Hello Folks,

New to the forums & looking at picking up a Softail by the end of the month & was hoping to have a few of y'all chime in.

First, my previous experience with Harley was in the early 2000's, when I picked up a modified hard frame '92 FXR. That was my only street bike, but I rode it religiously for years. Honestly, most of my experience is scrambling on the rocks in the Four Corners region (mostly AZ & NM, some CO) & out on the sand & hard packed trails in Southern CA. My last time on two wheels (until recently) was on a in 2007 while on a long ride with some buddies. I don't know exactly what happened to this day, but I came off a double & essentially the fro. nt wheel on my CRF450F collapsed & I went over the handle bars, breaking my clavicle, fracturing two vertebrae & blowing out C5, C6 & C7. Lost the use of my right hand for about a year, not completely, but was down to less than 10% strength in my dominant right hand. Several years later & lots of money on doctors, therapies & drugs my INS company wouldn't cover & I'm to this day back to about 95% strength & all without any major surgeries, but my days on any rigid frame are over. Even on a Softail, after 300 miles, I get a headache from overcompensation by accessorial muscles in my neck.

At any rate, I'm ready to get back on the horse, so to speak, & recently saw a sweet Softail Slim that I really liked. I rode one, wasn't too impressed & then when I saw how few good 2-up options there were & naturally I went to the bike I've always liked, but really couldn't afford when I was younger, the classic Harley Softail Deluxe. Lot's of options & a good base bike with a ton of aftermarket options. I rode the bike (test ride & rented one for a longer ride up into Arkansas). I really liked the bike & had my mind all made up, forgetting all about the slim.

So, there I was all set to start grinding for the price & adds I wanted when in rides this sweet custom Softail Breakout. This thing was bad ***. I liked everything about it, down to the leather work on the saddle. I'll try to grab a pic of it next week. So, of course, now I wanted to ride a Breakout & I did, tested out the CVO first, honestly I think BC I just said "breakout" & this was the most expensive Breakout they had. Once I heard the price, I then got to ride the Softail Breakout. (I'm not even 100% on what the differences are between the two models, besides the larger displacement on the CVO model).

So, I rode the Deluxe for an extended time & really liked it. Was comfortable & I love all the aftermarket parts that are available (& one of the women I spend times with will appreciate the touring style double buckets for 2-up). Granted, I only rode the ST Breakout for a short jaunt down the road & the ride didn't seem quite as smooth to me, but it handled great & I had more fun on the Breakout.

I guess what I'm asking here, is how hard would it be to mod a deluxe into something between the deluxe & adding a wider rear frame for the thicker tire & mean looking rear end? Would I be better off going with the breakout & doing custom fenders? Would it be easier to make a deluxe look more like a breakout, or would it be easier to make a breakout look more like a deluxe? Whichever way I go, it will tstay that way for a while, but I'd like to have the option to make it look more like that old school custom Deluxe down the road. I'm completely new to modding cruisers/street bikes, so I really have no idea what way to go, what AM options are pout there for each model, etc. All I know is that I want one of the two under me in the next 10 days or so.

Just for the record, I'm looking at the 2017, but they also have a few 2016's on the floor. Anything other than cost that would put one model &/or year above the other?

Thanks!

 

the cvo breakout has cruise standard, different wheels, paint, inverted front fork an less rake for quicker handling. I love the breakout look an it's on my short list for my next bike but I don't ride long distances any longer, I don't think it's a good bike for that.

generally softails are the same...different wheels, FL or FX front ends, different looks but most things interchange an you can make any softail what you want as long as funds allow. there are fat tire kits for non breakouts. the newer deluxe can probably handle a 200 wide tire without the kit with just a wheel change an maybe a fender. the breakout is a 240. sounds like you should look around a while to see what you like an if you want to mix an match maybe find the cheapest softail you can an use the money for modify it. If you're still having back problems from the accident a softail may not be the best choice. I like my softail but some swear the ride isn't very good an that it's built for looks.

 

I sat on a breakout a few years ago and fell in love with it. But I did not want to spend the cash on a BO so I bought a used Night Train, definitely not 2 up ride. Then I ended up buying a used 2012 Street Glide, yeah I know I needed 2 bikes like I need a hole in my head. I agree with langwilliams, buy a used bike that you like and if so inclined add a 200 tire conversion to it. The Deluxe is a very cool looking bike and imo would look good with a 200 rear tire conversion. Search this site for conversion threads, there are a few out there to give you some ideas.

 

Thanks guys. Having a hard time finding used that meets my desires. I want a clean slate, so to speak, without any major customizations. I'm also thinking that the handling differences I felt were largely weight related. After researching a little more, I was stunned to find that the Deluxe has a higher available lean angle stock than the Breakout does.

To be honest, other than some aesthetic mods & air ride, I won't do much to it for a year.

On longer rides, is a Road King a night & day difference? I have had my eyes on the Softail line for years, but a basic RK is still within my base budget. I haven't heard/read much that is negative towards the M8 motor in the 2017 RK.

So many options, every time I think ready to pull the trigger...

I've never been on an RK, so don't know how it would handle around town, but definitely seems like it could be a good medium for both in-town riding & touring & it also has a ton of after market options available.

On paper, it seems like the suspension & upgraded motor could be worth the $2k cost increase. I just wonder if I could spend less than $2k for a better ride using aftermarket parts on the Softail Deluxe?

 

The difference in ride quality between a Deluxe and a RK is gonna be pretty signifigant. Go to a dealer and take some test rides. Everytime at the dealer they beg people to take em out for a spin. I have a 17 Limited and a 12 Heritage which is a dressed up Deluxe with an inch more of suspension and it still isnt as nice riding as the Limited. Anyway if it were me I would pick the Road King over the Deluxe. Plenty of used ones out there stock and low miles. Bought the 12 Heritage Sept of 16 with 613 miles on it. Looked like it just rolled off the line.

 

I have a deluxe. I changed the shocks to progressives and added a drivers back rest. It's very comfortable for me. Then again I don't put in many three hundred mile days.

 

I'll say. With the OP's medical history that hiPpy hipPy shake at idle on the Road King may not be the best for him.

 

It's a bad few hours if I overdue it, but from what I hear the new M8 runs a lot smoother & they actually had to engineer some of the vibe back into it to keep it feeling legit. At any rate, I've taken some bad beatings & falls on mountain bike trails in the last year or two, surviving those fine, other than aches for a few days. In fact, I think since it's mostly neck, helmet weight is more likely to cause occasional issues than shake.

I'm gonna run down the street at lunch and give one a go, so I'll get an idea at least.

 

I don't like a heavy helmet myself but I try to wear one after having a rock kick up off the highway an tag me in the head...I wear a crazy Al's...the smallest lightest DOT half helmet. Another company makes a version too but I forgot the name.