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[johnmowcop]

Your observations please

Sat on a 2015 Road Glide Special today seat height stated as 696mm in HD specs (website)

Mine is a 2011 Road Glide Ultra CVO the stated seat height is 27.5ins = 698mm stated in older road test.

The difference for me was significantly more than that, it felt more like 2" (That is mine felt two ins taller).

Can anyone confirm what is the true difference in seat height. What did they change and can I do the same to mine.

JohnT

[grc]

The Road Glide Ultra came with 13 inch rear shocks.  The Road Glide Special comes with the hand adjustable Low shocks, 12 inch.  That would be one significant difference right there.  Also, the RG Ultra seat is probably thicker than the sportier looking seat on the Special.  I also don't know that I'd always believe the seat height and ground clearance numbers on the Harley site; I've found many errors over the years.

Jerry

[FLSTFI Dave]

I have a 15 CVO Road Glide Ultra and the wife has a 15 Road Glide special.

The seat is at least two inches thicker on the Ultra, maybe more.
The nose of the seat is narrower on the Special also which gives the legs more reach for the ground.

Shocks on Ultra are 13", on special they are 12".

Add it up and its a BIG difference when sitting on the bike.  On my bike my wife is on her toes, she can not flat foot mine even with heals.  She is flat footed on her bike, with a slight bend in her knees.

Hope this helps.

[johnmowcop]

The tiptoe thing is my problem also, being vertically challenged (in fact challenged in a number of areas, or so I am advised).

My CVO seat is splitting on the seam, tried to get it repaired but the fella who does this kind of thing backed off when he realised it was the Hammock seat and also heated.

I don't us the heating capability so would not miss that. Does anybody know of a seat similar profile, but with the profile of Ultra Seat for the pillion rider, to the Road Glide Special that would fit my bike (is the Road Glide Special seat comfortable for three hours). The Road Glide Special seat would be no good for pillion use it slopes back and is quite narrow so need the profile of the Ultra seat for the missus (I am sure you know where I am coming from with this request, but I dare not say it out loud).

Not sure I want to change the rear suspension for shorter ones, has anyone done this without issues.

As an aside the chap I was talking to who owned the Road Glide Special (2015 model) said the fairing was amazing, no buffeting at all, even though the screen looked to be only about 4" tall and narrower than my Ultra fairing as well. i certainly get some buffeting.

Regards
JohnT

[FLSTFI Dave]

Lots of people change from the 13" shocks to 12" on the rear.  Heck, even the Motor Company did that, you have the Ultra and the Ultra low, shocks is one of the differences.  Same with when they did the Road Glide Special just used 12" shocks vice 13.

Very popular modification.  You do loose a little lean angle.  Depends on how hard you run the curves weather or not you notice it.

I hit the floor boards now and then on my CVO King with the 12 rear shocks.  I have only hit twice on my 15 CVO RG Ultra.

[Ridgerunr]

As Dave said the Ultra seat is wider, that's where your noticing the big difference. If going to 12" shocks I would avoid the HD 12" air shocks. About 1 year into them you'll feel like your riding a ridged frame bike.

[grc]

Before I'd screw up the suspension with shorter shocks, I'd look for a seat that fits both your needs as well as your wife's.  It may be necessary to have a custom seat made if you can't find something from H-D or the aftermarket, or find a seat that meet's your wife's needs and then have the front portion modified to move you closer to the ground and with a more narrow nose section.

I've always advocated for first doing seat mods and riding boots with thicker soles before lowering the bike.  Not only will shorter shocks result in less ground and cornering clearance, they will also reduce ride quality when compared to standard length shocks of similar design and construction.  Yes, you might be able to find shorter shocks that can be tuned to give you a decent ride for a handsome price, but there are physical limitations that money alone can't resolve.

JMHO - Jerry

[ultrarider123]

Lots of people change from the 13" shocks to 12" on the rear.  Heck, even the Motor Company did that, you have the Ultra and the Ultra low, shocks is one of the differences.  Same with when they did the Road Glide Special just used 12" shocks vice 13.

Very popular modification.  You do loose a little lean angle.  Depends on how hard you run the curves weather or not you notice it.

