Test rode a Street Glide today

[Lattimer]

Happened to ride by an HD dealer while I was out cruising today, so I swung in to look around. This was Hannum's HD in Chadds Ford, PA.

I got looking at the 2010 Black Denim Street Glide. Very good looking bike. Sales guy was very cool, low pressure type. Asked what I ride, talked a little about how gigantic my bike is......etc. I told him I was definitely not buying, but he offered up a test ride anyways.

I took the bike out for about 10 miles. Impressions:

Bars are a little bit of a reach for me. Floorboards need to move forward about 2". Bike feels tiny compared to my V2K. Seat seems ok, but hard.

Go to pull out and almost stall it. I'm used too a lot more torque at the bottom, this has to wind up a little bit before there is any power. Once on the road, I ran it up to about 60. It pulls pretty nice. The bike has a 2-1 pipe this year, sounds pretty good.

Shifting is a little notchy----typical of a new HD. Ride and handling are decent. Hard to get used to the lack of bottom end power in slow speed stuff though. I would need practice.

This bike was fully loaded with radio, cruise, ABS, security. $21k.


Lack of torque means I would need to get the Screaming Eagle version to be really happy, which is $30k.

Since I can't afford either one, I got back on my V2K and happily road away.


I think maybe in 3-5 year though, a Streetglide will be mine


Dealer was very cool, no pressure, just happy to help. Exactly as they should be IMHO.

[mwmalotte]

I've heard a lot of good things about Street Glides. Evidently, they did some frame modifications that's supposed to really help the ride.

Thanks for the insights!

[elr658]

That 2009 frame makes a HUGE difference. It now has a 190 on the back and rides REALLY well. The new exhaust gets rid of the hot area (between your LEGS) The new frame makes mounting accessories much easier. And the bike handles better. The short windscreen makes the radio more difficult to hear.

The FLHX gets the fat guy on a green bike thumbs up.

I'm 5'8" it fits me perfectly.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by elr658

That 2009 frame makes a HUGE difference. It now has a 190 on the back and rides REALLY well. The new exhaust gets rid of the hot area (between your LEGS) The new frame makes mounting accessories much easier. And the bike handles better. The short windscreen makes the radio more difficult to hear.

The FLHX gets the fat guy on a green bike thumbs up.

I'm 5'8" it fits me perfectly.

I'm 6'3", so its cramped for me. Talking to the sales guy, he said they recently modified an '09 for a taller guy, moved the boards and controls forward by about 2", which is what I would need.

I would want a taller screen, but that is an easy fix. They had those in stock. I think 3-4" taller would knock down the wind noise a lot.

I'm really digging the flat black look too.

There was a guy in the showroom picking up a blue Screamin' Eagle StreetGlide. That thing looks very sharp, plus its got the 110" engine. The $30k price tag is a little steep for me, but if I had the cash I would buy it in a heartbeat.

[elr658]

Got LOTS of time on SE bikes. I have 160 hp bikes, Don't need it on a bagger.
Got to ride all the SE bikes at Bro's HD.

[wild_deuce03]

Them Street Glides are some sexy bikes! ESPECIALLY that black denim! But alas, the price tag is just too far out of my reach.

[h2o]

SGs are sexy. If I ever buy a bagger, that's what I would get (financials permitting of course)

[cm900red]

For the money I would take the 1700 Voyager over it any day of the week. My cousin has a 05 Street Glide and it is always in the shop and the price is way to high.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by cm900red

For the money I would take the 1700 Voyager over it any day of the week. My cousin has a 05 Street Glide and it is always in the shop and the price is way to high.

I can't fit on a Voyager, and the way its designed there is no way to make it fit. I thought it would be a great bike until I sat on it. Great for small to average people, not for anyone else.

I could make mods to the Nomad and make it fit, basically the same things I would have to do to the StreetGlide. Would still lack the fairing and the goodies that come with it.

Kawi has essentially excluded larger people from riding their bikes. Once they kill the V2K, they have absolutely nothing to offer me.

Unless they change their philosophy in the near future------my next bike will not be a Kawi.

[drivenrhythm]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

...There was a guy in the showroom picking up a blue Screamin' Eagle StreetGlide. That thing looks very sharp, plus its got the 110" engine. The $30k price tag is a little steep for me, but if I had the cash I would buy it in a heartbeat.

The Screamin' Eagle SG was the one that really got my attention too. A sharp looking bike that appears to have enough power to push it down the road...but they only had one, and it was priced out of my range. Still enjoyed looking at it though...

