Duece or Softail Deluxe for the Wife?
Duece or Softail Deluxe for the Wife?
Wife just starting to ride. Getting her set up for either MSF or Riders Edge class. She thinks she wants a Duece but I think when she gets comfortable riding she would like the Deluxe more. She's 5'3" and neither of us live in a gym. She can flat-foot one side and tip toe the other on the Deluxe and Flat Foot both on the Duece. Any thoughts from the wise?
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 3
From: san antonio, tx
if she can safely handle it then why shouldn't she get the one she wants? just provide all the info and let her try out the different models that interest her and let her make her own informed decision.
of course, you could also just by a little 250 rebel or some other bike that you don't mind her f--king up. let her hone her skills on that for a little while before you throw her on a bigger bike.
either way, let it be her decision.
of course, you could also just by a little 250 rebel or some other bike that you don't mind her f--king up. let her hone her skills on that for a little while before you throw her on a bigger bike.
either way, let it be her decision.
Madame Moderator
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 25,140
Likes: 12
From: The Peach State
Both are great bikes. The Deuces are more nimble than the Deluxe if that's important at all (better lean angle).
First though, what kind of footwear was she wearing when she was sitting on these bikes? Reason I ask is I am 5'2" and in bare feet or footwear without much heel, I cannot flat foot my unlowered Deluxe. But in my riding boots which easily have an inch and a-half or so of heel, I'm flat footed. So the right footwear can make a difference. Otherwise, sounds like you'd have to get the Deluxe lowered which isn't that big of a deal.
Best advice, let her get her endorsement then take her and let her demo ride both and decide from that.
I'm sure you'll get some follow-up comments about better to get a cheap metric to start with first and then move up to an HD, which is not a bad suggestion either.
Best of luck to her at the class.
First though, what kind of footwear was she wearing when she was sitting on these bikes? Reason I ask is I am 5'2" and in bare feet or footwear without much heel, I cannot flat foot my unlowered Deluxe. But in my riding boots which easily have an inch and a-half or so of heel, I'm flat footed. So the right footwear can make a difference. Otherwise, sounds like you'd have to get the Deluxe lowered which isn't that big of a deal.
Best advice, let her get her endorsement then take her and let her demo ride both and decide from that.
I'm sure you'll get some follow-up comments about better to get a cheap metric to start with first and then move up to an HD, which is not a bad suggestion either.
Best of luck to her at the class.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Jersey
2 flat feet are always better than one.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Canal Fulton, Ohio
After searching for year (while wife rode a Honda 250 for practice and experience) she found a Deluxe that fit her perfectly (both feet flat on ground with boot heals). When you look at a Deluxe at the dealer ask to try different seats. There are a couple of Reach seats that look good on a Softail and move the rider around a bit. Wife is maybe a little shorter than average height for a lady - she tried the Dyna Low rider, Sportster 1200xl, etc. As soon as she sat on this Deluxe that was all she wrote. It was used so we are not sure exactly what was done to it - dealer claimed it was not lowered (still have factory shocks) but it sat lower than the others she had tried.
Last edited by 06flstf; May 27, 2009 at 11:44 AM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 628
Likes: 1
A friend has a Deuce and let my wife ride it. She wanted one but wanted to look at the Deluxe. She couldn't really sit flat-footed on it until some sharp-thinking salesman put a Sundowner seat on it. Problem solved, and she loves her Deluxe. Another friend of hers took a ride on the Deuce, took a ride on the Deluxe w/Sundowner, and she wound up with a Lowrider.