Hi all,
A newbie to the hd forum. I've been looking around at the various forums on the web and this site seems to be one of the more active and interesting ones.

I rode for about 12 years owning both a Honda CB-450 and a Triumph Bonneville 750. Now with my kids older so my wife and I have some free time on the weekends to get back to riding again. It's been 20 years since I last did any serious street riding so I signed up and just completed a MSF course. The course exceeded my expectaions. I felt like I never stopped riding along with the knowing I am a better rider. It was well worth the money. So now I am looking for a new ride.

I plan to do city rides during the weekdays, then on weekends backroads with some highways, nothing more than 3 hours. At 5' 10" and 160 pounds I'm looking to find a Harley that would fit me. I'm concerned mostly about the finding the best ride and secondly the money.

I checked out the different bikes in my area to see which bike fit my build/riding style. I eliminated the 1200 Sportster as it was too top heavy and not ideal for 2-up riding. Also, I am not really interested in a Touring model at this time.

So that leaves me with the Dynas and Softails...

I liked the look of the Dyna Low Rider and Dyna Custom but my legs felt like they would become too cramped with the mid controls after a bit. On the Wide Glide I felt too stretched out between the forward controls and the raked out front end.

I found the Softails the most interesting. I liked the Fat Boy but found the seat a bit too wide to my liking. I'm not sure if adding a custom seat would correct that for me. I liked the Deluxe and Heritage pretty much as they were, especially as far as weight displacement went. Both bikes felt good as far as sitting on them and I thought the styling was great. I know it ultimately comes down to going on a test ride but I'm trying to cull down the list.

So that's what I've seen so far. I have a few questions for you guys ...

1. Based on my riding style/build am I better off with the Softails (Deluxe, Heritage, Fat Boy) or Dyna (Low Rider, Custom)?
2. Is there a heat issue to be concerned about with the 2008 Softail counter-balanced engines?
3. Which bike is less likely to ground it's floorboards: Softail Deluxe, Heritage or Fat Boy?

Thanks for your input.

 

Sounds like you have it narrowed down to the right choices for comfortable 2-up without going all out with a bagger. I have an '06 Heritage with stock seats. My wife says the passenger seat has to go because it is not comfortable at all. I have a mustang solo and wide rear on the way. Gotta keep the wife happy! Don't know much about the seating for fatboy and deluxe. As far as floorboards go, you will scrap them no matter which one you get. However, I believe the deluxe is a little squattier than the other two. Probably gonna drag those a little more often.

 

I'd say you can't go wrong with anything that reads Harley Davidson on the side of the tank,..........some in here might tell you otherwise,......but I pretty much just like Harleys[8D][8D][8D]

 

Your headed in the right direction , have you looked at the Road King ? Your passenger will be a lot happier comfy wise on a RK over any Softail .When you get it narrowed down some more , it would be a good idea to rent your top couple of choices for a day or two .

 

I'm surprised you didn't mention the Softail Custom. Outside of the Heretage Classic or Road King (both have bags) its one of the fewHarley bike's that has adecentseat (front and rear) from the factory.
If you liked the Dyna Wideglide but felt a little too stretched out (I have the same problem with it) you really should take a closer look at the FXSTC Softail Custom. Its a little lower and the forward controls are a bit closer, so your less stretched out. It "may" be exactly what your looking for, fit wise. It also doesn't have the floorboards, so there's nothing to drag but a peg. I wouldn't be conserned about dragging the floorboards if the bike you get has them, you WILL drag them sooner or later, everyone does.
My Customis a little over a year old now and ithas served me extreemely well no matter what I have asked of it. Be thatdaily commutes or weekend fun rides, it does it all well, and best of all is that the wife thinks the rear seat is comfortable.
Yes the newer 96 inch enginesget hot, they all do. Its not a balenced engine thing, its common nearly across the board since they went to a fuel injection system to comly with theEPA noise and emmisions regulations. But a little bit of work, new pipes, new AC, and a fuel management system along with a change tosynthetic oils can make a big difference.
Good Luck and make sure you put up some pics of whatever you do get.

 

Get the one that you never get tired of looking at. I'm a newbie rider and as soon as I saw the Deluxe model....I get one.

 

Like you my first big bikewas a CB450 twin back in 1975 (back in those days you walked withGod if you rode anything bigger then a 650cc bike). So, a 450cc bike was deemed to be a weapon (LOL).

In answer to you (tough)question, Iwent through the same soul searching exercise...which Harley?

I narrowed my choice to three;
* Fat Boy
*Softail Deluxe
* Road King Custom

After many hours of deliberation, my choice, the Fat Boy. Why? Downunder in Australia the FB has the best resale of all the HD range.

As for the wide FB seat, easy, try a Sidekick seat, then of course you will have to change the handlebars (that is the one thing I have come to realise with HD ownership, something always leads to the aquisition of something else).

Then again who cares, always remember we will be a long time dead (can't take it with you).

Cheers
Gucci
Sydney

 

Sounds like you and I did about the same thing.I was about 22 yrs since my last bike(360 yamaha trail.) I took the msf too and my my 1st harley april 7 2007.I went with the heritage and love it for the kind of riding you are wanting to do.I have taken it on 500 mile trips and had no problem.I am 5 11" 190. The heritage would be my pick.

[IMG]local://upfiles/39516/DA94FACE99D748E491A3F2304E2F761D.jpg[/IMG]

 

Couldn't have put it better myself.

I found riding a mates Wide Glide that it was like iwas sitting ON the bike, whereas is felt i was sitting IN the softail (if that makes any sense).

 

I prefer the Deluxe and the Fat Boy, but then that's just me.
Deluxe for the classic look and the Fat Boy for the Sporty look.
I bought the Fat Boy, but then I
added saddle bags,
changed the wheels,
the handle bars,
the seat,
the exhaust,
did a tank lift
and changed several other stuff too,
so why did I buy the Fat Boy? It does make you wonder.