Hi all,

Apologies is this post in is the wrong place, couldn’t workout where else to put it.

I’m about to buy my first Harley coming from an R6 sports bike. I’m really torn between the fatboy and street glide both around year 2007. I absolutely love the look of the fatboy I think it’s a proper ‘cool’ bike, I also like the front fairing though which makes the street glide look cool, but I don’t feel as the SG has such an eye catching engine when you make it all chrome if that makes sense?

There aren’t many Harleys where I live, I saw a duluxe the other day for the first time since I can remember and It looked a lot smaller / lower than I expected.

I will do a lot of riding but it will be mostly short casual on good roads but often a lot of speed bumps, they love a speed bump here in Spain. I do plan on doing the occasional long distance trip, between 100-600km, it would be nice to cruise down the coast every so often.

What is everyone’s opinion on the best bike suited for for me from the info I provided? I will try and get to a Harley dealer once all this virus crap is out the way and they are back open, but it’s difficult here to get someone to call you back with an appointment!

Thanks in advance.

 

If possible, try to test ride them, at least sit on them, maybe they will speak to you. I'm not a big fan of fairings and own a Fatboy so you can guess my bias, also this is the Softail section, so you can also guess thw total bias here

Edit: I'm also gonna be constructive, Fatboy for short distances sounds better, it's quite some kilos lighter. But many people says the touring bikes handle better in curves and it has better lean angle. Although, the pre-2009 touring frame had some wobbling issues apparently, don't know how serious or common.

 

I'm kinda partial to the FB.

 

Me too

 

Ive had both and I miss my fatboy. Hardly ever think of the street glide. 2017 SG - 2009 Fatboy.

 

Also, 2007 is an odd year for the Fatboy, some parts from other years will not fit so makes mods harder. If you can go 2008+ (96ci with hydrolic cam chain tensioners as 2007) or 2000-2002 (88ci with strong crank bearings but crappy cam chain tensioners), 2003-2006 (88ci with weaker crank bearings and crappy cam chain tensioners). I think 2005 and 2006 had better heads (perfomance wise) compared to 2000-2004 but maybe it was only 2006.

Good luck!

 

I have one of each, 100th anniversary fatboy and 2012 street guide i have both because i couldn't part with my fatboy. if this is your first Harley i would recommend the fatboy first, the glide can be tricky with the weight of the faring at slow seeds.Also there is a couple hundred pounds in weight difference which takes some getting use to especially coming off a sport bike. i think you'll find the fatboy handles closer to what your use to.

 

fatboy

 

That's a tough call; I have both, and it would be difficult to pick one over the other. Under your circumstances, I'd probably go with the Fatboy. It will do what you want, and it sounds like it suits you better in the "stand back and look at it department." Sometimes, with close decisions, I ask myself, "What's the best decision if it turns our to be wrong?" In this case, it's the Fatboy. It's less expensive and you can always upgrade.

 

If you like the Fatboy you have the Softail frame and that in itself is my favorite for Looks and Astetics. If you like the Streetglide, it is going to be the Touring frame that makes the biggest difference, and will never be capable of the astetics of a Softail., a slightly better ride, but to me not as eye appealing, especially when you loose the fairing!

I know there is a difference not only in looks but in ride, fact is seat height is within 1/4" with the Street glide .2" lower, but it uses 16" tires to get it almost 1/2" lower to start with, this means lower center of gravity and .4" less ground clearance.

The Street Glide will also be 1" shorter on the wheelbase. , and the Glide will be approximately 50 pounds heavier, with the Glide weighing in at 770# and the FB at 714# for that year (07)

I wanted the look, but there were times I wanted the touring accessories for long trips and Touring. So I picked the Heritage Softail, By adding my own Fairing I have the same thing for protection but with a better Stereo option and it's a literally less than a 2 minute job to put it on, or take it off, one wire plugin for the 12V and if you want one for the handlebar stereo controls, with 510 watts of sound if I want it and Satellite radio or MP3, with Harley windshields and windshield bags compatible. I added a leather wrapped Road King Touring pack that takes me about 3 to 5 minuets to remove it or put it on when I want. with the dimmensions I mentioned, and these added weights to my bike, it's real close the Streetglide dimensions and has everything the Streetglide has and more with Touring Pack,.

Your choice is mainly with the suspension,,, softail or Touring,, your choice, if it were me, I wouldn't trade my Softail for touring frame no matter how you configure it! I want it my way and can't afford two bikes, but I can have these and any configuration in between from up to 2 up riding, touring with windshield only or fairing, to stripped down Fatboy configuration, and back, anytime in minuets! So with my long winded remarks, you guessed it, I would recommend the Fatboy!! as I am under the belief that Softails will always RULE!!!