2013 Streetglide or Roadglide
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
People get pretty emotional about this choice.
Same bike with different fairings.
Street Glide is by far the biggest seller.
Bat wing gives much better wind protection, especialy for the riders hands, and rear passengers get much better wind reduction.
Mirrors tuck neatly inside the bat fairing which really cleans up the lines of the bike.
Shark fairing makes for lighter steering and better aerodynamics at higher speeds. Less steering buffering from cross winds.
If you are a solo rider, and want the best high speed road bike, the shark is your bike.
If you carry a passenger or want better fowl weather protection..the Bat.
Forget the radio or headlight issue. Shark has two smaller headlights, while the Bat comes either with a single headlight, or with one headlight and two smaller acessory lights. All work far better with aftermarket LED replacement lights.
Many feel the shark has an uncomfortable look and prefer the Bat.
For about a thousand forum pages discussing this issue, try the search function.
Both are the same great bike, but fitted with different touring fairings.
Same bike with different fairings.
Street Glide is by far the biggest seller.
Bat wing gives much better wind protection, especialy for the riders hands, and rear passengers get much better wind reduction.
Mirrors tuck neatly inside the bat fairing which really cleans up the lines of the bike.
Shark fairing makes for lighter steering and better aerodynamics at higher speeds. Less steering buffering from cross winds.
If you are a solo rider, and want the best high speed road bike, the shark is your bike.
If you carry a passenger or want better fowl weather protection..the Bat.
Forget the radio or headlight issue. Shark has two smaller headlights, while the Bat comes either with a single headlight, or with one headlight and two smaller acessory lights. All work far better with aftermarket LED replacement lights.
Many feel the shark has an uncomfortable look and prefer the Bat.
For about a thousand forum pages discussing this issue, try the search function.
Both are the same great bike, but fitted with different touring fairings.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 372
Likes: 2
From: Staten Island, NY
Street Gilde......Hands Down!
I just got rid of my Road Glide for numerous reasons.
That FIXED Fairing is absolutely Terrible in more ways than one!
There is absloutely No Advantage to a FIXED Fairing YET there are lots of disadvantages with them!
The Fairing is soooooo Far away from the rider, that unless you have unusally LONGGGGG arms.....you have trouble reaching any of the controls on the Fairng.....such as the Stereo itself.
The Fairing creates an incredible Up Draft in your face and the Buffeting at anything over 60 miles an hour is like having NO Windshield at all.
The FIXED Fairing does not move with the Bike....as you go around Corners at Night.....so.......the Road is not illuminanted evenly to the right and to the left as you are in a corner.......the Lights do not follow the path of the bike, at all.
I just SOLD my Road Glide for these reasons......and just bought a Street Glide with it's Bat Wing Fairing.....which is 100% Better in all ways to the Road Glide.
The Road Glide is definitely NOT....for every one out there!
I absolutely HATED my Road Glide where as I LOVE my Street Glide!
The Fixed Fairing is just a Marketing thing......something different for Harley to Sell.
There is absolutely No Advantage to having the FIXED Fairing on the Road Glide!
Just my own opinion, as I have owned Both Bikes!
I just got rid of my Road Glide for numerous reasons.
That FIXED Fairing is absolutely Terrible in more ways than one!
There is absloutely No Advantage to a FIXED Fairing YET there are lots of disadvantages with them!
The Fairing is soooooo Far away from the rider, that unless you have unusally LONGGGGG arms.....you have trouble reaching any of the controls on the Fairng.....such as the Stereo itself.
The Fairing creates an incredible Up Draft in your face and the Buffeting at anything over 60 miles an hour is like having NO Windshield at all.
The FIXED Fairing does not move with the Bike....as you go around Corners at Night.....so.......the Road is not illuminanted evenly to the right and to the left as you are in a corner.......the Lights do not follow the path of the bike, at all.
I just SOLD my Road Glide for these reasons......and just bought a Street Glide with it's Bat Wing Fairing.....which is 100% Better in all ways to the Road Glide.
The Road Glide is definitely NOT....for every one out there!
I absolutely HATED my Road Glide where as I LOVE my Street Glide!
The Fixed Fairing is just a Marketing thing......something different for Harley to Sell.
There is absolutely No Advantage to having the FIXED Fairing on the Road Glide!
Just my own opinion, as I have owned Both Bikes!
But correct, the Road Glide sucks..it's not the bike you're looking for.....
