First post on the forums. I bought my 08' Street Glide about a year ago and to be honest it isn't living up to the hype. The SG was my dream bike and after giving it a little over a year I might part with it. My Suzuki V-Strom offers more wind protection than the batwing faring on the SG, and my night train has a much better riding position. The rear suspension is bone jarring over minor potholes, and I feel that stock riding position for a touring bike is not that good. I've tried three Long Ride Windshields and still get buffeting at 55-60mph which is not that fast. I know everyone says the stock seat is crap so that would be a good thing to replace, but after spending $300 on windshields, another $300-$500 on a seat is hard to swallow. I know some of you have spent thousands on your bikes, so whats the best comfort mods you have?

 

Good rear shocks that are not shortened, bars that I like and a sheepskin throw for the seat.

Good luck.

 

Change your bars and a set of fangs for the wind

 

I agree and I would add that you need those fangs for the forks. They block a lot of wind. I replaced the seat but a sheepskin is a reasonable alternative.

 

Another vote for Shearling seat cover!!

 

I have a FLTRX (RG) & the only comfort part I added was a HD Circulator Seat Pad #51706-10, which I've used on 2 bikes & a Windvest 12" I've added performance parts like the HD Double Cartridge Kit & up graded to Works 13" DRS/ARS shocks. Actually they could be called comfort parts. I owned a 07 FLHT STD & changed shocks & went with a shorter windshield (stock was way to tall). Good luck.

 

Back rest changes everything.

 

the X models (factory customs) such as your FLHX are made more for profiling.

the 12" shocks have 2/3 the suspension travel of the other models- that also means that the suspension has more time to respond to bumps/holes etc.

I have used the 12, 13" and now the hand adjustables on my FLHTC

the SG seat is nice for that little bumper and i found good for up to 4 hours, painful at 6

for 500 mile(+) days then an ultra seat or a cop seat or anything thicker will do, and adjust or change bars to fit

the nice thing about the HD's is that the aftermarket is strong and parts are reasonable compared to other brands

you are in CA so that means you probably wear a helmet- that right there is a huge part of how you experience wind- the larger profile exposed to the wind, the more forces placed on your pivot point ( neck).
I don;t often wear helmets but when i have to i use a HD branded 1/2 which has a ducktail on the back- it's the only party hat I've ever had that doesn;t bobble or pullup on the chin strap.

It is also assessing and understanding how and why air come into the cockpit- the bigger hole you try to push through the air, the more a pressure differential in the cockpit- which is filled by uncontrolled air coming in from the sides, top and bottom.

I use the fairing mounted adjustable wings to direct air into the cockpit and equalize the pressure differential.

there is an ashtray which fits between the forks available- when i sold my evo, I pulled and installed on my 09- to be honest i don;t think it makes any diff.

My riding pal complains about his beard getting blown up and I put teh ashtray on his bike one day without saying anything- at the end of a 500 mile days he said he'd noticed no difference- THEN I showed him the ashtray- he's been through 3 bikes since that test and hasn;t bothered putting one on.

but then we ride models with lower fairings- that changes air management

fangs- maybe they work- but i draw the line at ugly somewhere right about there...too goldwing for me.

I cut my windscreen so the top edge appears to intersect the road about 40' in front of the bike, that shoot most of the bugs and grit just over my head

that how I do 500 mile days.

and when just doing day rides i sometime go for the 12" shocks and a sleeker seat...

Mike

 

It's definitely not the best fairing ever designed lol. Fork wind deflectors make a huge difference. The batwing lets a lot of wind come up from below. They're relatively cheap. I went with JES Customs. I'd say give those a shot and then see how much you're still being affected by wind from over the top of the fairing.

 

+1 For the adjustable backrest.