[FLtroll]

My mechanic down at the dealership has been bugging me to step up to the new Rushmore platform, he has been very pleased with everything (from a mechanics perspective) that he sees on the new platform. It has been easy to blow it off as the FLTRU has not been offered till now.

So, off to the dealer to test ride the new water head bikes. Here is what I test rode and what I thought:
-Road Glide CVO. Very nice bike, comfortable, decent power, better triple tree, good wind management. However, rediculously expensive, not better wind management than what I have and not really more power (stock) than mine.
-Standard Road Glide. Handled great, miserable wind management with that POS micro windshield and no leg lowers, as good or better feeling power wise than CVO (less weight)
-Ultra Limited Low. Does not fit me at all, not even a consideration.
-Ultra Limited. Better fit, wind management was not to the level of my Glide, sloppy in parking lot maneuvers compared to my Glide, but very comfortable.

Overall, I think having a batwing fairing negates the improved handling that the forks and new triple tree offer. Standard Glide handled beautifully!

I like the new stuff, but I can't say I like it better than what I have. None of them really do anything better that my 2011, all cost more, and as many have said, I still have to set up a new bike to fit me. The dilemma is, mine is now 5 years old and getting older from a trade-in value perspective, there is still enough value in it to get something else, but I'm just not swept off my feet with the new models. A new 2016 black FLTRU will be here this weekend, so I think I will go ride that. Will be the best apples to apples comparison to mine.

I keep thinking I must be crazy not to be drooling over the new Rushmore's, but I'm just not. Maybe the new RGU will do it for me.

 

[Big_gary]

My mechanic down at the dealership has been bugging me to step up to the new Rushmore platform, he has been very pleased with everything (from a mechanics perspective) that he sees on the new platform. It has been easy to blow it off as the FLTRU has not been offered till now.

So, off to the dealer to test ride the new water head bikes. Here is what I test rode and what I thought:
-Road Glide CVO. Very nice bike, comfortable, decent power, better triple tree, good wind management. However, rediculously expensive, not better wind management than what I have and not really more power (stock) than mine.
-Standard Road Glide. Handled great, miserable wind management with that POS micro windshield and no leg lowers, as good or better feeling power wise than CVO (less weight)
-Ultra Limited Low. Does not fit me at all, not even a consideration.
-Ultra Limited. Better fit, wind management was not to the level of my Glide, sloppy in parking lot maneuvers compared to my Glide, but very comfortable.

Overall, I think having a batwing fairing negates the improved handling that the forks and new triple tree offer. Standard Glide handled beautifully!

I like the new stuff, but I can't say I like it better than what I have. None of them really do anything better that my 2011, all cost more, and as many have said, I still have to set up a new bike to fit me. The dilemma is, mine is now 5 years old and getting older from a trade-in value perspective, there is still enough value in it to get something else, but I'm just not swept off my feet with the new models. A new 2016 black FLTRU will be here this weekend, so I think I will go ride that. Will be the best apples to apples comparison to mine.

I keep thinking I must be crazy not to be drooling over the new Rushmore's, but I'm just not. Maybe the new RGU will do it for me.

My feelings exactly. What do you think is going to be different in the ultra from the cvo?

 

[FLtroll]

My feelings exactly. What do you think is going to be different in the ultra from the cvo?

Probably nothing more than the insane CVO price. I liked the CVO but would not pay $40K for a bike. Therefore, the appeal of the Ultra.

 

[tj316]

I went in to buy a CVO Roadglide , after sitting on it and riding it I was 100% not impressed , they offered me the bike for 37K out the door which was a good price but I liked it less than what I had , so I took the money I didn't spend and bought a 120st motor to go in my bike , picked the motor up and took it to Wes Brown at Cycle Rama , Wes completely disassembled the motor , is making some upgrades to it and then will reassemble it , install it and dyno tune it , he's had the motor 4 weeks and it's killing me

 

[thealaskan]

Its probably harder to trade up when you already own a Road Glide. 2015 is a better bike imo, in many regards, but as you say, you still have to make it your own ~ all over again.

For me, this 2015 FLTRXS is all the bike I'll ever need. My fourth HD but its been a few years between bikes and I know its new to me but I'm pretty enamored by it, even stock. Handles very well (once rolling), runs fine for my age now and I'll probably only do a Stage 1 and remove the cat.

I'm way past buying extra Harley doodad stuff that will eventually get replaced so I'll take my time on this one.

All that probably didn't help much, lol, but good luck on your decision.

