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[Kat]

Hi. new for posting here but have been a long time reader.

I am most likely purchasing a 08 SE Springer this week.
To anyone that has one what does the thing ride like?
I have looked all over for a real life ride review and haven't had much luck.
Anyone?
Thanks ahead of time.

[amigo Jorge]

Hi. new for posting here but have been a long time reader.

I am most likely purchasing a 08 SE Springer this week.
To anyone that has one what does the thing rise like?
I have looked all over for a real life ride review and haven't had much luck.
Anyone?
Thanks ahead of time.

First, congrats for your new bike. I have had my Springer '08 for three months and I love it. The only thing that I don't like are the handlebars so I am planning to change it. It has 1300 miles and I ride almost every day.....

Jorge

[Kat]

Don't have it yet. Hopefully this week.
I need a ride report, how doe it handle etc etc etc. please.

[skippy]

I have an 07 SE Springer and it rides great  the seat is a little hard  but thats ok I have had about every Harley made except the ultras  and no problem with the way springer rides.....

[Guilty]

Here's my short ride review on the FXSTSSE2:
The 08 CVO Springer is a great looking and excellent handling bike. When you saddle up, it feels like you are sitting "in" the seat as compared to sitting "on" the seat like my Road King and it provides a very comfortable riding position (after you change out the handlebars IMO). I felt that I had to reach too far forward for the stock handlebars so I had my dealer install Wild1 WO510 Chubby Springer Handlebar with Wild1 WO531 Chubby Pullback Springer Risers and I would highly recommend this setup. The downside of the Wild1 WO510 handlebar and WO531 riser is that you have to replace all of the cables.

The FXSTSSE2 handling is excellent through the corners and the acceleration is very impressive from a dead stop or twisting the throttle at 60-70-80 miles per hour. I had it up to 110 mph a few weeks ago on an isolated country road and it felt like I was going 55 mph, very smooth and excellent handling.

The CVO Springer stops fairly good, but I changed out the front pads with Lyndall Z pads and that improved the stopping power noticeably. Lyndall doesn't make pads yet for the 2-piston floating rear brake caliper so those remain stock for now. Remember in the back of your mind that you only have a single piston front brake and don't ride past your skill level, that is just common sense. When you apply the brakes the bike stops.

The forward controls are great, but the position made my thigh muscles ache so I installed a Lindby Custom Linbar with Centerline Collection Footpeg Kit (Highway Footpegs) and now I have 3-4 riding positions for my feet...muscle ache gone and almost completely forgotten.

The CVO Springer slices through the wind quite well but I still prefer to ride with a windshield and keep the bugs off my face, I installed the H-D Low Profile, Lightly Smoked Windshield.

The FXSTSSE2 comes equipped with the HD Smart Security Siren but that doesn't do you much good if you want to use the Security Pager II - I replaced the HD Smart Security Siren with HD Smart Security Siren II.

The LED gas gauge is cool looking, but it seems that it goes from 5 lights to 2 lights in the first 40 miles so that is kind of annoying, just pay more attention to the trip meter of the handy "miles remaining" meter and running low on gas won't be a problem. As far as gas mileage...don't know, don't care.

The speedometer and tachometer lights look great at night so remember to keep your eyes on the road!

[amigo Jorge]

Here's my short ride review on the FXSTSSE2:
The 08 CVO Springer is a great looking and excellent handling bike. When you saddle up, it feels like you are sitting "in" the seat as compared to sitting "on" the seat like my Road King and it provides a very comfortable riding position (after you change out the handlebars IMO). I felt that I had to reach too far forward for the stock handlebars so I had my dealer install Wild1 WO510 Chubby Springer Handlebar with Wild1 WO531 Chubby Pullback Springer Risers and I would highly recommend this setup. The downside of the Wild1 WO510 handlebar and WO531 riser is that you have to replace all of the cables.

The FXSTSSE2 handling is excellent through the corners and the acceleration is very impressive from a dead stop or twisting the throttle at 60-70-80 miles per hour. I had it up to 110 mph a few weeks ago on an isolated country road and it felt like I was going 55 mph, very smooth and excellent handling.

