if you can find a 2002 RG is decent shape that would be the bike to have. RGs are getting so popular where you are it may be difficult to find a good one at a decent price. Second choice would be 2003 EGC/Ultra/RG in the black and silver paint scheme; you can tell your boys your part of Raider nation.

It would be easy to convert a Ultra/EGC into a SG clone.

Watch out for the street car tracks and muni buses.

 

I have been in exactly your situation....from Sporty to needing a touring bike for travel with the wife.....bought a Road King and loved it-put almost 80k on it so far....but I have spent most of the last few years making it into a Electra Glide/Street Glide clone.....you will wish you had the radio and tour pack.....buy a EG or SG and you will be $$ ahead....just my $.02

 

here are a couple of bikes I found in So Cal on Craigslist:
I know nothing about any of these bikes

2002 Ultra Classic $11000
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/2321729663.html

Roadglide $12000
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/2316067443.html

2003 roadking $9995
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/mcd/2311034996.html

2005 roadking custom $11995
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/mcy/2309490084.html

2004 electa glide Classic $9995
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcd/2309137383.html

 

It's very easy, and not too costly, to rent all of the bikes you are considering. Of course you will be riding a 2011 bike which will be entirely different from the pre 09s, but you will still get the basic idea as to the differences between the three you are considering. I did exactly that (tried RG, RK, and Ultra) and ended up with an Ultra and love it. It's the right bike for my needs, but I would be thrilled to have any of them. Point is, try before you buy.

Sidenote - Road Kings seem to be more readily available than the other two you want and at a lower price. In shopping around I've seen models as new as 2006 for 10.5 and it was a sweet bike. Try Jaxed/Mash (Google search it) to find a ton of bikes in your region without having to slog through all the different CL pages.

Once you get that Touring, you'll never ride the Sporty (even though they are nice bikes) again I'll bet.

Good Luck in your search!

 

Go rent 1 of each and see what you like best.

 

As neveda72 said rent each one first. When you are done renting you will know which one is for you. At the price range you are looking this will help a lot because you will be prepared to buy.

 

Test ride them all, get the one that talks to you. That's about the best way I can explain them to you.

 

........

...... for least initial cost & max flexibility I don't think you'd go wrong w/an RK. As others have said, the King tours well & you can later install a detach fairing & have most of the best of all worlds ........ it won't be a Road Glide .... but it'll fersure get'cha further on down the road !

 

Like yourself i kept my Sporty 08 883R as its so much fun to ride, i also had a NightTrain but as the wife swapped jobs so was free to ride on the back of me most weekends plus trips to France every year i traded it for a Ultra Limited that is great for the 2 of us .

 

Better off to trade in your sporty and get a new Streetglide with the low interest rates.

The power pack option with ABS, security and the 103 engine is GREAT!

Add the cruise and you have everything you need.

The FL's (touring bikes) are the best. They have gotten better every year as they go on. 2009+ has the upgraded frame.

My opinion, get a 2011 Streetglide and trade in the sporty. Once you start riding a bagger, the sporty will never get rode again.

I'm glad I traded in my DYNA for this bike, If I had kept it, I would never even ride it anymore.

~Joe