Batwing vs. Sharknose vs. Windshield
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 6,146
Likes: 471
From: along the Front Range in Colorado
......... i wanna know sumpthin...... i've read in several threads lately that folks have demo'd CVO Road Glides (2 just this AM !) ........ where are you getting to do this ?? ....... folks @ my local dealerships just laugh when you ask if ya might be able to ride one !
.......... and re: wind protection, I get great coverage out of the Sharknose w/ lowers ..... except for the hand-on-grip area, which it seems the Bat would better cover. But ....... that's a small price to pay for all the other benefits of the shark.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,916
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
I went from a Wide Glide to an Ultra Classic and it took me a while to get used to the riding position. I am 6'2" and felt like I was riding a tricycle, especially when I test rode bikes with lowers. I missed my apes and the seating position felt "wrong". Once I got some highway pegs, things felt much better. Swapping out the overly tall stock windshield for a shorter "flip" LRS helped me quite a bit as well too because I needed to feel a little wind.
Long story short, I LOVE the batwing. It keeps the wind off my chest, my shorter windshield lets me feel a little wind, and the lack of lowers lets me feel a little less claustrophobic. I like the batwing much better than the windshield I had on my Wide Glide. I get no buffeting at the speeds I travel (up to about 80) and the wind noise is significantly less than the plexiglass windshield on my Wide Glide.
Haven't ridden a Road Glide so I can't say what they are like, although I do like they way they look.
Long story short, I LOVE the batwing. It keeps the wind off my chest, my shorter windshield lets me feel a little wind, and the lack of lowers lets me feel a little less claustrophobic. I like the batwing much better than the windshield I had on my Wide Glide. I get no buffeting at the speeds I travel (up to about 80) and the wind noise is significantly less than the plexiglass windshield on my Wide Glide.
Haven't ridden a Road Glide so I can't say what they are like, although I do like they way they look.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Whitney,Tx
Thanks for everyone's input so far, and feel free to keep them coming. I was 80% sure I would end up with a RK, but since this is a bike I intend on having for a while I want to make sure I wouldn't miss an flaring down the road. I've been doing a lot of research here and it seems many RK owners end up on a EG/SG or RG down the road.
It's starting to sound like the tall crowd favors the RG. When I test road the RG, I could barely hear the radio on the highway. Does anyone else have this issue? The radio seemed great on the EG I test rode.
It's starting to sound like the tall crowd favors the RG. When I test road the RG, I could barely hear the radio on the highway. Does anyone else have this issue? The radio seemed great on the EG I test rode.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 161
From: Between Chicago & Milwaukee
Thanks for everyone's input so far, and feel free to keep them coming. I was 80% sure I would end up with a RK, but since this is a bike I intend on having for a while I want to make sure I wouldn't miss an flaring down the road. I've been doing a lot of research here and it seems many RK owners end up on a EG/SG or RG down the road.
It's starting to sound like the tall crowd favors the RG. When I test road the RG, I could barely hear the radio on the highway. Does anyone else have this issue? The radio seemed great on the EG I test rode.
It's starting to sound like the tall crowd favors the RG. When I test road the RG, I could barely hear the radio on the highway. Does anyone else have this issue? The radio seemed great on the EG I test rode.
Unless someone's far sighted,claustrophobic or has big ****
..I don't see the benefit of having the instrument panel further away except plain old personal preference.I get that,there's lot's of things on bikes I dislike that others are crazy about.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
I had an '05 EGC previously with both a standard windshield and a slightly lower one (can't remember the height but it wasn't super low). I now have an '09 RK with stock windshield.
I haven't noticed that much difference between the two as far as wind protection to be honest. The RK windshield does a good job and i've had no problems with buffeting, etc. Now I'm only 5'11" so could be the reason there. I do like riding with the windshield off as much as I can so the RK was my choice and I've really enjoyed the "convertible" nature of it.
For you I'd say choose what you want (do you want a stereo, speakers and instruments? is the main factor) and make adjustments via highway pegs, seats, handlebars to accomodate your height.
I haven't noticed that much difference between the two as far as wind protection to be honest. The RK windshield does a good job and i've had no problems with buffeting, etc. Now I'm only 5'11" so could be the reason there. I do like riding with the windshield off as much as I can so the RK was my choice and I've really enjoyed the "convertible" nature of it.
For you I'd say choose what you want (do you want a stereo, speakers and instruments? is the main factor) and make adjustments via highway pegs, seats, handlebars to accomodate your height.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,683
Likes: 2
From: Melissa, TX
I've owned all three.
* 2000 Road King Classic
* 2007 Street Glide
* 2010 Road Glide Custom
Least amount of wind/buffetting - Road King hands down. It generates no buffeting what-so-ever since it doesn't have a hard fairing redirecting the wind. The windshield also doesn't generate chop like hard fairings do, frame or handlebar mounted.
