Which Touring ?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,733
Likes: 9,242
From: Snow Hill, NC
do you want music
do you want a cb/intercomm
do you want a windshield or fairing
do you want a tour pak
do you want locking bags
do you want cruise control
All 4 bikes are basically touring models... you need to decide by doing test drives. Road king is minimalist but a hell of a nice ride...street glide to me is more looks than function...Ultra is full tilt, EG classic is middle of the road compromise... road glide is a great touring machine...
do you want a cb/intercomm
do you want a windshield or fairing
do you want a tour pak
do you want locking bags
do you want cruise control
All 4 bikes are basically touring models... you need to decide by doing test drives. Road king is minimalist but a hell of a nice ride...street glide to me is more looks than function...Ultra is full tilt, EG classic is middle of the road compromise... road glide is a great touring machine...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 16
From: Roseville, CA
Oh boy, this is a can of worms and a common debate. I'll try to summarize without much bias towards the Street Glide:
RK - versatile for adding big extras (luggage, fairing) lightest, most basic (no tunes/gauges).
RG - Best handling due to frame mounted fairing, but gauges/radio are a further reach. Some like it, some don't. The Custom has the 12" shocks, the "Ultra" upgrades to taller, 13" shocks and a King Tourpak. This is where styling differeneces and personal preference come into play. Clean look - less chrome and large lights, etc.
SG - Fork mounted fairing, 12" shocks, rear passenger pegs, also the Clean look. Leaves luggage choices open as well. I preferred the closer radio/gauges, and the styling vs. the RG. Did some changes to the pegs, seat, suspension and luggage.
EG - Full on tourer, taller shocks, larger lights/chrome, luggage, etc. Like the RG Ultra but with a batwing fairing.
Keep in mind if you end up changing the seat, handlebars, luggage choices (chopped vs. King vs. soft sided) and suspension, then it comes down to styling preferences.
Good luck and enjoy.
RK - versatile for adding big extras (luggage, fairing) lightest, most basic (no tunes/gauges).
RG - Best handling due to frame mounted fairing, but gauges/radio are a further reach. Some like it, some don't. The Custom has the 12" shocks, the "Ultra" upgrades to taller, 13" shocks and a King Tourpak. This is where styling differeneces and personal preference come into play. Clean look - less chrome and large lights, etc.
SG - Fork mounted fairing, 12" shocks, rear passenger pegs, also the Clean look. Leaves luggage choices open as well. I preferred the closer radio/gauges, and the styling vs. the RG. Did some changes to the pegs, seat, suspension and luggage.
EG - Full on tourer, taller shocks, larger lights/chrome, luggage, etc. Like the RG Ultra but with a batwing fairing.
Keep in mind if you end up changing the seat, handlebars, luggage choices (chopped vs. King vs. soft sided) and suspension, then it comes down to styling preferences.
Good luck and enjoy.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Chicagoland
I had a Road king for 3 years sold it last year bought a Ultra Limited. Sold the Limited 6 months later and am back to a King. Put a king tourpak on the back and Momma is just as comfy on both. Me on the other hand felt the Ultra handled like a semi I just could not get used to the heavy frontend of the Ultra.
The radio is a plus but being able to ride with wind in your face is a bigger one for me. Many here love the Ultra and rightfully so but you can always add speakers if you so desire for music or helmet speakers if you wear one but you can't remove the Ultra's fairing when you want to ride naked.
Long freeway trips are just as comfy with the RK windshield, soft lowers, and fork deflectors you feel like you are on an Ultra. Minus the music of course
To each their own but for me it is the Road King
The radio is a plus but being able to ride with wind in your face is a bigger one for me. Many here love the Ultra and rightfully so but you can always add speakers if you so desire for music or helmet speakers if you wear one but you can't remove the Ultra's fairing when you want to ride naked.
Long freeway trips are just as comfy with the RK windshield, soft lowers, and fork deflectors you feel like you are on an Ultra. Minus the music of course
To each their own but for me it is the Road King
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: S.E. Michigan
I'm not keen on the dual headlights of the RG, pretty much a turn off.
Just dawned on me that I could put a sissy bar on and use the back pack I currently have for the extra storage on longer rides.
I would like the flexibility of taking off the sisy bar and windshield.
Coming from a sportster, the fairing well isn't to my liking although I hear how it cuts down on the wind and helps on colder rides.
Comeing from an old sportster to a touring, I don't think I want to go with the top of the line. Thats why I am leaning towards the RK. Sure bottom of the line for touring but from where I am coming from it's a big step up (I think).
Just dawned on me that I could put a sissy bar on and use the back pack I currently have for the extra storage on longer rides.
I would like the flexibility of taking off the sisy bar and windshield.
Coming from a sportster, the fairing well isn't to my liking although I hear how it cuts down on the wind and helps on colder rides.
Comeing from an old sportster to a touring, I don't think I want to go with the top of the line. Thats why I am leaning towards the RK. Sure bottom of the line for touring but from where I am coming from it's a big step up (I think).
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: S.E. Michigan
Just another thing I have to deal with is that I wear size 15 boots. I don't like the toe and heel lever on at the same time. I suspect with any of these models that I can remove the heel lever and adjust the toe upwards. yea big feet 
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 480
Likes: 17
From: Northern Virginia
When I started looking at touring models, I was trying to decide between a Road King and a Street Glide. Then the Ultra Limited came out and I decide to go big. Two years later I decided that the Limited was not what I wanted and I traded for a CVO Street Glide. I have a collection on seats, luggage racks and back rests and a detachable Tour Pack for different looks while I still have my fairing and music.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
From: Senoia Ga
I'm with fmfjp,
I have an electra glide ultra classic. I had a Jap bike that was a copy of a heritage softail. Ran good, looked good, but one time on a weekend trip in the ga. mountains my wife (who rides with me a lot) said "we need a bigger bike" I said ok and went looking for a electra glide. As far as I know... good advice is: Buy the best you can afford. If you buy lesser then it is expensive to move up. You can always take stuff off...As a matter of fact when I bought my EG the PO had it set up as a street glide. I still have the cutdown seat for sale if you want it!! OH yeah! Coming back from an 150 mile ride this weekend... my wife fell asleep in that easy chair that is the back seat of my electra!
I have an electra glide ultra classic. I had a Jap bike that was a copy of a heritage softail. Ran good, looked good, but one time on a weekend trip in the ga. mountains my wife (who rides with me a lot) said "we need a bigger bike" I said ok and went looking for a electra glide. As far as I know... good advice is: Buy the best you can afford. If you buy lesser then it is expensive to move up. You can always take stuff off...As a matter of fact when I bought my EG the PO had it set up as a street glide. I still have the cutdown seat for sale if you want it!! OH yeah! Coming back from an 150 mile ride this weekend... my wife fell asleep in that easy chair that is the back seat of my electra!
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Joe Kucinski
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 502
From: Northern WV
If I were going to have only one bike, and it was to be a Harley, it'd be a Road King standard. The bike is a good value too as it's not that much more than a Switchback. The only thing I don't care for is the bars. I prefer the bars on my EG Standard so that's the first, and maybe only thing, I'd buy for it.
