Deluxe and Heritage classic differences ?
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Shit's Creek
A Heritage and a Deluxe are the same bike as is the Fatboy, at least before they decided to put a fat rear tire on the Fatty. Just different badging, lights, and tires/wheels. All Softails ride on the same frame, with the same motors and trannys etc. The Deluxe is lowered 1" in the rear, which is a common thing to do to a Heritage or Fatty. BTW, I never heard that the Deluxe was a girls bike till I came here and was informed by all the dip **** key board warriors that it was. It gets old..............
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 11
From: Southern Nevada (Pahrump)
The girls bike thing is sooo ridiculous. I've seen chicks ride road kings and Ultra's to SG's are those chick bikes? Insecure people make those posts. Basically as stated the Heritage and Deluxe are very similar, a variation on a theme, deluxe is lower and more retro without those goofy studs, IMHO.
Clay
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
From: Tampa Bay area, Florida
I respect your shiny little studs Clay. As I respect most opinions. Now again, the girls bike thing (NOT in response to KlayBus's post) is sad, if you derive your masculinity/manhood from a motorcycle check your ***** because they are already gone!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 11
From: Southern Nevada (Pahrump)
I hear ya on the comments about the Deluxe. I personally like it. I just wanted the bags & windshield & love the option of being able to easily remove them. It's like owning 2 different scoots! When the ole lady & I ride, it's a Heritage. When I'm runnin solo, the passenger pillion is remove along with the windshield & the bags. On goes the fender bib & woola, I've got a Deluxe! To me, it's a 2-fer!
Clay
Clay
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer, Alberta
A Heritage and a Deluxe are the same bike as is the Fatboy, at least before they decided to put a fat rear tire on the Fatty. Just different badging, lights, and tires/wheels. All Softails ride on the same frame, with the same motors and trannys etc. The Deluxe is lowered 1" in the rear, which is a common thing to do to a Heritage or Fatty. BTW, I never heard that the Deluxe was a girls bike till I came here and was informed by all the dip **** key board warriors that it was. It gets old..............
lmfao. it needed to be said.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,918
Likes: 4,687
From: West Texas Sandhills
All about style. There are those who buy Deluxes only to turn them into Heritages and those who get Heritages and turn them into Deluxes. If your going to be prone to that than get what you want in the beginning. If your going to take the bike in a different direction, think of what that is and which bike will suit that goal.
I guess I'm the oddball, I turned mine into a Fatboy, better known as the Fat Classic.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
Likes: 12
From: NJ
It's more of a shorter rider's bike than a girl's bike. See alot of guys on them but most are average or under average height. It's only a girl's bike if it's pink or has a teddy bear on back. 
______________________________
2008 Heritage Classic: His
2008 Deluxe: Hers
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2008 Heritage Classic: His
2008 Deluxe: Hers
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 54
Likes: 1
Bingo, due to the lowered rear suspension, and lowered seat, those of us that are above average in the height department dont really fit well on a stock deluxe. When I sat on a deluxe, I found my legs and feet to be too high in relation to my rear, and the bars required an awkward bend at my elbows which was compounded when riding due to the wind blast on my chest. I had to use my lower back muscles to force my upper body against the wind and it was a serious PITA. With the Heritage my arms are fully extended when I grip the bars, my legs and feet are lower in relation to my body (more room overall), and I find the windshield is really not needed since the bike fits me better and I dont have to use my lower back to hold myself up against the wind. Additionally, my wife noticed the rear passenger accommodations were better on the Heritage. The rear passenger pillion on the deluxe is useless for any real distance riding, but definitely looks better than the Heritage pad.
I originally wanted a deluxe when I stopped at the dealer. The sales guy suggested I sit on the Heritage and pointed out the differences. The deluxe looks better due to the large exposed rear fender that is uncovered by bags or suspension. Due to the retro styling and rigid frame look, the deluxe reminds me of the late 1940s and epitomizes what the softail frame is all about, really a sharp looking bike, just not great for tall riders in stock form.