Short history:
I have owned over a dozen Harley's including one Heritage in 1990 and one trike in 2015. The rest were all traditional touring bikes e.g Road Kings, Street glides and Ultras. The big bikes were getting difficult for me to manage especially lifting them off the side stand when the slope of ground wasn't in my favor and in gravel and dirt parking lots. I thought I solved the problem by getting the trike but I missed leaning the bike and the comfort of two wheels vs. three.

My experience now with the Heritage is fantastic! It is very easy to ride, I am low to the ground and slow speed handling is so easy. It is very much faster than my Tri Glide and seat of the pants feel tell me it easily out accelerates the Ultras. The Heritage is uncanny smooth and free from vibration. When I get on the throttle hard I can feel the vibration or pounding of the motor but I am finding I like that

I haven't enjoyed a bike so much in years. It has been said for years but with a Heritage you really do sit in the bike not on it so you really do feel you are more "one with the bike" My first real long trips (over 5,000 miles) were done on the 1990 Heritage and the new one is smoother so I will continue long rides in comfort. I bought the Harley luggage bag that has a built in handle and wheels. It will hold more than the Tour Pak on the Ultra, but in total we will carry a little less luggage. The Heritage side bags are smaller then the bags on the Ultra and their shape make them a little more difficult to pack things in them.

While I sure did lose some money on the Trike I got enough for it to load the Heritage with chrome from front to back. My only regret is I wish I had have tried the Heritage before taking the plunge on a trike. The trike is a fine machine and I enjoyed a few trips with it but it is not a motorcycle.


My wife and I have a few long trips planned for the season so I will let you know if I am still as thrilled with the softail as I am with it now.

 

Need Pics Of all the chrome..

 

Thanks for the write-up. How's the felt engine heat on that 103? Of course, in Canada, it might not be warm enough to tell yet:-). I have and have always had touring bikes, but I recently picked up a 2000 FLSTC just because it was cheap. I'm becoming a fan.

 

You are correct about the weather not being warm enough to judge the engine heat. I don't expect it could much worse then my 2012 Ultra. I am concerned that it does not have an oil cooler but time will tell.

 

They sure are easy to ride
(No physical effort)
I'd just like a 6 sp. And MORE POWER of course.

I demo'd a new Street Glide and a Deluxe a year or so ago.
The heat coming off that Street Glide was horrible.
The Deluxe, I didn't notice any (No more than mine?)
Also, the Deluxe with the 103 was faster. 6th gear was sweet (purring @ 75)

 

I used to think that someday I might want an Ultra but decided to just setup my Heritage with the things I liked about the Ultra.

Now I have the best of both Worlds.

My kids someday will have to figure out what to do with my Heritage once I'm gone.

 

I know. I'm seeing more & more Heritage's, Deluxe's etc with hard bags and Batwing fairings. Looks sweet. Great tunes too.
Another option, especially if your Softail is paid for.

 

From a passenger perspective, my wife likes my Fatboy more than my previous touring bike. She still has plenty of room, but on the touring bikes she feels like she's too separated from me. She's always leaning forward if she wants to talk to me, etc. She likes feeling more secure and closer to me on the Fatboy.

 

I know what you mean about weight. I recently moved from an Ultra to a Fat Boy. Wish I had done it sooner. The FB is lighter, faster and easier to ride. Only thing I miss on the Ultra is the tour pak.

 

Good job! Buddy got a 2013 2 years ago and loves it. I rode it home for him and your right, easiest bike I've ridden. And smoother than the SGS.