One bike has the fairing (windscreen) mounted to the frame, not the forks (steering). The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind

 

65-85 miles an hour crossing the US, you can't beat the Wind Tunnel Tested fairing on a Road Glide. My passenger says the buffeting is way less on a Road Glide vs a Batwing.
If you need to conform to your bar hopping buddies, well you know the answer.

 

 

Compare signatures, define which one is ugly to you.

 

Like others have said rent both. I don't see a difference in either bike and like both with that being said I own a rgs now but would not hesitate to go back to batwing. I bought the 18 rgs in wicked red on color only. I have ridden both in the past and it really came down to availability, deal, and color options for me. You can't go wrong with either if there is something that don't work for you on either model there is a something in the aftermarket that will help or fix the issue

 

I just traded my 2012 Ultra Limited (that I put 70k miles on) for a 2019 RG. I was always happy with my Ultra, looks and handling. If asked whether I had buffeting or was "thrown around in the wind" I would have said no. But after going to the RG I realized that I had been experiencing much more movement in windy conditions on the Ultra than I do now on the RG. Also, low speed handling (negotiating around gas stations, etc.) is easier on the RG. I like the looks of both of them, but the handling on the RG is better in my opinion. I will not go back to a batwing in the future for these reasons. You will be happy with either I'm sure.

 

Haha. Love that comment.

 

Road Glide. Like the shark nose

 

As has been said, both are great bikes. When I started considering going to a touring bike I definitely liked the looks of the RG over the SG. Just personal preference. A dealer let me test ride a used RG they had for sale and I really liked it. I sat on a new SG the dealer had and, to me, I just felt a bit more cramped siting on the SG than I did on the RG so there really wasn't any use in me test riding a SG. Of course, some say the RG fairing sits too far forward, makes things hard to reach, etc. That wasn't my experience. Seems the number of RG bikes on the road is growing but, overall, you still see more SGs than RGs.

But let me leave you with a final thought. I know two individuals on another forum who have converted their SG to a RG and both of them say they will never have another bat-wing bike. But, I ain't never hear of nobody converting their RG to a SG. Just food for thought.