The '09 and newer baggers are a different bike than the older ones; it's not just the frame. They're phat(er), heavier, have TBW and a tall skinny front tire. They are more stable than the earlier bikes but so is almost anything else. Look at the whole package and decide what you like best.
I'm waiting for the next big change before I "upgrade".

 

have a 03 RK with a stabilizer and a 10 ultra. they do ride different, neither 1 necessarily better, just different.

 

Went from 2001 to 2010 and the differance is night and day

 

I've never heard anyone say a bad word about the new frame vs the old. My wife went from a Dyna Super Glide to a Street Glide and was blown away at how much better the much larger bike handles at low speed maneuvers as well as on the twisties, and that is all because of the frame. HD really produced a top notch frame in the touring bikes.

 

Part of why the new framed bikes ride better than the older bikes is that they're new. Go drive a new car, and then drive a 3 year old version of the same car. Even if there was no changes in engineering, the new car will feel tighter. It's no different with bikes.

The old frames can be made to handle very well. The right tires and a swingarm brace will make a world of difference. I have ridden both (as have just about anyone who's bought a new one). The new bikes ride better than the older ones to a degree, but it's not the quantum leap forward some people would say it is.

You gotta decide what's more important. I put together a very fast bagger on a budget. I worked on it with my own two hands and own it outright.

But the new frames are nice. Maybe I'll get one someday.

 

I agree with wear and tear changing things. However, my 07 had a True-Track on it from the first hundred miles, through the 22,000 miles I sold it with. It NEVER felt as tight, stable, or agile as my 09 does. While the 09 only has about 9000 miles on it (not a lot) it is still head and shoulders ahead of what the 07 with the true-track ever was, or the 05 that preceded it (also equipped with a true-track)

I agree. But while putting bandaids on a problem can make a big improvement, its never as good as not having the underlying problem to begin with.

Im not advocating everyone with an 08-older bike dump the thing and run out and buy a newer one. But for someone who is looking to buy a bike NOW, (as the OP is) IMHO they would be NUTS to not get the newer design, with a couple of exceptions:

1. Riders with shorter inseams who would have a hard time getting their feet down on the newer, wider bike.

2. Someone who simply cannot afford the newer models.

Its not just the frame/bagger waggle issue. There were a LOT of smaller, less talked about changes in 09:

1. They have the bigger tank (as do the 08s)
2. They have MUCH better brakes, even if you dont do the ABS option (as do the 08s)
3. The shocks have been beefed up--my prior bikes ALWAYS felt overloaded when 2up and loaded, no matter if the shocks were pumped all the way up.
4. The larger rear tire... more rubber on the road, not the mention the looks.
5. Overall load rating increased (see #3)
6. Higher load rating for the luggage (15 more pounds)
7. Front end tweaked for better handling and stability... being a batwing rider, I have to say my 09 has almost NONE of the batwing waggle when stuck in semi turbulence that all my prior bikes had.
8. better exhaust routing for less heat (it DOES help)
9. rear jug cutoff when stuck in traffic (it DOES help)

More subtle:

1. saddlebags moved back half an inch, more room for passengers legs
2. rider backrest brackets tweeked so your not sitting so far upright as prior years
3. No hoop over rear fender... cleaner look
4. For those with tourpaks, much simpler, cleaner, stronger mounting bracket, not a bunch of parts bolted together
5. Cleaner quick detach mount points, and MUCH easier to install
6. frame mount heat deflectors MUCH easier to install
7. MUCH better looking wheels (subjective, but most seem to agree)

And some more Ive discovered, but cant think of at the moment.

The only thing I DONT care for, is the throttle by wire. Id just as soon have cables, not the mention the throttle response change programmed into the ECM.

 

Updating the suspension with a swingarm brace isn't a bandaid, it's a fix. And there's nothing wrong with fixing a problem. Putting better tires on your bike isn't a bandaid. Swapping in better cams and exhaust isn't a bandaid, it's an improvement. A bandaid is a temporary solution, or something done to mask a problem. A fixed problem isn't necessarily worse than if the problem hadn't existed in the first place.

Most of the guys I know who have the newer bikes are making payments on them. I'd argue that if they couldn't pay cash, they can't afford them.

I paid cash for my current bike last summer, and have made all the improvements out of pocket. I could have bought a new bike on a payment plan, but I don't like incurring debt.

 

Don't forget that some of these "band-aids" for the 08 and below bikes increase vibration.

09+...not so much. Way better design. Having had both styles, I prefer the newer models. I like the older bikes too though.

lp

 

The new frame really is a remarkable improvement. You don't have to take my word for it though, go ride one and you will notice almost instantly.

 

ALL of the guys I know who have ANY bike (or car, or house or....) are making payments on them. Somehow, I suspect the OP will be financing whatever bike he chooses.

Glad you were able to pay cash for yours. Would be great. Wish I could have. For my car and house too. Unfortunately, 99.9999 percent of the population is NOT in that boat. I guess NONE of us should be riding.

"if they couldn't pay cash, they can't afford them"