Big Twin for the Wife
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 79
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From: Oak Hills, CA
Big Twin for the Wife
Greetings!
Hoping for some ideas here.. I'm looking for the perfect bike for my Wife and I'm willing to modify (within reason) as needed.
Here's the story.. She currently has an '02 883 Hugger that she dearly loves and rides as often as possible.. about 10-12K/yr. We've discussed a number of times moving her over to a Softail of some sort. This is what we have discovered from sitting on and discussing various bikes:
1) She likes the look of a Softail Standard. Hands down.
2) She likes the fit of the new Softail Slim (basically a low Fatboy)
3) She does not like a 16" front wheel with "fat forks and big headlight" (her words) of a Slim, Heritage or Fatboy.
The biggest problem is the forward controls on the Softail Standard. Even with a reach seat it's a bit of a stretch for her.
I've been listening to her and this is what I feel would be the "perfect" bike but I'm not sure the MoCo builds it:
--Modern Softail based bike (F.I. a must), mid controls (maybe foot boards?), 19" front wheel, no "fat" rear tires, simple glide front end / headlight.
My budget would be $10-12K all in..
Looking for input and thanks in advance!
Hoping for some ideas here.. I'm looking for the perfect bike for my Wife and I'm willing to modify (within reason) as needed.
Here's the story.. She currently has an '02 883 Hugger that she dearly loves and rides as often as possible.. about 10-12K/yr. We've discussed a number of times moving her over to a Softail of some sort. This is what we have discovered from sitting on and discussing various bikes:
1) She likes the look of a Softail Standard. Hands down.
2) She likes the fit of the new Softail Slim (basically a low Fatboy)
3) She does not like a 16" front wheel with "fat forks and big headlight" (her words) of a Slim, Heritage or Fatboy.
The biggest problem is the forward controls on the Softail Standard. Even with a reach seat it's a bit of a stretch for her.
I've been listening to her and this is what I feel would be the "perfect" bike but I'm not sure the MoCo builds it:
--Modern Softail based bike (F.I. a must), mid controls (maybe foot boards?), 19" front wheel, no "fat" rear tires, simple glide front end / headlight.
My budget would be $10-12K all in..
Looking for input and thanks in advance!
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 410
Likes: 2
From: New Orleans, LA
Electra glide ultra classic....hands down. Dyna Super Glide Custom and soft tail slim. In no special order. Soft tail Slim as skinny rear, floorboards with controls right at the floorboard. Super Glide has skinny rear and mid controls. You didn't say what year...new or used so I just looked at the 2014s.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,550
Likes: 1,842
From: Albuquerque, NM
She may want to test ride a new 1200 Sportster. My wife's got a '13 1200 and I'm amazed with that bike. The rubber mounting and fuel injection has made a huge difference from the previous Sportsters even as recent as your wifes bike. It's worth a test ride at least.
Good luck whatever you do.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 195
From: Boise, ID
I say look into the Dyna family. Super Glide or Street Bob. They are more or less a Sporty on steroids. Plenty of things to adjust the pegs also. My wife has a Wide Glide and the pegs were a little of a reach for here also. Her seat is a little forward now and I also put Switchblades from Kuryakn on there. They are a wider peg so now she is set up just about perfectly.
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Super Glides/Dynas are great bikes. I own one. But they fit a lot differently than a Softail. My bike feels way too tall for my wife, but she can sit comfortably on a Slim or Fatboy Lo.
If she likes the fit of the Slim, but the looks of the Standard, buy a Standard and put floorboards and maybe a different seat or bars on it. Should be easy enough to do, just takes a couple $$.
You're still stuck with a 21" front wheel, but I'm sure you could find someone in the Dyna Forum who switched their 19" front rim l for a 21" front rim (I have a 19" rim and tire in my garage with 4500 miles on it laying in my garage) and lace it to the existing hub.
You could also swap a front end off a Softail Standard or Night Train onto a Slim, but thats probably going to be more expensive.
There you go. Problem solved. I may do the exact same thing for my wife when she decides to move up from her Shadow 600. She really likes the look of the Night Train, but the fit of the Slim.
If she likes the fit of the Slim, but the looks of the Standard, buy a Standard and put floorboards and maybe a different seat or bars on it. Should be easy enough to do, just takes a couple $$.
You're still stuck with a 21" front wheel, but I'm sure you could find someone in the Dyna Forum who switched their 19" front rim l for a 21" front rim (I have a 19" rim and tire in my garage with 4500 miles on it laying in my garage) and lace it to the existing hub.
You could also swap a front end off a Softail Standard or Night Train onto a Slim, but thats probably going to be more expensive.
There you go. Problem solved. I may do the exact same thing for my wife when she decides to move up from her Shadow 600. She really likes the look of the Night Train, but the fit of the Slim.
Last edited by Reindeer; Feb 7, 2014 at 02:39 PM.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
Likes: 277
From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
I agree, for the money the Heritage has character and the easiest riding bike Harley makes. It converts from a cruiser to a good touring ride.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,820
Likes: 6,614
From: Northern California
Nobody has suggested double 'D's yet. I figured they would.
I've been wanting to buy another bike for, uhm, my wife also. I'd like a bike with low seat height that I can also ride comfortably. Or perhaps another RG and a pair of taller boots for my wife....
I've even thought about a V-Rod, but I would not be happy when she had a faster HD than me, and I don't want her to know how I ride the Duc.
I've been wanting to buy another bike for, uhm, my wife also. I'd like a bike with low seat height that I can also ride comfortably. Or perhaps another RG and a pair of taller boots for my wife....
I've even thought about a V-Rod, but I would not be happy when she had a faster HD than me, and I don't want her to know how I ride the Duc.
Last edited by edilgdaor; Feb 7, 2014 at 04:00 PM.