2010 Street Glide - Really Disappointed
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1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2010
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2010 Street Glide - Really Disappointed
My husband and I recently traded our 1999 Road King in for a 2010 Street Glide. We were totally in love with our Road King, but want to do some more heavy traveling and thought the Street Glide would be more conducive to that. In addition, we thought that the front fairing on the Street Glide would add time to our riding season.
We've ridden our Street Glide twice now, and I'm really disappointed.
Let me say that there is no real issues with the bike per se, but its more of a matter of personal preference.
I don't feel like I'm riding a Harley anymore. For starters, the wind beat the snot out of us. It was like being in a wind machine. I've heard that the stock windshield isn't real good, so I ordered a new one of those.
It doesn't "sound" like a Harley. Ya know how when a motorcycle goes by, even if your eyes are closed, you can tell it's a Harley? We've lost that by going to the Street Glide. We even purchased a slip on muffler and while it made it somewhat louder, it' still doesn't have that Harley sound.
The ride is soooo smooth, that it doesn't feel like I'm on a Harley anymore. I feel like I'm riding in a Cadillac. If that is what is important to you, then Harley has done a great job with these new bikes. For me though, it's almost too smooth, if that makes any sense?
Again, I'm not whacking on HD or the 2010 Street Glide per se... just saying that "we" are disappointed in the experience we are getting when riding the bike. Not what we were really looking for. When you pay that much for a bike, you need to be satisfied with your purchase.
Has anyone else ever felt like this, and if so, what did you do? I'm wondering if we should call the dealer and ask if we can trade to a new Road King. (don't know if that would fix the problem). I'm even wondering if I called the dealer if they would take the 2010 back and give us our 1999 back.
Advice anyone?
We've ridden our Street Glide twice now, and I'm really disappointed.
Let me say that there is no real issues with the bike per se, but its more of a matter of personal preference.I don't feel like I'm riding a Harley anymore. For starters, the wind beat the snot out of us. It was like being in a wind machine. I've heard that the stock windshield isn't real good, so I ordered a new one of those.
It doesn't "sound" like a Harley. Ya know how when a motorcycle goes by, even if your eyes are closed, you can tell it's a Harley? We've lost that by going to the Street Glide. We even purchased a slip on muffler and while it made it somewhat louder, it' still doesn't have that Harley sound.
The ride is soooo smooth, that it doesn't feel like I'm on a Harley anymore. I feel like I'm riding in a Cadillac. If that is what is important to you, then Harley has done a great job with these new bikes. For me though, it's almost too smooth, if that makes any sense?
Again, I'm not whacking on HD or the 2010 Street Glide per se... just saying that "we" are disappointed in the experience we are getting when riding the bike. Not what we were really looking for. When you pay that much for a bike, you need to be satisfied with your purchase.
Has anyone else ever felt like this, and if so, what did you do? I'm wondering if we should call the dealer and ask if we can trade to a new Road King. (don't know if that would fix the problem). I'm even wondering if I called the dealer if they would take the 2010 back and give us our 1999 back.
Advice anyone?
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 591
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Tx
wow... well, I for 1 cant complaine 1 bit about min. Nothing you mentioned that cant be adjusted to fit you:
New shield
Louder options than slip on's
Different shocks
Did you test ride 1st?
Neve heard anyone complain about a smooth ride before...
New shield
Louder options than slip on's
Different shocks
Did you test ride 1st?
Neve heard anyone complain about a smooth ride before...
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 404
Likes: 1
From: Athens, Georgia
There have been a lot of changes in the last 11 years, most to the good, some maybe not so good. The sound can be fixed by going with the same exhaust you had on the 99. The "wind in your face" you get with the King and the "buffeting" you get with a Glide is just the way it is, changing windshields will change it but it is not going away. I think in Georgia you have a couple of days that you can return a vehicle with no questions ask, I'm sure it varies from state to state. Just ride the bike, it will "come" to you.
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1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2010
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We did test ride it first... but the dealer only lets you go a few miles.. not quite the same as a real ride.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 6
From: FT Bragg NC
Wow.... That's funny. Someone complaining that thier street glide being too soft.... For heavy traveling I would think you'd want a softer ride. As for the sound, Maybe going to true duals. For traveling I think you'll find that most if us SG owners have changed windshields. Personally I love my SG's ride and sound.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: S/W Ohio
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Ellenwood, GA - The Ghetto Part
There have been a lot of changes in the last 11 years, most to the good, some maybe not so good.
