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Since Tinker has made his decision this reply is in no way meant to sway him one way or another.
That said:
Softails are GREAT BIKES! I have two of them and don't think I'll ever part with my 03 while my 08 is quickly working its way into that category as well, especially with the addition of the SS.
I have had 4 other Touring bikes as well. Tourng bikes are not "boring" as one responder said earlier. I don't even know how that could be said with the fact that they have bags so you can bring your stuff and your lady's stuff and many have radios and other gauges that softails just don't have (stock). Obviously you can make any bike have just about anything nowadays but "boring" is the last word I would use to describe baggers/Touring bikes.
Anyway, I've had 4 (see signature) "baggers". Each of them was a great bike in their own way as are the softails. I personally think softails ride better than touring bikes with stock suspension as a rule. I just think the geometry of absorbing bumps horizontally vs vertically with the shocks does a better job overall. I think my 03 FatBoy is (to this day) the best riding bike I have ever owned when riding by myself (excluding long distance riding as its not built for that, though I could make it that way but bags look horrible on FB's IMO so I'll never put them on). However, my 2012 SE Road Glide was by far the best riding bike for long distance travel by myself or 2-up. The wind was a non factor and with the right suspension dial in point, it was nearly as comfy as a car.
Ultimately, all of this just depends on who the rider is, their likes/dislikes and riding style. I'm with all the folks who say keep the bagger but not because I hate Softails as clearly, I don't. Each bike family HD produces has their own nuances that are positive and negative and this is why I have both as sometimes one is better than the other for certain riding conditions.
Do what you want and enjoy it! Good Luck Tinker!
I'm the poster that called Harley Tourers boring. Having a ton of storage and a radio so you don't fall asleep isn't what I would call exciting. Boring is simply the opposite of exciting and nothing you said about tourers sound exciting to me. I don't have an old lady. I have a young beautiful Thai lady. Putting a passenger, all their stuff and all of yours in an already top heavy bike is a real pain to try to hold up especially while it is trying to shake itself apart with that silly rubber mounted engine.
I know because I traded my ultra limited in for my softails. Tourer owners and salesman from different dealers tried to convince me not to but I don't pay attention to people who all of a sudden have an interest in what I spend my money on. As I stated before I find it quite odd that you NEVER see a softail owner go over to the tourer forum and try to convince someone looking to "trade up" to a tourer to keep their softail but EVERYTIME there's a thread about a tourer owner wanting to trade their tourer for a softail there are always a ton a tourer owners trying to convince them not to. I could write a paper on what excites me about softails but I can't think of one thing that excited me about my previous tourer. Next tourer I get will be a sport tourer with exciting power, brakes, tech, affordable price, handling, light, agile, sporty, comfortable but not a couch, lean angle, low maintance shaft drive, adjustable everything, and easy to hold up.
As I stated before I find it quite odd that you NEVER see a softail owner go over to the tourer forum and try to convince someone looking to "trade up" to a tourer to keep their softail but EVERYTIME there's a thread about a tourer owner wanting to trade their tourer for a softail there are always a ton a tourer owners trying to convince them not to.
[QUOTE=Tailsfrommycrib;14102456]I'm the poster that called Harley Tourers boring. Having a ton of storage and a radio so you don't fall asleep isn't what I would call exciting. Boring is simply the opposite of exciting and nothing you said about tourers sound exciting to me. ]
Thats good cuz your excitement level wasnt what I was aiming for with my post.
The point was softails are great bikes as are touring bikes, both with their own positives/negatives.
Riding a motorcycle by definition isnt boring, unless having such a large power to weight ratio at your fingertips, having great maneuverability, the wind in your face and ability to see for miles without a roof is boring... All of these things are possible with touring bikes as well as softails.
So to each his/her own. I own both so I am not in the class of touring owners trying to keep someone from buying a softail.
I know Dunlop changed the compound on the tires since we got hers new in 11'. Maybe we will go back and try them again. Would be happy with 10k out of em'. I don't know if it is b/c it is the Lo but the center has wore out long before it hits the wear bars. Thanks for the info.
Anyone here who has 'moved on' from an RKC to a Fatboy and willing to share experiences? Had my RKC for 2 years and loved it but I find it a bit heavy, especially at low speeds. Will be 60 later this year and thought it might be a good occasion to treat myself to something new. I test drove a Fatboy Lo and found it easier to handle than the RKC.
Any views?
I did the other way around.. Fat boy to my CVO King... I know exactly what your talking about.. I miss my Softail and will be going back soon.. Never again.. Softail for life!!!!!
I did the other way around.. Fat boy to my CVO King... I know exactly what your talking about.. I miss my Softail and will be going back soon.. Never again.. Softail for life!!!!!
I think the OP will be happy with his decision. IMO, Softails would suit most riders out there today. I look around and see riders on the toes of their feet & struggling to keep their bikes up at stop lights. Can't do a U-Turn within a two lane road. Duck walking in a parking lot. And then a long ride is 75 miles round trip. Touring models are designed for long trips and they are fine for that, if that's what you do a lot of. Softails may not do as well at 500-600 miles a day, day after day after day, but the way most Harley riders use their bikes, the Touring models (RK excluded) are way more bike than needed. Plus Softails just plain look so much better, lol.
Man I'm seriously undecided. I dig my fatboy lo. They don't all look the same as one guy stated earlier. I dig that black RKC too tho...with some ceramic coated tru duals, ceramic coated samson fishtails and black apes? I'm down. Now I'm having second thoughts on the switch after reading folks actually switching from the touring bike to softail. My bike handles like a dream with no soreness anywhere after riding to San Diego and back a few times. 1000 miles rt give or take. Progressive 422s and stock front suspension are fine. Putting 16" apes on was the most back friendly mod I ever made.
I traded my 06 RK custom for a 14 Slim. I am 5ft 8. Been riding bikes all my life. The rubber mounted engine vibration started getting on my nerves when I started doing more urban riding on my RKC.
My 06 RK was underpowered in my opinion even though I did a stage-1 and CAM upgrade.
I did plenty six hr and longer rides on my RK that were great rides, but in recent years I doing more scooting in and across town. But when I am on the high way for a couple hours the Slim feels smooth and powerful with the 103 compared to my 88.
I love the better weight to power ratio, plus the Softails just ride so smooth having the B engine.
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