'08 earlier vs. '09 later touring frame bikes........

[blk-betty]

Are the newer framed bikes really that much better?

Apologize in advance for being long winded but feel a need to set the scene.

I'm at a major life crossroad and trying to decide what direction to go....wife doesn't want to be married anymore but still wants to be friends and "hang out"...... wtf?

So selling the house, getting divorced and thinking about bikes to stay sane in all this.

Have an '06 FLHX, still 88" with about 35K miles that is sorted out pretty well for me with solo seat, handlebars, pipes, quick detach tour pack, hog tunes, floating rotors, etc.  It's one of 5 HDs we've owned since 2000 and aside from a Honda 650 Nighthawk I had in the mid 80s, the only other brand of street bike I'd ridden until recently.

I bought a used '08 Triumph Tiger 1050 at a great price back in November with plans to do a little "adventure" riding....off-pavement, hard pack gravel, forest service roads etc., and shortly after buying it I decided the FLHX was too slow, too heavy, didn't corner well, vibrated too much.  Basically all the things non-HD riders say about HDs.

Buddy (on an '07 BMW 1200 GSA) and I took a trip out west last month and planned to do a lot of off-pavement riding in MT, ID, WY, and CO but our plans were altered by the heavy snowpack and wet spring so we didn't get to do much riding on gravel/forest service roads.  In hindsight this was a blessing as I found the Triumph, while a GREAT rode bike really doesn't belong off-pavement. 

Before I left for the trip I was seriously contemplating selling the FLHX when I got back because of it's "liabilities" and buying something I knew to be more off-road worthy while keeping the Triumph Tiger...........but after only 2 days of our trip and being all on pavement on the open road I was jonesing to be back on the HD.  Most bikes we saw were HDs or Wings and I was envious every time one or more passed us for the remaining 11 days of our trip.

So now the Triumph is for sale and I want to add a true smallish dual-sport bike to the garage but seriously thinking about treating myself after the divorce and replacing the '06 FLHX for an '11 or '12,  103" Street Glide, Road Glide Custom or maybe Rode Glide Ultra.

So do the newer frames handle that much better, is the 103" significantly more powerful than my stage 1 88", how much does the 6th gear help at 70+ mph?

I was really surprised how much heavier the newer bikes are, I believe the Road Glide Custom is about 50 lbs heavier than my Street Glide.  I've also heard some complain that the 103" runs a lot hotter than the 96".  Is the 96" that much hotter than the 88"?

Both the Triumph and the '06 FLHX are paid in full and I think I could sell or trade both of them and probably have enough to almost "buy" an '11 or '12 FLHX or Road Glide Custom with not much money out of pocket.  But then I will have to sort out the new bike and won't have any $$ left to pick up a nice used dual-sport.

Of couse all this hinges on how much the house sells for, when it finally sells, and how much I spend on a new place but these "what if" scenarios make it easier to cope right now.

Thanks for any and all opinions.

   
   

[Bigs]

July 1st I traded a '05 1200C Sportster and a '06 Road Glide, which I thought handled great, for a 2011 Road Glide Ultra. I didn't think the new RGU would handle any better than my '06 RG but it is far Superior in the handling department. As far as heat, riding solo with the lower fairing on wasn't to bad but for the passenger it was hot so I took them off for the Summer. Yes the bike is heavy, about 900lbs but they seem very light when your riding and they handle very good at slow speed. Just for you information, I'm 5'7" and 72 years old. I just can't stop riding.
   Bigs

[blk-betty]

Just for you information, I'm 5'7" and 72 years old. I just can't stop riding.
   Bigs

KUDOs to you Bigs!

I'm 5'7" as well but you have 27 years on me.

Ran into a couple in Dinosaur, CO and I was talking to him about his '11 Ultra.  He thought the slow speed handling was not as crisp as his earlier bike but praised it's high speed characteristics.

Was your '06 an 88" and if so how does the 103" compare?

