First let me say that I am 5'9". I rode a Sportster from 1995 to 2000, then a Dyna FXD from 2000 on. I toyed with the idea of touring bike starting in 2009 w/ the touring bike frame change. I liked the looks of the Steet Glide and rode a friend's 2009 in 2010 and decided that I didn't like the lack of visibility because of the fairing. I know the Street Glide had been lowered, but didn't think much of it at the time. I decided I would have to go the Road King route if I wanted to go to a touring model.
In 2014 I picked up a 2013 FLHRSE5 CVO Road King. I have been happy with it. I find the 110 complains a bit more than I like when it turns over/starts cold, but it always starts in the end, and besides that I have enjoyed the ride and music. I have a slight interest in the new engine. I test rode a new 114 Fat Bob at the end of the summer for the fun of it; a replacement for the old Dyna I still have sitting around. I was impressed with how easily it started and how smooth it was. I was really impressed, but I still prefer the old Dyna's riding position. I felt like my body was way too far forward on the Fat Bob and I had to stretch my foot too far on fully apply the rear break. That day I sat on a new Street Glide Special and CVO Street Glide. Again, I found like I was staring straight into the batwing fairing; I thought, "Man, I am not that short, how do people ride like this?"
I was killing time at a dealer the other night, sat on a CVO Limited and immediately realized I could see over the batwing. "What, how is this?" I talked to a salesperson and came to the realization that the seat rear suspensions on the CVO Street Glide is a good bit lower than the CVO Limited. Huh.... I wonder if I could live with visibility over the Limited's fairing?
Anyone else ever have a similar issue with visibility over the batwing fairing? Thoughts?