I have a 2020 EGS and want to get an M8 softail as well. For the life of me I cannot make up my mind on which bike I want. I am tempted to rent each one for a day from EAGLE Rider and see which one works best for me, but I am genuinely curious how you guys went through the process of your decision on your M8 softail. I feel like maybe looks might be the most important element for most folks, so you just buy the bike you think looks best and modify to suit, but to me they are all great looking in one color or another (except for the Heritage - there's just no color to fix that kind of ugly), so to me deciding on the basis of looks isn't even an option.

I am just worried I'll buy the wrong softail! I'm 6ft tall if that should go into my decision.

How did you go about it?!

 

114 engine
long travel rear suspension
large gas tank
functional front fender
functional windshield

 

That's a very rational and logical approach. I always thought that if I ride all the softails and I hands down like the Heritage the best, I would absolutely have to change the wheels, just like you did.
And I must say, your bike looks great! Well done, sir, and thanks for sharing.

 

I had a 1994 FLSTN, which I rode for 25 years and 223,000 miles. When it was wrecked I needed to replace it. the Heritage was as close as I could get to what I had.

 

I wanted factory luggage, ABS, cruise control, wind screen, remote preload adjustment, and tubeless wheels. It helped that I like the look of the Sport Glide.

 

I was all over the place before I bought my 2018 Fatboy. I went in thinking I wanted a Slim, but over a 4 month period, I test rode multiple bikes: mostly Slim, Deluxe, Street Glide and the Fatboy. I had finally narrowed it down to the Street Glide or the Fatboy. My only requirement was that I wanted a bike that was a blast to ride and always put a smile on my face.

I went home with the Fatboy. A year later, I still get that smile when I ride my bike.

 

I had a lot of the same boxes to check as HuntWhenever (which is probably why I ended up on the same bike).
ABS, Cruise, Factory bags, windshield, wanted a Softail specifically. I also specifically wanted forward controls. I happened to really like the look of the bike too. Recently put 14” apes on it and, in conjunction with Corbin solo seat, it makes for a great riders triangle.

 

I wasn't settled on a Softail specifically but was leaning that way after renting a Road Glide and feeling like I was in a wrestling match at slow speeds. I test rode a Sport Glide and liked it but was 'meh' on the looks. I had always liked the Heritage and rented one last year. It was love at first ride. I bought my 114 without even sitting on it, I knew it was what I wanted from spending all day on a Heritage, and the FLHCS just looked right the first time I saw one. I think you are totally on the right track by renting each model you like and spending a day on it before you buy. I can't imagine a worse feeling than spending that kind of cash and not having each ride be completely enjoyable. A short test ride at the dealer is way too short.

 

Chose the Sport Glide for versatility and the bike comes loaded with ABS, cruise, security (which means the lights will flash menacingly if someone throws your bike into a box truck). Added apes and heated grips, GTG.

 

love to see a pic of your bike with apes. There is a surprising lack of good photos of Sport Glides with apes.