compare side-by-side lo VS non-lo.
A big thanks to everyone who put up with my 46 year old punk-*** stupidity. I made some real progress today.
So now that I studied up all the models before going, it was easy to make all the right conclusions now that I knew all the bike names and features.
1. The entire sportster line is too small for me.
2. I didn't like the way I sit on ANY dyna. Fat Bob, Lowrider, Wide, etc
3. The bike that felt best while sitting on it (which I never considered before) was the fat boy. I seemed to like the Fat Boy Lo better than the non-lo because I seemed to sit a little more leaned back on it. I guess it's only 7/10 inch difference but the lo felt more "right".
4. Another bike that I liked (but it wasn't as leaned back) was the soft-tail breakout. This seemed like a mean little bike and it was the only other bike that I liked today.
The key was being able to look for 2 hours unmolested.. Although I must have worn out my welcome because one salesguy came over and got in my face with a very abrupt "Are you going to buy that bike?" I said: "I just might but not today since I need to feel really sure about a bike before I test drive it". He gave me a crappy look and walked away.
So, given that I am 5' 10" and 200lbs, do you think I am going to be too tall for a fat boy lo? It felt good to me but I didn't ride it yet and if I buy used I'll never be able to compare side-by-side lo VS non-lo.
A big thanks to everyone who put up with my 46 year old punk-*** stupidity. I made some real progress today.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
I went to a different Harley Dealer today and I was totally unmolested. I spent a good 2 hours sitting on all the bikes and going back and forth. I wore shorts on purpose so the sales people would ignore me.
So now that I studied up all the models before going, it was easy to make all the right conclusions now that I knew all the bike names and features.
1. The entire sportster line is too small for me.
2. I didn't like the way I sit on ANY dyna. Fat Bob, Lowrider, Wide, etc
3. The bike that felt best while sitting on it (which I never considered before) was the fat boy. I seemed to like the Fat Boy Lo better than the non-lo because I seemed to sit a little more leaned back on it. I guess it's only 7/10 inch difference but the lo felt more "right".
4. Another bike that I liked (but it wasn't as leaned back) was the soft-tail breakout. This seemed like a mean little bike and it was the only other bike that I liked today.
The key was being able to look for 2 hours unmolested.. Although I must have worn out my welcome because one salesguy came over and got in my face with a very abrupt "Are you going to buy that bike?" I said: "I just might but not today since I need to feel really sure about a bike before I test drive it". He gave me a crappy look and walked away.
So, given that I am 5' 10" and 200lbs, do you think I am going to be too tall for a fat boy lo? It felt good to me but I didn't ride it yet and if I buy used I'll never be able to compare side-by-side lo VS non-lo.
A big thanks to everyone who put up with my 46 year old punk-*** stupidity. I made some real progress today.
So now that I studied up all the models before going, it was easy to make all the right conclusions now that I knew all the bike names and features.
1. The entire sportster line is too small for me.
2. I didn't like the way I sit on ANY dyna. Fat Bob, Lowrider, Wide, etc
3. The bike that felt best while sitting on it (which I never considered before) was the fat boy. I seemed to like the Fat Boy Lo better than the non-lo because I seemed to sit a little more leaned back on it. I guess it's only 7/10 inch difference but the lo felt more "right".
4. Another bike that I liked (but it wasn't as leaned back) was the soft-tail breakout. This seemed like a mean little bike and it was the only other bike that I liked today.
The key was being able to look for 2 hours unmolested.. Although I must have worn out my welcome because one salesguy came over and got in my face with a very abrupt "Are you going to buy that bike?" I said: "I just might but not today since I need to feel really sure about a bike before I test drive it". He gave me a crappy look and walked away.
So, given that I am 5' 10" and 200lbs, do you think I am going to be too tall for a fat boy lo? It felt good to me but I didn't ride it yet and if I buy used I'll never be able to compare side-by-side lo VS non-lo.
A big thanks to everyone who put up with my 46 year old punk-*** stupidity. I made some real progress today.
Now, I would suggest you take a Fat Boy Lo for a ride and find an early 2000s used Super Glide for test ride.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 510
Likes: 83
From: SW Virginia
You aren't being stupid at all. I went to the dealer three consecutive days and test rode my bike twice before settling on my Heritage.
It is a lot of dough, man. You want to be sure. Also there is no way you are too small for that bike either. Test ride it, but be prepared to fall in love.
It is a lot of dough, man. You want to be sure. Also there is no way you are too small for that bike either. Test ride it, but be prepared to fall in love.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,234
Likes: 7,814
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
I went to a different Harley Dealer today and I was totally unmolested. I spent a good 2 hours sitting on all the bikes and going back and forth. I wore shorts on purpose so the sales people would ignore me. ...
So, given that I am 5' 10" and 200lbs, do you think I am going to be too tall for a fat boy lo? .
So, given that I am 5' 10" and 200lbs, do you think I am going to be too tall for a fat boy lo? .
Once you're up to "big twin" sized chassis..no matter if it's Softy or FX or FL chassis...you're not "too high" for anything. You select based on riding position, and the style you like. Once that is done...it's the small easy things that fine tune the bike to your size. *Foot Controls. *Bars. *Seat. In any order.
Kinda guessed a softail was gonna be your choice. Now you just need to find the style Softy that you like. There are a few...with FL front, with FX front, older models with Springer front (I'm wanting one of those, like a "Bad Boy" model).