This thread is being started for the purpose of discussing the pros and cons of the Roadglide, Shark Nosed, Red Headed Stepchild of the Harley Touring Family.

I have been riding Harleys for 30 years now. I've owned 1 sporty, a 59 pan, 76 bagger, 86 heritage softail, 87 classic, 90 Ultra with a sidecar, 91 Ultra, 93 ultra, 95 ultra, 2000 ultra and my favorite bike of all time-My 2000 Screamin' Eagle Roadglide.

I was like a lot of you here on the forum. The Roadglide just wasn't the traditional Harley. The big shark nose fairing with the dual headlights just didn't look right to me. And then there was the fact that the fairing was bolted to the frame. How the hell are you suppose to handle a bike that has a fairing that doesn't move. Might as well buy a goldwing[:@]. I only knew two people that had a Roadglide. Funny thing was that these two people absolutely loved their bikes. One of these guys was Ron Stratman who owns the only licensed Harley T-shirt Company in the United States. You may have seen it's incarnation-"The Buffalo Bike."

In 2000 I bought a brand spanking new Ultra. I had ordered it and was at the dealership the day the Harley truck pulled up. I helped unload it and uncrate it. Man, I thought that bike would be it for me. Then a few months later I got a Hog tails or Enthusiast in the mail and when I opened it there was a picture of the Orange, Black and White Screamin' Eagle Roadglide. Oh my God, it had that 95 ci motor already installed and came with all kinds of chrome and Screamin' Eagle stuff. It was almost better than sex. I couldn't get a for sale sign on my ultra fast enough. By the time I sold my ultra the dealers had sold all their SE Roadglides[:@][:@][:@]. My next move was to find a good used one. The following summer I found a better than new one about a hundred miles away. Hot Damn, I was off and running.

I've never owned a motorcycle that I have enjoyed as much as this bike. I don't even seriously look at new bikes anymore. I've spent a ton of money on upgrades but haven't had to spend a dime to fix anything. It runs like a top, handles like a dream and I get more looks and comments on this bike than I ever did with any of my others. Do you guys realize that the first ROTM was won by "The Red Headed Stepchild" of the MoCo.

I will never trash another Harley. You can't beat an Ultra for long hauls and the Streetglide is probably one of the most popular new introductions to the Harley family in years. A few years back you could get a Roadglide Ultra but they discontinued it. I'm not sure why but it had to be poor sales. You are starting to see more and more Roadglides on the road now but not near as many as the batwing fairing bikes.

In my opinion the Roadglide is the best handling big Harley that the MoCo makes and as far as styling goes, I love the shark nose fairing. I get no wind buffeting with the fixed fairing and the front end has a much lighter touch. Everyone should ride a Roadglide at least once before you make your final decision. You might be pleasantly surprised!

 

Fantastic looking bike Terrry, my favorite HD paint scheme of all time!! The RG is a great bike and the damn resale on those things is amazing (I'm always thinking $$$). Never ridden one, but have talked to several owners that really love the bike and would ride no other. Thanks for the pics, the bike is gorgeous (sp?).

 

I have to agree with you Terry. The Roadglide does handle better than the Ultra. Originally I had planned on buying a Roadglide so I rented one for a trip up the coast to Santa Barbara. My friend rented an Ultra. I must tell you I rode the Roadglide like I was a motorcop. It felt lighter, handled better and even seemed to be faster off the line....but that could have just been that Dennis is SLOW. I felt so much confidence on that bike that when the opportunity presented itself (very early morning on a lightly travelled tollroad) I opened it up. If I remember correctly I hit 110mph. I wasn't trying for top speed, just wanted to see how it handled at higher speeds. I was impressed. With my Ultra, I never broke 90mph. In the long run I ended up with an Ultra for all the other features that it comes equipped with. However I would love to have a RG any day of the week. Truly a great bike!

