RKC handling vs SG
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Stage III
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3
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RKC handling vs SG
Hey all, First post and have been getting quite a lot of info here. I now have a Deluxe and had a Heritage Classic and want to move up to the baggers and air ride.I rented a SG the other day and was impressed with the handling but did not see much of a difference in the ride quality from my softtails.maybe the dealer had to much air in the shocks, but he did say the SG has shorter shocks. As youcan see from my past bikes, Iwould like the look of the RKC, but my question is do they handle as well as the SG? I like them both, but the RKC has longer shocks.
Thanks and any opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks and any opinions would be appreciated.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Cape May Co. NJ
RE: RKC handling vs SG
Just sold my 05 RK standard and bought an 08 Street Glide. I was on the RK for three years and thought it handled and road pretty well......until I got the SG. Have to admit, the SG really does handle much better than my RK. It corners better at higher speed and turns easier at low speed and has better balance. Probably due to the low profile rear shocks. (Which I had put on my RK at about 5k mi) SG was still a better ride, all the way around. The taller shocks do give you more travel = 3/4 to 1 inch, but the same ride quality can be acheived by adjusting the air pressure in the shorter shock, so the bottom line is...you can have the shorter shock for better handling and the softer ride of the taller shock by increasing or decreasing air pressure.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,913
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From:
RE: RKC handling vs SG
I know this is not answering your question and may seem like a smartazz answer but it is not intended that way. You rented a SG so why not rent a RK? Ride, like looks, is pretty much subjective. Only you can decide which one you like best. Good luck.
By the way, all Harleys ride well. You may not find a big improvement over your Deluxe with any model.
By the way, all Harleys ride well. You may not find a big improvement over your Deluxe with any model.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 678
Likes: 1
From:
RE: RKC handling vs SG
ORIGINAL: 2CMan
Just sold my 05 RK standard and bought an 08 Street Glide. I was on the RK for three years and thought it handled and road pretty well......until I got the SG. Have to admit, the SG really does handle much better than my RK. It corners better at higher speed and turns easier at low speed and has better balance. Probably due to the low profile rear shocks. (Which I had put on my RK at about 5k mi) SG was still a better ride, all the way around. The taller shocks do give you more travel = 3/4 to 1 inch, but the same ride quality can be acheived by adjusting the air pressure in the shorter shock, so the bottom line is...you can have the shorter shock for better handling and the softer ride of the taller shock by increasing or decreasing air pressure.
Just sold my 05 RK standard and bought an 08 Street Glide. I was on the RK for three years and thought it handled and road pretty well......until I got the SG. Have to admit, the SG really does handle much better than my RK. It corners better at higher speed and turns easier at low speed and has better balance. Probably due to the low profile rear shocks. (Which I had put on my RK at about 5k mi) SG was still a better ride, all the way around. The taller shocks do give you more travel = 3/4 to 1 inch, but the same ride quality can be acheived by adjusting the air pressure in the shorter shock, so the bottom line is...you can have the shorter shock for better handling and the softer ride of the taller shock by increasing or decreasing air pressure.
Doug
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 238
Likes: 18
From: Canada
RE: RKC handling vs SG
Congrats on your first post, 05HDR! Well, I've actually had recent riding experience on most of the bikes that you mentioned in your post. I currently ride a Road King Classic. Last year I had a Heritage Classic, until I wrote it off by crashing into a deer. (I definitely don't recommend doing that.) And then I also rented a Street Glide just a few months ago, while on vacation.
So here's my take... I always thought my Heritage rode pretty good. It's a stable bike, handles well, and if you're on a good surface, it is quite an enjoyable ride. The problem is when it starts to get bumpy. I don't know how the roads are in your neck of the woods, but where I'm at (Manitoba, Canada), we have crappy road conditions which are partially due to our brutally cold winters. The highways have little dips and cracks in them, and on quite a few occasions, I remember getting rocked to my teeth as I bottomed out the softail suspension. So far on my Road King, I've not even been close to that. This thing just sucks up the bumps and laughs at them as we glide on over. I felt that the Street Glide was very similar. That model has a lowered suspension, so on extreme conditions it may bottom out slightly sooner than the Road King, but overall I would say the ride is quite similar. If you were happy with the handling of the Street Glide, I think you'd find a Road King to be almost the same.
Like you, when I first drove a touring bike, I didn't notice an immediate difference in ride quality over the softail. But trust me... the more miles you put on, you WILL notice a difference for the better. The only thing that took me a little getting used to, is that the touring frame sits a lot higher than a softail. You get used to that pretty quickly though. After that, it starts to feel natural. Anyway, they're all great machines. All the best in your search.
So here's my take... I always thought my Heritage rode pretty good. It's a stable bike, handles well, and if you're on a good surface, it is quite an enjoyable ride. The problem is when it starts to get bumpy. I don't know how the roads are in your neck of the woods, but where I'm at (Manitoba, Canada), we have crappy road conditions which are partially due to our brutally cold winters. The highways have little dips and cracks in them, and on quite a few occasions, I remember getting rocked to my teeth as I bottomed out the softail suspension. So far on my Road King, I've not even been close to that. This thing just sucks up the bumps and laughs at them as we glide on over. I felt that the Street Glide was very similar. That model has a lowered suspension, so on extreme conditions it may bottom out slightly sooner than the Road King, but overall I would say the ride is quite similar. If you were happy with the handling of the Street Glide, I think you'd find a Road King to be almost the same.
Like you, when I first drove a touring bike, I didn't notice an immediate difference in ride quality over the softail. But trust me... the more miles you put on, you WILL notice a difference for the better. The only thing that took me a little getting used to, is that the touring frame sits a lot higher than a softail. You get used to that pretty quickly though. After that, it starts to feel natural. Anyway, they're all great machines. All the best in your search.
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