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I've never been on a demo ride. Did they let you open them up or was it a 35mph ride?
The circuit for this Dealer's ride was about5 miles on 4-lane city streets & highway access roads. Lead and follow ride captians kept the group in control.4th gear and about 50 mph was top speed.With the cool temps, unknown riding skills in the group and $85K worth ofdemo bikes I can understand keeping speeds in check. Still it was enough of an opportunitytoevaluate the different bikes.
ironhead1977: If only the Buells had forward controls...
It's hard to imagine a Buell with forwards. The frame doesn't quite have the right setup, you're be scraping the front tire with your boot every time you turned!
Gotta agree with ya though, the 96" isn't enough to make me want to trade my bike in. The 6 spd I find more appealing in the newer bikes! I must admit though I have no problems hearing my stereo (I have an EG Standard though, not a SG) up to about 85mph. Even my wife can hear it (front speakers only).
I saw the Nightster in the book, looked good for a Sporty. When I saw it in person, it seemed so much smaller than what I thought it would be. Still prettycool looking though.
I want to rent a Roadglide sometime this summer, just to see how it compares to my RK. I rented an Ultra last month for a week and loved it. IfI were going to do a lot of 2 up riding with the wife, that's the route I'd go. But since 95% of my riding is solo, the RK works great.
I'd also like to rent a VROD for a day to checkout the power.
..not much of a comparison, comparing your ride that.. "I've gone throuugh the process of making the RK "mine" which makes it better than new to me." to a stock anything doesn't show much other than you like what you've done to your once stock machine. Later
You are joking right?? The sporty was a better ride than the Street Glide!!![sm=icon_rofl.gif]Ok. Think I'll trade in my glide tmw. and get me a sporty!!Did you write this on April 1st??
I rode a Street Glide during a recent demo day at Killer Creek Harley in Roswell, GA. I was loving it -compared to my Street bob- until the guy behind me on an 07 Wide Glide rear ended me and ended up going down. Fortunately, he was ok but the bike needs a new gas tank and the handlebars were knocked loose.
I had the opportunity to ride almost every bike in the line, didn't do v-rods .
The newer sporties are much smoother and quite entertaining as 1200's.
The 96 " motor is a big yawn, the 110 was suprisingly smooth but only adequate in power. For standard models , I liked the Street Glide the best . But the SE CVO Road King was the most fun with the bigger motor. I've ridden the 103" CVO bikes , and the new 110 is much smoother.
I did the demo ride this past Saturday. I really wanted to try a RG but they didn't have one. Salesman said they couldn't keep one long enough to make a demo out of it, whatever that means. But I did want to try something with a fairing so I rode a UC. Weather was mid 40's and windy so for me this was a good day for the comparison, I wanted to see how much protection the fairing offers. On the plus side, I thought it was a pretty sweet ride. I now have a new appreciation for a bike with a fairing. I think for me it would be a big plus in marginal weather. Stock seat felt good for the short time I was on it. I left the radio off, I wanted to experience the motorcycle only this day. Power was adewquate but you could tell it needs a Stage 1 and some fuel management work badly. I swear my stock 88-Stage 1 will outrun the 96 I rode Saturday. The engine shook in the frame so badly it was embarrasing. Overall I was pretty impressed with the bike, it was very comfortable. But I've been so happy with my RK I don't think I'll be buying a UC anytime soon. Now, after I find a RG to ride, things may change.
The ride loop was about 15 miles with 5-6 miles of it on the interstate so you could get the bike into 6th gear. Roads were a mix of two lane, 4 lane and interstate with speed limits of 35 to 70 mph. I felt for a short ride it was a pretty good mx of riding conditions.
Sol, I understand what you're saying about the Sportster. My son rides a 1200C with a stage 1 and it's pretty quick. I get on his Sporty anytime I have an opportunity, it's a fun ride. But with me being an old guy and my wife as a passenger, the RK fits us better.
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