new harley

[drtumolo]

I am looking for some advice. I am looking to move from my yamaha v-star 1100 to my first Harley. I am only 5'4" tall and need a bike that is low but my wife rides with me alot and we take some longer trips @600 miles. One of my big complaints with the v-star is that the passenger seat is @8" higher than the riders seat which puts my wife right in the air blast off the windshield. Would like to avoid this problem with the next bike. I am looking at the RK and the Street Glides but would consider others if they would suit my needs better.

[Bourg]

I just bought a Road Glide. I'm 6' and I feel like I'm sitting low. I added a king tour pack and grab bars for the wife. It's sweet on the road but I'm still getting used to how it feels walking it around. Seems a little top heavy at the stop light and in the garage. We demo'd a Electra Glide UC but neither of us liked it. We both are really getting into the Road Glide.

Whatever you THINK you want be sure to demo it **with your wife on the back**.

good luck
Pete

[jgrossiter]

how about trying a Deluxe? They're short for us vertically challenged people, but my old lady and I pack all over (day tours 300 to 400 miles). There are several baggage options that make packing for a long trip on any Harley easy.

[drtumolo]

I have been looking at the deluxe online this morning. Looks very nice. One of my concerns is the passenger seat height vs the riders seat. As mentioned above my current ride there is over 8" diffrence and causes my wife to get hit in the face by all the air coming over the windsheild.

[MountainMan]

Dude, if you're into 600 miles + trips you might as well forget about the Deluxe.

Get a touring bike for that kind of mileage.

It's either that, or you'll be back at the dealer looking to trade your Softtail on a Touring within a month

MM

[MindInMyOwnBiz]

Think long and hard about ditching the VStar, or think about the new 1300 Vstar tourer.
I moved from a an 02 VStar 1100 Silverado to an 07 Street Glide. I would do it again, but I miss the VStar. Seriously.
The Vstar ran well stock, handled really well stock, had a great suspension stock. My girlfriend loved it and so did I.
I put a cobin seat on it and that was it. I took trips on it. In fact I rode it to the Harley's 100th back in 2003. I road to Tenn and other long trips. It is a nice bike.
When I first bought the Street Glide I loved the fact I had a harley, loved the radio, loved the large-hard-lockable bags, but I was disappointed with the heat, the weight, the handling, and the ride. I dropped another 5-6 grand into it trying to make it ride like my VStar. Then I loved it even more than my VStar, but I spent 24k on it all told.

So if you go for a Harley. Do go for a touring bike. Do buy the progressive suspension and at your height I would recommend lowering the both the front and the rear and inch (12" 440s in the rear).

[SFTL-1]

Originally Posted by drtumolo

I am looking for some advice. I am looking to move from my yamaha v-star 1100 to my first Harley. I am only 5'4" tall and need a bike that is low but my wife rides with me alot and we take some longer trips @600 miles. One of my big complaints with the v-star is that the passenger seat is @8" higher than the riders seat which puts my wife right in the air blast off the windshield. Would like to avoid this problem with the next bike. I am looking at the RK and the Street Glides but would consider others if they would suit my needs better.

Street Glide fits best for what you're looking for...

[emxgarcia]

FLHX rocks!

[tlyoungb]

Well I have a 2005 Electra Glide, and the wife and I love it. But since they both don't like the Electra Glide, then my input would not make any difference. Just this past June the wife and I both did a 2300 mile trip from South Florida to Knoxville and back. That includes riding around in the mountains and such for a whole week.

We had a blast, and the Electra Glide lived up to its name. It glided along the mountains and highways just like a touring bike should, and the gas milage was awesome. I look foward to doing it again. Yep the Electra Glide is a great ride.

[Mr-Jester]

My assistant director is a short gal and she recently purchased a street glide with a lowering kit and loves it and she logs lots of miles. However, if the seat is the only problem for you, it might be cheaper to look at seat options for the V-Star than buying another bike.

[rides99fatboy]

Originally Posted by MindInMyOwnBiz

So if you go for a Harley. Do go for a touring bike. Do buy the progressive suspension and at your height I would recommend lowering the both the front and the rear and inch (12" 440s in the rear).

Doesn't the Street Glide come standard with 12" air shocks? It's already lower than the other Touring bikes.

[MindInMyOwnBiz]

Originally Posted by rides99fatboy

Doesn't the Street Glide come standard with 12" air shocks? It's already lower than the other Touring bikes.

All True.
I was recommending the 440s for ride comfort (air shocks suck, imo) and mentioned 12" to keep it as low (actually a little lower than) stock. The air shocks are 12" with no air in them, but a few pounds in them and you are closer to 12 1/4".
I was also recommending the progressive front springs that can also be purchased an inch shorter. The stock street glide front end is not lowered at all, same height as the electra glide.

[cruizer18]

I'm around 5'5, still set feet flat on the ground whenever on my dad's ultra. Stock suspensions. If u need a a few inches lower, get progressive shocks. I also got a pair on my fxdx. But dont lower too much, unless prepared to lose some turning angle.

for comfy long haul, I say go for a roadking or street glide (slightly lighter than ultra w/out the rear box), both bikes still fun for city use.

prepare for more weights on hd's. I also started out from kawasaki vulcan, honda magna and shadow. first harley i had was a nightrain, all i could think was the weight. I do miss the magna's agility, *** bikes are quicker. But i guess speed isnt all what we're looking for.

have a test ride before u buy, see which one suits u.
btw, i think all passenger seats on cruiser type of bikes are set higher than rider's seats because they're simply there above the rear tyre. What u can do is change to a thinner seat. Less comfy, but the mrs wouldnt complain about the "air slapping" as much as b4.

[drtumolo]

I went to my dealers open house and talked about the road king and the streetglide. He felt I would be better off with a softail deluxe. I am going to rent one and spend the day on it.

[OldMsocko]

Originally Posted by cruizer18

I'm around 5'5, still set feet flat on the ground whenever on my dad's ultra. Stock suspensions. If u need a a few inches lower, get progressive shocks. I also got a pair on my fxdx. But dont lower too much, unless prepared to lose some turning angle.

for comfy long haul, I say go for a roadking or street glide (slightly lighter than ultra w/out the rear box), both bikes still fun for city use.

prepare for more weights on hd's. I also started out from kawasaki vulcan, honda magna and shadow. first harley i had was a nightrain, all i could think was the weight. I do miss the magna's agility, *** bikes are quicker. But i guess speed isnt all what we're looking for.

have a test ride before u buy, see which one suits u.
btw, i think all passenger seats on cruiser type of bikes are set higher than rider's seats because they're simply there above the rear tyre. What u can do is change to a thinner seat. Less comfy, but the mrs wouldnt complain about the "air slapping" as much as b4.

You must be all legs ( long inseam ). I have a 06 Ultra Classic and the only way I was able to sit flat footed was to lower both front and rear 1" and put of the reach seat. I was then able to sit flat footed. I an 5'8".