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[RioGlide]

Great conversation. I have owned a 07 CVO Ultra and now a CVO Road Glide. Being 6'3 I have fell in love with the RG. Faring is away from me and love the stability it has in the wind. However I like them both. Ultra has the class styling that HD stands for. I have to say while in Sturgis this year we were riding back from the Tower and on an 80 mile stretch I thought "dang" I have seen tons or RG and Jill laughed and said I was thinking the same thing.

The 09 SERG started a new trend for HD and it's gaining steam. Again I like them all and we are all blessed to have 1 or a few in some cases

I had the same experience out there - from nowhere, all of a sudden sharks are showing up in big numbers.  The bats have had more models to choose from historically but it seems that the Moco is showing the RG a lot more love lately and sales have picked up a lot just judging from my eyeball analysis.

Plus I saw a ton of RG custom bijes (not the official HD custom - I mean radical customs) based on the shark.  Seems to be the current fave in this crowd - the long lines help a lot.

I'll post pics if I can figure out how to put them up from this ipad.

[DesertHOG]

Somewhat Radical Shark........

[2k]

For me its about looks......for some reason the shark looks disconnected from the rest of the scooter.

[DesertHOG]

For me its about looks......for some reason the shark looks disconnected from the rest of the scooter.

We all have different tastes. For me the shark looks the better package and the bat looks squat nosed and funky. Via la difference!

[2k]

EXACTLY, D.H. Thats why they make different kinds. as always.....Ride What U Want!!!!!

[Spiderman]

I think what you're going to see on this thread is a bunch of people trying to come up with technical support for what is purely an asthetic choice. The batwing fairing has the classic H-D look that's been around forever. My 1st full size H-D was an 84 Electra-Glide and it had just a shell of a batwing that came off as easily as a Road King windshield. I do believe that shell would most likely fit a 2012. So people like the look of the batwing and you know when you see it instantly that it's what used to be called "King of the Road" hence later on down the line H-D coming out with a model named "Road King"  
Technically speaking, you cannot support a batwing over a sharknose. The batwing is bolted to the front end and you can feel that weight as well as the effect on handling of wind against it. If you've ever ridden a batwing in high cross winds and also have ridden a shark nose in high cross winds you will never try to convince anyone the batwing is better. Buffeting Schmuffeting - - if you chose the correct height windshield, you won't feel anything. No wind, no nothing. The weight of the sharknose is carried by the frame and it shows in handling. I've had two Road Glides and have never experienced high speed wobble with either. Sure as hell has experienced it with an Electra-Glide. When you are in heavy winds there's no doubt that GOD has his hands on your handlebars with an EG. On an RG, the feeling is that you being nudged a bit by the Great Biker in the Sky. Maybe a little reminder as to who's running the show vice a huge slap upside the head. The entire RG experince for long distance riding is superior to any EG ever made. And that's speaking technically.
Now, do I prefer the looks of the batwing over the sharknose ?  HELL YES !  I'd love to own an 04 Black and Blue or an 05 Banana. Gorgeous motorcycles. And the 2011 CVO Street Glide in black/orange is about as pretty as they come. So before anyone tries to put down what I'm saying because I ride a Road Glide and not an Electra-Glide hear me. I THINK THE ELECTRA GLIDE IS BY FAR BETTER LOOKING.

BUT - - - you can't beat the ride of a Road Glide. Not when you're running the 3,330 miles of highway that I do between Dago and Maine or any other ride of more than a day. Sure, a long day ride on an EG is nice. But if you're gonna get into who knows what for 5, 6. 7 days in a row, you want the RG. Beyond argument, the better handling of the two. I don't know how anyone can even think it's a close comparison. It's not.  The sharknose is a long miler, the batwing a day tripper

B B
     PS, not  to be an arrogant prick, but if you're going to argue with me on this one please do it from the standpoint of having ridden both types for at least 5 consecutive days through all kinds of weather. NOT from having ridden a buddy's bike for awhile on a day trip etc etc.

    

[SneakyPete]

Just an observation while riding to Sturgis a couple years back, seemed once I got west of the Mississippi, The number of RG versus EG increased substantially.  My guess they are a better open road bike, therefore more popular out west?

I own an EG, but have ridden the RG and I love it. More wind passes around the windshield, but otherwise I would buy one as my next HD.

[SBB]

This thread is fun.
Lots of opinions, not many facts.
Lots of passion showing through these post.
My opinion is that Road Glides are great.
My other opinion is that Electra Glides are great.
I own both and both are different.
The only fact I present in this post is, both are fun to ride.
Just not sure which one I will ride today.
But it will be one of them.
 
Or maybe one of these.
They are the most fun we ever had going slow.

 

SBB

[BigLew55]

Technically speaking, you cannot support a batwing over a sharknose. The batwing is bolted to the front end and you can feel that weight as well as the effect on handling of wind against it. If you've ever ridden a batwing in high cross winds and also have ridden a shark nose in high cross winds you will never try to convince anyone the batwing is better.

Buffeting Schmuffeting - - if you chose the correct height windshield, you won't feel anything. No wind, no nothing. The weight of the sharknose is carried by the frame and it shows in handling. I've had two Road Glides and have never experienced high speed wobble with either.

