Difference in frame widths
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3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Owensboro, KY
Difference in frame widths
I previously owned a 2003 Harley Davidson 100 anniversary edition FXSTi Softail Standard and loved this bike. I trade and bought a 2015 Street Glide because I wanted the fairings upper and lower for long rides and a stereo system. It was much harder for my to ride I am only 58 and now I have develop hip issue and need joint replacement but that will be awhile before I can do it. So when I get on this bike its hard to get one it and when sitting on it really hurts my hip area. I believe its because the bike is wider dont know how much couldnt find specs on either bike to compare. I know the softail was actually about an inch higher in the seat and ground clearance than the street glide. I have a HD reach seat but its not helping much. I hate to sell the bike but I miss riding? Even with my hip issues I could ride my old one. Is there anything I can do to make the street glide sit more like my old softail? Thanks for help and suggestions it sucks getting old.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Owensboro, KY
Thanks
Well not sure that will help me because my issue is different no back but hip and I feel like its the width of the frame that is the only difference that I could not verify between the bikes. But just looking at them I can tell the Street Glide is wider. A seat might help but wont fix it I have a HD reach seat in there now.
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: San Diego, CA
Well not sure that will help me because my issue is different no back but hip and I feel like it’s the width of the frame that is the only difference that I could not verify between the bikes. But just looking at them I can tell the Street Glide is wider. A seat might help but won’t fix it I have a HD reach seat in there now.
I don't know the answer, but will go measure the difference later.... I have an '01 FXSTS, '03 FLSTC, and '16 FLHTCU..
FWIW... there is a technique for mounting the touring bikes, while on the jiffy stand, step up on the opposing footboard (hands on the bars & front brake engaged) and then swing your leg over the seat... might be much less twist/stretch on your hip while mounting..
As far as the seat goes...
The HD reach seat has a narrowed, tapered nose... that is a popular mod done by many custom seat makers. It narrows the front portion of the Electra Glide seats, and allows for you to keep your legs closer to the frame, when putting them down on the ground... sometimes, with the wider rear portion, you have to slide forward a little on the seat during a stop, to take maximum advantage of the narrowed front portion..
Are you saying the issue is the width of the seat when riding...??? Usually, a wider section to sit on while riding, better distributes the weight for a more comfortable ride and fewer hot spots... I would think a narrower rear seat portion would hurt the hip more than help, but you know what feels best for you...
If the issue is the overall width of the seat, you could consult one of the custom seat shops, like Mean City Cycles, and I suspect they can reduce the max width of the seat to your preferences...
Last edited by hattitude; Jun 6, 2020 at 12:17 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: San Diego, CA
I am in the middle of a tire/wheel bearing/ brake/ rotor change on my bagger... I didn't take the time to pull the three seats and measure the frames.. but I hope this helps...
Here's what I found:
2001 FXSTS- I have a LePera Regal seat.. it is a slim line seat that follows the top rail of the frame very closely.. at the rear of the seat, by the widest portion of the frame, the seat extends past the frame not quite 1/2" on each side...... rear of seat at widest part of frame= 13" Nose of seat at the end of the tank= 5.5"
2003 FLSTCI- I have the OEM seat. The rear of the seat at the widest portion of the frame extends from the frame a couple inches on each side...... rear of seat at widest part of frame= 16.5" Nose of seat at the end of the tank= 7.0"
2016 FLHTCU- I have a Rush Cycle-Pedic Seat... the biggest difference between the softails and touring bike were the side covers on the touring bike... whatever the actual frame dimensions are, the side covers add about 3" of width to each side of the bike's frame... rear of seat at widest part of frame= 17" Nose of seat at the end of the tank= 8.5"
Even if you had a seat made to follow the frame of the touring bike, the side cases will add about 3" of width beyond the seat compared to a seat that follows the frame of an early softail bike....
Here's what I found:
2001 FXSTS- I have a LePera Regal seat.. it is a slim line seat that follows the top rail of the frame very closely.. at the rear of the seat, by the widest portion of the frame, the seat extends past the frame not quite 1/2" on each side...... rear of seat at widest part of frame= 13" Nose of seat at the end of the tank= 5.5"
2003 FLSTCI- I have the OEM seat. The rear of the seat at the widest portion of the frame extends from the frame a couple inches on each side...... rear of seat at widest part of frame= 16.5" Nose of seat at the end of the tank= 7.0"
2016 FLHTCU- I have a Rush Cycle-Pedic Seat... the biggest difference between the softails and touring bike were the side covers on the touring bike... whatever the actual frame dimensions are, the side covers add about 3" of width to each side of the bike's frame... rear of seat at widest part of frame= 17" Nose of seat at the end of the tank= 8.5"
Even if you had a seat made to follow the frame of the touring bike, the side cases will add about 3" of width beyond the seat compared to a seat that follows the frame of an early softail bike....
Last edited by hattitude; Jun 6, 2020 at 12:19 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 456
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From: Manchester, MI
Maybe you need to experiment with leg position on the touring bike to see if you can identify the cause of the discomfort. The touring bike has a larger tank which may force you to spread your legs farther apart and the soft tail would have a more forward foot controls. Try riding on the open road with your legs on highway pegs or resting on the crash bar. This may help point to what change in sitting positions between the two bikes is at the root of the problem.
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Swap primary cover to a narrow one that will gain you some footing also. Starting is 2016 the touring bikes all got the narrow one. Just a madder of switching the cover.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Owensboro, KY
Wow great info
Thanks everyone for your help. I do thing sitting more forward would help I had 3 in forward extension peg on the softail it came that way and was really to much on long rides especially but I could ride it. I have found a company big boy that makes a bracket that moves the factory floorboards forward 2 inches and drops the back heel down 2 1/2 inches and believe that will help riding. However mounting and dismounting is hard and painful and I dont have a stand so I can use the method mention and even if I ddI wouldnt help when I stoped somewhere. Thanks for measuring the frames widths I had a factory king/queen seat on the softail which was hard to get leg over but once I did it was pretty narrowed in fact my leg would get against the oil tank fill cap and get burned on hot weather. I do thin the side panels of the street glide does hurt some sticking out. From what I gathered the difference in the width is about 3 inches. I have looked into maybe getting a fat baggers drop seat kit which changes the frame it has a v in it and makes the bike sit more like a softail your down in the bike instead of on top of it. They say it had a narrowed version too in face message they sent my is that is the only model they now make. Not sure this should help me I hate to spend $1700 of it doesnt and cant find one on a bike to try and sit on to see. What are anyones thoughts on this as a way to solve my problem. I have to give up riding and I dont really want to sell this bike I know where a 2007 low mileage FXSTI is but I wouldnt have the things I like about the street glide, plus I have to sell another bike and hope the softail is still there.
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From: Bedford UK
You say you don't have a stand? Not sure that can be true! As for getting on and off I have never understood getting on from the right, I do that from the left, but do sometimes do so from the footboard. Mrs B routinely gets on as passenger via the front footboard - she has hip problems and finds that easiest. Bike is always parked on the stock jiffy.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Owensboro, KY
Again thanks
You say you don't have a stand? Not sure that can be true! As for getting on and off I have never understood getting on from the right, I do that from the left, but do sometimes do so from the footboard. Mrs B routinely gets on as passenger via the front footboard - she has hip problems and finds that easiest. Bike is always parked on the stock jiffy.