08 Owners - How about some feedback
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,920
Likes: 6
From: Upstate New York
RE: 08 Owners - How about some feedback
my take.........
quiet
smooth
awsome brakes
color growin on me
many compliments
nice touch with Aniv"y emblems
good enuff stock
no prob with new tank
adjustable fairing vents rock!
wife digs it
and dog loves pizzin on the tires!!lol
quiet
smooth
awsome brakes
color growin on me
many compliments
nice touch with Aniv"y emblems
good enuff stock
no prob with new tank
adjustable fairing vents rock!
wife digs it
and dog loves pizzin on the tires!!lol
Novice
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
RE: 08 Owners - How about some feedback
ORIGINAL: gunrunner
Not exactly true, several changes to 08s, new crank bearings, cams, ecm, ids system, different tuning maps too, also changes in the transmission and other parts. Someone posted the tech changes a week ago or so very interesting.
ORIGINAL: 211Chuck
The 07's and 08's have the same power plants
IE: Engine,trany,primary
So how an 07 runs so should the 08's
Heck their all Harley's so you already know they will
rattle,clank,whine,vibrate and shake with a little heat
throwen in for good measure
thats what all good
Harley's do!
ORIGINAL: VaRanger
Could some of you 2008 touring owners provide us with some feedback on how your new bike is doing? Some of us potential buyers are wondering about: transmission noise, engine heat, ride comfort with the new IDS, throttle response, gas mileage, other comments, etc.
Thanks for the input!
Could some of you 2008 touring owners provide us with some feedback on how your new bike is doing? Some of us potential buyers are wondering about: transmission noise, engine heat, ride comfort with the new IDS, throttle response, gas mileage, other comments, etc.
Thanks for the input!
The 07's and 08's have the same power plants
IE: Engine,trany,primary
So how an 07 runs so should the 08's
Heck their all Harley's so you already know they will
rattle,clank,whine,vibrate and shake with a little heat
throwen in for good measure
thats what all good Harley's do!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,475
Likes: 3,001
From: Charleston, SC
RE: 08 Owners - How about some feedback
After riding my friends new 08 SG and owning an 07 SG with IDS installed I can say matter-a-factly that the drive train feels identical....smooth.
BUT...
The 08seat is much better, and the 08 brakes kick-***!
Other than that...same bike for all intensive purposes.
lp
BUT...
The 08seat is much better, and the 08 brakes kick-***!
Other than that...same bike for all intensive purposes.
lp
ORIGINAL: hoghead
Have to agree with gunrunner on this, sorry 211Chuck but your assessment is waaayyy off. I did extensive road testing of a 2007 and 2008 street glide and I left a $2000 discount for the 2007 on the table to go with a 2008. The differences IMO are massive. I took out both bikes (I on one and the salesman on the other) and we spent aboutand hourriding and hot swapping the bikes. The transmission changes are obvious. Not so much with the noise but overall smoothness of power delivery. I was dead set against the drive by wire and I came away utterly impressed. The throttle response was MUCH better. Not sure what they did to the seat exactly but the 2008 seat is much improved with a deeper pocket that gave more support. Now lets talk about brakes. Not really giving it much thought at first I nearly rolled into an intersection with the 2007. The brakes on the 2007 flat out stink! These new brembo units really give you stopping power. As for the performance I felt a difference but it could've been due to a decrease in parasitic loss from the tranny changes. Maybe someone can confirm two things that I heard but don't know to be true. One, I was told that there was recutting of the gears in the 2008 transmission and two, that the 2008's got a larger throttle body. Again, I don't know this to be fact. So, anyway, that's my review of the 2008. Oh yeah, is it hot? Yep but so is my RKC, FXSTC as was my Deluxe, all of which are 2007's (don't ask). From what I understand this is a tuning issue. Reduce the A/F ratio and the heat issue is no more.........at least no more than expected on an air cooled bike
Have to agree with gunrunner on this, sorry 211Chuck but your assessment is waaayyy off. I did extensive road testing of a 2007 and 2008 street glide and I left a $2000 discount for the 2007 on the table to go with a 2008. The differences IMO are massive. I took out both bikes (I on one and the salesman on the other) and we spent aboutand hourriding and hot swapping the bikes. The transmission changes are obvious. Not so much with the noise but overall smoothness of power delivery. I was dead set against the drive by wire and I came away utterly impressed. The throttle response was MUCH better. Not sure what they did to the seat exactly but the 2008 seat is much improved with a deeper pocket that gave more support. Now lets talk about brakes. Not really giving it much thought at first I nearly rolled into an intersection with the 2007. The brakes on the 2007 flat out stink! These new brembo units really give you stopping power. As for the performance I felt a difference but it could've been due to a decrease in parasitic loss from the tranny changes. Maybe someone can confirm two things that I heard but don't know to be true. One, I was told that there was recutting of the gears in the 2008 transmission and two, that the 2008's got a larger throttle body. Again, I don't know this to be fact. So, anyway, that's my review of the 2008. Oh yeah, is it hot? Yep but so is my RKC, FXSTC as was my Deluxe, all of which are 2007's (don't ask). From what I understand this is a tuning issue. Reduce the A/F ratio and the heat issue is no more.........at least no more than expected on an air cooled bike
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From:
RE: 08 Owners - How about some feedback
The 08 catalog says the handlebar mounted Harley branded XM radio won't work on 08 touring bikes. My service manager wanted one also so he called Harley Tech and they couldn't find any reason it wouldn't work.....
