I have A Heritage AND a CVO Street Glide. I do miss the low center of gravity of the Heritage in the parking lot (I'm 5'9 ) but once your moving the Glide is the way to go whichever model you end up with. Do A custom fit seat if you can and set the bike up for you and you will be A happy camper.

 

I had a 2003 Softail Standard, and enjoy it for almost 21k miles. We went without a motorcycle for a few years, due to lack of time. Our kids were at a stage that we coached there sports teams Over time we went would have friends allow us to take rides on there bikes, and we found we liked the touring framed models the best for longer rides. We began looking for a new motorcycle two years ago, and found a great deal on a 2009 FLHTCU. At this point I don't see going back to a Softail or Dyna. If I want to go for a ride without a fairing I will just take her sporty out for a ride. As far as specific model, that would be personal choice.

 

I went from a 05 Heritage to an 06 Road King Classic. The first thing I noticed besides the heavier weight, was with the Heritage I felt like I was sitting 'in' the bike and 'on' the RKC.
The ride is much better on the RKC, the Heritage is of course a little nimbler but I am used to the RKC now and can wheel it at parking lot speeds just fine.
I had a Venture years back and dont know if I want another fairing, I have learned never to say never, and for me I love my RKC.
Ride all of the Tourers, the Dealers encourage it.

 

I went from an 08 Fatboy to a 12 Ultra Ltd and I do not regret it at all. You do have to get used to the weight difference as it is noticeable but not difficult for a seasoned rider. Once you experience the all the creature comforts of a touring bike you will never go back, particularly if you do any highway riding at all. I miss the Fatboy once in a while when I am driving in town and in traffic but the Ultra handles it well enough. If you choose an Ultra and can afford the difference, go with the Limited, you will not regret the extra cost.

 

Had a FL and a W years ago, traded out for a rice rocket for a few years til the new wore off that and then a accident then no ride for twenty + years. Stepped onto a Road King Std, loved it, made the mistake of a ride on friends Road Glide Ultra, I own one now. Ride em all, pick the best fit for you then let the mods begin!!

 

I had Street Glide, harsh ride, went with Road King and am in heaven perfect bike.

 

I went from a Sporty to a RKC in 99 & kept the Sporty for a couple of years thinking I'd use it for short rides, never did ride it. I've since had an Ultra that I converted to a SG style in 04, a couple of years before the MOCO figured out that's what a lot of people were doing to there full dressers so they didn't look as much like geezer glides. I converted that into a Road glide a few years back & now have a 09 RG that can be either a custom or ultra, have a tour pack & lowers that I can put on for long trips or when the weather is cold. I'm hooked on RGs & will probably never go back to anything else. That said, each has their advantages & disadvantages, the RKC had that nostalgic look & it was nice to be able to take the shield off around town, but I found that I wasn't doing that very often & that I wanted something I could customize & make my own. Once you've got the radio & cruise it would be hard to go back to being without them. Most people will tell you why they like what they're now riding & what's good about that model, & they're all great bikes. That's why you should try to ride as many of them as possible & narrow the choices down to 1 or 2, & if 1 jumps out & grabs you, go for it. If you're not sure it might be a good idea to rent one for a full day to make sure you've got the right 1, a lot of dealers will deduct the rental cost from your purchase price if you buy from them. As many have said, YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

 

I dont know much about non touring bikes I've always ridden big bikes mainly because Im 6' 10" given the choice of the road glide and ultra classic, you cant go wrong with either, but the classic is my preference for the fairing style. The road glide feels to bulky and cheaper in the front end and although the look has grown on me I still think the classic is easier to look at. At high speeds the fixed fairing on the road glide is a little smoother. Couldnt own another bike without a tour pak and radio cant beat it. Test ride and personal taste both good bikes.

 

hi ive had all the tourig bikes eg,egu,sg,serg currently riding 07sg if i were to buy another new bike it woulld be either egu or rgu what you dont want you can take off se bikes r cool but$$$$$ and paint is beach to match my 2000 rg had paint wk done on tour pack finally got it. now my buddies 2012 sesg blk n orange got caught in a sand storm had hd repair it we went for a wknd ride found paint didnt match still on going situation so for me egu or rgu personally egu my bud

 

I put 45,000 miles on my '09 Heritage. Rode Atlanta to Boulder, Atl to San Antonio, DC and many trips to Florida and other destinations. I also commute a couple times a week year round. I absolutely love the Heritage, but I always expected to move up at some point. After a year of debating Electra vs Road Glide, Street Glide and RG Custom, I settled on the RG Ultra. I test rode the Electraglide Ultra out and RG Ultra back and that was it - it had to be the Road Glide. I could not have made a better choice. My wife rides a Triglide, and I have time on that as well, so I knew the feel of the batwing. The lighter fork weight of the RGU is so nice, and I just could not believe the ride in wind, high speeds or behind 18 wheelers. Everything I heard was true or even better about the smoothness of the ride and the maneuverability. It was absolutely fabulous riding Atl to Sturgis this year and tail of dragon on the way back on that bike. It is a bit on the heavy side, of course, and I have to remember that, but other than that, it's terrific. I think in many ways it is more nimble than the softail. I couldn't part with the Heritage, so I still ride it on shorter trips on occasion, and I get a reminder about how smooth the RG really is in comparison.