Just for curiosity's sake, and because of all the hoopla about them coming back, I test rode an HD Road Glide yesterday. While the bike was typical HD bagger feeling (I've owned three so I'm very familiar with how they handle), I gotta say that fixed fairing feels HUGE compared to the batwing. Sitting on the bike for the first time felt strange, because you have this thing that looks like it's the size of a loveseat strapped to the front of your bike! It totally blocks the view of everything directly in front of you. If the neighbors dog was 5 feet in front of your bike when you left for work, he'd be dead, because you'd never see him. I didn't like that, not at all. It felt very strange. Overall the ride is nice, the fairing DOES block the wind better than my old Electra Glides, but not enough to make me a fan of the frame mounted fairing. Way too many bells, whistles, and buttons on the handlebars................GPS..........stereo system buttons......cruise control.....volume controls.............just too much to mess with for me. Underneath all that IS a motorcycle, I guess. It handled really nice after I got rolling, went through the curves great. I thought the fairing would affect handling because it "looks" like it weighs a ton, but it didn't. Once rolling out on the four lane (we had about a 5 mile route) the bike cruised along nicely. I have to say, though, that even with the 103", the bike felt underpowered. My FXDC is a 96", and from my seat of the pants feel, my bike would leave this thing in the dust. At times I felt like I was on an old 350 Honda, power wise! Must be because it probably outweighs my bike by 300 pounds. The seat was very comfortable...... very comfortable..... but at only 5 miles who knows if that will last after an 8 hour day on it. Paint, chrome, etc. was typical HD......very nice. Pipes were QUIET.
All in all, I liked SOME things about it....seat, floorboards, fit and finish......................but that HUGE, view blocking, fixed fairing would be a deal killer for me. Also....WAY too much "junk" on the bike. I like a simple motorcycle, no radio, GPS, big screen readouts, dashboard motorcycles for me. Looking at all that was like being in a car. Nice bike if you like that sort of stuff........just not for me. And.............for a 103".........the engine was pitiful. I got back on my little Stage 1 96", and felt like I was on a rocket ship in comparison.
All in all, I liked SOME things about it....seat, floorboards, fit and finish......................but that HUGE, view blocking, fixed fairing would be a deal killer for me. Also....WAY too much "junk" on the bike. I like a simple motorcycle, no radio, GPS, big screen readouts, dashboard motorcycles for me. Looking at all that was like being in a car. Nice bike if you like that sort of stuff........just not for me. And.............for a 103".........the engine was pitiful. I got back on my little Stage 1 96", and felt like I was on a rocket ship in comparison.