08 road glide first impressions
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,282
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From: British Columbia
08 road glide first impressions
Hey guys, picked up the new roadie last weekend and got to put in a few rainy miles on her. She's mirage orange and I added fairing lowers and chopped detachable tour pac, plus black forks, mirrors ,levers, saddlebag latches and did the full street glide treatment to the back end. I will post some pics as soon as I can get some decent shots, but for now I gotta say I'am really impressed how it turned out!
As for the ride, I'am coming off a ultra and had a e-glide classic before that, and a road glide before that one so I have had experience with road glides and e-glides. The first thing I noticed about this new bike is its the smoothest HD I have ever ridden! It is remarkable the differene coming off a 06 to a 08 model. The brakes are equally amazing, very powerful and no surprises in the rain with the abs! The fly by wire throttle is very responsive, no lag what so ever! Since it was raining on my maiden voyage I didn't get a chance to push it hard in the corners to see if I could get any bagger wobble out of it, and as soon as I got home I put a true track on it. So I guess I will never no if there is any chassis improvement with the new motormount position.
Now for my road glide pet peeve, the damn buffeting! When I had my 01 roadie it had a lower windshield and it alsohad alot of buffeting around the head and eyes. This bike has a taller windshield and it's horrible too. I'am 6'2" and coming off a ultra with 9.5" windhield and smooth air behind the fairing there is a big difference. I have ordered a klock werks 8" shield to try out, I know it will look good and hopefully works a bit better than the stock shield! Once I get the buffeting sorted out I think this will be my favorite bike. I never thought I would be a orange fan, but when I saw one in person about a year ago, I knew it would be my next bike.
Oh yeah I guess I should mention the 96 inch motor which is still stock. It is torquey and a very smooth runner, but after coming off my hot rod ultra it does seem way under powered. I'am going to leave it stock for awhile and then do a HQ 103 build on it, after reading all the success stories with HQ products. Now all I have to do is decide on a exhaust system for it, I have a fat cat hanging on the wall of my shop that I could try or I will go with some V&H ovals my all time favorite mufflers!
As for the ride, I'am coming off a ultra and had a e-glide classic before that, and a road glide before that one so I have had experience with road glides and e-glides. The first thing I noticed about this new bike is its the smoothest HD I have ever ridden! It is remarkable the differene coming off a 06 to a 08 model. The brakes are equally amazing, very powerful and no surprises in the rain with the abs! The fly by wire throttle is very responsive, no lag what so ever! Since it was raining on my maiden voyage I didn't get a chance to push it hard in the corners to see if I could get any bagger wobble out of it, and as soon as I got home I put a true track on it. So I guess I will never no if there is any chassis improvement with the new motormount position.
Now for my road glide pet peeve, the damn buffeting! When I had my 01 roadie it had a lower windshield and it alsohad alot of buffeting around the head and eyes. This bike has a taller windshield and it's horrible too. I'am 6'2" and coming off a ultra with 9.5" windhield and smooth air behind the fairing there is a big difference. I have ordered a klock werks 8" shield to try out, I know it will look good and hopefully works a bit better than the stock shield! Once I get the buffeting sorted out I think this will be my favorite bike. I never thought I would be a orange fan, but when I saw one in person about a year ago, I knew it would be my next bike.
Oh yeah I guess I should mention the 96 inch motor which is still stock. It is torquey and a very smooth runner, but after coming off my hot rod ultra it does seem way under powered. I'am going to leave it stock for awhile and then do a HQ 103 build on it, after reading all the success stories with HQ products. Now all I have to do is decide on a exhaust system for it, I have a fat cat hanging on the wall of my shop that I could try or I will go with some V&H ovals my all time favorite mufflers!
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