Streetglide vs. Roadglide
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 41
Likes: 1
From: ny
ive owned two road glides and loved them. always told everyone they were the superior bike with the frame mounted fairing.
couldnt pass up a deal for a 2019 electraglide standard and have to admit I cant tell a real difference. from handling to getting blown around
by semis. was very surprised. I love road glides but they are unconventional as far as harleys go. so far happy with my decision on electraglide
couldnt pass up a deal for a 2019 electraglide standard and have to admit I cant tell a real difference. from handling to getting blown around
by semis. was very surprised. I love road glides but they are unconventional as far as harleys go. so far happy with my decision on electraglide
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 123
From: Meridian, Idaho
I'll ad in on this. I have ovbiously a SG and I have never ridden a RG. I have seen one up close but it is not the shark nose that I don't like . The one I saw there was a hole around the forks to where you could see through and see the front fender. It kind of looked weird to me. In 13' the same frame was used in both the RG&SG but the only thing not the same was the fairing. Same everything just down to individuals choice. I DO like the double headlights though. All in all the bike is obviously loved by many, and the the good thing about HD is pick a bike that YOU like and never knock those who ride something different then you.
But on the otherside, In my bonus room/ PC room in my house I have a picture of a RG on my wall? Which looks friggin awesome. That is why it's there go figure. Subliminal?...maybe.
But on the otherside, In my bonus room/ PC room in my house I have a picture of a RG on my wall? Which looks friggin awesome. That is why it's there go figure. Subliminal?...maybe.
Last edited by GriffinDenim13FLHX; May 4, 2020 at 06:13 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 457
Likes: 73
From: New Hampshire
I rode a 2005 Electra Glide Classic for the last 15 years and loved it. It was my first bagger coming from a Softail then a Wide Glide. I just recently bought a 2017 Road Glide Ultra and I love that bike too. I just did my first ride yesterday on the RGU and was thinking about the differences between the EGC and the RGU as I was riding.
My observations....
1. I'm a pretty big guy (6'1", 300lbs) The Road Glide feels like I have more room behind the fairing than I did with the Electra Glide. My brother even mentioned that the Road Glide looks like it "fits" me better. I'm not dwarfing it like I did the Electra Glide. I know, that has nothing to do with functionality or ride obviously. I rode the Electra Glide for 15 years and was totally comfortable on it.
2. Fork mounted fairing versus frame mounted. I have to agree I don't notice a whole lot of difference in the "feel" of heaviness on the front end. I do notice it does handle a little lighter in twisties. What I REALLY notice is on the highway. Not so much in the way of getting blown around or not but more so in the transference of vibration to the handlebars. You're not feeling every little vibration from wind buffeting the front of the fairing. Maybe I'm imagining it? Maybe I'm trying to justify my decision in buying a Road Glide instead of another Electra Glide? Who knows... what it comes down to is I love them both and I don't think either one is a bad decision.
My observations....
1. I'm a pretty big guy (6'1", 300lbs) The Road Glide feels like I have more room behind the fairing than I did with the Electra Glide. My brother even mentioned that the Road Glide looks like it "fits" me better. I'm not dwarfing it like I did the Electra Glide. I know, that has nothing to do with functionality or ride obviously. I rode the Electra Glide for 15 years and was totally comfortable on it.
2. Fork mounted fairing versus frame mounted. I have to agree I don't notice a whole lot of difference in the "feel" of heaviness on the front end. I do notice it does handle a little lighter in twisties. What I REALLY notice is on the highway. Not so much in the way of getting blown around or not but more so in the transference of vibration to the handlebars. You're not feeling every little vibration from wind buffeting the front of the fairing. Maybe I'm imagining it? Maybe I'm trying to justify my decision in buying a Road Glide instead of another Electra Glide? Who knows... what it comes down to is I love them both and I don't think either one is a bad decision.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 77
Likes: 36
From: CT
After riding a friends RG I certainly am a little jealous. Didn’t go far but seemed easier to ride in the slow stuff, hated where the radio was though and I couldn’t see it at all in the sunlight. I wasn’t totally comfy but that’s just because I have my Electra suited for me. Couldn’t tell you about highway but past 35 I felt like the feeling gap narrowed.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 469
Likes: 130
From: Portland, Oregon
My 2 cents...
First, let me say that you should ride both and pick which YOU like better. But I will offer up what I see as the noticeable differences.
Personally, I like the look of the RG better. I also like having a bit of storage in the fairing. However, I prefer the dash/gauge/radio layout of the SG. And I do like having the headlight turn with the front end.
As for handling wind, particularly side winds or truck blasts, the main difference is that on the SG it's going to try to twist the forks to make you turn. On the RG it's going to try to push the entire bike. But since the bike weights considerably more than just the front end...it takes a lot more wind to push the whole bike than it does to push just the steering. So the preference really kind of comes down to...when hit with a cross wind, do you want a smaller fight with the whole bike, or a bigger fight with just the front end? For me, I felt much more in control fighting the forks than the whole bike. But I get why people would disagree...which is why you really need to experience it for yourself and decide. And I do mean...take it out and get blasted by a few trucks to feel the difference.
First, let me say that you should ride both and pick which YOU like better. But I will offer up what I see as the noticeable differences.
Personally, I like the look of the RG better. I also like having a bit of storage in the fairing. However, I prefer the dash/gauge/radio layout of the SG. And I do like having the headlight turn with the front end.
As for handling wind, particularly side winds or truck blasts, the main difference is that on the SG it's going to try to twist the forks to make you turn. On the RG it's going to try to push the entire bike. But since the bike weights considerably more than just the front end...it takes a lot more wind to push the whole bike than it does to push just the steering. So the preference really kind of comes down to...when hit with a cross wind, do you want a smaller fight with the whole bike, or a bigger fight with just the front end? For me, I felt much more in control fighting the forks than the whole bike. But I get why people would disagree...which is why you really need to experience it for yourself and decide. And I do mean...take it out and get blasted by a few trucks to feel the difference.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 469
Likes: 130
From: Portland, Oregon
Yeah...I was thinking headlights...but I would have sworn it showed the single headlight as the road glide. I gotta stop switching back and forth between work and the forums.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 704
Likes: 45
From: Western Washington
Another way to ask this would be: Who's OWNED a Batwing, switched to a RoadGlide and then decided they preferred the Batwing. I didn't make my decision to switch from a dealer test ride... it wasn't long enough for me to discover the handling superiority between the two. I took a leap of faith when I did my SG ride and then my RG ride. You won't be able to tell all the distinct differences on most dealer test rides. There are lots of threads on this just like oil, exhaust, cams, you name it. Some people will always defend their choices, purchases, prejudices, etc. Some people get really butthurt too.
If I were you, and serious, I would reach out with some PMs and talk to folks that have owned and spent a considerable amount time on each before I made my decision. "At the end of the day, it's 30K" as we say.
Like we seem to say here - "that's just my opinion".
If I were you, and serious, I would reach out with some PMs and talk to folks that have owned and spent a considerable amount time on each before I made my decision. "At the end of the day, it's 30K" as we say.
Like we seem to say here - "that's just my opinion".