When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Need some advice. Im considering a 2012 Switchback. I dont do long or overnight trips. I mainly go to and from work and day trips. Ive heard some bad reviews about Switchbacks. Whats your opinion?
what were the bad reviews about? was it from people who were expecting the bike to be something more than it was? first and foremost it is a dyna. it's gonna ride like a dyna. and handle like a dyna. just because it has a windshield and saddlebags doesn't mean it is suddenly going to become a roadking. is it a bad bike? i don't think so. is it 'the' bike for me? nope. my roadglide is perfect for my uses. for what you are looking to use the bike for, i think it sounds perfect.
From what you described a SB will fit the bill. I personally never liked em and Im a Dyna guy.
Keep in mind its a Dyna with small bags and a screen basically and should be priced accordingly. I say this because it seems alot of guys list them at near FS bagger prices to the unknowing.
I rented a switchback several years back and put 3-400 mi on it. My observations:
-The stock seat SUCKED! I had serious butt pains after just a few hours on it.
-The windshield was the most horrible thing I've ever had the displeasure of riding behind. It buffeted my (helmeted) head so badly I seriously had trouble reading road signs. Fortunately, I road the majority of my time with it sans shield. I only slapped the shield back on for the 40-50mi it took me to get it back to the dealer. The quick detach was a nice feature.
-The floorboards were REALLY nice but they were mounted too far forward, even with my 33" inseam. I road the majority if the time with my heals hanging off the back of them.
-In stock trim the 103 is very....meh. It felt REALLY corked up and didn't really impressed at any point. Low end was so-so, mid-range was likewise and past 4500rpm it was just making noise. Passing power was very mediocre, at best.
It wasn't all bad though...
-The suspension, though short, rode pretty good and seemed pretty 'dialed in' for the bike.
-I genuinely liked the dyna platform.
-The bags were small-ish, but solid and useful.
All in all the bike clearly wasn't for me but I could see a LOT of potential there.
I rented a switchback several years back and put 3-400 mi on it. My observations:
-The stock seat SUCKED! I had serious butt pains after just a few hours on it.
-The windshield was the most horrible thing I've ever had the displeasure of riding behind. It buffeted my (helmeted) head so badly I seriously had trouble reading road signs. Fortunately, I road the majority of my time with it sans shield. I only slapped the shield back on for the 40-50mi it took me to get it back to the dealer. The quick detach was a nice feature.
-The floorboards were REALLY nice but they were mounted too far forward, even with my 33" inseam. I road the majority if the time with my heals hanging off the back of them.
-In stock trim the 103 is very....meh. It felt REALLY corked up and didn't really impressed at any point. Low end was so-so, mid-range was likewise and past 4500rpm it was just making noise. Passing power was very mediocre, at best.
It wasn't all bad though...
-The suspension, though short, rode pretty good and seemed pretty 'dialed in' for the bike.
-I genuinely liked the dyna platform.
-The bags were small-ish, but solid and useful.
All in all the bike clearly wasn't for me but I could see a LOT of potential there.
Ive rode it twice and really liked it. The buffeting is awful, no doubt about it. A buddy of mine has a windshield for it. Hopefully that will fix the problem.
A guy used to come to the local watering hole bought one and he tried his best to make it into a mini-Ultra.
As others have stated it IS a Dyna, which is a great cruiser and will take you everywhere an Ultra will but it is NOT a touring bike which means that you will NOT have the comfort amenities of a touring bike.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
Need advice