 

Well,I have to admit I never gave the RG a passing glance.To be perfectly honest, I have often wondered, why ANYBODY would want a Harley that had a SNOUT like that. So my Quest for choosing a NEW harley went on. I have had a bunch of bikes in my life including One Harley. I now want another and at my age I narrowed it down to the TOURING Bike Family. I THOUGHT the decision was FIRM..... EG was my choice and was getting ready to Pull the Trigger.Now, I've heen introduced to the RG and the more I read and Study the matter, the more I LIKE the "SNOUT". The apparant QUALITY of Ride and Comfort that the RG seems to have will go a long way in putting VOTES in the RG ballot box.Again, the EG is a wonderful bike too.The jury is still OUT, however judgement day will soon come. Its amazing how the more TRUE information we have the Better we can make the RIGHT decision. That goes, not only HARLEYS, but for All the major decisions we make in life. Thanks, Terry for starting this Thread........... hdman

 

If all you care about is how you look while riding around town.....the RG is not for you.....if what you care about is how you FEEL after a long day of riding.....then you need to take a second look at the sharknose, ba$tard baby of the touring family. Sure...if I only wanted to ride 100 miles a day...any old bike would do....but 3-400 a day and I dont think I could do it on anything else. I'm not talking hitiing the slab and doing 400 miles either..I'm talking 400 miles of 15 mph twisties....to our destination...then a run down the big road on the way home to save time....this bike handles just as good at 100 mph as it does at 10. No lie....the fairing takes some "Grow on you" time....but if you ride one...it is soooo much better....you wont care what it looks like. In our group of riding buds.....probably 20 regular riders....we have 6 road glides....2 of them SERG's. And belive it or not...every one a different color....


nogood o~`o

 

I agree that the Road Glide is a better handling bike but I just prefer the old batwing style.Nothing looks more Harley.

 

I sense your passion and anger when I read between your lines of your emotions. Dude, I own both a '04 Ultra and a '05 RGlide and no one can convince me which one I prefer. I'm not here to trash your tread, just to say I hear you.

 

The first time I saw a Roadglide I was not impressed at all. In fact out of all the models I think I would of ranked a Buell Blast (no offense meant) ahead of the Roadglide. I have been on bikes most of my life and when it was time to get my first Harley I chose a Fatboy and I wouldn't trade it for anything. When the little woman and I put a few thousand miles on the Fatboy last season I (I meaning her) decided that I should bite the bullet and start looking for something a little more comfortable for two-up riding. The first model that we considered was a Roadglide. Something about that shark fairing has me hooked I guess. All the guys at my local dealer call it the Roadturd, not much love there! (all kidding aside they meant it in a loving way) We still have the Fatboy but I happened on a great deal on a very clean 2000 Ultra, a deal that was too good to pass up. I don't regret the Ultra purchase at all but I will always wonder about the Roadglide. Just maybe I could wish for a bigger garage and another bike? A Roadglide?

 

When I went looking to buy a Road Glide and my dealer of choice refered to it as a Road Turd also and wouldn't even order me one, they kept telling me I don't want a RG and I should by an Ultra. Well one thing I hate is a salesperson telling me what I do or don't want.

The parts manager at the dealer was a friend I had been dealing with for a long time and he told the General Mgr. that if they didn't get me one that I would just buy it somewhere else, and even he told my friend, "No were going to convince him to take an Ultra" well when I heard that, my mind was made up for sure.

I went an hour down the road and bought my 05 RG and after all I had done to it it was about $27,000 out the door and I paid cash. So after taking delivery of it I stopped by that dealer to show my buddy in the parts dept. just to **** them off. I had spent $$$$$$$$$$$$ in that dealer on tricking out my 04 Fatboy and that is the thanks I got.

Oh well I love my RG and that is all that matters, I just hope they come out with a Screaming Eagle one again in the next few years, because I think I would have to consider a trade if they did.

 

For the money the Road Glide is it..........radio, chrome engine, chrome gauges with the backlights............what mor can you ask for and it handles great, more aerodynamic which means it is faster, and plenty of upgrades...............I am on my second one and converted this one to a trike, I don't think I would own anything else.............and correct me if i am wrong but what style fairing did HD first introduce?

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