They installed one on my SG and it works fine.
This is my 1st. touring model so I don't have anything to compare it to except my Buell Ulysses. But the Buell was HOT! It would burn your right thigh in traffic. The SG gets hot at long stop lights but it's acceptable. I have a slight noise in 5th gear. If I hadn't heard about it on the forums I wouldn't have given it any thought.
I really like the cruise control. In 6th at about 2800 RPM it's running 80 and will pull these Ozark Mnt. interstate hills without bogging down.
They installed one on my SG and it works fine.
This is my 1st. touring model so I don't have anything to compare it to except my Buell Ulysses. But the Buell was HOT! It would burn your right thigh in traffic. The SG gets hot at long stop lights but it's acceptable. I have a slight noise in 5th gear. If I hadn't heard about it on the forums I wouldn't have given it any thought.
I really like the cruise control. In 6th at about 2800 RPM it's running 80 and will pull these Ozark Mnt. interstate hills without bogging down.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
RE: 08 Owners - How about some feedback
ORIGINAL: HJP
Just picked up my aniversary ultra on Wednesday..<snip>.. Would post pictures if I had a digital camera. Can not afford one now
Just picked up my aniversary ultra on Wednesday..<snip>.. Would post pictures if I had a digital camera. Can not afford one now
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in Utah...or maybe not.
RE: 08 Owners - How about some feedback
211Chuck:
You said: "Great point, BUT" Honda pays to fix their mistakes
for their customers in all cases."
I disagree. In some cases, yes. However, Honda has yet to fix the significant number of overheating problems withthe 1800's. Their re-map of the ECM didn't do a thing. The larger radiators haven'tworked either. Some bikes in all production years are still experiencing overheating problems when in "parade mode." The only fix that works is to reverse the cooling fans and install a manual switch. This has to be done at the owner's expense. Honda has yet to acknowledge that the fans are blowing the wrong way, and that they do not run when needed at certain speeds. We (owners) are not holding our breaths for them to do so. It took a monumental effort to get them to admit & fix the frame weld problem. It may well take the threat of anotherclass action to get them to move on this issue.
The 1800 is a great touring platform, but some of them DO have problems and Honda isn't stepping up to take care of the owners. C'est la vie.
PS: I've been riding an 1800 since '01 and will be keeping it for as long as it lasts (doing fan reversal as we speak). Have an '08 FLHT on order and scheduled for delivery in Oct...if Oct EVER gets here!
You said: "Great point, BUT" Honda pays to fix their mistakes
for their customers in all cases."
I disagree. In some cases, yes. However, Honda has yet to fix the significant number of overheating problems withthe 1800's. Their re-map of the ECM didn't do a thing. The larger radiators haven'tworked either. Some bikes in all production years are still experiencing overheating problems when in "parade mode." The only fix that works is to reverse the cooling fans and install a manual switch. This has to be done at the owner's expense. Honda has yet to acknowledge that the fans are blowing the wrong way, and that they do not run when needed at certain speeds. We (owners) are not holding our breaths for them to do so. It took a monumental effort to get them to admit & fix the frame weld problem. It may well take the threat of anotherclass action to get them to move on this issue.
The 1800 is a great touring platform, but some of them DO have problems and Honda isn't stepping up to take care of the owners. C'est la vie.
PS: I've been riding an 1800 since '01 and will be keeping it for as long as it lasts (doing fan reversal as we speak). Have an '08 FLHT on order and scheduled for delivery in Oct...if Oct EVER gets here!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,920
Likes: 6
From: Upstate New York
RE: 08 Owners - How about some feedback
they did something right to the 08's, mine is not nearley as hot as the 07,
and not a single ping in 2,500 miles
and adjustable fairing vents,, wouldnt think it much of a big deal,,, well let me tell you this,, what a god send, they rock, awsome, get them if you dont have them.
and not a single ping in 2,500 miles
and adjustable fairing vents,, wouldnt think it much of a big deal,,, well let me tell you this,, what a god send, they rock, awsome, get them if you dont have them.