street glide or electra for solo commuting?
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 579
Likes: 26
From: Virginia
street glide or electra for solo commuting?
I know there are a million threads already about this. 95% of my riding is a 10 mile interstate commute nearly everyday of the year except when the snow is accumulating. Rain or shine, 0-105 degrees.
I currently commute on a KTM 990 SMT with a trunk bag, but I'm eyeing a bagger to keep my dyna company in the garage and possibly selling the KTM.
I could go street glide, then put better shocks on it (don't care about being lowered). And a chopped tour pack. Or get a electra glide and strip it down a bit.
I need at least a small tourpack to hold my one-piece roadcrafter riding suit while I'm at work.
I like the clean lines of the SG better- don't need the bag rails or front fender lights or rear speakers. Heck, I don't even like the look of the backrest on a tour pack, since my wife will never ride with me. But I do like the idea of the covered lowers for winter use. I wonder if I'll use the stereo at all- I currently listen to pandora from my iphone through my bluetooth helmet speakers.
Or is a bagger complete overkill for my measly 20 miles/day doing 78mph in the HOV lanes?
I currently commute on a KTM 990 SMT with a trunk bag, but I'm eyeing a bagger to keep my dyna company in the garage and possibly selling the KTM.
I could go street glide, then put better shocks on it (don't care about being lowered). And a chopped tour pack. Or get a electra glide and strip it down a bit.
I need at least a small tourpack to hold my one-piece roadcrafter riding suit while I'm at work.
I like the clean lines of the SG better- don't need the bag rails or front fender lights or rear speakers. Heck, I don't even like the look of the backrest on a tour pack, since my wife will never ride with me. But I do like the idea of the covered lowers for winter use. I wonder if I'll use the stereo at all- I currently listen to pandora from my iphone through my bluetooth helmet speakers.
Or is a bagger complete overkill for my measly 20 miles/day doing 78mph in the HOV lanes?
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 1
From: South Florida
I looked into this when deciding to buy the Street Glide. Everyone likes the look of the Street Glide, and you can make an Electra Glide look like one too. If you are wanting the Electra Glide for the tour pack and lowers but want the LOOK of the Street Glide, you can add the detachable hardware and remove some bling.
But it will be less money to get the Street Glide for the clean look and add the tour pack and lowers later. And if it is for commuting every day, the Street Glide will be a little more nimble.
But it will be less money to get the Street Glide for the clean look and add the tour pack and lowers later. And if it is for commuting every day, the Street Glide will be a little more nimble.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 474
Likes: 5
From: Virginia
I take the HOV lanes also but not in the winter and really like my Elec Glide Classic. I added the Lowers so its almost an Ultra. Like previous guy said, drop it once without the guards and buy a new saddle bag plus recent treads of folks loosing a saddle bag.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 518
Likes: 8
From: Biloxi Ms
EG
just my 2c but i find it more effective to buy one unit and strip down. especially if your not interested in the lower aspect of the SG.
just my 2c but i find it more effective to buy one unit and strip down. especially if your not interested in the lower aspect of the SG.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Treasure Coast, FL
Just one more opinion ... are you considering the SG for the fairing or is it that you want a new Harley and some justification? If you want a new bike go for it!!
As a several year commuter in heavy traffic in the SF Bay Area it seems the KTM you have is a really good fit for your commute. No 800+ lb bike is going to be great in heavy traffic even tho you are in the HOV lane. Can't tell you how many times people changed lanes abruptly into the lane and reacting on a big heavy bike is going to be a challenge. The KTM would slow/stop quicker and is for sure more nimble. But it doesn't have a fairing. When I commuted on the bike I rode a BMW K13 sport bike. Lighter than an SG and heavier than your KTM. I often wished for a lighter bike and would not have used a Harley for the commute.
If your traffic is moderate and you want the wind protection then a faired bike would fit but the SG as others point out has no bag protection and the other faired bikes in the line are even heavier. I'm sure you have thought about these thing and could make an SG work ... and as stated above ... want a new bike? .. go for it!!
Cheers
zdrifter
As a several year commuter in heavy traffic in the SF Bay Area it seems the KTM you have is a really good fit for your commute. No 800+ lb bike is going to be great in heavy traffic even tho you are in the HOV lane. Can't tell you how many times people changed lanes abruptly into the lane and reacting on a big heavy bike is going to be a challenge. The KTM would slow/stop quicker and is for sure more nimble. But it doesn't have a fairing. When I commuted on the bike I rode a BMW K13 sport bike. Lighter than an SG and heavier than your KTM. I often wished for a lighter bike and would not have used a Harley for the commute.
If your traffic is moderate and you want the wind protection then a faired bike would fit but the SG as others point out has no bag protection and the other faired bikes in the line are even heavier. I'm sure you have thought about these thing and could make an SG work ... and as stated above ... want a new bike? .. go for it!!
Cheers
zdrifter