Thinking about a street glide.
#21
01-03-2019 | 06:48 PM
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 6,705
Likes: 3,220
From: Texas
Last edited by BrandonSmith; 01-03-2019 at 07:52 PM.
#23
01-04-2019 | 12:25 AM
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 360
Likes: 37
From: canada
It was a while before I bought a touring bike. On my 2nd one now. Occasionally, parking my touring bike reminds me how much bigger and heavier this touring bike is compared to my old Sportster or Dyna. But I can't ever see myself riding anything except a touring bike for the rest of my days. Yeah, the ride really is much better--mostly noticed on the really long rides. And yeah, I like more storage space. And I love my stereo and GPS Boombox.
Personally, I don't think you are making a mistake if you go to a touring bike--and after a short while on a touring bike you might think the same thing I did which was "I should have gotten a touring bike long ago".
But...., you mention the SG. They are fine bikes. But before you get a SG do yourself a favor and sit on and test ride, if you can, A RG and also a RK. Maybe you have already done that and you definitely want the SG. ??? All I'm saying is explore fully before you commit.
Best of luck.
P.S. I'm on my 2nd RG. "There's no ride like a Road Glide" LOL.
Personally, I don't think you are making a mistake if you go to a touring bike--and after a short while on a touring bike you might think the same thing I did which was "I should have gotten a touring bike long ago".
But...., you mention the SG. They are fine bikes. But before you get a SG do yourself a favor and sit on and test ride, if you can, A RG and also a RK. Maybe you have already done that and you definitely want the SG. ??? All I'm saying is explore fully before you commit.
Best of luck.
P.S. I'm on my 2nd RG. "There's no ride like a Road Glide" LOL.
#24
01-04-2019 | 04:22 AM
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 306
From: Houston, Texas
As previously mentioned, there is no reason you can't tour on a Heritage. You just need the right luggage and a better seat. If you go to a Road King ( my favorite Harley of all, it's called a King for a reason ), you'll get the same feeling as the Heritage with a much better ride. You don't mention if you are going solo or two up. If two up, I'd skip the SG and go straight to the Classic. Road Glide or Ultra. You'll want the extra storage, she'll like the backrest, and the ride will be so much better than a loaded SG that only has 12" shocks. She definitely wont like it sitting right over the shocks. Don't worry about the height. There are many things you can do to get your feet closer to the ground and in my opinion, flat footing is over rated. I can stand up in the saddle and flat foot but almost never do and you don't need to flat foot doing 200 miles at a time on the Hwy. I have a 30" inseam and do just fine on my Limited. If you're getting the bike to tour, go big or go home. If you like the look of the SG, you can always make the tour pack detachable on the classic. SG's are cool but if you talk to anyone older that rides a lot and has been for a long time, look at their bike. My money say's it's an Ultra. Unless they are like me and have two bikes, I have a Road King that I commute on daily and a Limited for when the wife wants to go for a ride or we go on a road trip.
The best thing about your decision is that no matter what bike you go with in the touring family, it will be a major upgrade in ride and comfort over the heritage.
The best thing about your decision is that no matter what bike you go with in the touring family, it will be a major upgrade in ride and comfort over the heritage.
The following users liked this post:
nobodyknowsme (01-04-2019)
#25
01-04-2019 | 06:10 AM
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 325
Likes: 45
From: Upstate SC
As previously mentioned, there is no reason you can't tour on a Heritage. You just need the right luggage and a better seat. If you go to a Road King ( my favorite Harley of all, it's called a King for a reason ), you'll get the same feeling as the Heritage with a much better ride. You don't mention if you are going solo or two up. If two up, I'd skip the SG and go straight to the Classic. Road Glide or Ultra. You'll want the extra storage, she'll like the backrest, and the ride will be so much better than a loaded SG that only has 12" shocks. She definitely wont like it sitting right over the shocks. Don't worry about the height. There are many things you can do to get your feet closer to the ground and in my opinion, flat footing is over rated. I can stand up in the saddle and flat foot but almost never do and you don't need to flat foot doing 200 miles at a time on the Hwy. I have a 30" inseam and do just fine on my Limited. If you're getting the bike to tour, go big or go home. If you like the look of the SG, you can always make the tour pack detachable on the classic. SG's are cool but if you talk to anyone older that rides a lot and has been for a long time, look at their bike. My money say's it's an Ultra. Unless they are like me and have two bikes, I have a Road King that I commute on daily and a Limited for when the wife wants to go for a ride or we go on a road trip.
The best thing about your decision is that no matter what bike you go with in the touring family, it will be a major upgrade in ride and comfort over the heritage.
The best thing about your decision is that no matter what bike you go with in the touring family, it will be a major upgrade in ride and comfort over the heritage.
#26
01-04-2019 | 06:28 AM
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,053
Likes: 5,156
From: Below the Gnat Line
#27
01-04-2019 | 09:54 AM
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 692
From: Huntington Beach, CA
I am around 5'7" and 140 (or less) pounds. I find the Road King suits me great; I can flat foot the bike and maneuver it very easily. Personally I think that the Road King is the bike for me. Recommend that the OP check out the various touring options before deciding. I mainly just do day rides (cruising, in other words, not touring) but find that the King is perfect for my style of riding. The King is great for long freeway rides. Personally I do not want a fairing on my bike but I get it that many of the guys and gals do.
#29
01-04-2019 | 07:25 PM
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 344
Likes: 27
From: Southern Utah
My wife is 5'6" and 135lbs and she rides a Road Glide. Don't let the weight of the bike scare you.
I would suggest that you look at a Road Glide as opposed to a Street Glide. That Batwing front fairing adds a ton of weight to the front end and it gets pretty heavy during slow speed maneuvers. The Road Glide carries the weight by the frame and doesn't transmit through the handlebars.
I would suggest that you look at a Road Glide as opposed to a Street Glide. That Batwing front fairing adds a ton of weight to the front end and it gets pretty heavy during slow speed maneuvers. The Road Glide carries the weight by the frame and doesn't transmit through the handlebars.