[Jeffd]

first sorry for your divorce.  the friend thing rarely works.  but on to the bike question.  I have ridden new rk's every year since the t/c's came out and in 04 bought a new egc.  every year I would think the new rk would make me want to get a new bike but every year would come and go and they would not be any different.  In 2009 we stopped using harleys so I did not spend any time on 09's or 10's but then in 2011 that all changed I took one for a test drive and I wasted no time in getting one.  they are that much better.

[deathwish]

I admit I haven't ridden one but I don't see many people in my area ridding one hard enough to ever challenge either one. If you do ride hard then you'll know. I guess new is better but since I'llnever own a new one again I'll never know.

[blk-betty]

Jeff

I hear ya on the friends, friends with benefits maybe but the benefits were revoked last year when she moved out on the advice of her psychologist under a "test" seperation.  She rides (because and only when I do) an '06 Softail Deluxe and I've told her she needs to sell it or find a place to store it because when the house sells I'm not keeping it for her and taking care of it.   

Is you '11 a 103"?  Is there much performance gain over the 96"?

Deathwish

I see your point on a new bike.  The '06 is paid for and well sorted so the rational side of me "says why spend any money on another bike, sell the Triumph and pocket the proceeds" but the irrational side says, "screw it I'm getting divorced so now it's time to do what makes "me" happy for a change." 

As far as riding it hard enough....I do push it in the tight twisties pretty hard sometimes and scrape the floorboards but never felt my skills exceeded the bike.  It's more the high speed downhill sweepers where it gets just a little squirelly over 70 mph that makes me slow down (which is probably a good thing) a little.  I've heard the newer frame eliminates the "hinged' feeling that some experience on the earlier bikes. 

[seattledyna]

 I have an 09 RG and live on a very twisty road on a deep canyon, its the shortest route to town so I get to wring out the new frame all the time, it's handles like it's on rails and the fat rear tire is real nice in the sharp hairpin curves.

I am more than happy with it, but coming from a 1995 RK anything would be n an improvement

[NETacomaFatboy]

I traded out an 03 RG for a 10 RG.  Night and day difference.   Are you looking at buying new?   If you have the money to buy a new 10 or 11 RG (anywhere for 18.5 -22k), I would sell the current HD, hold onto the cash and try to score a 09 SE RG.   You should be able to get one with low mileage for 25-26k.  Worth the money considering the 103" and all the chrome, etc.

BTW...   I love my 10 RG vs my 03 RG.   Handling is better for sure.  Frame and wider rear does make a difference.

I had a 09 SE RG with 4k miles and accepted offer of $25k.  Unfortunately, the seller was not willing to take a Money Order, so the deal fell through.

If this is any conselation, I divorced 9 yrs ago and at first it was hard.  Once you start dating, you will realize what you have been missing in your marriage....  Have fun with it.

[Garry in AZ]

The newer frames do outhandle the older ones. BUT... I wouldn't say the difference is worth buying a new bike over, unless you're going to buy for other reasons too. Especially if your current bike is sorted and dialed in for you.

I'm a dual sport guy too... and my choice of mounts for gravel travel and some single track is a 2009 KLR 650. Great bike, fun to ride, cheap, very dependable, 50mpg, and almost as much aftermarket stuff available as a Harley.

Having been divorced twice... I have no advice there except to do what makes you happy at the end of each day, because no one else matters.

Garry

[PoorUB]

As far as riding it hard enough....I do push it in the tight twisties pretty hard sometimes and scrape the floorboards but never felt my skills exceeded the bike.  It's more the high speed downhill sweepers where it gets just a little squirelly over 70 mph that makes me slow down (which is probably a good thing) a little.  I've heard the newer frame eliminates the "hinged' feeling that some experience on the earlier bikes.

