Almost every rider in my area of the PA mountains has a bagger. With extras! If you need that much storage take the van. Windshields with stereos and bluetooth headsets? It's still laughable; defeats the point of being on 2 wheels and in the wind...👌
@@JamesMorton-hf3xb That’s why I got a road king , after riding my low rider for 35 years I wasn’t sure I would like a windshield so the RK windshield is detachable & I don’t need a Radio or anything but the pipe music
I feel like the new rider wants the fairing so they can have a big ass stereo just to turn heads going down the road… when before ,,they could never turn heads… ha ha
@@lanceandmelanierogers6255 I think a bagger is too heavy for new riders. Just my opinion but I rode a Harley FXS for 35 years before I got a RK and I was amazed how much heavier it was specially in tight spots
I did it backwards. I started out on a used RK police bike. When I sold it I went to the cruiser, and that's all I've ridden since. I don't crush miles anymore, just do day trips or morning rides in the mountains. I want simplicity on my bike. No ride modes, ABS, info screen, stereo's, heck I don't even care to have a tachometer. Just be connected to my bike and road. I love listening to how my motor is running. Just tuned in to the bike and not blasting music. I'm not a fan of those giant front wheel stretched baggers dragging the road. All show no go. Just gonna be me and my Fatboy till I am no more. Great topic and video GixxerFoo!
Thank you! That's about how I am anymore these days, I just like some day trips and maybe some overnighters but I don't venture nearly as far as I used to.
Very well said, I've felt the same way for years, a simple, no frills cruiser. I've always loved the sound of a Harley V twin and the stripped down look. That's what made me gravitate to bobbers. I never liked the baggers/touring bikes for the look, weight, and unnecessary excess.
My wife and I are both 70. I ride a 2010 FXDC Superglide (no shield, bags, warm grips or tunes). Wife rides a 2015 Sportster 48 Special also (no shield, bags or crap) We are doing a 21 day trip across Canada again this year. I dont buy that getting old thing. Ive always called baggers "geezer glides".
Been riding cruisers all my life and recently while on a day trip I switched my wide glide with a friend’s street glide because he kept telling me how great it was. At 57 years old I figured at some point that’s the direction I would have to go due to age and fatigue. It gave me the same feeling as riding a school bus. Not bashing the baggers but just didn’t have the same feeling I’d grown to love on bikes without all the bells and whistles. Give me a naked cruiser any day, I may have to rest more frequently as I get older but that’s fine with me. 8:09
I like the baggers out on the highway, you can for sure ride longer and farther without the fatigue. They just don't feel as good as the naked bikes to me either!
@@GixxerFoo I took your advice and recently bought a 2016 Switchback. This will hopefully keep me on a Dyna for the rest of my riding days. Love the FLD! Thanks for the advise
I grew up thinking choppers were too extra and baggers were “old man bikes”. Watching Arnold and Sylvester Stallone riding cruisers in their movies, I really wanted a cruiser. It’s still my bike of choice at 33 years old today.
@@GixxerFoo oh 100%! lol and all the bikes in Cobra I thought were cool too. Especially when Stallone is riding by the camera with the girl on a Harley Cruiser while the credits fade in. These moments stuck with me lol Wild Hogs was a hilarious movie too. Added more fuel to the fire
Trends mean squat. Dumped my dyna for a road glide and it has been the best decision ever. Put the tour pack on when needed or ride without and have a bit of storage. Reality is, ride what you love and trends be damned…
At 63 still ride my Sportster with a windshield and top box. Had her 25 years and see no need to change. Bike is heavy enough for me don't need 200 more lbs to deal with.
@@billcarson1971 i,ll be 74 next month....still ride my 96 fxds most of the time (widshield and bags optional) or fire up my 2012 flhp throw on the tour pac and away we go...
Trends happen in "Cycles." Back in the 60s only old men and cops rode something with saddlebags. We chopped everything else. Then we got older and our butts and backs started hurting so we started looking for bikes that weren't all cut up. The next generation comes along in the 90s and they want "cool". So they buy choppers. Ten years later their butts and backs start hurting so they started looking for something more comfortable. I imagine that another 10 years from now you'll start seeing choppers again.
Young man walks into a Harley dealership. " I would like a Harley, what do you have in the 10k range" salesman turns and tells him "get lost, i don't even have a womans bike at 10k" man looks over at the motorcycle near the front of the entrance " how much is that one ?" "It's 49,599$ son, I do have a whole lot of 50$ dollar t-shirts for you to choose from" .... Man leaves and goes and gets a faster, lighter, more agile, cheaper Japanese motorcycle. Harley is just dying a slow death, t-shirts can't carry a motorcycle brand forever.
