Welcome to the site. I've heard batwings are bad in gusty or sidewinds. I know solid disc wheels, (like on Fatboys) are lethal.

Are there some exercises you can do to build up your strength/endurance?

If it's windy in the mountains, there's always the coast....

Hang in there, you strength will come back.

Make realistic plans as far as endurance is concerned. Try not to overdue. You've got lots of time to build up your endurance, take it easy. Do short rides at first. HWY 94W to Telegraph Canyon Rd is a good one. Stop @ Barratt Junction for BBQ for a rest stop.

The WG does cause you to "lean back" as your forward controls tilt you back. You might look for a bike with a more "mid" control set-up. This will also reduce the pressure on your tail bone. An Airhawk pad may reduce hot spots on your bum, too.

 

Welcome from Memphis!

 

Welcome to the H-D Forums from Idaho ! ENJOY !
Be sure to get to the forum for forum issues if you are having problems. Or just ask for help & someone will most likely be able to help ya.
Just a thought,,,, Have you thought about a Trike model ? Lots of people have gone to them & love it ! Much less strain on the back !
You might find some answers here, but look around in all the different forums & chat rooms for your info. :https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touring-models-11/

 

Welcome aboard. Good attitude!

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Welcome!!!

 

Also new here to the Forums.

 

I just got approval, or rather instructions on exercise on what to do to build my strength/endurance up, had to what for insurance. Surgeon had the attitude of your doing better than you are supposed to be so be happy here is pain killers see ya next month, insurance finally approved a pain management doctor whom I have a history with(wife and I take care of her father who is in a wheel chair from a bike accident) who being a father and rider himself understands my need to play with my kids(5,6,and 12) and my passion to ride, he immediately changed up my meds so would not be doped up all the time and gave me a list of exercises, brothers are coming up to my place this weekend to set up this bowflex I got so can get started. I have been getting mixed reviews on the bat wing, oddly the bigger guys are saying the crosswinds are bad with them and hate them but the smaller guy are not, but even the smaller guys got close to a 100 pounds on me. I defiantly stayed away from anything disk wheel when I picked up the wide glide, spokes on both. I test rode several configs on controls due to nerve damage in legs, problem with mids is I am only 6'2 but have a 35" inseam, so forward where best for legs, bike had 12 Rolland sands bars on 4 inch risers, pulled them off and went with a drag bar on a 6 inch straight riser to lean my upper body forward and take some of wind drag off my body. Defiantly started short rides, thus the low miles, started with a 100 mile day and would have to sit on the couch the next day, have finally worked up to 300 in good conditions and can still function the next day, push 400 or fight winds and I am down next day or 2. Think I am pushing myself hard now because a brother just moved to Lead SD, 15 miles outside Sturgis and told me he has a spare room and a hot tub waiting when I get there and my kids are supposed to be visiting the Aunt and cousins the first 2 weeks of August this year. Oh and 94 is defiantly a nice ride and keeps you out of the wind, sometime will run that down and other will just throw the bike on the trailer and drop it of at brother in elcajon are two of us and the wives will cruise the coast and share one baby sitter

 

Thanks for the info and have actually looked at the trikes, just not in my price range even for a used one. The fight with cancer and social security destroyed my credit, don't think I could charge a pack of gum these days lol. The nerve damage to my legs is progressive so will eventually have to have a trike, part of the reason I chose a Dyna chassis, my self and my brother both being mechanic/welder fabricators, after doing a ton of research figured out it would be the easiest and cheapest for us to put together a jig and do the mods ourselves, just not quite ready $ or mentally to go there just yet. I have to this point always done my builds of 70's styling choppers and bobbers, 40-54 deg rakes with +6 to +24 inch over front ends, half with ridged frames. To admit to myself that was not happening to this ride was the first step to admitting my body has changed due to the cancer, now to be looking at a fairing is the second, baby steps but I will get there, possibly soon than I would like but I will get there.

 

Welcome to the forum from Northern Virginia.
Myron