Just the other day we were riding through the Big Horn Mountains. My buddy leading on an '08 Ultra, me and the OL and my 2010 Ultra. We had caught up to a slower car and the driver pulled over slightly to let us pass. My buddy rolled on by, but I hesitated because a corner was coming up fast and was not sure I had room, then I dropped a gear and rolled on by too. Later when we stopped for fuel my bud mentioned that he was dragging the left footboard all the way around the corner and dragging the rear brake trying to slow down a bit when he looked in the mirror and saw me catching up to him in the corner. All he could think of is what the hell was I doing when he was dragging a foot board, and I was coming up fast behind him! Just shows the difference in the frames. I never touched a footboard and was rolling 10 MPH faster than him into the corner. I remember thinking that I was close to getting in over my head, applying both front and rear brakes in the corner so I did not run into my buddy. It was a blast!

[Slider52501]

Get one of these for your 06 and save the money for the good times ahead( also maybe some rough times, dont ask me how I know).http://bitchinbaggers.com/products/bagger-brace/. Sorry to hear about your divorce,bites bigtime(been there done that) and the friends thing, well, hope it works, mine sure didnt when the inlaws got involved.

Ride Safe, have fun and dont look back,keep in touch with good friends and Bro,s and have a ball.

[Jeffd]

mine is an103 rgu, not sure how much difference there is between them.  I had a nice running 95 andrews 26's mild head work etc and this new 03 stage 1 feels good.

[Dennis The Menace]

Mark, sorry to hear about the divorce.  I dont recall if you guys had kids, if so I hope you can keep it same for them (unlike my ex).  Best of luck with the friends bit.

I ride my RG offroad now and then, dont undestimate a HD in the dirt.  lol  Actually, gravel and packed granite roads, slippery but a HD handles them great at 10MPH and over, believe it or not.  And, i recall you have dirt riding experience, so you would be fine.

Now, for street riding, I am on my 3rd RG.  Its best of both worlds--cross between the Ultra and my old Fatboy.  Much more sporty feel in the steering than the batwing, yet nimble like my Softail.  Steering is a bit slower with the new frame, compared to my old 07.  But, its a very stable ride especally when riding no hands down the road.  The new frame is smooth and the 4-point motor mount makes it even smoother.  I thought HD was trying to be like a Goldwing, but it still has the feel, just not as rough.  Its more refined.

Anyway, personally I like the cruise and radio.  I use both.  I had a 07 RK, but it wasnt a fun to ride bike like the RG.  Or my fatboy, for that matter.

I say ride a 2012 Softail (espeically a Heritage), most will be a 103 this year.  Then, ride a RK or RG and a SG.  All will be 103 in 2012.  Then, make your decision.  Be sure to ride high speed, not just around town.  That will give you a big feel for the new frame on the Tourers.

HTH.  Again, sorry for the family situation--riding will help make it better, brother.

Dennis

[Bigs]

blk-betty: my '06 RG was a 95" w/S&S 510G cams, T-Max autotune, '05 SE touring mufflers, Elite 3 tires and Ridestr8 link. It handled very well with the E3 tires and the motor was strong BUT... the 2011RGU handles better, the motor seems to have enough power but doesn't seem to have quite the low end torque that my '06 did but all you have to do is down shift and away you go. Yesterday with the wife on back we rode over 300 miles through the mountains of PA, MD, and WV and never once did it wobble through turns or try to. The brakes are very strong which is nice if your going down hill 65mph and some idiot decides to stop suddenly to make a turn. Note: my '06 had Russell floaters and Lyndell Golds which helped it stop on a dime and give change but I think the brembo's are as good or maybe a little better and they also have ABS. The larger dual compond tires probably help alot in the turns. I only have about 1,700 miles on it since July 1st but so far so good. I'm happy with it.
   Bigs

[blk-betty]

Thanks for all the replies.

The bad is I'm losing my wife, my best friend, and my house.

The good is no kids, no debt (other than the house which we will sell, divide the proceeds in half, and go our sperate ways), no alimony....she actually makes a good bit more than I do but only as of the last year.

So it's a pretty easy split aside from the emotional but with time these wounds will heal.