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 7
From: Wisconsin
Some riders are able to graduate up to a Road Glide, others have to stick with the Street Glide. It just depends on when you can get off the porch and run with the big dogs. 
In all honesty, I currently own both. I like both. I put more miles on my Ultra (batwing) because it is set up for long haul touring and my GF likes to ride with me. When it's just me, I take the Road Glide. The RG is more nimble and feels lighter on the front end; however you can't beat the wind protection of the Ultra for both the rider and passenger.
Oh, my GF is begging me to let her ride on the RG (she hasn't been on it yet). She has good taste in men and bikes I guess.
Which do you buy? You gotta try them both. I wouldn't drop $22K - $24K unless I was really sure...or you could do what I did and get both.
Good luck and post some pics of your new scoot when you get it home.
In all honesty, I currently own both. I like both. I put more miles on my Ultra (batwing) because it is set up for long haul touring and my GF likes to ride with me. When it's just me, I take the Road Glide. The RG is more nimble and feels lighter on the front end; however you can't beat the wind protection of the Ultra for both the rider and passenger.
Oh, my GF is begging me to let her ride on the RG (she hasn't been on it yet). She has good taste in men and bikes I guess.
Which do you buy? You gotta try them both. I wouldn't drop $22K - $24K unless I was really sure...or you could do what I did and get both.
Good luck and post some pics of your new scoot when you get it home.
Last edited by equandt; Sep 25, 2012 at 07:38 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 992
Likes: 20
From: Arizona
Street Gilde......Hands Down!
I just got rid of my Road Glide for numerous reasons.
That FIXED Fairing is absolutely Terrible in more ways than one!
There is absloutely No Advantage to a FIXED Fairing YET there are lots of disadvantages with them!
The Fairing is soooooo Far away from the rider, that unless you have unusally LONGGGGG arms.....you have trouble reaching any of the controls on the Fairng.....such as the Stereo itself.
The Fairing creates an incredible Up Draft in your face and the Buffeting at anything over 60 miles an hour is like having NO Windshield at all.
The FIXED Fairing does not move with the Bike....as you go around Corners at Night.....so.......the Road is not illuminanted evenly to the right and to the left as you are in a corner.......the Lights do not follow the path of the bike, at all.
I just SOLD my Road Glide for these reasons......and just bought a Street Glide with it's Bat Wing Fairing.....which is 100% Better in all ways to the Road Glide.
The Road Glide is definitely NOT....for every one out there!
I absolutely HATED my Road Glide where as I LOVE my Street Glide!
The Fixed Fairing is just a Marketing thing......something different for Harley to Sell.
There is absolutely No Advantage to having the FIXED Fairing on the Road Glide!
Just my own opinion, as I have owned Both Bikes!
I just got rid of my Road Glide for numerous reasons.
That FIXED Fairing is absolutely Terrible in more ways than one!
There is absloutely No Advantage to a FIXED Fairing YET there are lots of disadvantages with them!
The Fairing is soooooo Far away from the rider, that unless you have unusally LONGGGGG arms.....you have trouble reaching any of the controls on the Fairng.....such as the Stereo itself.
The Fairing creates an incredible Up Draft in your face and the Buffeting at anything over 60 miles an hour is like having NO Windshield at all.
The FIXED Fairing does not move with the Bike....as you go around Corners at Night.....so.......the Road is not illuminanted evenly to the right and to the left as you are in a corner.......the Lights do not follow the path of the bike, at all.
I just SOLD my Road Glide for these reasons......and just bought a Street Glide with it's Bat Wing Fairing.....which is 100% Better in all ways to the Road Glide.
The Road Glide is definitely NOT....for every one out there!
I absolutely HATED my Road Glide where as I LOVE my Street Glide!
The Fixed Fairing is just a Marketing thing......something different for Harley to Sell.
There is absolutely No Advantage to having the FIXED Fairing on the Road Glide!
Just my own opinion, as I have owned Both Bikes!
Last edited by NorCalFBLO; Sep 25, 2012 at 12:20 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 34,666
Likes: 36,301
From: outskirts of ba habba
Street Gilde......Hands Down!
I just got rid of my Road Glide for numerous reasons.
That FIXED Fairing is absolutely Terrible in more ways than one!
There is absloutely No Advantage to a FIXED Fairing YET there are lots of disadvantages with them!
