For those of you who made the jump from a non-fairing bike such as a Softail or Dyna to a Roadglide or Streetglide, I'd like your thoughts:

I have a softail nighttrain and a dyna superglide and have rode many years on these types of bike without fairings. They get in the way of my visual field. I took a Demo Day at the local HD and tried the fairinged Road King and Roadglide. I found the fairings slightly annoying. I'm looking at the baggers now that I've accepted that I'm old (but still keeping and riding the Dyna/Softail) and wonder about the adjustment to a fairinged bike. I haven't tried the Streetglide (batwing) yet. Otherwise I'll just get the Roadking and ditch the fairing. My apologies for the "old man" bike tag but even though it isn't right, it's how I felt for most of my riding life.

 

when riding the only time you look at your front wheel is maybe duck paddling around the parking lot.

riding requires looking down the road.

really

the fairing doesn;t get in the way.

radio is nice too.

I have a few bikes, some with, some without.

mike

 

I've never had a problem with seeing around a fairing? What would ya be looking at? The road and all the idiots are not in the fairing sightline??? Now if ya just think they are ugly and/or unkool, I get that. But that's what happens when ya get old????

 

Traded my 2004 Low Rider for the 2006 Road Glide and have never regretted it. Not for a second. I get on the RG, fire up the tunes, find a lonely backroad, and remember why I started riding all those years ago.

It's comfortable, handles better than the FX, has plenty of power (for me), and after a few hours I can get off without by back or shoulders aching.

 

Owned a Super Glide, a Road King and a Heritage (along with two dirt bikes and some 1970's Japanese standards, a Road Star, etc.) before I bought a Street Glide. Now riding an Ultra.

The jump to the Street Glide took about...um...10 minutes to appreciate. Tunes. Place to mount an XM radio. Better air flow management , once I bought a taller screen.

The jump to the Ultra took about a day. Learned to appreciate that nice easy-to-get-into Tour Pak, and the seat. Still have the tunes, just more sound...and cruise control, and lowers that blocked some rain in Colorado last summer.

Of course, you can get cruise without a fairing, a Tour Pak without an Electra Glide or Street Glide, and use an iPod.

As for ride qualities, Road King and Street Glide were very similar. Ultra carries more weight a little higher, and took a little getting used to, but not much.

 

It's a human-motorcycle evolution...you're jst not quite there yet.....

 

When I first road a fairing bike, I was a little uneasy because I could t see what I was used to. I didnt take long at all until i didnt even notice it. Might be worth trying a batwing, the fairing is a little closer to you then the road glides, but you will still notice it until you get used to it.

 

I'll be harsh--if you need to see the front fender/wheel you aren't much of a rider.

Carl

 

I think some of you are misinterpreting what I said about my visual field. This includes my peripheral vision; not used to seeing anything in the way of my peripheral vision I should say. LOL, I wouldn't be riding now or dead if I looked ahead like that! I think omahogg is right......evolution. Perhaps I should RENT one and see if I get used to it or dislike it more.

 

Apologies for any offense. You won't notice any loss of peripheral vision if you keep your head up, scan, efc.

Carl