my wife and i are going to look at some bikes this weekend i think. we arent going to buy jsut want her to look at some and she what she likes. we are hopeing in a little over a year when out truck is paid off to get a bigger bike. jsut got mine not long ago but got it as a stepping stone to work up to a new one but with being fairly new to the HDs i dont know a ton about them.
i had originally thought my next bike was going to be a Dyna was looking at the Wide Glide pretty hard but after checking out some of the softail line i think i would much rather have a Heritage Softail or a Softail Delux but i really dont know the main diffrences in them. the main thing i am looking for with the next one is more comfort with me and my wife for some longer trips. as well as storage for gear and clothes. with that said it looks like a big diffrence in the Hertiage and Delux is the Hertiage and the Delux is the Heritage comes with windsheild and large saddle bags. is that right? when i let the wife look at the HD brochure and i told her to pick out one she liked of course she picked out the Wide Glide and said she jsut dosent like the looks of the bikes with Saddle bags said she cant see much of the bike with them on. i did tell her that they can come off fairly easy but was wondering what are some of the other diffrences that you all know im pretty set on these 2 models really as what i want for my next bike....so fellas give me some info

 

Good plan w/visiting dealer & definitely sit, feel, test drive some because each bike (class) is different (as you know). Also, if they have some '10 leftover bikes - look for a good deal on those w/the '11's pretty much taking over showroom floor. Good luck!

 

If I were hauling my wife around regularly, it wouldn't be on a WG. You would be wise to find a dealer who rents them and take a few of them out for a day...money well spent IMO.

 

Also check the Thunderpress or similar publication, as well as the listings on this site, for a local poker run or rally ride so you can both see what each model has to offer based on other folks' upgrades.

Make a careful choice and you'll both be very happy with it... make the wrong choice and it will be misery for one or both of you.

Roger

 

Wife and I are both fans of softails. I have a Heritage, she has a Deluxe. The Heritage will have a bit more shock travel due to it's inch higher seat but other than that they handle 2up about the same. In either case but more so with the Deluxe, you'll want to swap out the rear seat for something more plush.

You can get quich releases for the bags so you can take them off if you want.

Most find the stock rider seat on the Heritage more comfortable than the Deluxe.

If you don't like the studded look I'd go with the Deluxe, throw a windshield and some aftermarket bags on it. You could increase the shock travel either by putting Heritage shocks on it (used) or adjustable aftermarket shocks.

Alternately you could buy a Heritage and sell the stock bags and seat and go with an aftermarket style you like.

Points is there are tons of options with either of these 2 bikes.

Don't know too much about Dynas except that they have rubber mounted engines that give the handlebars the shakes. Some like it, some don't. And they have forward controls which is good for taller riders.

 

that is one thing that i do plan to do is hopefully when the time comes and we are ready to buy im gonna rent both and take her out and see how she likes both bikes.
i love the look of both of them but the Heritage is the one i want. but want to let her look at some of them up close. more than likely we will buy used (i hate buying stuff new) but we have a while to look think we have a little over a year left on our truck to pay it off and when its paid for...all bets are off

 

Tell the dealer no deal unless you both ride the different bikes you are interested in. They'll get it and put you on as many bikes as necessary to make a sale. That's what demo rides are all about. You can rent them for longer rides when you narrow the choices down. Big money here, get the bike both of you will be happy with.