Kieth, I agree with most of wha you say, the CVO is a much better comparison and yes, if you are after bling, it probably is worth the difference in price. I like bling too, thats how my wife and I refer to our Limited, as our bling bike. Does that $10k make the CVO a better touring bike, some of it yes and some of it no. Regardless, I would trade my Limited on one in a heartbeat if it were not for the $17k or so difference.
The one thing I disagree with is about a stage one getting a 96 Twinkie close to a Wing, not unless you expect to pick up forty horses and over forty foot pounds of torque with one, plus bring the torque at 1500 rpm to over 90 foot pounds. If you know know of a stage 1 from anyone that will do that, I want one too.
None of this is about d!ick wagging, I look at it a probably useless attemt at educating other. I get the same result when I'm on the Wing forum and someone starts talking about how Harleys viberate, won't handle and leak oil. I usually get the same results as I do on this forum. I hope I never get that narrow minded.

 

Sorry Viggy ... dipshit question ... go buy a shitwing

You ever heard of a V-Rod?

 

All the bling on the planet will not make a bike a more capable touring bike, which is why I do not own even an Ultra Classic. Everything I need can be found on my humble Classic. What makes the Harley a good touring bike is that it is comfortable and has awesome luggage; power comparisons aside.

Kind of missed my point, or maybe I was not being clear. The point was that the 96" stock motor is plenty. I really do not give a flying flip that it is even possible to negotiate hairpin turns in 5th gear and I most certainly do not care to ride faster than 85 or 90 MPH. I'm sure having that kind of hp/torque on tap is required for something, I just haven't figured out what yet. I plan on adding a stage 1 to my bike, not in the hopes of being able to hang with a Wing, but because I want to be able to ride up those mountain grades in 6th instead of 5th. Regardless, I have yet to find myself in a situation where I wished I had more hp or torque and for $1k I can build in a little insurance for "just in case" moments.

Sure it is. Your whole post implies that people are unable to read and comprehend the technical specifications that are readily available to anyone shopping for a motorcycle.

I promised myself a few years ago that if I were to ever own a full dresser that I would buy a Wing. But, I love Harleys. I spent a lot of time reading shootout articles. In empirical terms, the Harleys don't measure up very well to the competition and the Wing is the ultimate dresser; no one argues that. But, I was asking the wrong questions. The real question is: Is the Harley suitable as a touring bike? The answer to that question is, "yes". In fact, in many ways, the Harley is the standard against which all cruiser style touring bikes are measured. Know why? Because their engineering has been time tested for going on 60 years now. I finished my research by exploring some of the Harley's bad reputation like: poor performance, reliability issues, lack of technology, and safety. Guess what? It is all pretty much myth perpetuated by Harley haters who no doubt are feeling pangs of buyer's remorse.

I now have 45k miles on my '09 and it runs like new still. I expect I will get 100k out of it before experiencing any major failures. Unlike others, I feel no need to modify this bike over and above the lower windshield, backrest and highway pegs I put on it. It works great as is. For grins and giggles I will probably add a stage 1 for basically the same reason why I wear leather and have a tattoo; because I'm a poseur. But, hey! It's my fantasy.

BTW... If I needed to pull a trailer behind my bike, I would probably go with the Wing still. That would be a practical application for all that hp and torque. The thing is though... that is not how I roll.

 

With all due respect, after reading your post, I wonder why did you buy a Limited? You had to know it didn't have the torque of your wing. After all it's not a six cylinder and it sounds like a motorcycle. As for your wing ding buddies on the wing forum talking about Harley's not handling well and leaking oil. They haven't checked them out in awhile. Harley's handle great and don't leak oil anymore. I would be more concerned about supporting the country I love and live in. Wing's aren't assembled in the USA anymore, much less made here!

 

Are you kidding? The "Nova" was the second most butt ugly thing on two wheels I have ever laid eyes on. Had they chosen that path over the Evo motor, I have no doubt in my mind that HD would not be alive today.

 

My Limited doesn't really have enough power for two up touring in the mountains

Learn how to ride it and it will do just fine.

 

As long as they can make air cooled motors work, and they continue to sell, HD will make air cooled bikes. I have notning against water cooled motors, but I do like my Road King.

 

If Yamaha can stick an 1854cc air cooled big v-twin in their Stratoliner, it's seems ridiculous that you have to pay $35K+ or sink $$ into a 20K+ bike to get to not even that level in most cases.

If people didn't think or care about their HD were lacking power, they wouldn't be spending $$$ on upgrading their bikes to get more power out of them.

I think the problem is the CVO's. To ME...they're not nearly worth the price of admission for a bike I want to put lots of miles on (no I don't buy bikes for resale value).

I personally could care less about extra chrome, paint jobs and all the cosmetic upgrades on the CVO's. Just put the 110 engine in the regular touring line up where it belongs. Honestly I think it's kinda of a dick move my the MoCo not to do it. Yeah I know about supply/demand/profit...yada yada. But it just seems like the right thing to do.

With that said, I'd STILL take an HD bagger over a Wing. I owned a Wing for 2 years. Yes, it's powerful.....it's not a rocket though. Unfortunately it's got very little personality or character. I just prefer a v-twin personally.

Then you'd have a bike that gives a you little jolt when you twist the throttle rather than it just being decent (103") or barely adequate (96"). And it would make it a lot easier choice at least for me to buy American.

 

Keith , I guess we will just have to disagree on whether a Harlay can be or needs to be improved. I certainly think mine can and I think my Wing can also, just not in the engine department.

Ron, I bought my Limited knowing it would have less power than my Wing but not knowing it would be that much of a drop in low end power in the mountains. I did buy it, among other things, to forfill the hotrodder desire that most bike riders have and the Wing doesn't let one do anything about. Hopefully with a litttle work it will meet all my expectations in the power department.
As for my wing ding aqaintances (not my buddies, I don't ride with any of them), that's exactly what I told the ones down on Harleys, they need to check out a new one, they aren't what use to be. Same advice I would give anyone here, you really need to ride any bike before makeing unfounded statements about it.
Since you still seem to think I can't ride, the invitation is still open to come teach me. Might be an educational experiance for both of us.

 

Let me just add this. Saying you can't ride was the wrong words. What I am saying is, you can't expect a Motorcycle engine like the 96 CI with a max torque rating at 3500 RPM's to perform pulling a hill with two up at 2K RPM's. You are lugging the engine I believe your 1800 goldwing is rated at 4K or 5K max torque. If you are running your goldwing at 1500 up the mtn, you are lugging the engine. You should keep the RPM's up on the Limited between 2500 and 4K. you will get much better performance and gas mileage. Plus you won't be shifting as much. Check it out!
I had an Ultra Classic before I bought this 2010 RK. My wife decided she wanted to ride her own bike and bought a 2010 SG Trike. It has the 103 engine. She rides Solo and don't let her RPM's drop below 2200. I've put over 10K on my RK since the middle of July. Most of them traveling back and forth to the BRP and around Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Cherokee, Maggie Valley. Plus a couple trips to Boone and Blowing Rock. Who knows, you might be able to teach me a couple of things.
I think an old dog can still learn. Ride safe whatever you ride...

I just realized you have the Limited? Then you have the 103? Do you have any upgrades? or is it stock?