Just got back from a trip to 4 bike shops, one HD and the other Asian since I'm also scoping out a dual-sport, something along the lines of a KLR 650, XR650L, DRZ 650/400.

Back to HD, I found the handlebars on the Road Glide to be higher and a farther reach than those on my Street Glide.  That can be changed and I looked like they could be rolled down and back just a little.

I really like the Road Glide Custom and I don't "need" the Tour Pack, Lowers, Passenger backrest ect. that the Glide Ultra comes with.

I looked at the Ultra and it doesn't appear that the Tour Pack is detachable.  I have a detachable Pack for my '06 FLHX and wondering if it would work on the Road Glide Custom.  I'm sure the hardware mounting is different between the 2 frames but if the Pack itself is the same and detachable kits are available for the new bikes that would be a huge plus.  Also I prefer the taller rear end on the Glide Ultra and figure that's just a matter of swapping shocks. 

Have no idea what kind of a deal I could get in trade but they had two '06 FLHXIs on the floor for $15,995.....you gotta be kidding me.

Everything will play out over the next 3-6 months and I re-evaluate then but thinking about and looking at new bikes is fun. 

[ViennaHog]

Mark, the tour pack will fit, you need the new hardware though. I like the RG Custom and would buy it id it was available over here.

[Jeffd]

KLR650's seem to be popular amoung harley owners LOL.  I am on my 2nd my first was an 02 that I bought new for 4500 in 02 and I just bought a new 09 last year (left over) that I paid 4700 for so they really are the cheapest way to go for a decent dual sport.  If I had to do it over again I would have gotten a suzuki DR650 because it is a better off road bike and does ok on the roads.  The KLR is a pig in the real rough stuff. 

[blk-betty]

ViennaHog - Thanks for the info.  I was ckecking out HDs website and it was unclear if the older Pack (-97 Later) was the same as the newer (-09 Later), aside from paint colors.  If I get a new bike the Tour pack will be used once a twice a year, about the same as it gets used now so must be detachable and wouldn't bother me if the colors weren't the same as long as the underside bolt pattern will mount up to an -09 later rack.   

Jeff...my thoughts exactly on the KLR vs. the DR.  I read yesterday that the DR was about 60 lbs lighter than the KLR and was better off-road but the KLR did better on the highway getting to the off-road stuff.  I think at my size (5'7", 155 lbs with 30" inseam) the lighter bike is a better option.

[tdkkart]

ViennaHog - Thanks for the info.  I was ckecking out HDs website and it was unclear if the older Pack (-97 Later) was the same as the newer (-09 Later), aside from paint colors.  If I get a new bike the Tour pack will be used once a twice a year, about the same as it gets used now so must be detachable and wouldn't bother me if the colors weren't the same as long as the underside bolt pattern will mount up to an -09 later rack.

Remember that the ass end of the 09-later bikes is wider to allow for the 180 tire, so I doubt the tour pac and other width sensitive accesories will be a direct swap without new hardware. I briefly whined about not keeping my old hitch till I realized it wouldn't have fit anyway.

At least on the '11 bikes, the RG Ultra came with the 103", while I believe the Custom is the 96".

I just bought the '11 RG Ultra after being on an '01 Ultra Classic.  On the road the RG is more stable, no twitches from the handlebars when you get wind blasted by a truck, feels more nimble. No more bob and weave from the ass end when hitting bumps in curves. It does seem much more rigid than the older models.
For me the RG's handlebars were too low and too far forward, the popular switch to Heritage bars seems to be working for me. (I had wider/higher/pulled back Wild1's bars on the old Ultra Classic so I was used to that). I also cut 2" off the top of the stock windshield.
The only thing that's taking some getting used to on the RG is the extra/different wind buffeting. A couple sets of deflectors has taken care of alot of that though.

