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So, I rented a Ultra Limited and rode it to Sturgis. It saved me a bunch of money on the wrong bike. For tall guys the Bat Wing sits too close. I am now on my second Road Glide and have taken both on long trips (Ca. to Fl. multiple Sturgis and Idaho) and always fare better than my Bat Wing brothers. I know in Texas you have some long stretches where you can run at 80 (we always do 90 across Wyoming) And the Road Glide eats it up. A lot less weight on forks also. The only thing I change is the windshield. I run a 12" Windvest which throws the air above my head. Renting one is the best advice I have seen on this thread. It will be money well spent.
Another data point on the Road Glide -- and thank you for mentioning the windshield you use. How tall are you? I'm 6'3", with a 36 inch inseam. Wondering what kind of windshield taller guys put on their Road Glides.
I was just sitting here looking at my Road King wondering if I should/could bring myself to sell it for a Road Glide. I'm picking out suspension and adding up the costs, but all the while thinking "Do I spend all this on the Road King, only to sell it later and have to do it all over again on a Road Glide?" I'm trying to get the Allen Harley dealer to allow me to take a Road Glide on an extended test ride on the highway to see how I like it. They limit test rides to a short loop on surface roads with a max speed of about 50 mph. Not a great way to get a feel for the bike to be honest...
I guess I could rent one for a day, but at 500 bucks for 24 hours, that's hard to swallow.
I came from 2007 Road King to my 2019 Road Glide Special and just love it.
I have just ticked over 50,000 miles on it and I was out of the country for two and half years so you can see I like to get the miles down.
I have done 1000+ mile rides in 15 hrs (FL to WV), cruising at 80-85 pretty much all the time. I am only 5 10 but I only have the klockwerks 9in screen, I think you will be fine with a taller screen.
I prefer the RG over the SG as you are less affected by turbulent air from 18 wheelers on the highway due to fairing being frame mounted.
Also I laugh when people say I couldn't get used to the fairing not moving with the handlebars, I say when you ride you 1) lean for curves not turn your bars and 2) you should have your eyes on the road! Plus a RG is much better for slow speed manoeuvres as the weight of the fairing is on the frame not the handlebars.
Just add a trunk and away you go.....
Gorgeous bike - love that color. Thanks for posting your height and what windshield you have. I come from sport bikes, so the fairing not moving when I turn the bars isn't even a factor for me. That's a lot of miles in a short time, man! You have stock suspension? I'm thinking if I want to do some long road trips, I'm going to need a custom seat and better suspension setup, no matter what bike I end up with...
That's a lot of miles in a short time, man! You have stock suspension? I'm thinking if I want to do some long road trips, I'm going to need a custom seat and better suspension setup, no matter what bike I end up with...
Yes, I have stock suspension, its something I never got round to doing, maybe one day, My seat is a modified stock one, not the most comfortable but my butt has got used to it now lol
Yes, I have stock suspension, its something I never got round to doing, maybe one day, My seat is a modified stock one, not the most comfortable but my butt has got used to it now lol
Right on man. I'm reading everything I can about seats and suspension setups and I've decided to leave mine stock for now. I'm sure upgrading both would be a night and day difference, but if I'm just going to wind up on a Road Glide in a year, why spend all that money?
Right on man. I'm reading everything I can about seats and suspension setups and I've decided to leave mine stock for now. I'm sure upgrading both would be a night and day difference, but if I'm just going to wind up on a Road Glide in a year, why spend all that money?
because everything can be swapped from one to the other. its essentially the same bike. as far as bat vs shark, i test rode a few sharks and the buffetting was miserable. the bat is right in front of your chest and cuts through the wind where you want it to. my rk was like a parachute, i had to hang on when going over 60 with the apes. as far as getting pushed around by 18 wheelers, thats bull. my 9000lb pickup gets pushed around by wind off semis, that fairing isnt changing that. get what visually looks better to you, they go down the road about the same.
because everything can be swapped from one to the other. its essentially the same bike. as far as bat vs shark, i test rode a few sharks and the buffetting was miserable. the bat is right in front of your chest and cuts through the wind where you want it to. my rk was like a parachute, i had to hang on when going over 60 with the apes. as far as getting pushed around by 18 wheelers, thats bull. my 9000lb pickup gets pushed around by wind off semis, that fairing isnt changing that. get what visually looks better to you, they go down the road about the same.
