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.  

[chornbe]

I like this post.  

[Corbeau]

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

I'll go even more vintage, Strongal, and vote for the FXR... (with a stiff frame designed by a guy named Erik Buell...)

[DCLXVI]

Nodaclu, can you post more pics if your bike. I like the look from the rear, can you post some pics of the front? I have an'06 dyna and in liking the look of yours. Maybe some mods are in the future.

[Nodaclu]

Nodaclu, can you post more pics if your bike. I like the look from the rear, can you post some pics of the front? I have an'06 dyna and in liking the look of yours. Maybe some mods are in the future.

What's that? An excuse to post more pics of my dearly departed Sporty? You definitely don't have to ask me twice.  

I have more side shots than front shots though...











Hope those help!

[DCLXVI]

I love the look. Who makes that front fairing?  Why don't you have it anymore?

[Nodaclu]

I love the look. Who makes that front fairing?  Why don't you have it anymore?

That fairing is called a quarter fairing, and it's a Harley made product. You can find it in their catalog.

Coming back from the trip where most of those pics were taken, I had an incident where the 883's lack of passing power at 8,000 feet above sea level nearly got me killed - not because I tried to pass and nearly ran out of time, but because I *knew* I didn't have enough passing power, which caused me to hesitate a few seconds. By the time I finally decided to attempt the pass, a Dodge Cummins Diesel had flown up behind me and was in the process of passing both me and the car in front of me. We traded paint (on my saddle bag) at 75mph.

Not the bike's fault - ultimately the fault was mine. But I solid it mostly as a reaction to that incident. Within 2 weeks, I deeply regretted the decision.

I'm hoping when my life settles down again, that I can find a good deal on an '07 or '08 (my bike had carb problems from the start...I'd like to give an FI Sporty a go this time).

If I do eventually pick up another one, it's going to end up looking almost exactly like this one - with the possible exception of switching to the 4.5 gallon tank.

Oh, and it will either be a 1200 from the start, or a 1200 kit will go in it pretty quickly. I don't need a ton of power, but I do need a touch more than my 883 had. (Of course, between the carb flooding and the elevation, it's a wonder the bike has any power at all.)

[chornbe]

The 1200 with the proper gearing will do what you want. An 883 conversion will not. It won't have any more top-end speed and while the punch will be there, the bike's top speed will still be lower and it will still trail off at higher speeds due to RPM.

Get a stock 1200 Roadster as our starting point, then add the Buell heads and pistons.

Trust me on this.

[fastdadio]

The 1200 with the proper gearing will do what you want. An 883 conversion will not. It won't have any more top-end speed and while the punch will be there, the bike's top speed will still be lower and it will still trail off at higher speeds due to RPM.

Get a stock 1200 Roadster as our starting point, then add the Buell heads and pistons.

Trust me on this

I'm quite sure the tranny ratios are the same for both the 883 and 1200. With rear sprockets the same also. The difference is the 883 counter sprocket is 27 tooth and the 1200 is 29. Put the 29 tooth on the 883 and you could hold the throttle to the stop all the way to the bridge!

[chornbe]

Yep, same gear ratios in the gear box, it's the secondary reduction that's changed.

[Connierider]

Since none of them have anything sport, how can they?

[chornbe]

 

[Skee]

 

It ain't a Sportster, cause they don't lean in corners.

I have seen this with my own eyes.

Not even on Tracey Road.

So there!;-)

[chornbe]

There ya go!  

[bikerpunk]

Coming from someone that has owned 3 Harleys.  There is no such thing as a sport touring oriented Harley.  .

[mugwump58]

XR 1200. So why is the air filter so exposed? You know it rained and snowed here yesterday. And why put electric components directly in line with the crap that comes off the front tire? It's a little heavy, the tank a little small, ect...... Low maintenance had me thinking for a bit. Please don't tell me what the bags and wind screen cost, I don't want to know. Anybody know how much electrical output it's got?

[st ryder]

Coming from someone that has owned 3 Harleys.  There is no such thing as a sport touring oriented Harley.  .

Depends on your definition of sport touring.  

[reppans]

It ain't a Sportster, cause they don't lean in corners.

I have seen this with my own eyes.

Not even on Tracey Road.

So there!;-)

OEM Sportster tire: Clicky  

Dunlop Qualifier, believe it to be the same as OEM on the CBR1000, and a few other sport bikes.

Having said that, I don't know if I'd want to take more than a day's ride from home due to quality and reliability issues. Now I know why so many Harleys are trailered.   

[chornbe]

OEM Sportster tire: Clicky  

Dunlop Qualifier, believe it to be the same as OEM on the CBR1000, and a few other sport bikes.

Having said that, I don't know if I'd want to take more than a day's ride from home due to quality and reliability issues. Now I know why so many Harleys are trailered.   

Quality and reliability issues...  

