It's a heavier bike that won't allow the center of gravity to be off too much or it will want to go over. You'll get use to it and will learn what not to do. I just went on a three week trip with my wife and luggage and when I took my first ride by myself after the trip the bike felt very nimble and easy to handle. It's all relative to something else. Take it slow and you'll get use to it.

 

Having just moved up from a Heritage to a Road King, the front ends on the touring bikes are way heaver. Street Glide probably even more so than the Road King, for obvious reasons, but even the Road King front end is a lot heavier.

I was at the dealer the other day and sat on a really nice Fat Boy with 1.5" Carlini apes, the thing felt like a Sportster to me!

 

There are days when I fight the beast and then days that all goes well, you just gotta be on guard, especially at slow speeds and stay off that front brake....

 

Can't wait until the spring, 14" Wild1's going on...

 

I gotta say that I actually find the handling on my Ultra to be easier than my softail, but it's probably because I've been riding it a lot longer.

 

My last move was from a Sportster to a RK Classic. Hardest part to get used to was slow speed turns with the OL on the back. Once I learned the rear brake is better at slow speeds I was a ton more comfortable.

 

EXACTLY! Big bike, rear brake is your friend at slow speeds.

I go through this big/small bike switch several times a week.

 

the first couple rides have a learning curve,now my 01 Eg feels like riding a sport bike to me..im pretty big thou..it gets a lot easier..i lowered my bike an inch, it made a lot of difference. i loved the front lowered 2" but the bike bottomed out and it stood up strait on the kickstand..

 

The rear brake is great when learning to turn at slow speeds for sure. Just don't let it become a crutch and get sloppy on the friction zone. The clutch is better than the rear brake once you get used to it.

 

Iam 5'6" and will turn 62 this next July - got my EG in 04 and if I can learn to handle this with the wife on the back - anyone can.

60K + miles

Retired fire fighter in 08 and have ridden coast to coast 3 times since may 08 - three weeks plus each time