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First off the majority of your bikes life is in the garage where you will walk by it most everyday. Secondly, you will want to go out to the garage and look at your bike more than once a day. Thirdly, when you ride, other people will see your bike with you on it. Fourthly, when you stop at the various watering holes, lots of other bikers will see your bike. Do you see a pattern here? In other words it's kinda important that you and others too, like the way your bike looks. Now go and look at a RG that is actually set up for comfortable wind protected riding and compare it to a batwing set up the same. There is a reason RG's are called Fugly. Batwings rule and shark noses drool!
Harley's best handling bike from the last couple of years is a XR-1200.
Harley's best handling bike (current production) is a Night Rod.
Harley's best handling big twin (current production) is a Fat Bob.
Harley's best handling big twin (former production) is a FXR Low Rider.
Harley's best handling touring bike (current) is a Road King.
Harley's best handling, current production, fairing equipped bike is a Road Glide.
So, we've got that going, anyway.
That is why they make so many models, because we all have different opinions. I went from a dyna street bob, to a vrod, to my RG. I also owned a roadking for 5 years before that. The Rod is the smoothest bike harley makes motor wise, but far from best handling. With my road king, i would still catch heavy winds and almost lose my windshield off it once. I would take my RG over anything else any day. Best bike i have owned.
Well, from the appearance of the current Sturgis rally and the rides of the attendees it appears that there are far more SG's than RG's, about 5-1 at least.
Rode a 2000 batwing for 11 years and loved, loved, loved it. Rented a sharknose while in florida for a week and traded the batwing the following week for a roadglide ultra. Changed shield & bars for more comfort and still loving it. Haven't missed the batwing.
I've had both. I had my streetglide for about 50,000 miles before trading for my current roadglide ultra. Prior to that I've owned a bunch of other HD and other manufacturer bikes. I loved the roadglide ultra from the first moment I rode it. It was much more comfortable than my streetglide which I loved. I have changed the pipes, A/C, and added a PV as well as added a daymaker and detachable tourpack (dealer paid for those). Everything else is cosmetic. Wife and I tour with the stock windshield and seat and are super comfortable. I did add a backrest for me. No way I could do that with the SG. When just running around locally I stick my C&C fastback seat on it and a 12" windvest and pull the tourpack and it looks much more sporty. I really don't notice much from a handling difference between the bikes. I had ohlins on my SG and it was an '09 with the new frame. I think the biggest difference is that I don't get blasted by wind coming under the fairing and around the tank. The lowers and fairing deflectors make a big part of that difference. I also rode a limited and felt like the RG ultra handled wind better. All of that said, I really like the looks of the RG better. I think with the RG custom you will face all of the same issues as you would with a SG so if its just between those buy the one the you like the looks of best.
I've owned both and both took time to get it to where the bike suited my needs. I sold my Streetglide and bought a Road Glide. First ride on it when it was mine was horrible and I hated my decision but after changing seats, wind screen and making the bike mine I love my Road Glide more...yeah I said it, I love my Road Glide we have a special bond but I will sell it if the price is right
Well, from the appearance of the current Sturgis rally and the rides of the attendees it appears that there are far more SG's than RG's, about 5-1 at least.
Riding a Road Glide is liking marrying a slim , beautiful , large breasted women , there are more of you marrying fat , ding dong eating pigs by about 5-1 , but that doesn't mean I have to marry a whale just because the majority of you do , enough said
Riding a Road Glide is liking marrying a slim , beautiful , large breasted women , there are more of you marrying fat , ding dong eating pigs by about 5-1 , but that doesn't mean I have to marry a whale just because the majority of you do , enough said
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