Which CVO?
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,641
Likes: 22,559
From: North Carolina
Spokes have been around for ever. I would not be afraid of them. Best of both worlds and same technology used on many adventure bikes.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,316
Likes: 2,387
From: Jackson, OH
Ride both and see how they feel. There is no 'better'....except one might be better for your tastes or ride experience. I have owned both and loved both. Neither gave me any grievance. Both got complimented regularly if that even matters. Neither was able to eliminate the wind-blast from an oncoming semi. Both have quirks and points of excellence. I don't believe you need to choose a church or take a vow. It's good to know that both are great and maybe you're trying to find that last 3% difference.
Because I'm currently on a RGL, here's what I can say:
I like the spacious feeling of the fairing and windscreen design. The bike has more of stretched look and feel, despite being the same length as a batwing tourer. My experience has been this bike (RGL) handles big curves and tight corners with an appetite...a noticeable difference to me. I also think I handle it better at extreme slow speeds...possibly because there is no fairing movement in my sightline or peripheral vision. I don't rate it as having a big wind advantage, except maybe an improvement in handling big head-on or quartering-on wind gusts. I seem to spend a little less effort correcting-course after a huge gust hits, versus the Ultra Limited we owned. That's it.
Incidentally, we (wife and I) were fully intending on moving from a stock Ultra Limited to either a CVO or a full-on custom build UL. Two dealers suggested we ride both bikes (Road Glide Limited and Ultra Limited) just to compare. That's how we ended up on the RGL. Nothing more or less to it.
Because I'm currently on a RGL, here's what I can say:
I like the spacious feeling of the fairing and windscreen design. The bike has more of stretched look and feel, despite being the same length as a batwing tourer. My experience has been this bike (RGL) handles big curves and tight corners with an appetite...a noticeable difference to me. I also think I handle it better at extreme slow speeds...possibly because there is no fairing movement in my sightline or peripheral vision. I don't rate it as having a big wind advantage, except maybe an improvement in handling big head-on or quartering-on wind gusts. I seem to spend a little less effort correcting-course after a huge gust hits, versus the Ultra Limited we owned. That's it.
Incidentally, we (wife and I) were fully intending on moving from a stock Ultra Limited to either a CVO or a full-on custom build UL. Two dealers suggested we ride both bikes (Road Glide Limited and Ultra Limited) just to compare. That's how we ended up on the RGL. Nothing more or less to it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,534
Likes: 3,938
From: Virginia
this would be a deal killer for me, looks like a modern interpretation of a spoke wheel gone bad! Besides adding a 21 wheel means the geometry of the front end has to be stiffer and just like people complaining about 12 rear shocks, now you have less shock absorption on the front end. If you want a bike that youre not going to ride hundreds of miles on trips, then it doesnt make a difference. The 19 wheel on the limited models make more sense to me. But different strokes for different folks, lol!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
I really like these wheels...but I can't help but think about the future youtube videos of guys doing burnouts with 900+ pound bikes with 150+ ft. lbs. of torque and those wheels just coming apart. Hopefully not...I like to think someone way smarter than me thought about that and the wheel is more than strong enough.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,534
Likes: 3,938
From: Virginia
Well, I own one of each and like them both. It is a little different riding experience on each. i would say batwing a little easier to handle at low speeds and the roadglide a little more laid back on the highway.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 5,063
Likes: 2,582
From: On my bike!
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Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 20
Likes: 5
From: MA
Because I'm currently on a RGL, here's what I can say:
I like the spacious feeling of the fairing and windscreen design. The bike has more of stretched look and feel, despite being the same length as a batwing tourer. My experience has been this bike (RGL) handles big curves and tight corners with an appetite...a noticeable difference to me. I also think I handle it better at extreme slow speeds...possibly because there is no fairing movement in my sightline or peripheral vision. I don't rate it as having a big wind advantage, except maybe an improvement in handling big head-on or quartering-on wind gusts. I seem to spend a little less effort correcting-course after a huge gust hits, versus the Ultra Limited we owned. That's it.
I like the spacious feeling of the fairing and windscreen design. The bike has more of stretched look and feel, despite being the same length as a batwing tourer. My experience has been this bike (RGL) handles big curves and tight corners with an appetite...a noticeable difference to me. I also think I handle it better at extreme slow speeds...possibly because there is no fairing movement in my sightline or peripheral vision. I don't rate it as having a big wind advantage, except maybe an improvement in handling big head-on or quartering-on wind gusts. I seem to spend a little less effort correcting-course after a huge gust hits, versus the Ultra Limited we owned. That's it.
Last edited by RND1; Feb 18, 2022 at 12:39 PM.
