Epic Softail Slim Rant
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsburg, PA
Rode to work with morning and didn't have the leg issue. This is also the first time I had the combination of stock seat and reversed risers. The stock seat definitely isn't as comfy as the Tripper but it's not horrible. I'm really going to miss the backrest.
How is the solo springer comfort-wise? I've only ever glanced over posts about it.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 565
Likes: 197
From: London, UK
The spring seat set-up I had was comfy, but I never could get the angle of the seat right - it was digging into the backs of my legs after a while.
I've since gone via a Deluxe seat and turning the bars towards me a bit, but eventually I've gone back to the stock seat with the bars still turned towards me a bit - curiously I now find this set-up perfect - go figure! Maybe I've become used to the leg position and maybe broken the seat in a bit
I'm still gonna tinker with the spring seat setup - see if I can make up new T-bracket for under the seat to place it a little further back and down a touch too - might lift my legs a bit and take off the pressure behind my thighs
I've since gone via a Deluxe seat and turning the bars towards me a bit, but eventually I've gone back to the stock seat with the bars still turned towards me a bit - curiously I now find this set-up perfect - go figure! Maybe I've become used to the leg position and maybe broken the seat in a bit
I'm still gonna tinker with the spring seat setup - see if I can make up new T-bracket for under the seat to place it a little further back and down a touch too - might lift my legs a bit and take off the pressure behind my thighs
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsburg, PA
I'm all for a more vintage looking sprung seat but those covers that go over the under seat electronics are pretty horrendous looking. Particularly the part that covers the ECU.
Ever see anyone do a custom cover and mover the ECU?
Ever see anyone do a custom cover and mover the ECU?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
I have to say the first long trip on my Softail I had the leg issues you describe, but after having ridden it for a while now, the leg and foot lift seems to have gone away. Can't say what I'm doing differently. On long highway/road trips I have a windshield that gets mounted. But it's off around town. Give it time.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 10,374
Likes: 518
From: Southern Arizona
i say you should of went with a full on fatboy. HD are always trying to reinvent their own models and the slim to me is a fail, but others like it. maybe go with a roadking also or the switchback, a smaller version of the roadking
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 613
Likes: 17
From: Boston, MA
I made a similar transition from sportster to softail a couples years back and for the same reason (riding a lot more highway). Never rode with a shield on the sporty, but picked up one up shortly after I got the softail. Took the wind blast off my face and my chest, but the air blowing directly up my nose from underneath was more annoying than the wind blast was to begin with. I added the fangs and can honestly say it made a HUGE difference. I'm 5'10" and running the HD Nostalgic shield with 17" memphis shades plastic. I would think if you went with the fangs and a 19" or 21" plastic you would notice a big difference as well. I've also added floorboard extensions, 14" apes, and a Mean City Cycles reworked seat and I could honestly ride all day long with no issues at all.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 613
Likes: 17
From: Boston, MA
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,982
Likes: 6,110
From: Florida
Why not commute with the car to work, and use the bike for pleasure? That way you have a great looking bike that you don't HAFTA take when the ride is gonna suck, like a commute usually does.
Everytime I HAFTA be somewhere, I'd rather not take the bike. That is for leisurely enjoyment, not commuting through rush hour traffic. Besides, I take my work truck home.
Everytime I HAFTA be somewhere, I'd rather not take the bike. That is for leisurely enjoyment, not commuting through rush hour traffic. Besides, I take my work truck home.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsburg, PA
I have two young kids. I don't have much opportunity to be like "I'm going to go ride, later everyone."
Work is an hour away. In the morning it's all highway. But on the way home I get awesome back roads for an hour and 20 minutes.
Work is an hour away. In the morning it's all highway. But on the way home I get awesome back roads for an hour and 20 minutes.