I've got ~18k on both my '08 Harleys and the only "problems" I've had is deciding which one to take on various rides and trips. I'd - literally - hop on either of my harleys right now with zero pre-ride prep and ride it *anywhere* that a bike can get to.

Methinks you're a tad ill-informed.

[Playinthestreet]

I've got ~18k on both my '08 Harleys and the only "problems" I've had is deciding which one to take on various rides and trips. I'd - literally - hop on either of my harleys right now with zero pre-ride prep and ride it *anywhere* that a bike can get to.

Impossible.

[reppans]

Quality and reliability issues...  

I've got ~18k on both my '08 Harleys and the only "problems" I've had is deciding which one to take on various rides and trips. I'd - literally - hop on either of my harleys right now with zero pre-ride prep and ride it *anywhere* that a bike can get to.

Methinks you're a tad ill-informed.

Well, the XR1200 is my first Harley in 30+ yrs of street riding.  5 months and 5k and it's been shop for nearly a month fixing various warranty issues:  oil leaks, excessive oil consumption, gouged rotors, and exhaust leaks (note that the purals are intentional).  Next set of problems will give me a potential lemon law claim, which would be another first for me.  THIS guy also had bad luck with his XR.

Isolated instances?  First year model?  Perhaps.  But I'll post another thread on HD quality and reliability that will be hard to argue is ill-informed.  

Don't get me wrong, I very much do hope I've worked all the bugs out the bike and that it will be perfectly reliable from here on... it really is one of the most fun bikes I've ever ridden.  But so far, it has proven to be the most problematic vehicle that I've owned in 30+ yrs of being a [2 and 4 wheel] motor enthusiast.  

   

[chornbe]

That sucks that you've had that man issues with it

[fastdadio]

I've got ~18k on both my '08 Harleys and the only "problems" I've had is deciding which one to take on various rides and trips. I'd - literally - hop on either of my harleys right now with zero pre-ride prep and ride it *anywhere* that a bike can get to.

Impossible

I have 30k on my 1200s. No problems to report. Just routine maintenance. I beat the dog snot out of it for miles 2500 through about 7500. Just cause it was under warranty. Redlined it every day, pulled wheelies, abused the clutch practicing drag launches, It just sucked it up. I treat it with much more respect now because I like it so much.

[chornbe]

Impossible.

how so?

[Ti954]

They're all shyte. Buy a real bike!

[st ryder]

They're all shyte. Buy a real bike!

Please enlighten us. What's a real bike?  

[Ti954]

Please enlighten us. What's a real bike?  

I'll give you a hint...Buells don't qualify either.

[stromgal]

 Impossible

how so?

He's trolling.... fer pete's sake, he owned an ironhead sporty.  And he needs to update his motorcycles listing.

[chornbe]

I'll give you a hint...Buells don't qualify either.

Clear as purple crayon.  

[Playinthestreet]

how so?

EVERYBODY knows H-Ds break down daily.  Didn't yours fail on multiple days on your cross country trip?  I'm having a "wee" die cut made to put on the E-glide that will say, "My real bike is a Triumph"

[chornbe]

EVERYBODY knows H-Ds break down daily.  Didn't yours fail on multiple days on your cross country trip?  I'm having a "wee" die cut made to put on the E-glide that will say, "My real bike is a Triumph"

LOL "My real bike is a triumph" <--- awesome  

Mine failed one day on the 3-week trip and that was completely and solely because the chimpanzee of a mechanic who worked on it after I crashed it flubbed the fuel-line re-assembly in the tank. It all went back together in about 10 minutes after we identified that the clip wasn't even installed properly on the pickup tube.

Dumbass mechanic.  

[stromgal]

 I'm having a "wee" die cut made to put on the E-glide that will say, "My real bike is a Triumph"

   

Good thing it doesn't say "My real bike is a Kawasaki", so you don't get a beat-down.  

[Playinthestreet]

LOL "My real bike is a triumph" <--- awesome  

Mine failed one day on the 3-week trip and that was completely and solely because the chimpanzee of a mechanic who worked on it after I crashed it flubbed the fuel-line re-assembly in the tank. It all went back together in about 10 minutes after we identified that the clip wasn't even installed properly on the pickup tube.

Dumbass mechanic.  

I didn't remember that you'd had any trouble.  Just was making the standard "assumptions".

[evilted]

I sat on the new 2010 Road Glide Custom at a local dealer today.  Again.

If I didn't want the new Multistrada so much, I might actually get one.  Riding around Georgia on the Stratoliner was fun, though I admit to wishing for more cornering clearance when a pack of sportbikes would scream past (I always wave faster bikes around, so it's not being passed per se that bugs me).  But then you get back to enjoying the scenery and it's all good.

[Pelagic]

My  Brother has an FXRD and it's amazing! It has great stowage, awesome clearance, he throws that thing around on the dragon and it's quite surprising.

Of course, it's no longer built. Must not have had enough chrome.  
This isn't his but it's close.