The sound can be fixed by going with the same exhaust you had on the 99.
Not without spending a large amount of money changing the 2010 2-1 exhaust into a dual exhuast or the 2-1-2 system on the 2010 Classics & Ultras.
The "wind in your face" you get with the King and the "buffeting" you get with a Glide is just the way it is, changing windshields will change it but it is not going away.
Correct. One of the first things my brother did was buy a large windshield. That 4" piece caused the wind to bounce his sunglasses all over his face.
I think in Georgia you have a couple of days that you can return a vehicle with no questions ask, I'm sure it varies from state to state.
Not too sure about that. I believe that is if someone sells you something door-to-door. If you go specifically to buy something, you've bought it. That's what we were told back in 1990 when we bought a Ford Tempo. But I could be wrong.
Just ride the bike, it will "come" to you.
I agree here. First things I would do if I owned a SG would be replace the seat(as passenger part sucks) and add the extra lights up front(real handy at night). Of course, that's why I went with a 2007 Electra Glide Classic over the SG.
The sound can be fixed by going with the same exhaust you had on the 99.
Not without spending a large amount of money changing the 2010 2-1 exhaust into a dual exhuast or the 2-1-2 system on the 2010 Classics & Ultras.
The "wind in your face" you get with the King and the "buffeting" you get with a Glide is just the way it is, changing windshields will change it but it is not going away.
Correct. One of the first things my brother did was buy a large windshield. That 4" piece caused the wind to bounce his sunglasses all over his face.
I think in Georgia you have a couple of days that you can return a vehicle with no questions ask, I'm sure it varies from state to state.
Not too sure about that. I believe that is if someone sells you something door-to-door. If you go specifically to buy something, you've bought it. That's what we were told back in 1990 when we bought a Ford Tempo. But I could be wrong.
Just ride the bike, it will "come" to you.
I agree here. First things I would do if I owned a SG would be replace the seat(as passenger part sucks) and add the extra lights up front(real handy at night). Of course, that's why I went with a 2007 Electra Glide Classic over the SG.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: MA
If I were looking to move from my RK to another Harley for a lot of 2 up touring, the only bike I'd look at would be the Ultra. And I'd also make sure to rent it for a couple of days so both the wife and I could get a good feel for it. The SG has never really struck me as a 2 up touring machine.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Halfway to Hell
Swapped bikes for a while with a bud of mine. He has a 2010 SG and I was riding my Softail. Bear in mind that my Softail is completely slammed to the bump stop in the back, has a Heartland kit on it and had 16" apes with 4 inch risers at the time. We both had our wives with us.
We switched and within 30 miles me and my OL were done with the Street Glide. It sucked! The wind buffeting was terrible, the bike was gutless going up anything that resembled a hill, we both felt totally cramped, and my back was actually killing me because of the riding position. You couldn't hear jack **** from the stereo and I felt like my ears were going to explode because of the odd way air moved around the fairing/windshield.
I pulled over and made him switch back after the 30 or so miles and as soon as me and the OL were back on my bike we both just kinda smiled and felt perfectly comfortable.
Guess my point is that comfort comes in different forms. Some folks need a soft mattress and some need a firm one. Could a person change **** out to get the bike where they want, sure, but dropping $20k and hating the bike is pretty shitty.
We switched and within 30 miles me and my OL were done with the Street Glide. It sucked! The wind buffeting was terrible, the bike was gutless going up anything that resembled a hill, we both felt totally cramped, and my back was actually killing me because of the riding position. You couldn't hear jack **** from the stereo and I felt like my ears were going to explode because of the odd way air moved around the fairing/windshield.
I pulled over and made him switch back after the 30 or so miles and as soon as me and the OL were back on my bike we both just kinda smiled and felt perfectly comfortable.
Guess my point is that comfort comes in different forms. Some folks need a soft mattress and some need a firm one. Could a person change **** out to get the bike where they want, sure, but dropping $20k and hating the bike is pretty shitty.