The CVO Springer stops fairly good, but I changed out the front pads with Lyndall Z pads and that improved the stopping power noticeably. Lyndall doesn't make pads yet for the 2-piston floating rear brake caliper so those remain stock for now. Remember in the back of your mind that you only have a single piston front brake and don't ride past your skill level, that is just common sense. When you apply the brakes the bike stops.

The forward controls are great, but the position made my thigh muscles ache so I installed a Lindby Custom Linbar with Centerline Collection Footpeg Kit (Highway Footpegs) and now I have 3-4 riding positions for my feet...muscle ache gone and almost completely forgotten.

The CVO Springer slices through the wind quite well but I still prefer to ride with a windshield and keep the bugs off my face, I installed the H-D Low Profile, Lightly Smoked Windshield.

The FXSTSSE2 comes equipped with the HD Smart Security Siren but that doesn't do you much good if you want to use the Security Pager II - I replaced the HD Smart Security Siren with HD Smart Security Siren II.

The LED gas gauge is cool looking, but it seems that it goes from 5 lights to 2 lights in the first 40 miles so that is kind of annoying, just pay more attention to the trip meter of the handy "miles remaining" meter and running low on gas won't be a problem. As far as gas mileage...don't know, don't care.

The speedometer and tachometer lights look great at night so remember to keep your eyes on the road!

Very impressive ride report mi amigo Ken....

Have a Happy New Year mi amigo.....

Jorge

[RPR50]

I bought my 2008 CVO Springer end of September and have 1500 miles on it, putting it away mid-November.  Lot's of reviews on the web if you google "CVO Screaming Eagle Springer".  I'll leave it to the experts to fill you in.  All I can tell you is that I love the bike.  It's fast.  It's nimble.  You don't sit on it as much as "in" it.  I like the ride position on the Springer better than other Harley cruisers and touring bikes I tried (with all due respect).  Depends on what you want on that count.  One thing about Harley's:  everyone is passionate about what they own.

I'm taking it out to Montana and Wyoming this summer, so I'll see how it handles on a 1500 mile trek.  (I'm shipping it from Ohio.)

My bike fits me well (I'm 6 foot; 182 lbs).  No changes in setup needed.  I've added a WindVest 14" windshield and the axillary headlights.  I'll probably change out the tailpipe mufflers but it's not an urgent fix.  I'll also need to put on saddlebags for the trip.

It's all a matter of personal preference.  There's no right answer here.  Your dealer ought to let you drive a few to see which you like.  I insisted on riding the Springer before I bought it.  I was amazed at the difference in feel and experience and was hooked in 5 minutes.  

Good luck.

[Kat]

No rides on the SE Springer here. $$$
How does the thing turn in? smooth? etc?
I did a google search and I'm coming up with pretty much the same small reviews on the Springer SE.
Thanks above!

[drogers]

No rides on the SE Springer here. $$$
How does the thing turn in? smooth? etc?
I did a google search and I'm coming up with pretty much the same small reviews on the Springer SE.
Thanks above!

Kat

Let me ease your mind on the "turn in". I'm coming off of 35 years of riding sport bikes,sport standards etc.I have ridden many heavy bikes that handled like crap.Hard and heavy to turn in and then it only gets worse. This bike is NOT like that.Zero effort to turn and very stable and light feeling.I took my '08 Springer on my old "back roads road race course" that I used to run my sport bikes on  yesterday and had a blast.This bike will surprise you with it's cornering ability.The brakes stink compared to what I am used to,but they are fine for what the bike is intended for.Get the bike,I to was doubtful of the handling,but was shocked at how much fun the bike is thru the sweepers.I'm tall,so the stock bars are perfect for me.I don't care for forward controls,but I'm getting used to it.

Too bad about your dealer not letting you ride it.I wasn't even that interested in the bike,but the dealer couldn't get it off the display platform fast enough for me to take it on a 8 mile ride without an escort. This is my first Harley,and I am having a blast riding it.

[d o g o l s]

Hi. new for posting here but have been a long time reader.

