When I first went to look at Harleys last summer I had my eye on a red Road Glide. The dealer ended up talking me out of it bringing up slower handling, etc. I ended up getting a '09 Red Hot Sunglo Street Glide instead. I've done a bunch of stuff to it and really like it. The same day I bought my bike I also negotiated a deal for my friend on that same red Road Glide I had been interested in. This last week he needed a drive belt adjustment so I picked it up at his place and have had it in my garage since with an occasional short "test ride". Therein lies my downfall, I like his bike better than mine. I noticed a few things on the way home and since:

1. It seemed more stable on the freeway at high speed. I've never felt 100% confident on the SG when on the freeway. On the RG that feeling just evaporated.
2. It rides much better. The front suspension seems more compliant with the extra weight hanging off the front. Maybe "balanced" is the right word?
3. Contrary to what the dealer told me this bike handles great. The turn-in is a bit slower than the SG but once in the turn it feels a lot more stable.
4. He has a short shield and the buffeting is pretty bad. I had the same issue with the SG but I've since eliminated it. So, that's something to deal with.
5. There is more wind getting by the fairing on the RG than on the SG. That could be a good thing here in SoCal in the summer
6. Less mechanical noise gets through on the RG for some reason.
7. The handlebar seat arrangement does not work for me. I gotta stretch to the bars.
8. The SG looks more like a Harley. The RG looks more like something else.

So, what to do about it? Trading is not practical. Besides the fact that the hit would be ridiculous, I've done a 103" Stage II that I don't want to have to do again. Hmmm.. How about making my own RG? Yep, why not? It turns out I'm not the only nut out there. Bluelab has already done the same thing and as luck would have it he also has a complete, and I mean complete parts list and best of all, he is willing to share it! So, today I ordered all the parts plus a set of lowers. I'm going to use Heritage bars since my SG set are too wide. I'm also using the CVO headlight bezel which replaces the plastic bubble over the lights which I think looks kind of old fashion. I also ordered the outer fairing primed so I can have it painted locally without the RG brown stripe on it in order to maintain the SG mono paint scheme. The cost for parts excluding painting the fairing is right around $2000. I was going to use one of the Internet parts guys but my local dealer can use the support and he was willing to be competitive.

Let the morphing begin

Thanks James!

Marc

 

Just my opinion, but why would you want to turn a beautiful Street Glide into an ugly, hidious Road Glide. I have a friends that say, "I have a Road Glide." I tell them, "You should have bought a Gold Wing." I mean seriously, the Gold Wing looks better. I just don't like those two front headlights and that weird fairing. It looks like a Jap bike from the 80's. I don't mean to start anything, I am just baffled you would spend money to change things when there is nothing wrong.

Now, with that said. I ride an Ultra. I have never experienced any type of wind problems. I drop that big bike into a curve like it is a crotch rocket, and I scape my poor floorboards on both side when I do. (Not at the same time, depends on which direction I am going.) In fact, the Ultra feel lighter, although I know it is not, and handles better than my Fatboy. The Fatboy has real wind problems with those solid wheels. I ride that Ultra on the interstate at 80 and 90 mph, kicked back on the backrest with my feet on the highway pegs, with only one hand on the handle bar. No problems with performance. It is smooth.

I am sorry, I am just rambling on now. No offence if you like the looks, but I just don't see how and/or why Harley even makes that bike anymore. Have you ever noticed, they make five variations of the "batwing" bikes, excluding the SE. They only make one with the "shark nose."

I guess you would have to ask yourself. Which one would Batman ride? Huh? Good point.

 

I want to do the same thing. Just not the right time for me yet, soon though

 

Not much of a "sharknose" fan, but appreciate your desire to have 'the right' bike. Looking forward to pics and comments as you morph the SG to an RG.

Good Luck!

 

Even though I do care about the looks I care even more how the bike performs. For me the RG handled and rode better enough for me to go through this. It's one of those "form over function" things. In this case function wins out over form assuming the SG's form is actually better than the RG even though I'm not so sure everyone would agree with that When you consider that my other bike is a BMW R1200GS which is one of the more odd looking bikes around you'll understand.

Marc

 

Naw, not for me. I don't care for the double headlight look, and the fairing sticks out way too far for me. Don't get me wrong, I REALLY wish HD would use this thing ... called a WIND TUNNEL ... to maybe see if they can improve on the Bat Wing, while keeping as much of the appearance as possible. I think a few modified edges would be a great improvement. I catch WAY too much wind from between the fairing and the lowers coming up into my chest and face. I think a RG looks a lot like an older metric, like your Honda Interceptor and several other of your previous bikes. Maybe that's why you like it so much, that's the style you prefer. It's too bad the dealer talked you out of what you REALLY wanted to buy! Good luck with your mods and ride safe!

 

The guy said he likes the RG better. WTF?

 

Exactly....they only make one.

 

Post and let us know how the project comes along. I'd like to see how the fairing looks without the stripes.

 

I cant say for sure but they are leaning toward a shorter version of the roadglide with a longer rake and different bags the same way the chopped up the ultra and created the sg.remember were you hearded first.