Sure as hell has experienced it with an Electra-Glide. When you are in heavy winds there's no doubt that GOD has his hands on your handlebars with an EG. On an RG, the feeling is that you being nudged a bit by the Great Biker in the Sky. Maybe a little reminder as to who's running the show vice a huge slap upside the head.

The entire RG experince for long distance riding is superior to any EG ever made. And that's speaking technically.


Now, do I prefer the looks of the batwing over the sharknose ?  HELL YES !  I'd love to own an 04 Black and Blue or an 05 Banana. Gorgeous motorcycles. And the 2011 CVO Street Glide in black/orange is about as pretty as they come. So before anyone tries to put down what I'm saying because I ride a Road Glide and not an Electra-Glide hear me. I THINK THE ELECTRA GLIDE IS BY FAR BETTER LOOKING.

BUT - - - you can't beat the ride of a Road Glide. Not when you're running the 3,330 miles of highway that I do between Dago and Maine or any other ride of more than a day. Sure, a long day ride on an EG is nice. But if you're gonna get into who knows what for 5, 6. 7 days in a row, you want the RG. Beyond argument, the better handling of the two. I don't know how anyone can even think it's a close comparison. It's not.  The sharknose is a long miler, the batwing a day tripper

B B
     PS, not  to be an arrogant prick, but if you're going to argue with me on this one please do it from the standpoint of having ridden both types for at least 5 consecutive days through all kinds of weather. NOT from having ridden a buddy's bike for awhile on a day trip etc etc.

    

As I stated in other posts, I have owned both and have done 1000 mile days behind both, and the absolute difference between our opinions of them baffles me.  I put 10,000 miles on the sharknose, then switched that bike to a batwing, and added another 12K.  It made the bike infinitely more rideable, especially for the long days.  Yes, I tried the gamut of windshields, and no, they didn’t help.  I tried the Corbin seat to sit me lower, but the buffeting still beat me up.  My BSR is WAY more animated about her preference than I am, too.   Even this handling advantage you speak of is minor.  I will acknowledge a slight difference, but from my point of view, only slight.

So, I understand different strokes for different folks.  You folks are steadfast in your opinions, but that is what they are, not fact. 

[Hawg]

As I stated in other posts, I have owned both and have done 1000 mile days behind both, and the absolute difference between our opinions of them baffles me.  I put 10,000 miles on the sharknose, then switched that bike to a batwing, and added another 12K.  It made the bike infinitely more rideable, especially for the long days.  Yes, I tried the gamut of windshields, and no, they didn’t help.  I tried the Corbin seat to sit me lower, but the buffeting still beat me up.  My BSR is WAY more animated about her preference than I am, too.   Even this handling advantage you speak of is minor.   I will acknowledge a slight difference, but from my point of view, only slight.

So, I understand different strokes for different folks.  You folks are steadfast in your opinions, but that is what they are, not fact. 

Was this on the RG?

[DesertHOG]

This thread is fun.
Lots of opinions, not many facts.
Lots of passion showing through these post.
My opinion is that Road Glides are great.
My other opinion is that Electra Glides are great.
I own both and both are different.
The only fact I present in this post is, both are fun to ride.
Just not sure which one I will ride today.
But it will be one of them.
 
Or maybe one of these.
They are the most fun we ever had going slow.

 

SBB

Nothing quite like a scooter. Right Chip?

[Twolanerider]

Just reread this thread in its entirety (ok, not really, but did get a kick out of the pic of Chip on the pink scooter [but I digress].  Having both here to ride all the time I should have an opinion on this question that is both relevant and profound.  I don't though.  So never mind. 

[cvobiker]

This thread is fun.
Lots of opinions, not many facts.
Lots of passion showing through these post.
My opinion is that Road Glides are great.
My other opinion is that Electra Glides are great.
I own both and both are different.
The only fact I present in this post is, both are fun to ride.
Just not sure which one I will ride today.
But it will be one of them.
 
Or maybe one of these.
They are the most fun we ever had going slow.

 

SBB

Its funny you posted this, my wife and I just decided to get us a pair of Scooters, maybe the Vinos, but not yet decided.  We spent a lot of time hiking on trails in Del Norte and getting to them from our base camp is a PITA.. We noted a lot of folks using Scooters and the idea caught on... So hopefully by our next planned camp out we're taking our new Scooters with us..  Some of these get like 95 mph.. WOW.. not bad..  

[SBB]

Nothing quite like a scooter. Right Chip?

Damn right DH!
It's funny when people look at that picture.
Some see me on the scooter.
Some see the pictures on the wall behind the scooter.
Either way, we had a blast.
Here's another picture from the same place-->    http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=66096.0
Post # 5.

 

SBB

[SBB]

Its funny you posted this, my wife and I just decided to get us a pair of Scooters, maybe the Vinos, but not yet decided.  We spent a lot of time hiking on trails in Del Norte and getting to them from our base camp is a PITA.. We noted a lot of folks using Scooters and the idea caught on... So hopefully by our next planned camp out we're taking our new Scooters with us..  Some of these get like 95 mph.. WOW.. not bad..  

We have a blast with them.
As I said, "it's the most fun we ever had going slow."
Then there's those that think me and Nancy have a DUI and have lost our license.
Those scooter have been all over Charlotte, Daytona, Myrtle Beach and Gatlinburg.
And your right, 90 to 100 MPG.


SBB