New Road Glide or is it?

[odotb]

 I hear all the time how the Road Glide is the best bike Harley makes. I have an 07 FLTR and it is OK, but my 02 Dyna is my Sweetheart.  Now, word is the 2010 Road Glide is nothing more than the Street Glide with a Road Glide fairing on it. Anybody know if this is true? If so, how can the Road Glide handle any better than any other 2010 FLH? Anyone know what the differences are in the 09 and earlier from the new.

[Ridetard]

The street glide and the road gilde are Road Kings with farings on them,

[PoorUB]

I hear all the time how the Road Glide is the best bike Harley makes. I have an 07 FLTR and it is OK, but my 02 Dyna is my Sweetheart.  Now, word is the 2010 Road Glide is nothing more than the Street Glide with a Road Glide fairing on it. Anybody know if this is true? If so, how can the Road Glide handle any better than any other 2010 FLH? Anyone know what the differences are in the 09 and earlier from the new.

Any bike in the touring line is just some variation of some other model in the line, they share the same frame. 
The Road Glide has a frame mounted fairing, where the other bikes with fairings are mounted to the front forks. With the fairing mounted to the frame, the bike steers easier because you have less weight to turn with the handle bars. Is it a big deal? I don't know. I have not riden a RG, but my two Ultras I have had steer pretty easy.

[Ed Y]

   Now, word is the 2010 Road Glide is nothing more than the Street Glide with a Road Glide fairing on it.

Could be the 2010 Street Glide is nothing more than a Road Glide with an Electra Glide fairing on it. 

[odotb]

  Boy, I am really confused now. Seriously, I think I read somewhere that the 09 and down Roadglides had a different geometry or angle or something on the front end. The triple trees or something in the rake or fork angle.

[JohnCA58]

odotb,  no difference, same part numbers for tree's and frame. 

[Bigs]

2010 Street Glide and 2010 Road Glide are the same except the difference in fairings and both have 12" rear shocks. I like the 2009 Road Glide better since it is more of a touring bike with the higher windshield,  cruise control, a seat more comfortable for a passenger, and 13" rear shocks for better travel. I like my 95" '06 RG and wouldn't trade up for a new one because it sits lower for my short legs.
   Bigs

[Bigs]

Forgot to add that cruise control on the 2010's is extra not standard like on the '09's.
   Bigs

[Dennis The Menace]

They are all the same (frame, rake/trail, forks), only difference is the fairing.  I've owned em all, RK, Ultra and 2 RGs.  The RG is best of both worlds, lighter steering, but fairing convenience (radio, gauges).  The batwing is a little slower steering, but pretty much only at lower speeds.  On the highway, not much difference, IMO.  EXCEPT, the RG has more air turbulence at highway speeds than a batwing bike.

I still miss my Fatboy tho.  The RG handles similarly, but not as nimble and sporty as the Fatboy.  The Touring bikes all have a heavier feel, due to the geometry and weight differences (compared to a Softail).  I rode a Heritage for several days as well, and it was as fun at my Fatboy.

JME

menace

[bigfoot5x]

I have an 07 StreetGlide and recently rode a Road Glide on a demo. My StreetGlide has a taller windshield because I am 6'5" tall and without it the wind was terrible coming over the little windscreen. The RoadGlide had the same problem for me. I would have to have a HUGE windshield to be comfortable on it. The only difference I noticed is that there was less wind buffeting around my legs with the RG because of the shape of the lower fairing. My understanding is they share the same "touring" frame with the the Ultra and the Road Kings.

[Dennis The Menace]

Bigfoot, I have the Tall shield on my RG and it helps in winter to keep the cold air off my upper body, but with your height I would think you would have a lot of turbulence with it.  There is more wind hitting you on a RG versus a batwing, and it would probably hard to find a good shield for a tall rider.

I dont mind the wind in warmer temps, and just use a 9 inch shield or a deflector (6inch) in summer.  I want all the breeze I cna get on a hot day, so it works out well.  I also wear a full face, so need more air coming at me.

menace

[Ed Y]

Dennis and Bigfoot,

I'm 6'4" tall and have a 2002 RG. I've got a Clearview 14" recurve windshield on it and have no buffeting problems at all. And both of my helmets have visors on them.

[NETacomaFatboy]

I traded an 03RG for a 2010RG.  Night and day difference.  The 2010 RG is alot harsher on the road but also tracks alot better.  6sp with a larger motor makes it a breeze to be cruising at 70+ mph.   I got mine with cruise and ABS.   If I had to do over, I would scratch the ABS.   Normal brakes always stopped me fine.

As for the difference between RG, SG or RK, it is all a personal preference.  I like the RG because the fairing sits flat and spreads out.  The fact that the fairing is rigid is something that you do not notice after 10 mins of riding.    I have riding the batwing and did not like how it 'sits' up straight and in your face.   I have a buddy that just hates the RG.  No big deal as we all have our preferences.

Go test all of them and decide for yourself.......

[hrdtail78]

My 99 FXDWG is the sweatheart in my stable also.

[bigfoot5x]

I am more than content with my StreetGlide es[ecially since I just made it a 103 with some Andrews cams. I just rode the Road Glide out of curiosity.

[harborjohn]

Could it be that they are stripped down Ultras.

[Ed Y]

I traded an 03RG for a 2010RG.  Night and day difference.  The 2010 RG is alot harsher on the road but also tracks alot better. 

You probably already are aware of this but if you install 13" shocks (standard in previous years) instead of the 12" shocks, the harshness will disappear. At least it did for a friend of mine.

[glens]

Yeah, the 09+ bikes don't ride quite as "plushly" as the previous ones did.  And with even less travel than the already less travel that came with the newer chassis...

I've noticed the newer (standard) setup is way more picky about the air pressure in the shocks than the old chassis setup was.  In about 7k miles I haven't been able to find one setting that works well-enough for riding solo and double.  It pretty much necessitates hooking the pump up whenever riding modes change.  Not too high a price to pay, I guess, 'cause it all works so well together.

If there was something about the Road Glide that made it handle better than the Electra Glide prior to 09, I'm sure the same relationship still stands, but the newer E-Glide handles better than the prior R-Glide in my (back-to-back) experience.  So if that relationship does still stand, the 09+ Roadie must be one sweet ride.  Except for the way the rider's "pocket" works.

[NETacomaFatboy]

I traded an 03RG for a 2010RG.  Night and day difference.  The 2010 RG is alot harsher on the road but also tracks alot better. 

You probably already are aware of this but if you install 13" shocks (standard in previous years) instead of the 12" shocks, the harshness will disappear. At least it did for a friend of mine.

I am height challenged and find the RG stands too tall for me at the back.   Progressive has a 11.5 but I do not think that will make much difference for me.

[June2017]

The BIG difference is,..............EVERYBODY has a Street Glide ,.......

but only a few have a Road Glide !!   

[Coyote]

The BIG difference is,..............EVERYBODY has a Street Glide ,.......

but only a few have a Road Glide !!   

  Mine made it a week stock. lol