[rbentnail]

Originally Posted by cm900red

For the money I would take the 1700 Voyager over it any day of the week. My cousin has a 05 Street Glide and it is always in the shop and the price is way to high.

Met 2 folks yesterday, both with new 1700's. When I asked, "how you like them" the instant reply was, "they are too damn hot to ride!!" They said they'll be sold by the end of September for something else, prolly HD. They said they are regretting wasting their time buying the 1700's.

[coachrgraves]

I can't speak to the Voyagers or the Classics, I have the 1700 nomad and don't notice much difference between the 900 classic I had. I have heard of people with the Voyager taking the lowers off in the summer b/c of heat issues even with the vents wide open, but I have also heard the same bout most of the bigger bikes with the exception of the wings. Bet they would be real nice for the fall rides though!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ride Safe----------------------------------------------

[rldowns3]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

I can't fit on a Voyager, and the way its designed there is no way to make it fit. I thought it would be a great bike until I sat on it. Great for small to average people, not for anyone else.

I could make mods to the Nomad and make it fit, basically the same things I would have to do to the StreetGlide. Would still lack the fairing and the goodies that come with it.

Kawi has essentially excluded larger people from riding their bikes. Once they kill the V2K, they have absolutely nothing to offer me.

Unless they change their philosophy in the near future------my next bike will not be a Kawi.

That was basically my issue as well and is now why I ride a yamaha stratoliner.

[9511234]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

Happened to ride by an HD dealer while I was out cruising today, so I swung in to look around. This was Hannum's HD in Chadds Ford, PA.

I got looking at the 2010 Black Denim Street Glide. Very good looking bike. Sales guy was very cool, low pressure type. Asked what I ride, talked a little about how gigantic my bike is......etc. I told him I was definitely not buying, but he offered up a test ride anyways.

I took the bike out for about 10 miles. Impressions:

Bars are a little bit of a reach for me. Floorboards need to move forward about 2". Bike feels tiny compared to my V2K. Seat seems ok, but hard.

Go to pull out and almost stall it. I'm used too a lot more torque at the bottom, this has to wind up a little bit before there is any power. Once on the road, I ran it up to about 60. It pulls pretty nice. The bike has a 2-1 pipe this year, sounds pretty good.

Shifting is a little notchy----typical of a new HD. Ride and handling are decent. Hard to get used to the lack of bottom end power in slow speed stuff though. I would need practice.

This bike was fully loaded with radio, cruise, ABS, security. $21k.


Lack of torque means I would need to get the Screaming Eagle version to be really happy, which is $30k.

Since I can't afford either one, I got back on my V2K and happily road away.


I think maybe in 3-5 year though, a Streetglide will be mine


Dealer was very cool, no pressure, just happy to help. Exactly as they should be IMHO.

Ok,

So I rented a Street Glide for 2 days and put about 500 miles on her.

She went over all kinds of road, but I won't bore you with my impressions of it, here is the thread that I started:

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...-new-bike.html

You are right about feeling cramped... maybe the floorboards need to be moved, but you'd be amazed how a set of highway bars feel on one of those bikes. I rode my dad's Ultra and the ergonomics were perfect for highway pegs.

You might put some more miles on it, before you push it off as not having enough power... I had plenty of power tooling down the interstate at 80 mph pushing 3k rpm. I had a full face on, but the wind coming off the fairing is pretty decent with a full face. It was a stock 96b engine, but the Screamin Eagle 110 should be saved for the Ultra Classic , now that's a nice bike!

I was talking to my dad about shift points, and he shifts between 2600-3000 depending on what he's doing, so the gears are pretty short as to what I'm compared to. It's funny though, you didn't mention anything about the vibration at stops. Most people do when riding HD.

The throttle may be kind of funny to play around with because it is electronic. My dad who rides an 03 100th anniversary ultra said he didn't really care for it. Wouldn't feel too bad about stalling it out, my dad did the same thing. What's cool is the ability to turn off one of the cylinders in traffic by pushing the throttle forward, to turn off the cruise when going down the highway you can do the same thing.

[9511234]

Originally Posted by cm900red

For the money I would take the 1700 Voyager over it any day of the week. My cousin has a 05 Street Glide and it is always in the shop and the price is way to high.

Maybe it's in the shop because he's putting a lot of accessories on it... ever think about that? Maybe he's running the tires off of it???

