Yep. It sucks but i had a harley when i had my multi. If you upgrade the stock suspension it gets better but you are never going to have that cushy ride that is adjustable electronicly on the fly. You're going to give up a lot on the technology side in every aspect but hey it's a harley. You either like them or you don't.

 

Well I currently have both a 2015 R1200RT and a 2016 Street Glide. I figured that after passing the big five-oh I could buy a Harley seeing how they decided that ABS is really a good idea.

Comparing the two, well ouch.
What I like about the Street Glide compared to the RT

1. The seat height, when you are inseam challenged its nice
2. The sound, granted I have a SE exhaust but it just sounds right
3. The looks, should have gone with the Road King but in all black and chrome the SG just looks authentic and the price was right.
4. The seating position, the forward lean on the RT wears on my forearms, welcome to old age. This limits longer rides at times.
5. The seat itself, most comfortable stock seat I have ever used
6. So much easier to add bright lighting and such. I am all LED except the headlight (which is best to buy for that?) I have LED turns, tails, bag lights, and spots.
7. The 4.3 radio is pretty good, speakers actually useful up to 70
8. Enough optional accessories to mostly fix it.

What I don't like.

1. Wind and element protection is a joke compared to the RT. Fortunately this can be fixed with lowers (later in year maybe, have to decide which brand) and fork deflectors (after market on the way)
2. Bluetooth, oh get real. Can't wait for Sena's Livewire. Though my solution with my Sena 20s is to let the bike tell me there is a call and answer it with the Sena directly.
3. Weight, two hundred extra pounds is a bit of a difference but the seat height does help but damn Harley, it really should not weight this much
4. Brakes, thank goodness they are ABS but at times I get some really odd sounds while braking but cannot figure it out. Sounds like rubbing but I don't see how.
5. The tech, TPMS would be nice.

What is a toss up.

1. Power, the RT just outperforms but the SG just feels good.
2. Controls, BMW used to have the same signal controls but went Japanese style awhile back so its nice to have the separate signals and the auto cancel works well
3. Head lights, with the spots the SG is as good as the RT in most cases but I need to get the LED head light for the SG regardless. I did add Darla's to the BMW to give the front end more presence as for some reason BMW still refuses to light the front signals to make it more apparent to cages
4. Luggage, both are pretty good and the shape of each allows one to carry stuff the other cannot so its a toss up

 

Mine works fine at +1" on my SGS!

 

Thanks for the feedback Ken - exactly what I was hoping to hear! I've DEFINITELY noticed the HEAT on the right hand side of the bike compared to my prior rides, but have to say that the K1600 also pumped out some hot stuff from the gearbox 'bulge' as well, which was not too noticeable when wearing the full touring gear, but when shorter rides were calling I often pulled my ankle away pretty quick when stopped at lights if not paying attention...! Anyway - great info about the WI tuner - maybe I could drop the RGU in for the mods and take an Eaglerider out for a couple of days up to Door County - kill 2 birds with 1 stone!

 

Comfort wins hands down for me every time - maybe it's an age thing (and I've done the scary stuff when younger - and survived...)

 

Thanks for the feedback - yes, that /6 is something Really special - but for me the comfort angle is the killer - and I know I'll be able to customize the RGU to get to where I want to be. Great to hear about your thoughts on both the Stage 1 and the Madstat!

 

The ability to put the boot below the pedal is definitely growing on me (and I can do the same with the shifter I've discovered too...)

 

Right - I think I spent at least 2 minutes pondering over that option!

 

On heat and weight -

Heat - If you run lowers, it's hotter. I used to bake my right foot (even without cat) on my Ultra. I'm cool as a cucumber on my Street Glide. In the cooler weather I use soft lowers and they work great. Knowing what I know know, I will never run lowers in warm weather. Of course that doesn't help those with the wet heads.

Weight - You have to remember, the touring line is in the heavy class of touring bikes along with the Goldwing, Indian, and big Victorys, Vulcan Voyager, among others. The K bikes compare more to a Concours or FJ - lighter, sportier class of touring bike. The decision to go to the Harley line from BMW isn't apples to apples. It's more like apples to watermelon.

I recall my decision to make the change. I rode my GS out to the Black Hills. Great bike. Loved it. Good power and handled great. I even liked the way it sounded. But even on the GS my knees would get sore after awhile. Plus I was heavily into ATTGATT and then some - back protector, safety vest, etc. I remember pulling into the motel parking lot and I was hot, tired, and just plain old felt beat up standing in that parking lot unloading all my crap off the bike. Some guy rolls up and parks next to me on a Street Glide. He has a light leather jacket, jeans, gloves and a half helmet on. He swings a leg off the bike, hangs the beanie off the bar, grabs to suitcases off the bike, and walks into the hotel lobby like a rock star off a Lear jet, while I'm standing there toiling in my space suit and random bags. This guy could have walked straight into any restaurant and looked good. I, on the other hand, was a sweaty, stinky mess that would draw stares from children and old people sitting in my "snowmobile suit" at McDonalds. Then there was the ratio on the way home. Pretty much 99% of the bikes heading the other way on I-90 were Harleys. I figured there must be something to them, that so many people would choose them to tour on. And many of them were couples, talking and smiling....in general having fun while I was considering my next strategic gas stop to do some stretching and rest my throttle hand.

Not that the change immediately came easily. The big weight difference was something I really had to adjust to. The whole front brake thing as well. On the BMW I could over-cook a turn and grab some brake mid turn to scrub off speed. It took only one time on a (rented) Harley to learn that proper entry speed has now become an absolute necessity. I didn't like those underwear anyway.

 

That about sums it up for me on my first HD touring bike.