Which is the most ST-oriented Harley?

[Rincewind]

This is not meant to be a troll, I'm actually curious which Harley embodies the most sport-touring traits, such as the ability to rail corners all-day long with enthusiasm and a decent fuel range.  It took me awhile to look up all the current models, but if I left out a good one, I'll add it.  Three votes allowed (if needed).

My first vote would be the XR1200 for its sporty intentions, but the short fuel range means it is less friendly for all-day riding.

[scottzilla]

I'm not familiar with all Harley models but the changes they made to their frames apparently has yielded some great handling results, thus any of their bagger options is at least capable of sport-touring.

[chornbe]

'09 Street Glide, Superglide and XR.

Yes, in that order.

Fuel range and luggage matter. And yes, the '09 frame is *that* much better.

If the Dyna T-Sport was still available with the new changes to the Dynas, it would be the ONLY entrant. $.02

[Rincewind]

What is the reason that the Street Glide is better than the E-Glides or Road Glides?  Doesn't the Street Glide have lower suspension than the others?  

[Fourstring]

Or more importantly, does anyone know if the Road King fuel tank bolts onto the XR?  

[chornbe]

What is the reason that the Street Glide is better than the E-Glides or Road Glides?  Doesn't the Street Glide have lower suspension than the others?  

It's lighter than the E-glide models (except the base eGlide w/o the back trunk, etc). Air shocks out back. You can compensate a lot.

The Road King has traditional damper rod forks, where as all the eglides have race tech inspired damping valves.

So the Street Glide gives a better experience.

Hmm... I should have offered up some test rides on my brother's Glide at ESTN.  

[st ryder]

They don't make them anymore:

FXDX and Street Rod.

[bomber]

if you allow that HD includes Buell, your question assumes new dimensions -

but you arleady knew that, dincha?

[Rincewind]

if you allow that HD includes Buell, your question assumes new dimensions -

but you arleady knew that, dincha?

Yeah of course, Capt Obvious!  

[forester]

Rince,  I know you're not a troll because I've actually met you 3 years ago on a S-T meet in PA, but seriously...?

Which is the most ST-oriented Harley?

 

[Rincewind]

Yeah yeah, I know, but this is a Harley subforum on a ST board, so there has to be at least a vague correlation.  

And heck, there are at least a few Harleys that weigh less than a FJR.  

[bomber]

Yeah of course, Capt Obvious!  

Nah -- Sgt Obvious, thanks ;-}

[stromgal]

Yep, FXDX or T-Sport. So of course they're not made any longer.

[nanbil]

Street Rod—put some soft luggage and a wind screen on it and you're ready for the road.  Might just do this some day.

[Rogue]

They don't make the Street Rod anymore.

If you MUST have a H-D as a Sport-tourer, then the only choice is the XR1200.  Nevermind the range--just deal with it.  

No other H-D will come close to its handling and power except the Street Rod, but they don't make that anymore.  Having said that, if all you have ridden are H-D's cruisers, then your choices would be different.  That's because there are good handling cruisers.  There are even cruisers that are fast AND handle well.  But I have yet to see any cruiser that can match the power and handling of a really good, dedicated sportbike or sport-touring bike.  

[Geoff]

If the Dyna T-Sport was still available with the new changes to the Dynas, it would be the ONLY entrant. $.02

I agree. The T-Sport was a great bike.

[chornbe]

Harley should take a look around the industry. The XR with a decent bubble shield (I don't mean a typical National Cycle cruiser shield) on it and an OEM hard luggage setup would rock. Suzuki uses Givi as OEM supplier on several bikes; that would kick ass on the XR. I love the way the Givi setup I built for my Sportie came out.

http://chornbe.com/motorcycles/sportster/givis_ver2/

[nanbil]

They don't make the Street Rod anymore.

Yes, I know that they discontinued it, but one could always by a nice used one.  Like most Harley's they tend to be ridden by posers so one can pick up a nice used one with very low miles.  

[Nodaclu]

Is this the place where I throw in a pic of my lowly, base 883, all gussied up to become....the XL883ST?  

[fastdadio]

I have a 99 Sportster-sport model. Bought it new in the fall of 98. This has factory Showa fully adjustable suspension, nitrogen gas shocks. Dual plug heads. The mods I did are the usual "Harley tax" stuff. Vance and Hines 2 into one header, K&N air filter, Yost jet kit, fork brace. Add the removable wind shield, water proof soft bags, a gel seat, and a 85/100 watt headlight. I've been "sport touring" this bike for 10 years now. I love it. I'll keep it another 10 years. I don't sustain triple digits for any real length of time. I've had too much bad stuff happen to me over the years and i'm feeling my mortality. So, with that, add everything that Iluvmy883 said and make your own decision. It's a great platform to start with if you know its limitations. On to an intresting twist. My lovely X also had a 98-883, which I also put alot of miles on. Even after the mods, the 1200 got better gas mileage than the bone stock,too lean, 883. Go figure. Gas mileage is important when you only have 3.2 gal to play with. The only thing I can point to is the heads and the ignition module. (the sportster-sport has a dual map ignition modual) If you can live with the performance of the 883, I think it would be an intresting project to flow the heads, go dual plug with the 1200-s ignition system. This would make the 883 as efficent as possible and would really wake it up. If there was ever an under-stressed engine begging for NO2, the 883 has to be it.