Touring >> Softail
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Originally Posted by cannot
I had a 2018 Street Bob, everything was good but that small gas tank. Don't think you will be happy to move 6-gallon gas tank to 3.5-gallon tank. Heritage might be your best choice.
If the weight of the touring is an issue then I agree with others, the Heritage is the better buy. Take off the windshield and bags and you have a classic looking cruiser. You can add a quick detach batwing if you want more wind protection. And it's one of two Softails with a cruise control. Although the riding comfort is going to be a bit different on a Softail than on a touring bike.
However, as already mentioned, if you're not riding much now that won't change much with a new bike.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 1,466
From: Charleston, SC
And at 200lbs lighter than an Ultra! That's a lot of weight difference when you're talking moving it around in a garage where other stuff is all around.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 103
Likes: 19
From: INDIANA
I'm on a Road King now, my previous bike was referred to as a "low rider convertible I think, basically an older version of the current low rider ST.
For all day touring my preference is, either one is great - but I like the 6 versus 5 gallon tank and the larger standard bags on the Road King. For waddling around in town I miss the old bike.
In general, whatever fits your body and your budget best is what I would get.
For all day touring my preference is, either one is great - but I like the 6 versus 5 gallon tank and the larger standard bags on the Road King. For waddling around in town I miss the old bike.
In general, whatever fits your body and your budget best is what I would get.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,686
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
I can tell ya....
I just traded a Dyna Switchback to a Road Gide 107 last weekend. I can understand the weight being an issue. Prior to the RG purchase, I had test ridden the new LRS ST and had previously ridden a Heritage 114. No question, they are lighter than the Touring line, but I do believe, at least for the RG, it handles better. Also, there is the "feel" thing. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the hard mount counterbalanced engine of the Softails in feel. I prefer the feel of the rubber mount engine.
I just traded a Dyna Switchback to a Road Gide 107 last weekend. I can understand the weight being an issue. Prior to the RG purchase, I had test ridden the new LRS ST and had previously ridden a Heritage 114. No question, they are lighter than the Touring line, but I do believe, at least for the RG, it handles better. Also, there is the "feel" thing. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the hard mount counterbalanced engine of the Softails in feel. I prefer the feel of the rubber mount engine.
Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 650
From: San Ramon, Ca
I can tell ya....
I just traded a Dyna Switchback to a Road Gide 107 last weekend. I can understand the weight being an issue. Prior to the RG purchase, I had test ridden the new LRS ST and had previously ridden a Heritage 114. No question, they are lighter than the Touring line, but I do believe, at least for the RG, it handles better. Also, there is the "feel" thing. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the hard mount counterbalanced engine of the Softails in feel. I prefer the feel of the rubber mount engine.
I just traded a Dyna Switchback to a Road Gide 107 last weekend. I can understand the weight being an issue. Prior to the RG purchase, I had test ridden the new LRS ST and had previously ridden a Heritage 114. No question, they are lighter than the Touring line, but I do believe, at least for the RG, it handles better. Also, there is the "feel" thing. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the hard mount counterbalanced engine of the Softails in feel. I prefer the feel of the rubber mount engine.
I understand there's fix's for it. But nope. Didn't take the plunge.
The current gen Heritage handles even better than the Switchback. And pretty smooth.
I've never really ridden a Road King any distance. I'd like to ride one for a day, just to see.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,686
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
A few yrs ago, I test rode a Switchback. LOVED the way it handled. Every bit as comfy as my Heritage, BUT the vibes at freeway speeds . . . I couldn't hang with that.
I understand there's fix's for it. But nope. Didn't take the plunge.
The current gen Heritage handles even better than the Switchback. And pretty smooth.
I've never really ridden a Road King any distance. I'd like to ride one for a day, just to see.
I understand there's fix's for it. But nope. Didn't take the plunge.
The current gen Heritage handles even better than the Switchback. And pretty smooth.
I've never really ridden a Road King any distance. I'd like to ride one for a day, just to see.
Agree, great handling bike. Weirdly, I find the Touring bikes, at least the RG, to handle better. RK is really nice bike. Coming from the Switch, the RK seemed like a supersized version of that bike and I wanted something different. Otherwise, I'd very probably have gotten the RK.
For me, of the current Softails, after having tried the LRS ST, the Heritage is the bike I would get. Some of the other Softail variants seemed too specialized in their role, where the Heritage is very versatile.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 283
Likes: 44
From:
I can tell ya....
I just traded a Dyna Switchback to a Road Gide 107 last weekend. I can understand the weight being an issue. Prior to the RG purchase, I had test ridden the new LRS ST and had previously ridden a Heritage 114. No question, they are lighter than the Touring line, but I do believe, at least for the RG, it handles better. Also, there is the "feel" thing. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the hard mount counterbalanced engine of the Softails in feel. I prefer the feel of the rubber mount engine.
I just traded a Dyna Switchback to a Road Gide 107 last weekend. I can understand the weight being an issue. Prior to the RG purchase, I had test ridden the new LRS ST and had previously ridden a Heritage 114. No question, they are lighter than the Touring line, but I do believe, at least for the RG, it handles better. Also, there is the "feel" thing. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the hard mount counterbalanced engine of the Softails in feel. I prefer the feel of the rubber mount engine.
I started on an '06 Dyna Wide Glide. I always hated the touring bikes because they were so big and old-guyish. I rode a couple of Softails and just didn't like them for some reason. They didn't feel comfortable. I rode the Wide Glide on many long road trips and to Daytona in 2012. I went to Bruce Rossmeyer's, up the stairs, turned around, and fell massively in love with a bike before I even realized it was a Touring model - a Road King. Then I found that it was a police Road King. I bought it and had it shipped to my home, but still barely rode it because the Wide Glide was so perfect for around town and had been my highway bike for 6 years...and I still didn't care for Touring models.
I eventually inadvertently parked the Wide Glide and rode the 'King for several years because it's such a better and more perfect bike for all-around. Then I bought another FLHP in 2020 nd rode it 40k miles in 18 months.
I've ridden a couple Softails in the past few years and still just don't like them. I can't see myself on a fairing bike either. The Road King is definitely the best of all worlds. If there was still a Dyna, it would be the next best best for something smaller than the Touring models. Now that the Dyna models are merged into a Softail frame, they're just uncomfortable nonsense. I think it's the balanced rigid-mount engine.
Now...I DO have a '91 Springer, but that's a whole different story. It's completely custom and po-ta-to-es at a slow, lumpy, loud, barely-turning idle. Totally different animal.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 115
Likes: 78
From: Texas; Deepintheheartof
Another vote for the Heritage. I put 50K on my 18 and loved every mile of it. As mentioned before it takes very little to strip it down to what is essentially a Deluxe for riding around town. Very comfortable on the highway and the 114 w/stage 2 never left me wanting more power.
Would still have that bike if the Revival had not come along.
Would still have that bike if the Revival had not come along.