Thought I was getting a Road KIng...
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
...then I made the mistake of sitting on an '09 Street Glide! As some may remember I was looking to trade the Street Bob in for either a Heritage or a RK, never really considered the Street Glide as an option until I sat on one today. Wow! The bike really felt like it was made for me. My hands were in a perfect position and I felt more in the bike as opposed to on the bike like I did with the RK.
All that being said, I still like the looks of the RK better (never been a big fan of a fairing on any bike),but the SG has been growing on me alot lately so I can be swayed toward one if my test ride goes well this weekend. My wife is convinced that the longer this decision takes to make, the bigger and more expensive the bike I end up with will be!!!
All that being said, I still like the looks of the RK better (never been a big fan of a fairing on any bike),but the SG has been growing on me alot lately so I can be swayed toward one if my test ride goes well this weekend. My wife is convinced that the longer this decision takes to make, the bigger and more expensive the bike I end up with will be!!!
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: olathe, ks
Well let me tell you this. Dont ask everyone else what you should buy. You be a big boy and choose. I have had many bikes from honda, kawasaki, and three harleys, 04 low rider, 07 fatboy and now 2010 road king and loved them all. I must say though the road king rides like it is one air. I have added low profile shocks and the ride improved with 42 psi and a passenger. I added a king tour pak with a spoiler and have gotten many complements on it. I did not ask any what to buy. My friends all have ultras but I personally like seeing the road 100%. Raideo's are for cars but hey go for it if that is want you want. I put down no harley as it is someone else's love. All are good. You choose!
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 257
Likes: 2
From: Jersey Shore
07fatboy...I appreciate your response but.... I never asked anyone else what I should buy. This is 100% my decision. I'm posting my buying experience to simply get some feedback from others who were in a similar situation when they bought their bikes, at no point did I ask anyone to make this decision for me. I was pretty clear in stating that I will be test riding both bikes (2nd test ride on RK) and taking it from there.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
I have 5000 miles on my 09 Sg and will keep it a long time. BUT, I miss my 02 RKC. I miss riding without a windshield on some day, so I'm watching for a really good deal.
I think a really good test between the two bikes is a 15 minute ride at 70mph. I find the air off the SG fairing a lot more turbulent on the rider than the RKC.
Beary
I think a really good test between the two bikes is a 15 minute ride at 70mph. I find the air off the SG fairing a lot more turbulent on the rider than the RKC.
Beary
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
i cant believe how much some of these little things bother some folks. yeah, if its a big thing, then let that sway your decision towards another model, but floorboards vs footpegs, etc. those are cheap and easy fixes.
the simple fact is the bikes are basically the same, only dressed a little differently. sitting in the sg, vs sitting on the rk? get a new seat, you will anyway. get the bike that really speaks to you, then you can add to or take away and make it truly yours. if the suspension on the sg bothers you, but otherwise, thats the bike for you, change the shocks out. 12" standard on the sg, 13" on the rk (and i'd be willing to bet there would be a bazillion folks that would gladly trade their 13s for your 12s) now if the leather saddlebags don't do it for you, yeah, thats a large expense to change them out for the hard bags. if you want a fairing and tunes, then thats an easy decision. if you don't care about tunes, but think you'll want more wind, then get the rk. if you really like the look of one bike better, but the other has a better hand placement, then buy new handlebars, thats a pretty easy change. and there is quite a few bars around that don't require a cable change either, so that keeps it in the budget.
either way, you can't go wrong. good luck.
so swap out the 4 inch stock windshield for a 6 inch long rider shield with flip. takes all of 5 minutes, and less than 80 dollars.....
the simple fact is the bikes are basically the same, only dressed a little differently. sitting in the sg, vs sitting on the rk? get a new seat, you will anyway. get the bike that really speaks to you, then you can add to or take away and make it truly yours. if the suspension on the sg bothers you, but otherwise, thats the bike for you, change the shocks out. 12" standard on the sg, 13" on the rk (and i'd be willing to bet there would be a bazillion folks that would gladly trade their 13s for your 12s) now if the leather saddlebags don't do it for you, yeah, thats a large expense to change them out for the hard bags. if you want a fairing and tunes, then thats an easy decision. if you don't care about tunes, but think you'll want more wind, then get the rk. if you really like the look of one bike better, but the other has a better hand placement, then buy new handlebars, thats a pretty easy change. and there is quite a few bars around that don't require a cable change either, so that keeps it in the budget.
either way, you can't go wrong. good luck.
so swap out the 4 inch stock windshield for a 6 inch long rider shield with flip. takes all of 5 minutes, and less than 80 dollars.....
Last edited by skratch; Sep 11, 2009 at 11:16 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 548
Likes: 1
SG is a great bike....but when its 80 degees outside....i pop that winshield off and i have an old school bike...radios and farings can be added to the RK...try doing that in reverse on the SG....
RKC for me
RKC for me
...then I made the mistake of sitting on an '09 Street Glide! As some may remember I was looking to trade the Street Bob in for either a Heritage or a RK, never really considered the Street Glide as an option until I sat on one today. Wow! The bike really felt like it was made for me. My hands were in a perfect position and I felt more in the bike as opposed to on the bike like I did with the RK.
All that being said, I still like the looks of the RK better (never been a big fan of a fairing on any bike),but the SG has been growing on me alot lately so I can be swayed toward one if my test ride goes well this weekend. My wife is convinced that the longer this decision takes to make, the bigger and more expensive the bike I end up with will be!!!
All that being said, I still like the looks of the RK better (never been a big fan of a fairing on any bike),but the SG has been growing on me alot lately so I can be swayed toward one if my test ride goes well this weekend. My wife is convinced that the longer this decision takes to make, the bigger and more expensive the bike I end up with will be!!!
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,622
Likes: 1
From: Topeka, KS
If I had to choose one bike, I'd probably got with either a SG or an Ultra with all removable back end stuff for riding around town. Since I've got the coolest wife ever and have the option of two, the RKC for short hops and the Ultra for longer rides seems like the best of both worlds. I leave the windshield off the King most of the time. I'll put it back on when it gets cold.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 19
From: Cypress, TX
I have no complaints with my SG. Love the looks, love the ride, love everything about it. I had a windshield on my last bike thinking that I would take it off but I never did. As others have said get what you like. There are a lot of streetglides out there. Roadkings are great looking bikes also.