Wide Glide vs Softtail what's the true story?
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Stage IV
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa
Wide Glide vs Softtail what's the true story?
Looking for honest comparisons between wide glide and softtail as far as comfort around town vs longer trips and overall handling. I really like the looks of the wide glide and it really "FITS" when I sit on it, but my local dealers keep pushing me towards a softtail, either a softtail slim or a fat boy. Any help?
oh yeah, the only complaint I have with the wide glide is that the rear brake pedal seems uncomfortable to me. It is to short, my foot feels like it is going to slip off the pedal and my knee hits the air cleaner.
oh yeah, the only complaint I have with the wide glide is that the rear brake pedal seems uncomfortable to me. It is to short, my foot feels like it is going to slip off the pedal and my knee hits the air cleaner.
Last edited by Bullridr; May 24, 2012 at 09:06 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 249
I've got a Softail and I'm more than happy with it, they'll be plenty of opinions on here which is the best but just go with what feels right for you after you test ride both models, a dealer will push you towards a Softail as It cost more and makes more money for him. As for the brake pedal and air cleaner you can change both on the Dyna after you've bought it should you feel the need to.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 590
Likes: 8
From: Mattoon, Illinois
I've got a Softail and I'm more than happy with it, they'll be plenty of opinions on here which is the best but just go with what feels right for you after you test ride both models, a dealer will push you towards a Softail as It cost more and makes more money for him. As for the brake pedal and air cleaner you can change both on the Dyna after you've bought it should you feel the need to.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 297
Likes: 25
From:
Find a new dealer. I hate pushy people. I had a salesman trying to talk me out of my road king when I went to buy it, he tried hard to get me on a softail.
The kicker, for me, was that the bike I wanted was sitting on the floor, used, already accessorized to my liking, with 151 miles on it. It basically turned into me saying 'I want that bike, or I'm leaving', then he went and drew up the paperwork.
When I walk into a dealership, I want to be asked if I need help. If I ask questions, answer them. If I say I want XXX bike, sell it to me. If I say I'm just looking, leave me alone. Is that too much to ask?
I've walked out plenty of times over stuff like that, sometimes with rather large amounts of money in my pocket. The best one so far, for me, was when I wanted a Hayabusa. Walked in the dealer with a checkbook, prepared to pay cash. The guy tried to talk me into a GSX-R1000, saying I wouldn't like the Hayabusa because of how big it was. I left, went to the next dealer, and bought a ZX-14. It turned out after switching off with a friend I like the Ninja better anyways.
The kicker, for me, was that the bike I wanted was sitting on the floor, used, already accessorized to my liking, with 151 miles on it. It basically turned into me saying 'I want that bike, or I'm leaving', then he went and drew up the paperwork.
When I walk into a dealership, I want to be asked if I need help. If I ask questions, answer them. If I say I want XXX bike, sell it to me. If I say I'm just looking, leave me alone. Is that too much to ask?
I've walked out plenty of times over stuff like that, sometimes with rather large amounts of money in my pocket. The best one so far, for me, was when I wanted a Hayabusa. Walked in the dealer with a checkbook, prepared to pay cash. The guy tried to talk me into a GSX-R1000, saying I wouldn't like the Hayabusa because of how big it was. I left, went to the next dealer, and bought a ZX-14. It turned out after switching off with a friend I like the Ninja better anyways.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 89
From: Tampa, FL
I have ridden both. I rode two different Fat Boys. The longest ride i have had on a softail was 130 miles and it was nice.
I have ridden over 300 miles on a wideglide. There is no problem with comfort on long rides on the wideglide.
Here are the major differences I found.
1: foot-boards. If you like foot boards the softails come with them stock. I personally do not like them, but that is just an opinion.
2. lean. The wideglide has a better lean angel and can be thrown into corners easier. again my opinion.
3. bars. (easily changed). I find the bar setup on the stck wideglide much more than the softail.
4. riding position. The riding position on the softail for me took a little more time getting used to. I felt like i was sitting on the bike not 'in' the bike.
I have a friend who just recently switched from a softtail to a wideglide and he loves the wideglide and likes it more than the softtail.
again, try them both,
good luck.
.
I have ridden over 300 miles on a wideglide. There is no problem with comfort on long rides on the wideglide.
Here are the major differences I found.
1: foot-boards. If you like foot boards the softails come with them stock. I personally do not like them, but that is just an opinion.
2. lean. The wideglide has a better lean angel and can be thrown into corners easier. again my opinion.
3. bars. (easily changed). I find the bar setup on the stck wideglide much more than the softail.
4. riding position. The riding position on the softail for me took a little more time getting used to. I felt like i was sitting on the bike not 'in' the bike.
I have a friend who just recently switched from a softtail to a wideglide and he loves the wideglide and likes it more than the softtail.
again, try them both,
good luck.
.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 2
From: Novi MI
Yep we're not you and our tastes aren't the same as yours. You have to make up your own mind. If you want my personal opinion, I'd rather have a Softail Slim or Fat Boy. By the way, you can change the brake pad and lever. That's one nice thing about Harleys. They make a dozen replacement parts for about every item on the bike for every size rider.
Last edited by barjbar; May 24, 2012 at 10:45 AM.
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