I am most likely purchasing a 08 SE Springer this week.
To anyone that has one what does the thing ride like?
I have looked all over for a real life ride review and haven't had much luck.
Anyone?
Thanks ahead of time.

welcome aboard 

[havoc]

No rides on the SE Springer here. $$$
How does the thing turn in? smooth? etc?
I did a google search and I'm coming up with pretty much the same small reviews on the Springer SE.
Thanks above!

I think the bike handles well, other than the bike sits lower and I drag the kick stand on left hand turns.  Over bumps it bottoms out and I feel it.  I'm 6'1" and I would like to move the controls forward.  Other than that I love the bike.  The power is awesome and the color sets the bike apart.  Most people can't believe that it is a factory bike.  I think the brake pads are an excellent idea.

I ride it like a rental and other than snapping the belt I love it!

Good luck and enjoy.

[Kat]

It bottoms out...?!?!!!
What gives?

[skippy]

My 07 has a Ness lowering kit and it never bottoms out ......

[drogers]

It bottoms out...?!?!!!
What gives?

Yes,this is very true.The bike will handle what most people throw at it,but if you push it on country roads with dips in the pavement at high speed it will upset the bike.It's all relative.I ran the same back roads at 85 mph thru the turns and 150 mph on the straights.Never got my Harley over 90 mph.Is that a bad thing??? Not really. Plenty of fun at plus legal speeds. At typical cruising speeds the Springer is more than adequate.

[drogers]

Kat,you seem overly concerned about the bikes performance.

You need to tell us your expectations of the bike,your intentions,skill level,past experience etc. The bike handles and is suspended far better than I ever thought a 700 plus pound bike with questionable suspension by sport bike standards ever would,and I am hard to please.I doubt you will be disappointed.Unless you plan on road racing it,you'll be happy.

[Air-Cooled]

The cvo Springer is factory lowered, and it will bottom out the suspension when you go over dips a little faster than you should, esp. with a passenger. As said before, no big deal for a lowered bike that handles well. My only conern is if/when my bike will develop the base gasket oil leak.

[havoc]

The cvo Springer is factory lowered, and it will bottom out the suspension when you go over dips a little faster than you should, esp. with a passenger. As said before, no big deal for a lowered bike that handles well. My only conern is if/when my bike will develop the base gasket oil leak.

With 220 lbs and a passenger on the back going over railroad tracks or just hitting a bump you will notice it.  All of the worries that everyone has about the engine I guess is hit or miss.  A friend has an 07 SE Springer with 6500k on it, not a leak one, and doesn't baby the bike at all.  So there are good apples in the bunch.

[Gettinold]

First, congrats for your new bike. I have had my Springer '08 for three months and I love it. The only thing that I don't like are the handlebars so I am planning to change it. It has 1300 miles and I ride almost every day.....

Jorge

Jorge dont put too many miles on my bike. Lets make a deal.     


                                             Dave

[amigo Jorge]

Jorge dont put too many miles on my bike. Lets make a deal.     


                                             Dave

The bike is waiting for you  but she feels abandoned

[Gettinold]

The bike is waiting for you  but she feels abandoned

I know it. Can you send it to me. 

[SnakePlisken]

Hey, what's up. I have had my '08 Springer since August and have 3800 miles on it and never a problem. With the exception that the luggage rack I wanted that they said will fit actually won't; so I guess I have to wait for those parts to come out. This is my first motorcycle ever besides a dirtbike and stealing my dad's '89 springer as a teenager many, many times. So I may or may not be somewhat biased in my review of this bike. I cannot say enough good things about this bike; it is smooth, comfortable, everything is just right (for me anyways) as far as the handlebars, footpegs , general placement of all controls. I at least waited until 3 weeks ago to have the Vance & Hines Big Shots Long and Race Tuner installed over the stock pipes and I must say it is like having a totally different bike! I mean what a difference! I suppose it was good to ride with those stock pipes for several months instead of having the pipes done right away because it really makes you appreciate the difference that they actually do make.

- Jim
And that's my two cents

[sadunbar]

Your pipes look great!

Congratulations!

And welcome to the site...   

Scott