[st ryder]

My  Brother has an FXRD and it's amazing! It has great stowage, awesome clearance, he throws that thing around on the dragon and it's quite surprising.

Of course, it's no longer built. Must not have had enough chrome.  
This isn't his but it's close.

There are a lot of HD riders who still lament the demise of that frame to make way for the Dyna frames in 1995.  Some feel the FXRs Super Gildes/Low Riders were the (far) better/best handling bike HD ever built. IIRC, Erik Buell was on the frame design team so the bike had a lot of clearance. The new Dyna frame is a lot prettier to look at, making the engine stand out much more. I loved my TC88 FXDL's handling, considerng it had very little clearance, but I've never had a FXR Evo bike out for a ride to compare.

[chornbe]

I recently got to ride a new, '09 Superglide with the new tree-trunk forks. Very, very stable bike. I really enjoyed it a lot. Quite a nice polishing and refining of the Dynas.  

[DCLXVI]

The new Dynas are great. '06 and newer. The frame was redesigned, new front end, and the tranny is incredibly smooth. Ground clearance is always an issue but manegable. You can scrape pegs easily at stock height and lowering it would make the problem worse. I've just budgeted for replacement pegs every  once in a while since they end up ground down. The muffler is another story but it's still a fun bike that would not easily be replaced. It's nimble like a sporty but longer with a little more room.

[st ryder]

The new Dynas are great. '06 and newer. The frame was redesigned, new front end, and the tranny is incredibly smooth. Ground clearance is always an issue but manegable. You can scrape pegs easily at stock height and lowering it would make the problem worse. I've just budgeted for replacement pegs every  once in a while since they end up ground down. The muffler is another story but it's still a fun bike that would not easily be replaced. It's nimble like a sporty but longer with a little more room.

Ride it within its design limitations, and you have no clearance problems. I agree, Dynas are great bikes.

[mjrfd99]

Mine.    49 states -Canada  + mexihole.  300k and counting.  Come one flamers- hey thats what they call outrageous gays too.  


 

[killerST6]

While I have no hard bags anymore....
I went from a ST1300 06 to a NightRod Special 09.

I lost 2 gal of fuel and bags... but the bike holds in own after that. Love the looks I get from the bike and she holds the curves quite nicely,
5gal tank is better than most HD as well as the Water cooling.

[st ryder]

While I have no hard bags anymore....
I went from a ST1300 06 to a NightRod Special 09.

I lost 2 gal of fuel and bags... but the bike holds in own after that. Love the looks I get from the bike and she holds the curves quite nicely,
5gal tank is better than most HD as well as the Water cooling.

Congrats on the Night Rod. They are very sexy looking machines. I doubt you'll be looking back anytime soon as the bikes are worlds apart. You must have been ready for "a change" to say the least.  

[greywolf]

I've had an FXDX , Wide Glide, and Street Glide , as well as having an 883 and 1200 sporty in the family .

The FXDX had a "touring " version  that came close  to the concept of a ST .    My Street Glide with Progressive cartridge forks/frame stabilizer and a 103" motor works reasonably well as long as you don't push it too hard.  The Road Glide has the best combo of Range/Handling/Power / Storage .  There have been V-rod conversions with Road Glide Fairings/bags ..Brad Pitt owns one.

HD has had 2000cc and 2300CC V-rod based engines EPA tested , if they ever get serious about a real sport touring bike , it could be done .. although it would be way too expensive to be competitive.

I'll stick with my FJR ..

[JimNtexas]

This one:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwq4hwKd5XI

[Jes_VFR]

'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

Ah spoken like a true Guzzi owner.

Sorry Chris, HD doesn't have a bike that I would want to Sport-tour on.
They ceased to have any clue in my mind when they crushed Buell.

[chornbe]

Ah spoken like a true Guzzi owner.

Sorry Chris, HD doesn't have a bike that I would want to Sport-tour on.
They ceased to have any clue in my mind when they crushed Buell.

I guess it comes right back to "what is sport touring?"

Going from here to there with gusto and taking the most off-interstate route possible, making twistier, more technical riding the priority? Did that on the Harley.

Chasing sport bikes and big, powerful STs on roads that make you think about entry speed and keeping a good edge in your riding? Did that on the Harley.

Pushing yourself to your own personal limits and work hard to refine the more sporty aspects of your riding? Did that on the Harley.

I did that on the Harleys. I did that on my CBRs. I do it on my Guzzi, and now on my C10.

I fully understand that Harley doesn't make a bike that YOU like; thank goodness for a diverse market place and all the great stuff to be had.  

But I still don't even know what "sport touring" really is, if it's not what's mentioned above.

[wvrider]

Chris, to some folks sport touring is really near track racing on public roads with an overnight change of clothes..not my cuppa but apparently anything but a full on repli-racer cant be sport toured on...oh and it HAS to be somewhat uncomfortable and be missing some amenities that touring would use (like cruise control)..

[chornbe]

Gotcha.