Back in the winter i bought a 2010 SG...and I like it...very smooth. Like being in a whole different world from my 98 Fatboy. I looked at SGs for about a year before pulling the trigger (and getting a GREAT deal)..everytime i went into a dealer to look at the SG...the RG was catching my eye. I still went with my original choice. Although everytime i am at a dealer if they have a RG i'll sit on it....
So after getting my SG i fould this AWESOME webite...I think HDForums is fantastic.....anyway i read all of this talk about how the RG is Harley's best kept secret and how the Fixed fairing cuts through the wind...and basically got the vibe that the "Fugly" bikes are either love 'em of hate 'em. Seems like alot of the anit-Fulgy guys just dont like the looks... i think it looks good..different sure, but nice.
I have really been torn about maybe trading my SG in on an RG..( i know a little crazy cuz i'm not un happy with it...and i've never even ridden an RG) but there is something that is really pulling on me about that bike... SO much so that i decided to rent one to see what all the chatter was about.
So, the bike i rented was a 2010 RG custom (which is what i am interested in, basically my SG with a fixed fairing) the bike had 8,000 miles on it and unfortunatley i would say they were HARD miles. The bike needed to have the front wheel balanced, had slight shimmy in the front, so it wasn't as smooth as it should have been. I didn't have any of the ISSUES that some guys say they have getting used to the fairing not moving when you turn (honestly, i don't get it. i don't look at the fairing..i look at the ROAD..and honstly other then when you're under 5 mph, how much do you TURN the bars?) I thought i might have an issue witht he mass of the fairing being farther out causing alot of obstuction to my view.. i'm only 5'7 so seeing over it was a concern...but that was fine
NOW onto the real issue...i was eating a wind sandwich the whole time... and my helmet was being pulled off of my head, and i couldn't hear the radio. It almost felt like i was riding my Fatboy..with NO fairing. WAY more wind then my SG, even with the little 4" windshield it comes with. Now i know a better windshield would help the RG (seroiusly, that stock thing isn't a tall as the radio shroud) ....but how big would it have to be? Would it have to be so tall that i would have to look through it, cuz i don't like that...Thats one thing i like about my SG...i get protection while looking over the windsheild.(i moved up to a 6" ultra flip from LRS)
I don't wanna give the wrong impression, i didn't hate the RG. I actaully like the more spread out feel of the fairing. The bars felt better then my SG too..the rist angle seems better.
All in all i am frustrated cuz i didin't really get any answers from my rental. I like the looks of the RG...and the fact that they are less common. But i don't know if i'll ever get a good impression without having a differnt windshield...and thats not gonna happen on a rental.
My local dealer has a 2010 RG leftover that i am interested in, i'm sure i could get a good deal on it, but i don't know if i'll get killed on my trade.
So if i make the jump and realize i don't like the wind issue, then i'm screwed...
Any input from you guys would be a BIG help... Any guys around 5'7 out there riding RG customs and happy? what did you do about the windshield?

 

I loved the look of the RG Custom, I did not buy one because I tour a lot and it would have actually cost more to add the 103 and king tour pack than the RG Ultra. I think your wind problem would be solved with a short windshield. Wind in not a problem at all on my Ultra. It's okay though, "fugly" is not for everyone.

 

I'm in the same boat as you. I have now ridden 3 road glides, 09,10 & 11 RGU. I really want a custom but dont want the big *** windshield. After the last two test rides I thought I had kicked the road glide lust but it came back the next day.

I think you're going to need a decent sized shield to get the same protection as a street glide. I keep thinking a fbi 3" drop seat kit & the shorty windshield might work though.

 

i saw an RG Ultra at my dealer.. Sure did seem like it would be a great bike for touring..... i don't do any really long rides (at least not yet) ..when i get a day to go out riding it's usually 200-300 miles max....sometimes i'll get out on a week night for a 50-70 miler...which is why i'm thinking the RG custom is more for me....
p.s. good luck on the new bike..it's SWEET

 

buying a new bike HOPING that a $2000 kit to change the frame will make you like it is a HUGE role of the dice...

p.s. nice tank decals.. i see you REALLY are liking the RGC..

 

I have a 2010 RG Custom...... I had to change to a 12" windvest to get the wind off me.
It has a flip up top edge and I look over the shield. I am 5 10. I also put a between the
forks wind deflector. This helps also. A lot of wind comes up under the shark nose. Now
I got it going my way. I love my Fugly. It just takes a little personal adjusting, but Hey,
name a Harley that doesn't. I have a 06 Electra G and I still ride it and like the ride... Its
just not the ride that the Fugly is especially in the wind..... The more wind the better
you will like a FUGLY.......................hdman

 

Yeah that why I haven't done anything yet. I bought a RGC paint set and was going to do the conversion but decided not to. I does kinda throw people off when they see it though.

 

I can't speak for the 2010 custom with the sporty, but poor wind blocking shield, but I can say my 2008 RG with a Clearview 1" taller than stock shield and lowers make mine a smooth ride. At 5' 10" the wind goes over my head; a 10 hour ride is a piece of cake. Don't get me wrong it is a bike but if there is any additional wind than on an electra glide it is very little and well worth the better ride and more roomy cockpit. This is my humble opinion after 47K on my RG and only a couple hundred on a 2009 rented electra glide.

Both are great bikes but the ride is different!

 

I like the looks of the RG also, but ONLY with a small shield. Put a big windshield on 'em and they look like kaa-kaa....my SG has more wind protection with a 3" shield than an RG with an 8" shield.
If I ever have a lot of money, I'll have a RG with a great big motor to bust around town on. I'll have a shorty shield on it. Then I'll have a RG Ultra CVO for touring with the wife, but if I run a tall windshield on it, I'll only ride it at night.

 

Roadglides are cool bikes no doubt. Nine of us rode through Nevada last June and it was windy as hell. There were three Roadglides, a couple of Ultras, two Dynas, a Roadking, and my Streetglide with a 6 1/2" Klockwerks shield. Long story short, one of the Roadglide riders (he's been riding over 30 years) said he couldn't ride any further in the wind and wanted to get a Motel at 2:30 in the afternoon. I didn't think it was that bad on my Streetglide and would have rather gone on. My point is riding in really windy conditions isn't fun on any bike. Sure the wind doesn't work the front wheel on a Roadglide fairing, but my Streetglide with the Klockwerks feels really good in windy conditions, and the batwing does offer a little more protection. The grass is always greener.....