It's mainly style. I like the classic look and my bags have the lock kit, and I like the WWW with the spokes but I can see where a tubeless wheel and less maint. would be nice. Like with all rides, it's about what turns YOUR crank.

 

If you look on the used marketplaces, it's generally cheaper to buy a set of the leather-covered bags than the painted hard bags. Buy the standard and with the money you save, buy a set of like-new leather covered bags for about 400 bucks. You can change the look of your bike at your whim and still have enough left to take your sweetie out for a very nice dinner.

 

I don't get the fake buckles on the leather bags.

 

Because they look alot better than having black plastic Fastex buckles hanging in the breeze...I wish the bags I have now had the quick release buckles under fake chrome ones.

 

I have to be honest... those leather bags just don't look like they are part of the bike... after a few short weeks, they had to go, and that change is a lot more expensive then adding cruise control. If I could do it all again, I would have gotten the standard, and stylized it the way I want. No spoke wheels, no leather bags, etc. That said, my bike is BEAUTIFUL, and I am happy to have a combination of all worlds - I get a lot of compliments on her... no matter what, you can't go wrong!

 

Chicks are drawn to white wall tires like bugs to a light.

 

I bought a standard and put spokes and wide white walls on it.

But I'm going for the '65 Electra Glide look also, so...

 

Wheres the rolling eyes smiley?

LOL

 

I've had them both! a '99 RKC was first, but when it came tome for a replacement I went with the '08 standard RK. Lockable bags, no tubes or wide whitewalls to clean. I added the cruise and it's all good!