Need help and guidance from touring community

[Oldrider]

I need your help and guidance as I am about to purchase my first HD. I think I have it narrowed down to either a street glide or electric glide. My first question to this illustrious touring group of HD tourers concerns floor boards. I am an old guy with bad knees and shoulders and I cannot ride comfortably with floor boards. I have been told that both of these bikes will accomodate forward foot controls which I have on my current ride and love. Have any of you made this change and do you like it? Second, I was told recently that the electric glide is very top heavy and difficult to handle at slow speeds and in parking lots. Have any of you found this to be true. Lastly as I live in Orlando I need your recommendation for a HD dealership one that I can trust or that you trust. I have the mechancal skills and know how of a 12 year girl. I know this is lot but I look forward to your input. If you need more information about me I will be happy to answer your questions. Thanking everyone in advance.

[kd5cqt]

OR, first, both my knees are eaten up from years of football and baseball when I was a lot younger. Some days I can barely walk, and I ride almost daily with the boards. I have some highway pegs mounted on the crash bar (engine guard for you purists) that allows me to stretch out occasionally, but I prefer the boards.
As for the slow speed instability of the EG Ultra Classic that I ride, even with loaded bags I have no problem at very low speeds and can do tight manuevering in parking lots with no problem....but I might point out that I have spent a lot of time over the years practicing these manuevers. If you are not familiar with these heavier bikes, may I recommend you enroll in a MSF course before you take to the road so you can get some experience with the bike with some experienced help close by.

[mtbrice]

street glide seat sits 1" lower, making it a little easier to control at stops...IMHO


Sent from my iPhone using Motorcycle.com Free App

[JPR]

A lot of guys spend years working up to either of those bikes. Congratulations . . . you're starting at the top.

take the rider's course. THEN RENT BOTH BIKES for a week end each preferably from the dealer you ultimately buy from (if you're buying from a dealer)

Let them know up front what you are doing and they will bend over backwards to help.

How is Orlando (I used to live there and miss itl.)

Very Best Regards,
enjoy your adventure
Joe

[USMCJAX]

I removed the floorboards from my roadglide and enjoy it. Its almost identical to the street glide except for the fairing. I too say rent both of them then decide. Renting is expensive but considering what you're paying for the bike its nothing to make sure you've made the right choice. Good luck and congratulations! !!

Sent from my LGL45C using Motorcycle.com Free App

[472viper]

FWIW I just unloaded a 1600 Kawasaki that was HORRIBLY top heavy. I had put 25k miles on it in 4 seasons and it felt like I fought every one of them.

I went with an '08 Street Glide. I specifically went looking for an '08 cause the newer frame is alittle too wide for my short legs. I lowered the front forks 1 inch or so and having come from a bike that was soooooo top heavy I could not be more pleased.

The center of gravity on that SG seems so low in comparison to what I was riding it's amazing. I now slow speed manuever with no fear.

Can't speak to the ability to convert to foot controls, but I'm sure where there's a will there's a way, may just need some help from a fabricator.

The lower seat height of the SG will help with balance. The EGlide with a trunk will have alittle higher center of gravity and will set alittle taller.

As has been said, rent both and decide, or better yet wait for your dealers demo days. I demoed 11 bikes in two days at Sturgis last summer, came away convinced there was not a Harley that fit me. Rode a friends lowered '08 and I was sold.

[FritzHD]

Street or road glide custom,both an inch lower. Orlando H D off I 4 is where I got my RGC. Great service,they'll beat anybody's price and give you free stuff for a year after you buy.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Motorcycle.com Free App

[mmbikemike]

I went from a 750 Shadow ACE to and Electra Glide Classic, she is a different girl, but I wouldn't trade for nothing. I had almost 70,000 on the ACE and am right at about a 1,000 on my new girl and you'll get used to it quickly. I do recommend a safety course and a good on line resource is MotorLessons@Hotmail.com. It's free and gives you a lot of slow speed practices that are the base for your normal operating speeds. When you watch some of the u tubes of these guys it will displace the myth of top heavy and hard to move at slow speed. Most of the drill teams I've seen are on Electra Glides and what they do is unbelievable. Practice! Get the bike! Well, get the bike then practice!

[mmbikemike]

Oh yeah, the floor boards, I never had a bike with them but now that I have them I think they are great. It's nice to be able to move your feet around on trips, even around town. With normal pegs you are pretty much stuck in the same spot and I agree about having the highway pegs. It just gets on my nerves when I see guys riding in traffic around town trying to look cool with their feet on the highway pegs when split second actions make a difference. They're named highway pegs for a reason! They might as well put on their shorts, wife beater and flip flops and knock it all out at one time!

[Louisville Joe]

OR, I traded a Fat Bob for a bigger & heavier Road Glide Custom. At parking lot speeds my RGC is easier to handle & manuveur than my Fat Bob was--just seems more stable. Maybe the additional weight makes it feel that way.