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Wife has had a Street Bob 114 since February 2020, her first "real" bike after the summer of 2019 with me teaching her from zero experience on a 300CC Rebel. She's come a long way including multiday trips from PA up to Laconia and similar distances. Done advanced riding courses, riding in downpours, other crap circumstances (fresh oil and chips, gravel, etc.) but not much highway riding, which she isn't too excited about doing around here. Mostly due to living outside of Philly, where "highways" are not like, let's say out west, more like cattle chute death traps in her view. Goal is to work up to Sturgis in the next couple of years, meaning riding there, and that means highways.
Anyway, looking for opinions on moving up from the Street Bob to a Heritage and how the experience was. She'd gain more miles per tank, more storage, etc. That would mean almost as much distance as my FLHXS, so less stops for gas. ABS is on the Street Bob now, so that's a wash. I just don't know if there's a big increase in comfort or handling to justify the extra weight and having to reset her muscle memory. I think having floorboards would be more comfortable for sure, and a larger windshield. She doesn't want to move to a Road King for some reason, which I think is more due to weight, and the perceived look of the Heritage.
She may kill me for posting a picture, but as proof, on the Kanc in NH this year.
A Softail is a Softail. A Heritage isn't going to ride any different than the Softail Street Bob. The only difference is the fork, and that is immaterial.
I have a Dyna ('16 Low Rider) and a Heritage ('03 Heritage)...
They have two different frames, so my point may be exaggerated, but there is a big difference in the mid foot controls v the forward foot controls.... There's even a difference in the "feel" between the softail Heritage (forward footboards) and my '01 softail Springer (forward pegs)...
I have no doubt she will be able to handle the Heritage, she just may not like the seated position due to the foot placement.... and that can make or break the riding experience for some.....
She's going to have to ride a Heritage to see if it would bother her....
Last edited by hattitude; Oct 17, 2023 at 07:52 PM.
I'm a big fan of the 2018+ Heritage and am on my second one. I put 7-8000 miles on per year and take 2 or more road trips per year. Now 71 years old 5'8" (and shrinking), 150 lbs and love the ride.
I met a guy and his wife in South Dakota in late August. Both on Touring bikes. The wife asked to test ride my Heritage and loved it.
Thanks for the replies, and I agree, the best answer will be for her to demo ride a Heritage when she gets a chance. And yes, need to get her more acclimated to highway riding throughout the next year. It's not a fear thing, just need to get her out away from the Schuylkill, and maybe some smoother high speed routes. PA Highways are a f'n disaster.
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Street Bob to Heritage
