Looking for a second bike
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 238
Likes: 123
From: SoCal
Looking for a second bike
I'm looking to add a touring model. I used to have an '09 FLHT that I loved, but it would make a clump when I would put it in first gear. That bike is long gone.
My question is, are there any year Road Glide, Street Glide, or Road King to stay away from?
My question is, are there any year Road Glide, Street Glide, or Road King to stay away from?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,144
Likes: 6,166
From: SE Michigan
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,599
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From: Virginia
used or new? Budget?
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,322
Likes: 731
From: Pennsylvania
Depends on a few basic things. Are you going to regularly take a passenger? If so, will that be on long weekend trips for hundreds of miles? Or just the occasional day-trip for maybe 50-80 miles? THAT, I believe is the main factor in determining bike size and especially passenger space. Do you need a big-a** wrap-around passenger sear or will a nice sissy bar with pad do the trick?
If a passenger is not a factor then the next question is do you need all the bells and whistles? Radio, GPS blah, blah. If not then you might be ok with a Road King. That is a beautiful bike and while you can take a passenger is really a single-rider bike. Same with the Heritage.
Then you need to decide what is comfortable for you. Personally I do not need all the "frills" so I was hoping to like the RK but it was just too uncomfortable for me. It pushed me forward and made me sit too upright. I like to sit back. The RK is not the lightest bike either so, being on the smaller side, I test rode a few and ultimately chose the Heritage. Note: My wife rides her own. Same as the RK, you can certainly rig up one of those larger seats and take a passenger for long distance rides, etc etc.
Bottom line they are all very similar but are definitely different. Sounds silly but I will state it anyway....many have a hard time wrapping their head around the fact that the Road Glide fairing does not turn with the bars & fork. In my opinion, it is made to comfortably get you down the road, on long trips and pretty much in a "straight line" Meaning the RG is not really a day-tripper/bar-hopper. But of course it can be.
JMHOs
If a passenger is not a factor then the next question is do you need all the bells and whistles? Radio, GPS blah, blah. If not then you might be ok with a Road King. That is a beautiful bike and while you can take a passenger is really a single-rider bike. Same with the Heritage.
Then you need to decide what is comfortable for you. Personally I do not need all the "frills" so I was hoping to like the RK but it was just too uncomfortable for me. It pushed me forward and made me sit too upright. I like to sit back. The RK is not the lightest bike either so, being on the smaller side, I test rode a few and ultimately chose the Heritage. Note: My wife rides her own. Same as the RK, you can certainly rig up one of those larger seats and take a passenger for long distance rides, etc etc.
Bottom line they are all very similar but are definitely different. Sounds silly but I will state it anyway....many have a hard time wrapping their head around the fact that the Road Glide fairing does not turn with the bars & fork. In my opinion, it is made to comfortably get you down the road, on long trips and pretty much in a "straight line" Meaning the RG is not really a day-tripper/bar-hopper. But of course it can be.
JMHOs
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,144
Likes: 6,166
From: SE Michigan
Depends on a few basic things. Are you going to regularly take a passenger? If so, will that be on long weekend trips for hundreds of miles? Or just the occasional day-trip for maybe 50-80 miles? THAT, I believe is the main factor in determining bike size and especially passenger space. Do you need a big-a** wrap-around passenger sear or will a nice sissy bar with pad do the trick?
If a passenger is not a factor then the next question is do you need all the bells and whistles? Radio, GPS blah, blah. If not then you might be ok with a Road King. That is a beautiful bike and while you can take a passenger is really a single-rider bike. Same with the Heritage.
Then you need to decide what is comfortable for you. Personally I do not need all the "frills" so I was hoping to like the RK but it was just too uncomfortable for me. It pushed me forward and made me sit too upright. I like to sit back. The RK is not the lightest bike either so, being on the smaller side, I test rode a few and ultimately chose the Heritage. Note: My wife rides her own. Same as the RK, you can certainly rig up one of those larger seats and take a passenger for long distance rides, etc etc.
Bottom line they are all very similar but are definitely different. Sounds silly but I will state it anyway....many have a hard time wrapping their head around the fact that the Road Glide fairing does not turn with the bars & fork. In my opinion, it is made to comfortably get you down the road, on long trips and pretty much in a "straight line" Meaning the RG is not really a day-tripper/bar-hopper. But of course it can be.
JMHOs
If a passenger is not a factor then the next question is do you need all the bells and whistles? Radio, GPS blah, blah. If not then you might be ok with a Road King. That is a beautiful bike and while you can take a passenger is really a single-rider bike. Same with the Heritage.
Then you need to decide what is comfortable for you. Personally I do not need all the "frills" so I was hoping to like the RK but it was just too uncomfortable for me. It pushed me forward and made me sit too upright. I like to sit back. The RK is not the lightest bike either so, being on the smaller side, I test rode a few and ultimately chose the Heritage. Note: My wife rides her own. Same as the RK, you can certainly rig up one of those larger seats and take a passenger for long distance rides, etc etc.
Bottom line they are all very similar but are definitely different. Sounds silly but I will state it anyway....many have a hard time wrapping their head around the fact that the Road Glide fairing does not turn with the bars & fork. In my opinion, it is made to comfortably get you down the road, on long trips and pretty much in a "straight line" Meaning the RG is not really a day-tripper/bar-hopper. But of course it can be.
JMHOs
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 953
From: Sarasota Florida
M8's prior to 2020 had oil pump issues that caused sumping on some bikes. This problem has since been corrected by the factory, and S&S, feuling, and Screaming Eagle all make upgraded pumps.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 2,205
The sales of Harley's touring bikes are such that the touring models out-sell all other categories, and almost outsell all the others combined. Someone posted the sales data on one of the financial threads, and the touring models all sell very well compared to all of the "cruiser" models and adventure bikes.
The milestones you should be most interested in are 2009 for the 6 gallon tank and 2014 for the Rushmore upgrades, depending on budget. But to answer your question, no, there is no bad year, at least not in the modern era. There are a ton of bikes out there from $7-12k right now, too, which will have many healthy miles remaining.
The milestones you should be most interested in are 2009 for the 6 gallon tank and 2014 for the Rushmore upgrades, depending on budget. But to answer your question, no, there is no bad year, at least not in the modern era. There are a ton of bikes out there from $7-12k right now, too, which will have many healthy miles remaining.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,322
Likes: 731
From: Pennsylvania
haha, I knew that get someone's attention. I put it in quotes. Meaning, I personally believe a RG is made to take the open road and ride. And ride. Not really the bike you are going to look at first as you bar-hopper or commuter. If money was no object, and assuming I wanted a RG, I would probably have an old Dyna or Heritage or even a Fat Boy for those short trips. And use the RG for the open road.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,144
Likes: 6,166
From: SE Michigan
haha, I knew that get someone's attention. I put it in quotes. Meaning, I personally believe a RG is made to take the open road and ride. And ride. Not really the bike you are going to look at first as you bar-hopper or commuter. If money was no object, and assuming I wanted a RG, I would probably have an old Dyna or Heritage or even a Fat Boy for those short trips. And use the RG for the open road.