During the chopper craze, I bought a Road King Classic (discontinued). During the bagger craze, I picked up a hard candy Sportster 72 (discontinued) and a Dyna Low Rider (discontinued). Keeping all three! Fads are for followers! 👌
I've always felt that the road king was the best motorcycle for the money. They are comfortable to ride long distance and has storage. Remove the windshield and you got as cruiser.
I believe the idea of Harley owners aging is true. Sportster riders are now cruiser riders. The cruiser riders are now bagger riders. The bagger riders are now trike riders. The cruiser to baggers are 30 to 50 and the baggers to trikes are 51 to 70 or whatever. Point is no one is coming off of the rev motor line-up to get on a cruiser which pales in comparison in performance. So I believe we are at a stand-still in search of a group to occupy the cruiser line-up in the next 10 years
68yrs and still kicking over my solo extended springer ridged shovel fishtail Frisco style pull backs rear brake only 60s era Chopper. Bad back and all. Keeps me loose fast and dangerous. And wouldn't have it any other way.
Good job 👍 I’m 64 and I have only kicked a handful of times after I broke my knee cap in a dirt bike wreck in 1980 and had 5 surgeries on it since. I can still kick in an emergency if I must.
I'm 35 and have an 07 R1 and an 08 Ultra Classic... paid around 5k for each and am able to experience either extreme whenever I want! The real answer is have more than 1 bike!
@@GixxerFoo Track days on the R1 have actually greatly improved my bagger riding.. especially with braking technique and confidence since neither bike have ABS! Nothing better than pushing a personal limit safely on the track and translating those skills to touring and twisty back roads on the Ultra Classic. Highly recommend!
I’m almost 56 and ride a 2015 gsxr 600. I’d like another bike, a Sporty or a Dyna or Softail. It has to be no more than 6 grand so I don’t have sell the Gixxer.
@@RomVlad That's awesome! I hope I'm still riding sport bikes 20 years from now! From personal experience though, I would highly recommend a bagger if you can find one. I sold a Sportster to get the UC. There's nothing like the ability to carry stuff in the saddlebags and top case. Makes grocery shopping on a bike actually doable!
As a present owner of a Softail Custom EVO and TC88 Superglide, I can say the best years riding (1984 to 2018) were on full-dress Electra Glides. I took them grocery shopping, bar-hopping and interstate rally-going - anywhere...
I've been running around town on my 2022 Road King Special all day today and I loved every minute of it. I just got my Road King last week after 2 years on my Sportster1200. I dont like fairings . Don't want a stereo . Road King Special is my dream bike..rode with no windscreen and no face protection all day. Got some bugs in the face.... worth it.
I think the touring bike thing blew up because everyone wants to keep up with the Joneses and talking down on bikes that cost less than theirs. It's a flex. There's a certain segment of Harley owners that are more concerned about flashing money than riding.
I feel you on that. I have both. Fatboy that’s for quick rides. But commuting to work 65 miles each way twice a week and going for long rides. The fairing, the radio, the gps and the storage is invaluable. I also ride sportbikes on the track. Every motorcycle is awesome if it’s used for its intended purpose.
In the same boat , new bikes just have too much technology that I don't need or want . I have bags, and a batwing on my 2008 Fat Bob , it gets the job done
I’ve never had a touring bike, or even a windshield. I’ve been riding for 40 years. Now I have a 2022 114 street Bob. Mainly I love day trips. I only take some water, some chewing tobacco, a usb charger for my phone, a hat and a pair of sunglasses, which all fit nicely in my tank bag or swingarm saddlebag. Don’t need all that storage space slowing the bike down. And I feel Part of the adventure is, getting a bug in the face occasionally. Hahaha
I'm 73 and still ride my 2000 Fatboy all over the West. It is set up to fit me perfectly, and I don't need an 800-900 lb. behemoth to enjoy the trip! My bike is basic......carburetor, detachable saddlebags for long trips, and minimum electronics to fail. I do my own work on it and know the bike intimately. It is the last Harley I will own!
There was a time when you couldn't find a Fat Boy in the dealers! I love to hear they are still out there on the road, you can anything with a Fat Boy!
