Rode at demo days today: 2011 CVO Road Glide Ultra, Road King and the Dyna Fat Bob.

2011 CVO Road Glide

Wonderful bike but my baking right thigh had me wanting to get off. The heat radiates off the pipes and engine and is reflected by the lowers right back on the rider's leg. They must have that big 110 cubic inch engine running as lean as it can. It's just miserable to me. Handling and throttle response was so much different than my 2004 Dyna that I felt goosey leaving the parking lot. I was in a sharp right turn and rolled on the throttle, but to my surprise a little hesitation in the response had me thinking I was going to dump the bike. It was a fleeting sensation and I'm sure I wasn't that close, but it sure demanded my attention. I'd sort of forgotten how much I rely on the throttle to hold a line while I'm turning. Within a mile or two I had adjusted, and then the ride was over. I'm sure I would enjoy riding the bike on the highway, but around town it would take an adjustment. No matter what you do, you can't make a tourer as fun to ride around town as a Dyna.

2011 Road King

Not as much heat, and the bars seemed to have me leaning forward a little. Less buffeting at speed than the RG, which surprised me. Overall, I enjoyed the RK better because I was more comfortable. Not nearly as much accel as the CVO RG.

2011 Dyna Fat Bob

Much to my surprise, I really liked this bike. After riding the big tourers it felt very nimble. I loved the forward controls and it seemed very responsive to my throttle inputs. Braking was pretty good. The Fat Bob is pure riding fun, and it looks great, too.

Summary

I was pretty hot to get a touring bike because I'm planning another trip to Sturgis next summer and I wasn't sure I wanted to do it on my Dyna again. Now I'm thinking that I can put up with the discomfort on long trips on my Dyna in exchange for having a lot more fun around town. I'm just not sure I can pull the trigger on getting a big bagger when I don't think I'd enjoy it that much around town. This is going to take some thinking ....

 

....... you can take the lowers off the RG if the heat's that big'a deal.
......... you won't believe how much fun rolling toward So. Dakota would be on a touring bike !

 

You can fix the heat on the RG, add a fuel moto package of pipes, A/C, and a PCV with a custom Map, the temps will drop once it is "richened" up. Also change to a synthetic oil at the 1K service. You will see a difference in temps with all of this.

 

I guess that once you get used to a bike and know how it handles you can be pretty comfortable on it. I know several people with Dynas and they are happy with them. They are great bikes. Dynas look pretty cool, too.

We had to stop in Hickory, NC for repairs and the folks at Blue Ridge Harley were nice enough to loan us a Dyna to ride around on while we waited. You talk about a squirrel-I didn't think we were going to make it out of the parking lot. Seemed like every time I made a turn the bike was going to fall over. After about an hour and a half, the little bike seemed to handle fine, but all the bumping and bouncing made me glad we were on a Electra Glide.

Rent a touring bike for a day or two. I won't cost that much and you can get a better feel for them and probably find they are quite nimble. Different strokes

 

I rode my Dyna out to SD from VA and did not think it was uncomfortable at all. Why not just correct whatever it is you think makes the Dyna uncomfortable?

 

+1 for dumping the stock exhaust and calling FuelMoto for a power pack of pipes, intake, tune.

 

+2

 

well....looks like its settled...... dyna is in. Why torture yourself ?

 

Huh...

And here I am considering dumping my Street Glide for a leftover '09 FXD...

 

Dyna and RKC...best of both worlds. If I didn't have my Wide, I'd want a Fat. Guess I just love the bobtails.