Can everything be swapped? I have a 2014 RK and I'm looking at a 2021 RGS. Same everything for the driver/passenger backrest, suspension fitment, etc? I also wonder about getting rid of the shorty highway bar on the RGS and replacing it with a regular full highway/crash bar (whatever its called). I looked very closely at the new 2023 RGS and it looks like it would be a clean swap, but I just like to be sure. This is the kind of crap I'll be researching extensively over the next 6 months while I wait to see if prices drop...
Also, I don't really want to have to do multiple installs...if I upgrade the RK suspension now and it also fits the RKS, then I'd have to put the RK back to stock before selling it and then install the suspension on the 2021 RK. That's basically three installs, lol. Seems like it'll be easier to just wait 6 months. I don't know what I'm missing, anyway, right? LOL.
Edit: I read somewhere that the frame and suspension components of the 2021+ models was slightly different, along with a different ECU and upgraded oil pump system (in 2020). I'm still relatively new to all things Harley, so trying to learn -- not saying anyone is wrong, but actually asking to be sure.
Last edited by Sirgilbert357; Jun 9, 2023 at 08:58 AM.
Can everything be swapped? I have a 2014 RK and I'm looking at a 2021 RGS. Same everything for the driver/passenger backrest, suspension fitment, etc? I also wonder about getting rid of the shorty highway bar on the RGS and replacing it with a regular full highway/crash bar (whatever its called). I looked very closely at the new 2023 RGS and it looks like it would be a clean swap, but I just like to be sure. This is the kind of crap I'll be researching extensively over the next 6 months while I wait to see if prices drop...
Also, I don't really want to have to do multiple installs...if I upgrade the RK suspension now and it also fits the RKS, then I'd have to put the RK back to stock before selling it and then install the suspension on the 2021 RK. That's basically three installs, lol. Seems like it'll be easier to just wait 6 months. I don't know what I'm missing, anyway, right? LOL.
seat and rear shocks are 5 bolts, i dont really consider that a big deal, thats like an hour work. for the shocks, seat, and backrest, ya. like mustang shows compatable 08-23. same with ohlins. the body has changed, but the frames been really similar since 09.
seat and rear shocks are 5 bolts, i dont really consider that a big deal, thats like an hour work. for the shocks, seat, and backrest, ya. like mustang shows compatable 08-23. same with ohlins. the body has changed, but the frames been really similar since 09.
OK, good to know.
I figured the suspension was pretty straightforward. Saddlebags are easy to remove too. Maybe while I research stuff, I should just see if I can adjust the air shocks on my RK. I have no idea what they are set to.
Edit: But I was also planning on doing the front suspension too, so...I'm pretty sure that's not as easy as the rear.
Last edited by Sirgilbert357; Jun 9, 2023 at 09:32 AM.
I figured the suspension was pretty straightforward. Saddlebags are easy to remove too. Maybe while I research stuff, I should just see if I can adjust the air shocks on my RK. I have no idea what they are set to.
Edit: But I was also planning on doing the front suspension too, so...I'm pretty sure that's not as easy as the rear.
no, definately not, and i have no idea if theyre the same. most aftermarket companies probably run 14-22, but again, i have no idea. if youve never touched your air shocks they probably dont have any air in them. you can get a bicycle suspension pump at walmart that does the same as the hd pump, for a good bit less money, just dont use a compressor. those shocks dont take much to pressurize
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