@@GixxerFoo I agree that’s why my ride is a keeper I bought it brand new in November 2008 I had to wait 5 months for it as I wanted vivid black it was worth the wait
I've been riding a long time. What you are talking about is "trends", I could care less about trends, I ride what I like. Baggers became popular with yuppies because they need bags to carry around their GF's stuff. They put $60k into a bike so that they can put their jackets in the bags when they ride to their local bike night or when they load it onto a trailer. There always were some old school guys who rode baggers because they did long distance rides, I get that, they have my respect but most of the bagger riders today are just trend followers, no different than the fat tire, neon paint guys from the 90's. I ride what you call a cruiser & I put miles on it. I don't load it on a trailer.
Baggers are popular because of their versatility. You can go to the hardware store or grocery store and have a place to bring home your purchases. You can ride around town or bar hop on one as well. When you park outside one of these establishments, people know your bike is more expensive and feature rich than a cruiser. Most riders crave that acknowledgment. Highway travel of any type, whether it be a day trip, weekend trip, or m/c touring vacation, is waaaay more pleasant on a bagger or touring bike. Additionally, many riders, including myself, like having a cruise control and stereo on these longer journeys. So versatility, prestige, and comfort combined to make cruisers kind of like the small hatchbacks of the motorcycle world!!!
Choppers 4 ever! Still have my 1st, a 51 Pan chopper that I bought in 1983 for $2400. It's seen a few small changes, and a rebuild..but after 3 trips to Sturgis(956 miles) I got a bagger in 1991. Sold it and got a 93 FLHTP that I've customized..no fairing, solo seat, and a small old tour pack for the dog. It ain't yours, till you build it yourself!
It doesn’t really matter what the reason is as long as there are people still buying and still riding! We all belong to a unique community be glad the community still exists!! Safe riding and keeper out of the ditch!!!
I ride a Road King so I'm not sure where I fit in, however the plastic windshield works on long runs....I can build it up or strip it down for whatever occasion and I'm not stuck with all the crap.
I'm still on my '86 FXR I got in 1991 four $8K. Had the engine rebuilt in '07, an S&S engine installed last month, and at age 71 it is still all I'll ever need.
Go live on your bike and you’ll find out. People just get tired of bungees and rock straps. Dry bags are often beat by hard cases. I ride an FXR, but that’s why the nomad bagger crowd rolls like they do.
That's a very good point, having something that is designed for it makes a huge difference not having to think about how and where to tie something down.
Once I bought my wind-up bike and built it as long hauler with legends front and rear, upgraded stereo, hopped up the motor, and having place for all my and my Queens crap there was no going back to the night train. Myself and 3 friends all got baggers and all kept our soft softails, dynas even one Big Dog K9 chopper because we were confident we would ride the hell out of them and our old man baggers for trips. None of is currently own those bikes because no matter the destination or distance the baggers were the choice. No going back. If you have ridden for ever and plan on ridding until you die, trust me you too will "Wind-Up" on baggers. Love your content and are the only creator I've followed from the start of me watching RUclips until now. Stay safe.
Exactly! I have had 2 in my shed for years, until recently. An Ultra (now Street Glide) and a Dyna. Touring bike for longer trips, Dyna for shorter trips / day rides. Or so I thought. Not true at all, no matter how long the trip, I still wanted the comfort and convenience of the touring bike. Finally sold the Dyna, it did not get ridden.
Riding a bagger in a sea of baggers. No thanks, not my thing unless it were a Road King. I ride a springer softail bobber cruiser, and absolutely want for nothing else! I only take with me whatever will fit in the one swing arm saddle bag and my pockets!
I bought a Road King back in 2009 & put an aftermarket bat wing fairing on it. At the time, it was rare to see panniers on a Harley at the pub or the club. Now, almost all the bikes I see around the traps have fairings & panniers. Now I'm looking to buy a Dyna. Not just to assert my individuality but because, while the Road King is a great bike, great also means big & sometimes it would be nice to have less bike to throw around because sometimes, less is more.
A Streetglide is just an Electraglide Standard. The Roadglide is a Tourglide, In the late 90's and early 2000's all I had was my FXR which I still have. I rode that to Myrtle beach from New York every year with no problems. When I got a girlfriend who wanted to ride I picked up an Electraglide Standard for her comfort on the long rides. I currently have the FXR, a Heritage and a Ultra Classic. Most of the people I ride with have Baggers and I now noticed alot of them are moving over to Trikes! I just think that it's a comfort thing as alot of them carry passengers. As for me, well there is nothing I like more than going on a blast on the FXR!!
I traded in a ‘17 Heritage Softail for a 2024 Roadglide, best decision I ever made. The new bike is super comfortable and super fast, I love it!! Way more powerful and comfortable than my Softail was and the motor runs much cooler.
I've been riding Harley since 1977.I've seen baggers come and go I'm sure it'll come and go again. I'm sure Harley Davidson is loving it. Selling these bikes for that whole lot of money.
