I like the switchback. To me its very similar to the old Duo-Glides. With a few mods you can have an amazing looking bike. I don't like the front wheel though, I'd prefer spokes and whitewalls. If I had a switchback I would go out turning it into a late '50s to mid 60s Duo Glide.

 

That's just it; I am a Dyna guy. I think they are right sized and are in the ball park for the Harleys of my youth. I love my '04 WG and my '14 Fat Bob totally rocks. If...If Harley had not made this bike look like a parts bin cheapie they would have had a winner. Look at the beginning of this thread where this butt hurt Aussie shows up. He made a terrific looking bike, absolutely killer from a Switchback. It can be done, but Harley is too busy designing tee-shirts and coffee mugs...

Here's the bike I was talking about. What a winner:

 

the comments are similar to what everyone made about the V-rod:

stupid color
stupid solid rims
stupid whale looking exhaust.

the V-rod is a great looking bike in black (or any color EXCEPT the silver) and the V&H dual pipes.

but, as the MoCo put it on the floor, it was ugly, and the sales & lack of retained value were all crappy.

a great bike...ruined by idiots

 

I have never rode one, but I like the Switchback. Still a Dyna (which I love), just all dressed up with hard bags. Pretty cool!

 

Needs 16"s & spokes.

 

Ya, marketing gimmicks
The beauty with wheels is that you could always replace them
Throw on laced wheels with some front fender trim and be done with it.

 

Agreed!

If Willie G. was still around, spokes would be standard. Cast aluminum wheels would be optional, if they even passed his screen. We might also see dual front brakes.

Harley is on the right track with the Switchback. Not everyone wants an 800 pound FLH/T touring bike. The Switchback is 100 pounds lighter. The power to weight ratio makes it faster and easier to handle than a touring bike.

 

I like them, but agree that the bags hinge plate looks WAY too big. The wheel isn't bad in my eyes. I am surprised that they have not updated the bags to a rushmore style latch...

 

Bought my Switcback last April and have had no issues with it. Got 5000 miles on it before having to put it away for hibernation. My only complaint is the lack of parts for it. Seems all the cool mods that I would be interested in are not compatible with the FLD. I can deal with the wheels but as most of you have stated, spokes would be a great option.

 

Street Bob rear wheel, with a 18x3.5" rim laced to a FLSTC front hub would be easy to do. Or lace a FLSTC rear rim to a Street Bob hub & run a FLSTC front wheel, if you want 16"s.

Other ways to do it as well- check out the FL-Dyna social group. Very long thread, but TONS of info. Not a Switchback group per se, but a bunch guys who've FL-d their Dynas. Some very cool stuff on there.