The problem I'd have with my HD is finding time to stop riding it to change the oil, tires, put accessories on it... shoot I'd spend so much on oil changes and gasoline I probably wouldn't have time or money to keep it in the shop.

Then again, there's always a bad egg. I'm sure you can find plenty of members who have their Kawi in the shop for one thing or the other, but aren't upset about it... it's just life. My dad has had his 03 Ultra in for service for things that are electronic failing, but he still loves the bike, even though there have been tons of changes to the bikes since 03 (if you haven't seen the changes or ridden a bike since 08, you might be thoroughly impressed with these new bikes)

For the fit and finish of an HD, you get what you pay for. I don't want to make a big argument over it, but you can't just say something like that and expect it to sit. For some real fun, though, take a look at the 2010 Buell Blast.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by 9511234

Ok,

So I rented a Street Glide for 2 days and put about 500 miles on her.

She went over all kinds of road, but I won't bore you with my impressions of it, here is the thread that I started:

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...-new-bike.html

You are right about feeling cramped... maybe the floorboards need to be moved, but you'd be amazed how a set of highway bars feel on one of those bikes. I rode my dad's Ultra and the ergonomics were perfect for highway pegs.

You might put some more miles on it, before you push it off as not having enough power... I had plenty of power tooling down the interstate at 80 mph pushing 3k rpm. I had a full face on, but the wind coming off the fairing is pretty decent with a full face. It was a stock 96b engine, but the Screamin Eagle 110 should be saved for the Ultra Classic , now that's a nice bike!

I was talking to my dad about shift points, and he shifts between 2600-3000 depending on what he's doing, so the gears are pretty short as to what I'm compared to. It's funny though, you didn't mention anything about the vibration at stops. Most people do when riding HD.

The throttle may be kind of funny to play around with because it is electronic. My dad who rides an 03 100th anniversary ultra said he didn't really care for it. Wouldn't feel too bad about stalling it out, my dad did the same thing. What's cool is the ability to turn off one of the cylinders in traffic by pushing the throttle forward, to turn off the cruise when going down the highway you can do the same thing.

I'm comparing the power to my 2000--------the big difference is in the low end torque, which is my favorite part....LOL. The bike definitely has plenty of power, just not to the wretched excess I am used to.

And if I'm gonna dream, might as well dream big!!



On the vibration-----I just expected it. Bike is nice and smooth as long as you are moving though.

[badlandsbrett]

As far as the cramped feeling you can fix that very easy and cheap $300.00 bucks by having a custom seat made. I'm 6'3 and on my RK I am way more strecthed out then on any metric I've ridden including the 1800 VTX I have not sat on a V2k so I don't know about that but I have a custom seat on my !1500 as well but still cramped compared to the HD. The seat pan on a Harley allows you to do just about any thing.
Also the V2k is a much bigger motor so it should pull harder and faster. Street glides are very nice and the controls stereo and cruise right there make it easy to use. Vivid Black or Black denim would be my choice.

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by rbentnail

Met 2 folks yesterday, both with new 1700's. When I asked, "how you like them" the instant reply was, "they are too damn hot to ride!!" They said they'll be sold by the end of September for something else, prolly HD. They said they are regretting wasting their time buying the 1700's.

H'mm, got the 1700 Classic LT. If it's 95-100 degrees I can feel the radiator engine heat mostly on my arms. Come to think of it, if it's 32 degrees outside I can feel that heat on my arms. It feels good. LOL. Rode 240 miles yesterday on a Valkyrie in 95 degree heat. The heat off the Valk was much more noticeable then the 1700. Maybe these guys need them things with air conditioners in em, ehhhhh? cars.

[rbentnail]

Originally Posted by Highwayman

H'mm, got the 1700 Classic LT. If it's 95-100 degrees I can feel the radiator engine heat mostly on my arms. Come to think of it, if it's 32 degrees outside I can feel that heat on my arms. It feels good. LOL. Rode 240 miles yesterday on a Valkyrie in 95 degree heat. The heat off the Valk was much more noticeable then the 1700. Maybe these guys need them things with air conditioners in em, ehhhhh? cars.

I didn't think to ask what bikes they had prior to the 1700's so I'm not sure what they were comparing them to. But they definitely were not happy with them. Different strokes, I guess.

[DanL]

They make the touring bikes more cramped for a reason- with your feet more under you and the bars closer, you can ride longer.

I sat on a SG that someone had traded in at my Kawi dealer, and felt cramped as well. The Voyager- cramped. The giant Yamaha- not cramped but that bike is in Goldwing territory for size.