The Fairing is soooooo Far away from the rider, that unless you have unusally LONGGGGG arms.....you have trouble reaching any of the controls on the Fairng.....such as the Stereo itself.
The Fairing creates an incredible Up Draft in your face and the Buffeting at anything over 60 miles an hour is like having NO Windshield at all.
The FIXED Fairing does not move with the Bike....as you go around Corners at Night.....so.......the Road is not illuminanted evenly to the right and to the left as you are in a corner.......the Lights do not follow the path of the bike, at all.
I just SOLD my Road Glide for these reasons......and just bought a Street Glide with it's Bat Wing Fairing.....which is 100% Better in all ways to the Road Glide.
The Road Glide is definitely NOT....for every one out there!
I absolutely HATED my Road Glide where as I LOVE my Street Glide!
The Fixed Fairing is just a Marketing thing......something different for Harley to Sell.
There is absolutely No Advantage to having the FIXED Fairing on the Road Glide!
Just my own opinion, as I have owned Both Bikes!
I just got rid of my Road Glide for numerous reasons.
That FIXED Fairing is absolutely Terrible in more ways than one!
There is absloutely No Advantage to a FIXED Fairing YET there are lots of disadvantages with them!
The Fairing is soooooo Far away from the rider, that unless you have unusally LONGGGGG arms.....you have trouble reaching any of the controls on the Fairng.....such as the Stereo itself.
The Fairing creates an incredible Up Draft in your face and the Buffeting at anything over 60 miles an hour is like having NO Windshield at all.
The FIXED Fairing does not move with the Bike....as you go around Corners at Night.....so.......the Road is not illuminanted evenly to the right and to the left as you are in a corner.......the Lights do not follow the path of the bike, at all.
I just SOLD my Road Glide for these reasons......and just bought a Street Glide with it's Bat Wing Fairing.....which is 100% Better in all ways to the Road Glide.
The Road Glide is definitely NOT....for every one out there!
I absolutely HATED my Road Glide where as I LOVE my Street Glide!
The Fixed Fairing is just a Marketing thing......something different for Harley to Sell.
There is absolutely No Advantage to having the FIXED Fairing on the Road Glide!
Just my own opinion, as I have owned Both Bikes!
I have 60,000 miles on my '08 R/G and have not noticed any of these
issues you speak of.
Maybe you just wasn't cut-out to ride a Road Glide....
No fault of your own, as not everybody is.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 7
From: Wisconsin
Street Gilde......Hands Down!
I just got rid of my Road Glide for numerous reasons.
That FIXED Fairing is absolutely Terrible in more ways than one!
There is absloutely No Advantage to a FIXED Fairing YET there are lots of disadvantages with them!
The Fairing is soooooo Far away from the rider, that unless you have unusally LONGGGGG arms.....you have trouble reaching any of the controls on the Fairng.....such as the Stereo itself.
The Fairing creates an incredible Up Draft in your face and the Buffeting at anything over 60 miles an hour is like having NO Windshield at all.
The FIXED Fairing does not move with the Bike....as you go around Corners at Night.....so.......the Road is not illuminanted evenly to the right and to the left as you are in a corner.......the Lights do not follow the path of the bike, at all.
I just SOLD my Road Glide for these reasons......and just bought a Street Glide with it's Bat Wing Fairing.....which is 100% Better in all ways to the Road Glide.
The Road Glide is definitely NOT....for every one out there!
I absolutely HATED my Road Glide where as I LOVE my Street Glide!
The Fixed Fairing is just a Marketing thing......something different for Harley to Sell.
There is absolutely No Advantage to having the FIXED Fairing on the Road Glide!
Just my own opinion, as I have owned Both Bikes!
I just got rid of my Road Glide for numerous reasons.
That FIXED Fairing is absolutely Terrible in more ways than one!
There is absloutely No Advantage to a FIXED Fairing YET there are lots of disadvantages with them!
The Fairing is soooooo Far away from the rider, that unless you have unusally LONGGGGG arms.....you have trouble reaching any of the controls on the Fairng.....such as the Stereo itself.
The Fairing creates an incredible Up Draft in your face and the Buffeting at anything over 60 miles an hour is like having NO Windshield at all.
The FIXED Fairing does not move with the Bike....as you go around Corners at Night.....so.......the Road is not illuminanted evenly to the right and to the left as you are in a corner.......the Lights do not follow the path of the bike, at all.