 

[Big_gary]

I went in to buy a CVO Roadglide , after sitting on it and riding it I was 100% not impressed , they offered me the bike for 37K out the door which was a good price but I liked it less than what I had , so I took the money I didn't spend and bought a 120st motor to go in my bike , picked the motor up and took it to Wes Brown at Cycle Rama , Wes completely disassembled the motor , is making some upgrades to it and then will reassemble it , install it and dyno tune it , he's had the motor 4 weeks and it's killing me

What made you choose the 120 st over the s&s 124 ?

 

[Spazz]

I went from a 2013 Softtail, to the 2014 SGS and now my 2015RGS with a 120ST motor. I kept stepping up. I like the handling of the RGS over my SGS ... front end feels much lighter but the wind protection of the batwing is better IMHO. I still need to get a new shield on the RGS and that may very well be the issue.

I completely understand the dilemma of stepping up from one RG to another and having to start over... sucks. IF you love what you have stick with it.

TJ316,

My 120ST is a bit noisy in the valve train... I'm trying to wrap my head around it but it's tough. Could be the nature of the beast. I still need a tune and not happy with my exhaust since it's not what I want... so that in itself delays my tune.

I hope your modified 120ST comes out sweet.... I'll wait til you post up

 

[tj316]

What made you choose the 120 st over the s&s 124 ?

If I do ever decide to sell the bike dealers around me do not want a bike if it doesn't have a Harley motor , although people who know who S & S is understand it's a great product the average person walking into a Harley dealership wants a Harley motor in the bike , also my dealer gave me a great deal on the motor , and lastly I talked to Wes who is a first rate motor builder before buying it and he felt at the price I was paying for it and allowing him to go through the motor and make upgrades I would wind up with a solid motor that I would get a long life out of

 

[FLtroll]

I went in to buy a CVO Roadglide , after sitting on it and riding it I was 100% not impressed , they offered me the bike for 37K out the door which was a good price but I liked it less than what I had , so I took the money I didn't spend and bought a 120st motor to go in my bike , picked the motor up and took it to Wes Brown at Cycle Rama , Wes completely disassembled the motor , is making some upgrades to it and then will reassemble it , install it and dyno tune it , he's had the motor 4 weeks and it's killing me

A 120 and a Baker would do it for me!

 

[lil chief]

One of the problems with the 120 used to be, and I dont know if it still is, is that they used to heavy of valve springs in the heads causing the valves to slam back down onto the seats, & eventually resulting in damage. If your 120 is an older one, the heavy springs might be the cause of your noise.

Lil Chief

 

[JacktheBagger]

Well the local stealer was gonna give me 10 on a trade in June , and I wasn't impressed with what wifey was wanting to trade for .. In 44 years of Harleys and almost 32 years of sharks only , I can say mine de catted , with different bars ( KW 2+2 sweepers ) , different grips ( Avons ) and a batwing ultra seat , is definitely the best I have ever had ... I am not impressed with the new display , though I realize they have to keep changing things to appeal to the market and such .. I do like the concept of the water heads , though not enuff to go in debt over , have had the title since the end of the first year .. I can see this one staying for a long time , if the motor squats , there is a S&S 124 somewhere with my name on it ..

There is , or was , don't know if it is still there , as I only go by the stealer maybe twice a year , a beautiful red CVO on the floor , that I must say I lusted over for maybe a minute , then came back to my senses , and said to myself that my scratched up and dinged up black bike looked just fine ..

JtB

 

[Mengy]

I like the new stuff, but I can't say I like it better than what I have. None of them really do anything better that my 2011, all cost more, and as many have said, I still have to set up a new bike to fit me. The dilemma is, mine is now 5 years old and getting older from a trade-in value perspective, there is still enough value in it to get something else, but I'm just not swept off my feet with the new models. A new 2016 black FLTRU will be here this weekend, so I think I will go ride that. Will be the best apples to apples comparison to mine.

I keep thinking I must be crazy not to be drooling over the new Rushmore's, but I'm just not. Maybe the new RGU will do it for me.

I also own a 2011 RGU (mostly stock too) but I've decided to trade mine in for a 2016 RGU. The Rushmore changes, for me, are worth the cost. I was planning to keep my 2011 for a very long time, like over ten years, but if I'm going to keep a RGU for ten years then I want those Rushmore upgrades on it. I love the updated radio that can read USBs, I love the new bar controls, I love the new latches for the bags and pack, I love the bigger forks, I love the rims on the '16 so much more than my '11's, I love the new bars and mirror position, I love the water cooling, I love the LED headlights, and I love the new fairing. To upgrade mine to all of that would cost close to what it's costing me to trade up, so I'm doing it now before I rack up too many more miles on my 2011.

Now my dealer just needs to find a two tone red to sell me....

