Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Batwing fairing on RK?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 5, 2010 | 01:44 PM
  #1  
Steve On 3's Avatar
Steve On 3
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 31
From: Charlotte Area
Default Batwing fairing on RK?

Ok..first things first.... I am not flaming anyone or telling them they are nutz or whatever, I just am curious.

I have two friends who own awesome RKs and both could afford any bike they wanted including a CVO. Both put aftermarket fairings and stereos on their bikes. I agree it's their bikes and they may do whatever they wish but I have to scratch my head as to why ,if you wanted stereo and speakers and the bikes being the same except for windshield and fairing,,,, why would you not just buy an EG and get the tourpack too or get the SG? I know that some use the fairing in the winter but neither of these guys ever take their fairings off. Both just say they like the look of the fairing.

Again, not making any comment other than a curious desire to understand why the aftermarket fairing. Anybody else have a reason other than because I can ? Inquiring minds and all that stuff.
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2010 | 01:50 PM
  #2  
perki48's Avatar
perki48
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,135
Likes: 4,780
From: Sandpoint, Idaho
Default

Maybe they just don't want to ride what "everyone" else rides.
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2010 | 02:22 PM
  #3  
NELS's Avatar
NELS
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 173
From: Watertown, CT
Default

I have a Memhis Shade batwing on my '10 RK but didn't want a radio or the extras.
19k out the door with ABS and Cruise. Don't want the box on back . Hope this helps .
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2010 | 02:27 PM
  #4  
cogener8's Avatar
cogener8
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Default

I got a 2007 RKC and am currently looking at fairings. When I bought my bike I thought it was the best looking touring bike they offered and did not want a fairing. 3 and a half years and a couple long trips and now I want one. I like the Street glide batwing but dont like the posture for a long trip or two up. I like the Road glide posture but just dont like the shark nose. Im still in love with my leather bags. Why wouldnt a guy add a fairing and stereo? For even a couple thousand its a lot cheaper than a new bike. At 17k miles on my bike I cant justify a new bike and the only other I'd look at is an Ultra and i dont want all that bike in town. Hence my search for a fairing.
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2010 | 02:55 PM
  #5  
Pumba11's Avatar
Pumba11
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,020
Likes: 69
From: Twin Cities, MN
Default

Well, the RK is the best looking touring bike. And maybe they are like me and want the fairing for long hauls or cold weather. My fairing is only on about 1/3 of the time. I love the flexibility of the RK. Might be the case for them also. But I do know a lot of RK riders that fairings never take them off...whatever.
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2010 | 03:03 PM
  #6  
JonnyD's Avatar
JonnyD
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 3
From: Washington State
Default

Well, I'm one who bought a new RKC, 3 yrs ago,and it took me 2 years and two long trips to realize I should have bought a fairing bike to begin with. When I bought it, I'd came off a softail and never had tunes or long term wind protection. Both are 2 reasons I will never tour on a windshield bike again. My bike has an actual H-D fairing, gauges, etc and is not removable. Why didn't I trade it or sell it and buy an ultra? A year ago, and now, bikes around here are dropping like the housing market. I wasn't going to give mine to a dealer and buy his full priced bike and start all over again. I never took the windshield off and knew I'd never take a detachable fairing off, so I made my own ultra-clone and I love the **** out of it.

Plus, I bet I'll never see another bike "exactly" like mine on the road.
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2010 | 03:23 PM
  #7  
stevepacman's Avatar
stevepacman
Road Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 774
Likes: 21
From: Florida
Default

Originally Posted by perki48
Maybe they just don't want to ride what "everyone" else rides.
I agree with this. It's all about customization. I have a friend who asked me why I didn't just buy a Street Glide? Then I pointed at all the stock Glides all around us at Biketoberfest. "Because they all look the same. Look, there's another one!"

Do you know how many stock EG & St. Glides you can count at Bike Week in one parking lot
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2010 | 03:23 PM
  #8  
Louisianarider's Avatar
Louisianarider
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Northwest Louisiana
Default

Because your taste can change from rally to rally. Just look at my 2011 Road King Classic in my sig!
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 5, 2010 | 05:27 PM
  #9  
WildBillAce2's Avatar
WildBillAce2
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 929
Likes: 0
From:
Default

$16995 + $1k for the fairing and I have a stereo that is twice as loud as a street glide, and I have the option of riding without it. Value, performance, versatility.
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2010 | 06:00 PM
  #10  
drop it's Avatar
drop it
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 152
Likes: 2
From: St Louis
Default

I had brand new StreetGlide in 06 and 2 years later everyone had one. When I test rode the NEW 09 RK, I fell in love, Now it is a year later and I am very happy. And no one has a bike like mine- before and after pics!! hee hee
 
Attached Thumbnails Batwing fairing on RK?-my-2-toys-7-25-09-001.jpg   Batwing fairing on RK?-new-tour-pac-with-amp-sub-003.jpg  
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:37 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE