Skip to main content

I've been researching Harley motorcycles and I've narrowed it down to the Road King Classic, the Heritage and the Street Glider.  I really, really like the Road King Classic...I plan on riding the bike local, of course but I also want to take long distance trips.  From what I understand the fairing on the Street Glider could cause problems because of wind gusts. Does anyone have experience with any of these bikes? and if so, could you give me your thoughts on them?

 

Also, with any bike, I will have to modify it so I can ride it.  The Natchez Trace dealership says they can modify the shocks, the handlebar, the seat and the low touring lowering kit BUT according to the HD site, the local H-D1 Fit Shop is in Huntsville at Rocket dealership.  Can I trust the local dealership to make these modifications or should I go to the Rocket dealership because they are listed as the H-D1 Fit Shop?

“We must always think about things, and we must think about things as they are, not as they are said to be.”

~George Bernard Shaw

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I have an Ultra Classic, which is probably close to what you are looking at. It has the lower farings, but I usually just leave mine off unless I'm going to ride in cold weather (they really help in that case). I have never had any problem with wind gust - they are designed to go down the road at 60, or 70, or ... MPH , so a little wind gust should not be a problem.

Sorry, I can't address your other questions. My bike has air shocks so I can (within limits) raise or lower the back end, but I seldom mess with it, and it is mostly used for carrying a heavy load, like a passenger or a loaded trunk. I'm thinking that you are probably wanting the bike lowered and be advised that HD used to make a saddle that gives short people more leg room. 

I would suspect the local dealer is qualified to do the work, but if I were you, I would check on the price at other places, but that's just good advise for anything.

I will definitely check out Murfeesboro (Bumpus Harley Davidson?)   I haven't priced bikes at Rocket yet but I plan to do so...and Murfeesboro  

 

I need to lower the bike because of my height.  I watched a video on HD website of the woman who is 5'1" who bought a Road King.  I'm 5'2" and image I will need to modify my bike much the same way.

 

I don't plan on buy a bike until May so I have plenty of time to really search for the best deals AND I need to take the riding course.  The last time I owned a bike I was 16...so it's been a while! lol

The little bike I had when I was 16 was a little Kawasaki 90 LOL  I'm buying this bike as a 'novice' person who has never ridden.  I'm taking the riding course class at the Rocket dealership before I actually buy the Road King.  If I end up with a 'reality check' after taking that class then I will not buy a motorcycle at all and be lucky that all I did was spend $299 for the riding class.  BUT...if, after the class, I still feel confident then I am going to have soooo much fun this summer!!!

I have a Ultra Classic that I have taken the lowers off and the tour pack for around town riding but can be put back on if needed.  All the bikes you listed are variations of the same basic bike, the FLH faring has been on Harleys in the same basic for for decades with no problems.  If you are going to just ride around town I would look at the super glides or wide glide as they are a little lower and easier to handle especially just starting out.  My first bike at 16 was 77 super glide great bike I wish I still had it.  I know the Bumpus's and worked at the Mem dealership during high school before they bought it Good People.  I also hear good things about the one in Tuscumbia.

Originally Posted by HIFLYER2:

I have a Ultra Classic that I have taken the lowers off and the tour pack for around town riding but can be put back on if needed.  All the bikes you listed are variations of the same basic bike, the FLH faring has been on Harleys in the same basic for for decades with no problems.  If you are going to just ride around town I would look at the super glides or wide glide as they are a little lower and easier to handle especially just starting out.  My first bike at 16 was 77 super glide great bike I wish I still had it.  I know the Bumpus's and worked at the Mem dealership during high school before they bought it Good People.  I also hear good things about the one in Tuscumbia.

 

Thank you HiFlyer2!  I have more research to do before I actually buy the bike.  I have talked to the dealer in Tuscumbia and they are a great bunch of people but it is their job to up-sale me if they can...which I don't blame them...but it does make it a little harder to ask questions that I don't already have some clue about.  It's definitely better to ask people who have no vested interest in what I buy!  

Just a thought but with the economy as it is you can find barley used HDs for Far lower than buying new.   I would go to several dealers and make up your mind what you want and then compare what you could find used against new.  I would defiantly have a pre buy inspection on any used bike.   Simply a lot of HD buyers are spur of the moment buyers that hardly every ride them "toy" but well kept garage stored bikes.

Originally Posted by HIFLYER2:

Just a thought but with the economy as it is you can find barley used HDs for Far lower than buying new.   I would go to several dealers and make up your mind what you want and then compare what you could find used against new.  I would defiantly have a pre buy inspection on any used bike.   Simply a lot of HD buyers are spur of the moment buyers that hardly every ride them "toy" but well kept garage stored bikes.

I think a Sportster would be a good HD as well, as it is somewhat smaller and lighter. Has the 74 CU engine. My second HD was a 59  Duo Glide (my first HD was a 1945 , 45 Cubic inch displacement), and the 59 had 74CIs, and that's plenty.

Should be able to get a good sporstster used and they are not too expensive new.

Originally Posted by seeweed:
Originally Posted by HIFLYER2:

Just a thought but with the economy as it is you can find barley used HDs for Far lower than buying new.   I would go to several dealers and make up your mind what you want and then compare what you could find used against new.  I would defiantly have a pre buy inspection on any used bike.   Simply a lot of HD buyers are spur of the moment buyers that hardly every ride them "toy" but well kept garage stored bikes.

I think a Sportster would be a good HD as well, as it is somewhat smaller and lighter. Has the 74 CU engine. My second HD was a 59  Duo Glide (my first HD was a 1945 , 45 Cubic inch displacement), and the 59 had 74CIs, and that's plenty.

Should be able to get a good sporstster used and they are not too expensive new.

~~~~~~~~

Thanks seeweed.  I haven't looked into the Sportster yet but I will.

Tam>  I'm taking the riding course class at the Rocket dealership before I actually buy the Road King.  If I end up with a 'reality check' after taking that class then I will not buy a motorcycle at all and be lucky that all I did was spend $299 for the riding class.  BUT...if, after the class, I still feel confident then I am going to have soooo much fun this summer!!! 

 

i took their class several years ago. good class, great instructor. lots of classroom instruction and 'homework' to learn overnight. and many thought they would get to ride their bike of choice, or the kind they wanted to buy. but we all rode 'crotch-rocket' type bikes provided by Rocket Harley. they may have changed that now. but just a bit of info

enJOY your ride, hg<><

Originally Posted by thehippiegirl is gone.:

Tam>  I'm taking the riding course class at the Rocket dealership before I actually buy the Road King.  If I end up with a 'reality check' after taking that class then I will not buy a motorcycle at all and be lucky that all I did was spend $299 for the riding class.  BUT...if, after the class, I still feel confident then I am going to have soooo much fun this summer!!! 

 

i took their class several years ago. good class, great instructor. lots of classroom instruction and 'homework' to learn overnight. and many thought they would get to ride their bike of choice, or the kind they wanted to buy. but we all rode 'crotch-rocket' type bikes provided by Rocket Harley. they may have changed that now. but just a bit of info

enJOY your ride, hg<><

~~~~~~~~

Thank you Hippiegirl!    I talked with them last week and was told they would provide the bikes but they didn't say what kind!   I am a little nervous...I have all these thoughts that I'll be the one who keeps dropping her bike.  lol  of course if that happens there will be NO WAY I'll be able to pick it back up.  

 

I haven't actually signed up of a class yet.  It's a 4 day class and I'd like to take it when it's not raining and just a little warmer!  They have a class the last week of March but I don't now if the weather will be any better than what it is now.  brrrrr     So...I'll wait until a little later in March before actually taking the course...BUT...I am very excited!!!

 

Thank you so much for letting me know a little about what to expect...it cuts down on the nervously a little!

Originally Posted by Tamela:
Originally Posted by thehippiegirl is gone.:

Tam>  I'm taking the riding course class at the Rocket dealership before I actually buy the Road King.  If I end up with a 'reality check' after taking that class then I will not buy a motorcycle at all and be lucky that all I did was spend $299 for the riding class.  BUT...if, after the class, I still feel confident then I am going to have soooo much fun this summer!!! 

 

i took their class several years ago. good class, great instructor. lots of classroom instruction and 'homework' to learn overnight. and many thought they would get to ride their bike of choice, or the kind they wanted to buy. but we all rode 'crotch-rocket' type bikes provided by Rocket Harley. they may have changed that now. but just a bit of info

enJOY your ride, hg<><

~~~~~~~~

Thank you Hippiegirl!    I talked with them last week and was told they would provide the bikes but they didn't say what kind!   I am a little nervous...I have all these thoughts that I'll be the one who keeps dropping her bike.  lol  of course if that happens there will be NO WAY I'll be able to pick it back up.  

 

I haven't actually signed up of a class yet.  It's a 4 day class and I'd like to take it when it's not raining and just a little warmer!  They have a class the last week of March but I don't now if the weather will be any better than what it is now.  brrrrr     So...I'll wait until a little later in March before actually taking the course...BUT...I am very excited!!!

 

Thank you so much for letting me know a little about what to expect...it cuts down on the nervously a little!

Tamela...I thought you might be interested in the web site address attached.

Before I relocated to California, we would spend long and extended summer vacations near Mount Pisgah, NC. They have a beautiful campground at Mount Pisgah, as well as a lodge at the peak of the parkway, south of Asheville, NC.towards Cherokee, NC.

Hundreds of bikers from all over California, go cross country to Mount Pisgah almost every year. As incredible as the beauty is here on the west coast, I still miss the Shoals, and the North Carolina mountains!! Here is the web address

http://www.romanticasheville.c...otorcycle_drives.htm          Enjoy!!

Originally Posted by HIFLYER2:
Originally Posted by Tamela:
Originally Posted by HIFLYER2:

A sportster is not a real Harley!!  Sorry just could not resit and just kidding. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

    Shows you how much I know about motorcycles!!  LOL

Old joke among Harley riders is that sportsters are dirt bikes.  I guess I am showing my age.

~~~~~~~

Ok...I just went to the Harley-Davidson website and BUSTED out laughing when  I saw that the Sportster really is a Harley.... hahahahahahaha    There's no hope of me!!!!! 

Originally Posted by Tamela:
Originally Posted by HIFLYER2:
Originally Posted by Tamela:
Originally Posted by HIFLYER2:

A sportster is not a real Harley!!  Sorry just could not resit and just kidding. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

    Shows you how much I know about motorcycles!!  LOL

Old joke among Harley riders is that sportsters are dirt bikes.  I guess I am showing my age.

~~~~~~~

Ok...I just went to the Harley-Davidson website and BUSTED out laughing when  I saw that the Sportster really is a Harley.... hahahahahahaha    There's no hope of me!!!!! 

========

At one time Harley Davidson marketed a bike made by some Italian outfit, but it was more of a dirt bike. That may be what you were thinking about. Yea, a Sportster IS a real Harley, just a llittle smaller and lighter. I still think it would make a fine bike for a woman., and I wouldn't mind having one myself. 

Originally Posted by seeweed:
Originally Posted by Tamela:
Originally Posted by HIFLYER2:
Originally Posted by Tamela:
Originally Posted by HIFLYER2:

A sportster is not a real Harley!!  Sorry just could not resit and just kidding. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

    Shows you how much I know about motorcycles!!  LOL

Old joke among Harley riders is that sportsters are dirt bikes.  I guess I am showing my age.

~~~~~~~

Ok...I just went to the Harley-Davidson website and BUSTED out laughing when  I saw that the Sportster really is a Harley.... hahahahahahaha    There's no hope of me!!!!! 

========

At one time Harley Davidson marketed a bike made by some Italian outfit, but it was more of a dirt bike. That may be what you were thinking about. Yea, a Sportster IS a real Harley, just a llittle smaller and lighter. I still think it would make a fine bike for a woman., and I wouldn't mind having one myself. 

Yes seeweed they HD did carry Italian bikes that were dirt bikes back in the 70s.  We used to kid our sportster riding brothers by calling them dirt bikes because they used that bike as a dirt flat track racing bike.  Harley made the XR750 sportster for flat track racing. NIce vid of the 750 in action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WymQXpSTKOU

 Once was the time you wouldn't even mention owning a Japanese bike to the Harley crowd, but today like with every thing else being tolerated, the Harley's and the Japanese bike ride along side by side. Most motorcycle clubs do not care what brand you ride, but there is still some brand name specific clubs around. The only Harley I ever owned was a Sportster.

Originally Posted by unclegus:

 Once was the time you wouldn't even mention owning a Japanese bike to the Harley crowd, but today like with every thing else being tolerated, the Harley's and the Japanese bike ride along side by side. Most motorcycle clubs do not care what brand you ride, but there is still some brand name specific clubs around. The only Harley I ever owned was a Sportster.

==========

Used to kid the folks with the Jap bikes; called them "rice burners" , and called the 2 cycle bikes "whing-dings" (for the way they sounded when you reved them up and then let off the gas. I've owned several Hondas , and they are fine bikes, in fact I still have a Honda, but it is not running at the present time - I think it needs a gas pump - who would ever have thought of putting a gas pump on a bike that is not fuel injected ...   Also once had a BSA .

HOwever, from my experience, you ride IN a Harley , you ride ON all the rest.

Tamela:  You'd smart to take your lessons, and then regroup on buying a bike.

 

For someone that's a beginner rider, you'd be better to start on a bike that was much smaller and lighter.  I prefer a naked bike like a used Suzuki 650.    It'll do everything you want to do, and you can sell it in another year after you have some experience without losing big $.  In fact, there are few 800 pound Harleys that can run with it.  

 

After you have some miles under your belt, then consider buying a bike for the long run. 

 

I worked with a girl that bought a new Harley.  She was killed in an accident within a month.

 

Originally Posted by Bamaman1:

Tamela:  You'd smart to take your lessons, and then regroup on buying a bike.

 

For someone that's a beginner rider, you'd be better to start on a bike that was much smaller and lighter.  I prefer a naked bike like a used Suzuki 650.    It'll do everything you want to do, and you can sell it in another year after you have some experience without losing big $.  In fact, there are few 800 pound Harleys that can run with it.  

 

After you have some miles under your belt, then consider buying a bike for the long run. 

 

I worked with a girl that bought a new Harley.  She was killed in an accident within a month.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh wow Bamaman, I'm so sorry your friend died.    I  am definitely going to take the riding course first.  I'm really putting in a lot of thought as to what is the best way to go and there is sooo much to consider.  Right now I'm in the bottom half of the 50s and I don't believe I will have too much difficulty handling the bike but I have to think about being in the top half of 50s and will I still be able to handle the bike without too much difficulty.  I did think about the trikes...but I don't have any desire putting in $30 + thousand on a motorcycle...it would be nice though!!

I have been back on a motorcycle since 2006.  I bought a six hundred dollar motorcycle to get my riding legs back under me.  Then moved up to a Shadow 750, which by the way is cheap to operate compared to most other bikes.  Then I bought a VTX 1300, it was a good bike, but used up tires faster than the 750.  My favorite was a Kawasaki concours 1000.  Now I am back on a Shadow 750, simply because it is cheaper to operate than most motorcycles that I know about.  I have ridden my both of my brothers Harley's,  they ride great, and are suprisingly  nimble for a big bike.  Once you learn to ride, do not be afraid of the big harleys, they are well balanced.

Originally Posted by mad American:

I have been back on a motorcycle since 2006.  I bought a six hundred dollar motorcycle to get my riding legs back under me.  Then moved up to a Shadow 750, which by the way is cheap to operate compared to most other bikes.  Then I bought a VTX 1300, it was a good bike, but used up tires faster than the 750.  My favorite was a Kawasaki concours 1000.  Now I am back on a Shadow 750, simply because it is cheaper to operate than most motorcycles that I know about.  I have ridden my both of my brothers Harley's,  they ride great, and are suprisingly  nimble for a big bike.  Once you learn to ride, do not be afraid of the big harleys, they are well balanced.

~~~~~~


Thank you mad American!!  

Add Reply

Post

Untitled Document
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×