 

[bob2002]

My mechanic down at the dealership has been bugging me to step up to the new Rushmore platform, he has been very pleased with everything (from a mechanics perspective) that he sees on the new platform. It has been easy to blow it off as the FLTRU has not been offered till now.

So, off to the dealer to test ride the new water head bikes. Here is what I test rode and what I thought:
-Road Glide CVO. Very nice bike, comfortable, decent power, better triple tree, good wind management. However, rediculously expensive, not better wind management than what I have and not really more power (stock) than mine.
-Standard Road Glide. Handled great, miserable wind management with that POS micro windshield and no leg lowers, as good or better feeling power wise than CVO (less weight)
-Ultra Limited Low. Does not fit me at all, not even a consideration.
-Ultra Limited. Better fit, wind management was not to the level of my Glide, sloppy in parking lot maneuvers compared to my Glide, but very comfortable.

Overall, I think having a batwing fairing negates the improved handling that the forks and new triple tree offer. Standard Glide handled beautifully!

I like the new stuff, but I can't say I like it better than what I have. None of them really do anything better that my 2011, all cost more, and as many have said, I still have to set up a new bike to fit me. The dilemma is, mine is now 5 years old and getting older from a trade-in value perspective, there is still enough value in it to get something else, but I'm just not swept off my feet with the new models. A new 2016 black FLTRU will be here this weekend, so I think I will go ride that. Will be the best apples to apples comparison to mine.

I keep thinking I must be crazy not to be drooling over the new Rushmore's, but I'm just not. Maybe the new RGU will do it for me.

I pretty much felt the same way after riding two different RGU's and one Limited, the one RGU shook something terrible at highway speeds, dealer had no idea why.

 

[Quicksand]

I also own a 2011 RGU (mostly stock too) but I've decided to trade mine in for a 2016 RGU. The Rushmore changes, for me, are worth the cost. I was planning to keep my 2011 for a very long time, like over ten years, but if I'm going to keep a RGU for ten years then I want those Rushmore upgrades on it. I love the updated radio that can read USBs, I love the new bar controls, I love the new latches for the bags and pack, I love the bigger forks, I love the rims on the '16 so much more than my '11's, I love the new bars and mirror position, I love the water cooling, I love the LED headlights, and I love the new fairing. To upgrade mine to all of that would cost close to what it's costing me to trade up, so I'm doing it now before I rack up too many more miles on my 2011.

I agree with pretty much everything Mengy said and I too hope to be upgrading to a '16 Rushmore this year.

Saying that, if you guys are serious you need to get a hold of Road Queen on the forum. Especially you Fltroll since you and she are both in Florida. She can sell you a new RGU for substantially under MSRP!! She can sell them cheap enough that even though I'm in Kentucky I'll be calling her when it's time. You won't find a finer person then Linda either and she's a rider too. Her latest bike a '13 RGU has about 80k on it!

 

[PBSTN]

I test rode a 15 RGS. It is a very nice bike. Comparing a 2015 to a 2010 in stock form. The 15 is a much better ride. But my 10 as it is today, is a better ride. I have never had a wind management issue with the fairing on my 10. And I don't think I will ever own a wet head bike. But I do believe some of the rushmore changes are great improvements.

 

[FLtroll]

I agree with pretty much everything Mengy said and I too hope to be upgrading to a '16 Rushmore this year.

Saying that, if you guys are serious you need to get a hold of Road Queen on the forum. Especially you Fltroll since you and she are both in Florida. She can sell you a new RGU for substantially under MSRP!! She can sell them cheap enough that even though I'm in Kentucky I'll be calling her when it's time. You won't find a finer person then Linda either and she's a rider too. Her latest bike a '13 RGU has about 80k on it!

That is great advice, I will look her up.

 

[FLtroll]

Just finished riding the RGU. It is a very nice bike, it handles substantially better than the Ultra Limited I rode. The main things I liked about the bike were the linked brakes (stops incredibly well), the new forks and new triple tree. Handle bars seemed decent for my size and seat position was good. Wind protection was a little less than my 2011, but a Windvest would probably bring it up to speed. If I wasn't currently on a RGU, there would be no hesitation, now I have to get the wife on the back and see what she thinks.

 

[E wisdom]

Yes, all 3 RG's sit differently. IMO the new RG's are better. For most the stock set up works. It doesn't work for me but I'm able to swap my 2012 cvo seat over to the 2016. I'm taller so the stock bars had to go. Duo maybe I'm lucky in aside from some personal upgrades I could have been happy with just the seat and bars!

I do not like the set up on the rg Cvo I think it's uncomfortable especially with the back rest.