[seattledyna]

I put on 06 tour pac on my 09RG, just needed the 09 detach assy, it a nice set up and looks cleaner with the PAC off vs the older bikes with the two boomerangs sticking out of the fender

[Admiral Akbar]

Good to see people thinking about the tires.. It's not the frame that makes the 09 ups better.. Dunflops and Metzlers don't hack it.. Even the E3s ain't that gr8. Get the right profile on the 08's and earlier and you'll be happy.

Max

[ViennaHog]

Good to see people thinking about the tires.. It's not the frame that makes the 09 ups better.. Dunflops and Metzlers don't hack it.. Even the E3s ain't that gr8. Get the right profile on the 08's and earlier and you'll be happy.

Max

Max, I have been through almost all tire types available over here for the -08 rigs. My personal observations as follows:

Dunlop stock: wet performance bad, good control in wide sweepers, unstable rear when 2 up loaded, wear down nicely and long life

Metzeler ME 880: better wet performance. good control loaded, but only when new. Intense cupping and serious deterioration of performance when below 50% thread, noisy

Michelin Commander: practically identical to the Dunlop stock, a little better wet performance

Pirelli Night Dragon: best wet performance, stable in fast turns, holds a radius well, a little dicey in slow tight turns (has a tendency to 'fall' into the turn especially when worn more than 50%). Lowest life of not more than 7500 km (4700 miles) on the rear

Avon: I don't touch them with a 10 ft pole, too many cracked tires and blow out on heavy bikes over here.

So what is your secret for a MT 90 front MU85 rear tire choice?

BTW A correct alignment of the engine with the HD tool and the BaggerBrace made a difference in high-speed stability.

[Admiral Akbar]

Well.. Riding conditions are a little different.. So Cal not so much rain and I try to avoid it..  Not that I'm a sissy but more that I'm lazy.. Also don't ride 2 up hardly at all..

The D402-404 stuff.. Good low speed tire for sandy / dirty roads. Not so hot high speeds.. Less of the low speed corner diceiness when worn.

E3 Much better high speeds but still dances when pushed hard. Haven't worn this set out yet,,

Metzelers.. Pretty much the same as you.. Went through a bunch as I liked the new tire feel... at 50%.. They seem to start falling off.. Too dumb to realize that until I replaced a worn Dunlop with a 50% worn Metz and felt  no improvement..

Commanders.. Great until almost down to the wear bars. Front tire whines when you get into the corners but works well.. Can't get em any more..

Bridgestone.. Good tires but a little pricy (the 150) and in order to get the front tire to wear reasonable you need max inflation.. Tire feels like it skips a little on rough surfaces when you do so.. You can hear it while it's skipping also..

Pirrelli.. Only about 1000 miles on one of these in the rear.. Like it.. but haven't worn one out yet.. IME all tires exhibit some of the tight corner diceiness when worn..

Avons.. Not run them on heavy bikes so can't say much..

My tire size is a little different than you.. All were either 130/90 or MT90 -16s in the front.. 150/80s in the rear except for the E3 which was an MU..

For me... Tightening up the donuts and a good alignment made the most difference on the EGC.. Roadtoad classic handles so well with the right tires that I don't want to touch the alignment.. 

Max

[One4Tone]

..sorry to hear about the family situation..my advice ..if it has to happen then break free..I made a mistake of "staying friends" once..and all that amounted to was interference with any new ladies in my life...on one ocasion while havin a candelight dinner with a young lady my trusty old sheppard started growling..he proceeded to rip down the courtains and to our surprise the old "ex" was peaking trough the windows..finally after inviting her in  and having a few beers I realized that I forgave her, my new girl friend forgave her...but I'm not so sure Maxi the sheppard ever  forgave her...anyway on the subject of the new bike ..go for it..and if you get a deal on sidecar grab it as well in case you want to take the dog  along..

[04Glider2]

The RG Ultra vs the Custom seems like a no brainer. The Ultra has the tour pack (can change to removable) also comes with lowers and anti-lock brakes standard.
The price difference is no where near what it would cost to add the extras to the custom later.
Go to the dark side, get the Ultra.
Sorry about the breakup, just gotta keep moving foward.