So I’m thinking of getting a touring type of bike. Not to be a fad, but just the natural progression of someone that’s been riding for 16 years.

A little background on me. I started riding in 96 on a small jap cruiser, then a jap ujm, then I customized the jap cruiser and sold the ujm for a jap sportbike, then I sold the jap cruiser and bought a XL1200C, and then a couple of years ago I bought a custom chopper and sold the sportbike. On the sporty I quickly changed the drag bars for Wide Glide style bars and put on a Memphis Shades windshield. Being a skinny 6 footer I tend to stick up in the wind like a sail when I ride. So taking inventory now I have the sporty and the chopper. Neither of these bikes are really long haulers. The sporty is a solid mount, 5 speed, so the vibes get a bit much at highway speeds for a period of time; and the smallish/medium size Memphis Shades doesn’t help me all that much with the wind. So the sporty will likely go to make room for a bigger bike. The chopper is the bomb, and I ride that now more than the sporty so its not going anywhere.

So what am I looking for? To be able to do longer distance rides in comfort, and maybe be able to carry some stuff for a weekend or so. One up and two up. So something with a windshield for a 6 footer, and bags. No tourpack or maybe something detachable. And being that I’m a skinny guy, I’m a little concerned that a big *** bike will be too heavy for me to paddle around a parking lot or backing up.
So I’m thinking Heritage, Road King, Road Glide or Street Glide; something in a 2007-2009, between $10-13K. I’m thinking 07+ to get the 96” and the 6 speed. It looks like the TC motors have much greater reliability than the old Evo’s, so I’m not as scared of getting a 20k mile bike. I’ve been reading around here on the forum and it seems like different people have different opinions on different bikes, windshields, aftermarket shields, deflectors, etc. A common recommendation is ‘ride it and buy what you like’, but a couple of the used bike dealers I’m looking at do not offer test rides.

I’m hoping to hear some advice from other riders in my situation; tall guys, looking for wind protection and comfort at highway speeds. If there are other threads you can point me to that maybe haven't found yet, I would appreciate that too. I posted this thread over in the Touring section and have been getting alot of good feedback, but no input from Heritage owners so I figured I'd post this up over here as well since a Heritage might foot the bill. Thanks.

 

Get a Street Glide!!! The fairing blocking the wind, the Radio, hard bags are all things you'll wish you had after owning your heritage for 6 months!!! Trust me

 

Rented, test road most and found that the Heritage was what worked the best for us.
Wife said it's the most comfort for her. Soft bags bend a little and I can fit most helmets. Besides when she kicks the leather bags gettin' on -no big deal. LOL
I had a budget and found the Street Glides to be more $$$ as their the most popular model now IMHO. Not a radio guy either. Realy like the EZ on and off shield.
Gotta great deal on my 07 Heritage last winter. There's a few here in SNJ on CL that have been for sale for a while, as the temp falls so will the $
When it snows -buy it low.

 

I'm 6 foot 180 lbs. and ride an '09 Heritage. Very comfortable ride for short trips around town or longer rides on the highway. I bought mine about two years ago as a dealer rental. Got a really good deal and it came with extras. The seat height is perfect and the bike is easy to handle. The six speed tranny is real nice on the highway and the 96 just chugs along really sounding good with the Samson pipes I added.

My Heritage is a well built and reliable machine and I plan on keeping it for many years. Make sure you get an engine guard with some highway pegs so you can stretch out on long rides. My bike was blown over twice in a bad storm awhile back and there was no damage except some scuff marks on the engine guard. The leather bags are tough and also kept the rear of the bike off the pavement. Hard bags would have been damaged.

Good luck!

 

I'm 6'1"/245# and also ride a Heritage. Been on several road trips, plus around town, on short hops and daily commutes. My Heritage is an excellent all-around companion. Memphis Shades make a batwing fairing to fit the Heritage model that is quick-detach; so you'd be able to switch from the nostalgic look to more like a StreetGlide.
For a lot of road miles, you're correct in also considering the RK, Road and Street Glides. Of those three, if I were to switch, it would be for a StreetGlide. Several of my buddies ride one, and they are truly a sweet ride; I think more so than the RK. But that's just me...
Good luck!

 

Jersey MadMax--Here's my thread from a few days ago. I'm also looking for a comfort upgrade from a Sporty. I have neck and back issues, however, that are driving my decision, but it looks like it's going to be Heritage for me.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...y-i-think.html

 

I've got a 2010 Heritage. Great ride, handling and a bike people will stop and look at.

 

I moved from a 1995 Ultra glide over to the Heritage. the best ride I ever had was on my 1983 FLH . I was really dissapointed with the weight and the top heavyness of my ultra glide. When I traded it for the 2003 heritage I thought I had found the real replacement for my old FLH. Still miss it though would have given anything to have had another brand new FLH Why Harley stopped building them I will never know. Shovel head or no shovel head. Hands down it was my over all best ride since 1976

 

We went from a Sporty to a 08 Heritage. Bought it used and we are finishing up the second riding season with it. Do a little over 4K a year. 98% of our riding is local afternoon/evening pleasure trips 2up in the 50 mile range on curvy back roads. Maybe 200 miles a month of interstate and only a couple of 300 mile days. We love our Heritage. It's comfortable, has storage to keep the wife happy. I have adjusted the handlebars to fit me a little better and lowered the heel shifter so I didn't have to knee myself in the nose to shift. It's the bike for me until I need a Tri-Glide. I'm 65 and that is getting closer.

 

It also depends if you're even slightly interested in a cool looking bike. Lot of potential in a Heritage as well as comfort.