I just SOLD my Road Glide for these reasons......and just bought a Street Glide with it's Bat Wing Fairing.....which is 100% Better in all ways to the Road Glide.
The Road Glide is definitely NOT....for every one out there!
I absolutely HATED my Road Glide where as I LOVE my Street Glide!
The Fixed Fairing is just a Marketing thing......something different for Harley to Sell.
There is absolutely No Advantage to having the FIXED Fairing on the Road Glide!
Just my own opinion, as I have owned Both Bikes!
Glad you sold yours and found something more suitable for you.
Last edited by equandt; Sep 25, 2012 at 07:43 AM.
I just bought my '12 road glide and before I test drove them I was dead set on a streetglide. After the test ride I liked the ride position and reach better on the road glide and the road glide Definately felt more nimble. The shark nose is difference but is Definately growing on me.
Really is preference
Really is preference
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 44
Likes: 4
From: Washington State
Gotta chime in on this, I had two Road KIngs and then when the Street Glide came out and bought one .I loved that bike and having a radio & CD player was nice as well. In 2008 I purchased a Rode Glide and it was all about the hype of the bike ....I hated it, but I ran it for three years .It handeled ok but the wind buffeting was all over the place ,I had to wear goggles all the time ,I tried 4 different windshields ,to no avail. It was a great machine to look at and was a head turner but not much fun to ride .Purchasede a 2011 FLHTK and it is possibly the Best Harley I have ever owned and corners better and is more comfortable than any I have owned (the 103 is really nice as well ) Test Ride Test Ride Test Ride that will tell you better than anything what YOU likeHappy Trails
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 34,666
Likes: 36,301
From: outskirts of ba habba
Now it will no longer hit the tank on left turns
!!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 16,125
Likes: 24
From: Linden New Jersey
Street Gilde......Hands Down!
I just got rid of my Road Glide for numerous reasons.
That FIXED Fairing is absolutely Terrible in more ways than one!
There is absloutely No Advantage to a FIXED Fairing YET there are lots of disadvantages with them!
The Fairing is soooooo Far away from the rider, that unless you have unusally LONGGGGG arms.....you have trouble reaching any of the controls on the Fairng.....such as the Stereo itself.
The Fairing creates an incredible Up Draft in your face and the Buffeting at anything over 60 miles an hour is like having NO Windshield at all.
The FIXED Fairing does not move with the Bike....as you go around Corners at Night.....so.......the Road is not illuminanted evenly to the right and to the left as you are in a corner.......the Lights do not follow the path of the bike, at all.
I just SOLD my Road Glide for these reasons......and just bought a Street Glide with it's Bat Wing Fairing.....which is 100% Better in all ways to the Road Glide.
The Road Glide is definitely NOT....for every one out there!
I absolutely HATED my Road Glide where as I LOVE my Street Glide!
The Fixed Fairing is just a Marketing thing......something different for Harley to Sell.
There is absolutely No Advantage to having the FIXED Fairing on the Road Glide!
Just my own opinion, as I have owned Both Bikes!
I just got rid of my Road Glide for numerous reasons.
That FIXED Fairing is absolutely Terrible in more ways than one!
There is absloutely No Advantage to a FIXED Fairing YET there are lots of disadvantages with them!
The Fairing is soooooo Far away from the rider, that unless you have unusally LONGGGGG arms.....you have trouble reaching any of the controls on the Fairng.....such as the Stereo itself.
The Fairing creates an incredible Up Draft in your face and the Buffeting at anything over 60 miles an hour is like having NO Windshield at all.
The FIXED Fairing does not move with the Bike....as you go around Corners at Night.....so.......the Road is not illuminanted evenly to the right and to the left as you are in a corner.......the Lights do not follow the path of the bike, at all.
I just SOLD my Road Glide for these reasons......and just bought a Street Glide with it's Bat Wing Fairing.....which is 100% Better in all ways to the Road Glide.
The Road Glide is definitely NOT....for every one out there!
I absolutely HATED my Road Glide where as I LOVE my Street Glide!
The Fixed Fairing is just a Marketing thing......something different for Harley to Sell.
There is absolutely No Advantage to having the FIXED Fairing on the Road Glide!
Just my own opinion, as I have owned Both Bikes!
If you can reach the handlebars, you can reach the stereo controls
Fixed fairing a marketing ploy? That's priceless
But one thing you made crystal clear, A Street Glide is a girls bike
