I bought a new Road Glide a few weeks ago and have a few questions that maybe folks here can give me a hand with...

First, I love the bike! I thought about it for a long time before settling on the RG. I was thinking RK for quite a while because I didn't think I wanted a faring. But one thing that I didin't like was the lack of a tach. I like a tach and I know I could add one pretty easy but I just got to thinkin' and started looking at the Glides. I was thinking a sound system would be pretty cool too.

I think a lot of folks buy a bike because of the way it looks and they way they look on it but I really wanted a bike I could take on road trips as well as drive around town so I was looking for comfort and practicality. If I wanted to go strictly for classic looks I'd have gone with the RK but in the end I broke down and went wtih the Glide. I know some call 'em a geezer's crotch rocket but I didn't buy this for what others say and think, I bought it for me.

I knew the '08's were out and so I figured they'd deal on the '07's so they could get rid of 'em. So I finally went in and they had just one, black '07 Glide. I looked her over and decided she had just about everything I wanted on her except a luggage rack, a passenger back rest (for when my daughters ride with me!) and a radar detector. (I like to know where those rascals are at!)

So now she's mine and she's mostly stock and I'm thinking about some upgrades. Right after I brought 'er home I saw my neighbor across the street so I pulled up to talk as I was leaving on a ride. He told me she was too quiet for a Harley. That didn't really bother me until I pulled around the corner to a stop sign and there was a group of teenagers there and one of them asked me "Is that a Goldwing?" I asked him "Does this SOUND like a Honda?" and he said "Yea it does..."

So now I can't sleep at night. I just lay there awake. It's been about three weeks now. I'm having trouble focusing as I write this.

I know, I know, I didn't buy this bike for what other people say and think I bought it for me!

Okay, so here's what I'm thinking about. A gal at the dealership rides a softtail. She put some slipon's by Cycle Shack on her bike. They're cheap but load. The idea of pissin' off my neighborhood kinda appeals to me.

But I've been thinking about Rinehart true duels. The dealership says duels decrease performance and horsepower - slightly. Doesn't make sense to me. I always thought duels gave better flow and better flow gave better performance. Any body got any comments on this? What about 2 into 1. What is the idea behind that?

As long as I'm making peformance changes I'm thinking about intake. What is the best change to make in the area of breather and air filter? K&N, Stage I Stage II?

What about PC III and/or alternatives? I put an Edge Evolution programmer on my '04 F150 and got 20% gain in fuel economy. No BS... 20%! I went from 12 mpg hwy to 15 plusmpg hwy. I now get 12 plus or minus with a 16' trailer behing me full of materials - mulch, trees, plants & equipment. So I'm thinking about the PC III. What can I do with it? Can I adjust my idle speed? I hate idling at 1000 RPM.

I'm also thinking about lowering the bike. I'm not a tall guy... runs in my family I guess. I can sit on the bike with my feet flat on the ground but backing her up can be a real pain and I dropped her once in a parking lot when I stopped too quick. I'd only had her a couple of days. I think I put my foot down early and twisted slightly to the right while pulling a little too hard on the front brake. I wasn't going fast but it wasn't a very pl

 

I have the same bike. Take a look at my photo gallery. I have a bunch more pictures if you want to see more, just let me know.
Steve

 

Have an '07... First thing I did when I brought her home... STAGE 1... Lowered it (too far @ first) - Changed the Bars & Seat and have been adding this & that ever since...
Slip-ons work GREAT and there are alot to pick from... TD's normally will reduce lower end performance - Performance Exhaust is the 2-into-1 systems...

Dropping the rear - I would not recommend dropping it any lower then 12" & you can pick the Air's up on E-Bay - Lower then 12" and you stand a greater chance on bottoming out & you'll loose the ride comfort...

 

Congrats on the bike.
As I am sure you are finding... these are the first of endless questions.

I have an 08SG that sounded like a Honda. I too couldn't sleep at night thinking about it. I bought a Harley because of the Harley mystique. Part of that mistique is the sound. I put on Vance and Hines Slip ons.... and man.... WHAT A DIFFERENCE. I don't know about the 07's I know the 08s are a little different. But just adding the slip ons increased performance. PCIII for my bike comes out late November. Then I will do PCIII and A/C. I am told that will increase performance even more.

Buy some slip ons.Heads will turn immediately.

 

Bill, which slip ons did you use?
GHary

 

I was doing the cheapskate method of resetting my AFVs by putting the stock airbox and mufflers back on and riding around. It was embarrassing as hell! Harleys really do need to be at least a little louder than they have to come stock anymore.

It's true that dual exhausts will create a poorer torque curve than the stock plumbing, but the sound they create is a performance increase in and of itself so if that's what you're looking for don't fear doing it.

You could get a set of Wild Pig slip-ons from ebay for next to nothing and ride with those until you come to a surer decision.

The PC-III is a very viable tool; I use one myself and highly recommend them as great bang for the buck.

Just slip-on mufflers, the PC-III, and a freer-breathing airbox make for a very satisfying experience.

The rest of the stuff you're talking about isn't anything I've given any thought to. I've got long legs and love my Road King (classic) just the way it is after the aforementioned stuff.

 

The stock shocks on the street glide and the rk customs are lower by 3/4". You may look on ebay to see if you can find a set cheaper than the dealer. If not, buy from one of the online dealer sites that give you the 20% off. Also, you might want to check with Allen (BadX). He does seat modifications and can lower you in the saddle, and make it more comfortable for you. His shop is www.meancitycycles.com . Just an option, but it would cost less than a new seat.

 

1st things 1st..

DID U DO THE IDS?

 

you lost me there... 12"? best I can figure with a Burley kit is 1 1/2" and another 1 1/2" with a low profile seat or instead of the Burley kit if I go with profile shocks I get 3/4" so in all we're talkin' 2 1/4" to 3" max. How can you get 12"?

 

I am clueless... what is IDS?