Best protection from the elements - Street Glide (but with a minimum of an 8" windshield, plus wind deflectors for underside of batwing, plus hard lowers). It provides better protection since batwing extends out in front of grips providing wind blockage for hands. Adding taller shield, deflectors, and hard lowers resolved 99% of the buffeting, and really made for a smooth rider experience.
Best handling - Road Glide handles better since it doesn't have any drag on the steering due to frame mounted fairing. I now have a 14" shield w/recurve and hard lowers, but I'm still having some minor issues with buffeting at speeds over 60. I don't really want to go with a taller shield, but function may take priority over form soon.
Batman has the right idea. RK + detachable fairing may provide a best-of-both-worlds experience.
YMMV.
* 2000 Road King Classic
* 2007 Street Glide
* 2010 Road Glide Custom
Least amount of wind/buffetting - Road King hands down. It generates no buffeting what-so-ever since it doesn't have a hard fairing redirecting the wind. The windshield also doesn't generate chop like hard fairings do, frame or handlebar mounted.
Best protection from the elements - Street Glide (but with a minimum of an 8" windshield, plus wind deflectors for underside of batwing, plus hard lowers). It provides better protection since batwing extends out in front of grips providing wind blockage for hands. Adding taller shield, deflectors, and hard lowers resolved 99% of the buffeting, and really made for a smooth rider experience.
Best handling - Road Glide handles better since it doesn't have any drag on the steering due to frame mounted fairing. I now have a 14" shield w/recurve and hard lowers, but I'm still having some minor issues with buffeting at speeds over 60. I don't really want to go with a taller shield, but function may take priority over form soon.
Batman has the right idea. RK + detachable fairing may provide a best-of-both-worlds experience.
YMMV.
Last edited by Phurion; Nov 23, 2010 at 10:44 AM.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 20,823
Likes: 1,506
From: Nowhere
If you want more protection, I think the shark nose versus batwing fairing is less the issue than whether or not to have lowers. With either fairing, your upper body will be reasonably well protected (much better than just a windshield). Your lower legs and feet though are just hanging out in the breeze. On a recent ride, I rode 100 miles in pouring rain and despite some silicone water proofing on my boots, I had soaking wet feet at the end of it. Lowers would have made a big difference.
There is a downside to being well protected BTW. In the summer, you might want more air hitting you. So, be careful what you wish for.
There is a downside to being well protected BTW. In the summer, you might want more air hitting you. So, be careful what you wish for.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
With a number of Iron Butt rides, dozens of states, and thousands of highway miles on a Road King, I can confirm that long-distance touring is both doable and fun. However, it's not the best tool for the job. The Road King is also my commuter and a part-time fun bike, but I bought it for the mechanical simplicity, convertability, and just plain fashion in addition to touring practicality. So the extra gauges and gizmos of the Glides were actually strikes against them for me, and the inability to take the fairings off were problems for me as well.
If you're not interested in real leather bags, fishtail pipes, and retro styling, you probably DO want the superior mileage, better top-speed handling, and leg protection of the Road Glide Ultra, and that's on my list of lottery-winning bikes. But, honestly, if I were to spend my own money on a single-purpose tourer these days, it would be a Victory Vision. Sucks to say it, but they fit us long-legged folks better than any other brand, Harley included, and include a number of small refinements Harley generally won't make due to preservation of their heritage. It's a top-notch bike, and if throwback styling and aftermarket support weren't so important to me, I'd probably have one today.
If you're not interested in real leather bags, fishtail pipes, and retro styling, you probably DO want the superior mileage, better top-speed handling, and leg protection of the Road Glide Ultra, and that's on my list of lottery-winning bikes. But, honestly, if I were to spend my own money on a single-purpose tourer these days, it would be a Victory Vision. Sucks to say it, but they fit us long-legged folks better than any other brand, Harley included, and include a number of small refinements Harley generally won't make due to preservation of their heritage. It's a top-notch bike, and if throwback styling and aftermarket support weren't so important to me, I'd probably have one today.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Factory Demo Event. Every Weekend they're at a different dealership across the US. They had a CVO Road Glide and a CVO Ultra. They took us out in groups of 6 Demo-ers with 3 of the Dealerships HOG members so it's not like I could open it up an see what it's made of.....
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 5
From: The sticks in SC
I think the Batwing gives better hand protection in the winter, but with lowers and the right shield the Sharknose is a pleasure on the the open road and in wind. Not that the Batwing gives any real trouble in the wind, but being attached to the bars whether you notice or not your having to compensate for the wind trying to move the fairing. Like I said not a big deal and most people never notice it...but on a long 7 or 8 hour ride in the wind you'd be a bit less wore out on a fixed fairing Sharknose, then there the whole secret handshake thing LOL!