I hit the floor boards now and then on my CVO King with the 12 rear shocks.  I have only hit twice on my 15 CVO RG Ultra.

So, if one wanted to move from the stock, 13" air shocks on a '15 SERGU to the 12" manually adjustable shocks that came on my '12 SESG OR the current RG Special, wouldn't you also need to lower the front end that amount?  I've always heard/read/thought that if you lower one end, you also need to lower the other to keep balance in the handling.  I'm asking because I liked the shocks on my '12 SESG and even though I've had them on quite a few HD's, I'm not a fan of the air shock but have learned to live with them.  I was very pleased when the MoCo finally did away with the front air shock set-up (with the filler in the handlebar... ).
If moving to the 12" manual shocks, I'm assuming the ride quality will firm up a bit from the air shocks?  Plus, as you stated Dave, one would lose that extra inch in leaning the bike.  I, for one, would love to lower the bike a bit.  I can stand flat footed but only when I have my boots on.  Interesting topic....

As for lowering/changing the seat, I for one like the stock seat that came on my '15.  It's the most comfortable stock HD seat I've had on any of my HD's so no mods there for me.

[skratch]

So, if one wanted to move from the stock, 13" air shocks on a '15 SERGU to the 12" manually adjustable shocks that came on my '12 SESG OR the current RG Special, wouldn't you also need to lower the front end that amount?  I've always heard/read/thought that if you lower one end, you also need to lower the other to keep balance in the handling.

not so haird.  there are several instances where hd has done this from the factory.  the roadking custom, street glide, road glide custom all come (came) from the factory with lowered shocks in the rear, and stock fork length in the front.  the new ultra low does have lowered shocks and lowered forks.

i'm on my third tourer.  every one of them has had 12'' shocks on the rear and stock fork tubes.  and while the ride may suffer as jerry says, i don't know any better.  i've never ridden with the 13'' shocks, my short legs have always precluded that for me.  can't miss what you don't know, eh?   

[Rooster]

Besides the lower shocks the Ultra Low has a lower seat and a skinny primary cover.

[FLSTFI Dave]

So, if one wanted to move from the stock, 13" air shocks on a '15 SERGU to the 12" manually adjustable shocks that came on my '12 SESG OR the current RG Special, wouldn't you also need to lower the front end that amount?  I've always heard/read/thought that if you lower one end, you also need to lower the other to keep balance in the handling.  I'm asking because I liked the shocks on my '12 SESG and even though I've had them on quite a few HD's, I'm not a fan of the air shock but have learned to live with them.  I was very pleased when the MoCo finally did away with the front air shock set-up (with the filler in the handlebar... ).
If moving to the 12" manual shocks, I'm assuming the ride quality will firm up a bit from the air shocks?  Plus, as you stated Dave, one would lose that extra inch in leaning the bike.  I, for one, would love to lower the bike a bit.  I can stand flat footed but only when I have my boots on.  Interesting topic....

As for lowering/changing the seat, I for one like the stock seat that came on my '15.  It's the most comfortable stock HD seat I've had on any of my HD's so no mods there for me.

Hard,

The CVO Street Glides, CVO Road Glide Custom, Road Glide Special and Street Glide all come from the factory with stock height front end and the 12" premium hand adjustable.  So No reason you can not do that on your SEERGU.    I for one hate air shocks and liked the firmer more controlled ride of the Premium hand adjustable that came on my other CVO's.  I want with Ohlin 13 but I stayed with 13 due to height is not an issue for me.

[ultrarider123]

Hard,

The CVO Street Glides, CVO Road Glide Custom, Road Glide Special and Street Glide all come from the factory with stock height front end and the 12" premium hand adjustable.  So No reason you can not do that on your SEERGU.    I for one hate air shocks and liked the firmer more controlled ride of the Premium hand adjustable that came on my other CVO's.  I want with Ohlin 13 but I stayed with 13 due to height is not an issue for me.

Well then, I guess I'll put out feelers for a set of the 12" adjustable shocks (actually only one side adjusted) for those that removed them for another brand/upgrade.  I can at least try them and see if I like them for just a little money out of pocket.  If I don't, I'll put the air shocks back and ride on....