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Rode a non-shark

5K views 34 replies 19 participants last post by  smitty901 
#1 ·
Not really a road trip, but don't know where else to post it. So a colleague at work has been trying really hard to find a bike to buy, HD. I've really been working him on the RG, but alas he decided he wanted to get a street glide. Last Friday he asked me if I would go look at an '09 black street glide. After giving him the appropriate level of shit for buying the most popular/common/stereotypical bike possible I agreed. He has ridden, but it's been 10-12 years, and he was a crotch rocket guy. I looked the bike over the best my non-professional eyes could. It only has 13500 miles, with the original rear tire. The front was a couple of years old because of a nail. The tread on the bike still looked decent, I wouldn't hesitate based on the wear to ride it , but suggested he get new shoes anyway because of them being so old. The guy selling is about 70, a couple pieces of chrome and pipes, that's about it. As I'm looking it over the old guy tosses me the keys and says, take it for a spin. I say ok, take it around the neighborhood and on one main street, get it up to about 60, no more than a mile ride. Everything feels good, I'm pleasantly surprised how nimble it feels. Mike buys it. Today is the day he was finalizing the deal at the bank. He was going to ride it home, but asked if I would since he doesn't have his endorsement yet, not even his permit since he let it lapse. I agree. We didn't beat the rain, so I had to ride it about 10 miles in a light rain. Again, really surprised how well it handled and felt so much smaller than my Ultra. Now to the point of my story, I used to own a batwing, '96 Electra Glide Classic with a tour pak. I went from it to my 11 RGU. I've been thinking about a bike for me solo, hadn't really considered a street glide or RG custom/non ultra. My question to those with experience, is the lack of a tour pack the main reason the bike felt so much nimbler and smaller? Could the lower rear end be what felt so different? I love my Ultra, especially with the better half and road tripping love the space the tour pak gives. I wasn't really expecting that much of a difference, but it was really significant. Now I want to find a RG custom or special to ride to see what it feels like.
 
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#2 ·
Food for thought. It's not that difficult to remove the tour pak, take it off and try it out. But I guess if you could find a custom to ride it would be a lot easier.
 
#4 ·
I went from a 2010 EG to a 2016 FLTRU.

The FLTRU is miles nimbler than the EG. The tour pak does make a huge difference but the frame mount fairing makes the whole bike seem lighter.

I think you will be amazed at how much lighter the RG Special feels.
 
#6 ·
I've been considering this as well, but the more I think about I don't think I will be happy with a non-touring size bike. While not extremely tall, I'm a bigger guy and enjoy being comfortable. I ride my sons 1100 V-Star occasionally, but it feels too small.
 
#8 ·
I had an 05 CVO Electraglide with full size tour pack the lowered shocks and springs made a world of difference in how it felt around town. However on a long run 500 to 800 mile days it would wear you down. My '15 Road Glide Ultra is not as "nimble" feeling in town but on long road days in the saddle sweepers and hairpins it way out performs the lowered bike. Just MHO.
 
#10 ·
Had my tour pak off to put bag guards on and decided to take it for a ride; big difference. Much easier to handle! If I had$$$$$$$$$$$ I'd probably get something else for quick fun runs, but I don't & will not depart w/my RGS. Just my 2 cents worth.
 
#11 ·
Get a detach kit for your tour pac. I have a detach chopped tour pac on mine, I only put it on when the other half comes along. I hate it, it's heavy and makes the bike feel like a tank!
 
#12 ·
I'm not getting rid of my Ultra unless all the furniture is sold, the fridge is empty and they are threatening to take the house. Hell, even then I may just gas her up and let em have the house and become a drifter, who knows.

Anyway thanks for all the input, it's really got me thinking now. May have to find out when the next time the demo trucks are going to be around town.
 
#14 ·
Thanks Greg!!! The quick detach would be a cheaper/smarter route to take, but I'm rarely accused of being very smart.

Can't wait for this trip. Had a new front tire put on Wednesday, the rear was replaced under ESP last summer thanks to a nail. If the damn weather would cooperate I could get the last 900 miles in before I'm due for an oil change/service checklist. Even if I don't get the mileage in I'll change it before we roll. I feel like a 10 year old a couple of weeks before the trip to Disney.
 
#15 ·
Similar experience with a friend that wanted to buy a Heritage Softail. It's about 300-350 lbs lighter than my Road Glide and it felt so light and nimble in comparison to my (at the time) Road Glide Ultra. Now that I switched to a Rushmore Road Glide Special, the Heritage that my friend bought still feels much lighter and nimbler. The Street Glide that your friend bought is the same basic thing as the Road Glide sans Tour-pak, CB, and other items, so it is lighter. But not as significant as a Heritage Softail. Agree with others, get a detachable tour-pak mounting system and a solo seat and you'll have a nice solo cruiser without the expense of another bike. (I know.... I had 2 bikes for a while and I almost always hopped on the Harley)
 
#16 ·
I keep toying with the idea of making the Tour Pak removable. The two things holding me back are the lack of a decent-looking way to mount the plate, and the worry that the TP won't be solidly mounted and will make sitting back there uncomfortable.
 
#17 ·
My old EGC had the quick detach kit. It was pretty solid. I have always liked the tour pak look, so never took it off. Over the years the look sans tour pak is growing on me, what can I say, mid life crisis? Anyway over the years it did start "loosening up" a little bit. There are rubber, I guess grommets would be the best word, that the brackets go around. They started to wear after a couple of years, who knows how long they were on there before that. The bike was a 96, I bought it in 2011. Anyway, bought some replacements, about $5 each and it was solid again until I sold it.

My biggest complaint/worry would be I wouldn't have an antenna for the radio, and would have to figure out how to rig up a quick detach for the electrical, as well as find a good way to "hide" it.

Plus I really want a second bike. No logical reason, no real need, pure unadulterated lust.
 
#24 ·
I had an 08 with a quick detach for the last four years or so. Loved it so much that when I picked up my 2016 I had them do a quick detach tour pack on it before it left the building. I absolutely love the flexibility of it.

FYI, if you have an ultra with the turn signals in the tour pack (16s are this way) you have to buy the detach kit that includes saddle bag mounted turn signals.
 
#31 ·
I have a detachable tour pak on my 15 RGS and there is a difference with and without. Bike feels much lighter without. Try riding a RG,RGS or RK. You can't go wrong on any of them for you intended use or go detachable with you current ride. Swapping back and forth is very quick.
 
#33 ·
I had a 2012 RGU I traded it in on a 2015 RGS it is a night and day difference . I have a removable tour pak so for trips or if the wife is going its on.
I recently rode a 2016 Fat Boy 110 and talk about feeling light and small, WOW. If I were looking for a 2nd bike to just tear around on it would be o the short list.
 
#34 ·
I've been rocking my 12 Road Glide Custom and went the opposite way as you want to. My best friend has an 11 Ultra Classic with full size trunk, I have developed a love for the look of a bagger with a cut down tour pack. So I instantly fell in love with the Razor Tour Pak when they came out with it, and have it on a locking quick detach rack that I never took off since putting it on the bike. I also get a lil less wind buffeting from having the razor pak on the bike, So pickup detach mount for your bike and either lower shocks or a different seat when you're out by yourself. Best and cheapest way to go about it.
 
#35 ·
I know the dealer I go to well. Long term relationship. There are times I am there for one reason or another. Taking a bike I have no intentions of buying for a ride is not uncommon. To this day nothing has swayed me from the RGU .
 
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