Bagger questions

[Gazoo]

I am interested in getting a touring rig in addition to the VROD. I'm just not sure it is a Harley that I want for that purpose. Can anyone recommend a truly non-biased source of information for reference? A good non-brand specific forum would be a nice place to start.

Thanks!!

[TJ Willy]

I will pass an email addy on to you via PM. He is my Bro here in town and he is an LD rider. He has two brands in his garage right now. Softail and ***** ST1300. He had a FLH standard before. Pretty thorough guy.

As for forums... you might try the Iron Butt guy's forums. They ride tourings and really go the distance. I am sure there is plenty of bike talk there. I would suggest looking at the top ten finishing bikes there for the last BIG rally. I know my buddy said BMW's had a lot of drive train issues over the 11 day, 11,000 mile run.

Check your pm's in a few.

[dwarthog]

Are you looking for a sport touring bike or something more in the vein of a true bagger where the emphasis is less on sport and more on comfort and touring?

[Gazoo]

If I get a bagger I think I want to go all the way. Right now I am researching bag dimensions. It looks like the HD Tour Pack is loved by all. Can't find much information on the Victory.

[16X9 Shooter]

HD tour pak is rather expensive.

eglidegoodies.com has a smaller less expensive version.

Corbin also makes a bunch of aftermarket bags.

[fxr4mikey]

HD Dyna Bagger ........
if you want 'sport bagger'

http://corbin.com/harley/dyna/hdfxdfair.shtml

Two words.....Road Kings R.....er.....3 words.....Road Kings Rock!

[Dirty Dan]

I really like my Ultra. But I may be a little biased.

[dwarthog]

You probably won't have a lot of luck finding non-brand specific forums.

Most people are fairly defensive of their decisions when it comes to something like this. Hard to admit a mistake may have been made. After all, we are all always right!

Feel free to PM me or ask questions about the "bagger" decisions I have made. Happy to help out if I can. Lots of choices out there!

[route66paul]

Rent em and ride em. You may like the ergomics (or lack of) on the BMW or The *****. I am much more comfortable on my Cadillac of bikes, the HD touring (FLH). Don't leave out the RG.

[Fe Butte]

Originally Posted by TJ Willy

I will pass an email addy on to you via PM. He is my Bro here in town and he is an LD rider. He has two brands in his garage right now. Softail and ***** ST1300. He had a FLH standard before. Pretty thorough guy.

As for forums... you might try the Iron Butt guy's forums. They ride tourings and really go the distance. I am sure there is plenty of bike talk there. I would suggest looking at the top ten finishing bikes there for the last BIG rally. I know my buddy said BMW's had a lot of drive train issues over the 11 day, 11,000 mile run.

Check your pm's in a few.

I heard a Sportster finished this year.

[hornrocker]

I can only say that I love my Road Glide - I found it to be MUCH better balanced than the Ultras that I looked at. Heck, seems to me that I can toss it around easier than my old Low Rider.

The biggest reason, I think, is the frame mounted fairing, but some of it also has to do with the fact that my RG does NOT have a tour pak, keeps the center of gravity a lot lower.

It sounds like you are really looking for a lot more room to pack though, so remember, you can add one to any of the Glides.

[Gazoo]

Yeah, the touring rig that I get will need to be able to go from here to there, wherever that might be, with as few compromises as possible. I would want something most comfortable on the interstate for long distance. I want to be able to bring as much as I want. It needs to be able to hold my laptop securely in a bag, not strapped on anywhere.

Comfort over handling. I want a radio. My wife has to be able to be comfortable and able to move around.

I have always liked and lusted after a Road King. I like the idea of a detachable windscreen for those times I want to feel like I am really out in the elements. But I have naked bikes for the 'real' motorcycling thing and I think I want something with a solid bug****er up front.

I think the renting them idea is a good one, although it is hard to get the feel of a bike in one, or even a couple, of days.

I've looked at the 'wing. Looks very capable, if not, in my opinion, kinda chintzy and lacking in soul or character. What turns me off to it is the people that ride 'wings. I'm just not that nice of a guy.

BMW is a great machine, but I am a fat ass and it seems more suited for svelte Euro-dudes.

Kinda comes down to the HD and Victory offerings right now. I have a few months to research though.

I appreciate any wisdom you touring types can give. There are probably a lot of things you know about that I haven't even considered.

I rode a GW, nice ride, and lotsa power, but it has no soul. My neighbor who is a winger, was looking at my Ultra, and made some snide comment about "old technology". I asked him how long it would take him to do an overhaul on his Gold Wing. He stated he wouldn't ever attempt such a feat. I told him I could tear my engine down and rebuild it in a weekend. He looked sick and went home.

I like the Ultra, has lots of storage space, excellent ride, my wife is so comfortable back there that she falls asleep while we're riding. The radio is nice, and you can throw in a CD of your favorite tunes. Also, you can set the cruise control and just putt down the road. I like that!

The Road Gliders like to brag, but to be honest, I just can't get into the "shark nose" look. (Sorry Jams and Hornrocker).

[fxr4mikey]

Originally Posted by Woody218

snip

I like the Ultra, has lots of storage space, excellent ride, my wife is so comfortable back there that she falls asleep while we're riding.

snip

Also, you can set the cruise control and just putt down the road. I like that!

my only experience riding baggers came a couple of weeks ago when Rock and I got a chance to meet up.

We swapped bikes and I got to ride his Ultra Classic for about 40 or so miles. Some interstate and some sorta twisties .....

I like the ride overall. VERY quite and stable on the interstate, very little buffeting around my head or wind noise.

I don't like radio's, so first thing I did was turn it off.

I didn't get a chance to use the cruise, but I'm sure it's sweet. Beats my mechanical one all to hell I'm sure.

It seemed a bit top heavy to me, but then I'm used to my FXR so that figures to me.

Handling on the local streets and the so so twisties we did the bike seemed to do pretty good. It was slower than mine to get into the turn, and a bit slower to come out. Power was good, keeping the revs up a bit. It doesn't change directions like my FXR, but then I didn't expect it to either.

Overall, I liked the ride and the bike .....

I haven't done any research on baggers, but just from my looking, and having had a chance to ride Rock's...... I'd be looking at a RK, or Ultra ..... personally I'd lean to the RK, just cause I think it looks less like a bagger ......... not that there's anything wrong with baggers ... jus sayin'