I bought a new 2017 Streetglide. I wanted something with a windshield, I never thought I would really like having the radio, and then how nice it was to have the hard bags.
I was 40 when I got my -92 Electra Glide. It was cheap and something I just could afford. It was more or less in pieces and my start with Harleys began putting one back together. I never planned getting a touring bike, but it literally was the only option to get a Harley. I have never been much into built baggers, but I have put 18" front wheel, -1" monotube shocks to forks, shorter shocks to rear, 14" ape hanger etc... All that I've done to enhance the rideability and handling, not to build a bagger just to be fashionable and in the scene. It has been my daily ride ever since, for 10 years now and even I want to trade it to something else time to time, I think I can't ever let it go.
Silly conversation. I ride what I like. I do not care what type of bike is parked in the parking lot. If you want bags, its okay with me. I like sportsters and bobbers. Its never been a matter of what is popular. I'll even drink beers with a Yamaha rider. Pull the old chopper out and ride if its what puts you in the zone. Get the closest thing you can get to your dream bike and just ride.
20% do it, 80% will follow. Baggers became cool with a niche group and everyone else followed. Also RV, ADV, and “overland” vehicle sales went through the roof in 2020. Baggers, or any faired bike, kinda fall in that category of wonder lust vehicles. I believe that is why the momentum in popularity hasn’t stopped growing.
I'm 62 now. My body aches getting out of bed in the mornings but I'm not crazy about holding onto another 200 lbs at a light either. My cruiser is 720 lbs on a flat and 1400 lbs on its side. 😂 A bagger is what 900 lbs? I'll pass on that hernia, Thank You very much...
I'm also 62. I've been on cruisers since '93, switched to a Street Glide in '09. Ultras and now a Street Glide again since then. The weight is an issue but it's not that bad, especially if you've been riding for years and know how to balance a bike, guessing you have. No hernias. The comfort for myself and my wife is huge on a touring bike compared to a Dyna or Softail. Those body aches you describe are the reason TO get a touring bike. Have had several of each (Dynas & Softails) and they are all gone now but an Ultra and Street Glide remain (Ultra at cabin, SG at home). Traded my '13 Super Glide Custom for that used Ultra for the cabin this spring, and that was a great move, I loved my Super Glide and didn't ever want to part with it but the Ultra is so so much more useful for us at the cabin. I'm guessing very few if any on here who are bashing touring bikes for some reason have ever owned a touring bike because if you have, you know how much more comfortable they are and how insignificant the weight difference is relative to the improved comfort. Sold my '17 Ultra a couple years ago and bought a Low Rider ST for a more back to the basics, light weight, simple experience. I was all about lighter, simpler, easier, more fun... Well that bike is gone now & back to the touring bikes. When I'm riding several hours on a weekend for fun, I want to be comfortable. Or I will just stay home on the couch, it's that simple. Street Glide and Ultra just fit us so good, and the storage in the bags and tour pack make them useful as well. Jackets, helmets, groceries, etc., once you get used to having storage for stuff you feel like you're on a useless bike when it has no storage. Street Glide weighs over 100 lbs more than my cruisers did, but no big deal. We love music & the sound system adds a new level of entertainment to any ride. Cruise control is a must for me in whatever vehicle I'm driving these days. And the built-in GPS is great when you're out exploring new roads (and NO, you do not know every cool back road within a few hours of your house no matter who you are). The wife is 100% more comfortable on a touring bike as well, the tour pack backrest and the floor boards make it a much better experience for her. Maybe some of you ride alone or don't care if your significant other is comfortable, then a cruiser is much more feasible. I was cruiser cruiser cruiser in the '90's and 2000's, but got spoiled in a big hurry when I got my first touring bike in '09. When I tried to go back to a cruiser 2 years ago, that was a total failure.
I'm going back to 1994 when Harley introduced the Road King. Then upped the ante with the Road-Glide before upping the ante again with Willie Gs Street-Glide. With cruise control, radios & air ride suspension etc, the yuppies & older guys wanted to cruise in comfort. I always owned my 46 raked & stretched flathead chopper & Softails. I looked down on baggers as Geezer-Glides. Until I realised they had twin disc front, & the biggest lean angle. So I bought a rusty 94 Electra-Glide Classic with broken fairing & touring pack. I'm making it naked into a Road King. I then found a 98 95th Anniversary Electra-Glide Ultra Classic with a matching painted trailer to circumnavigate Australia on. It was a bargain I couldn't pass up. I will not modify that
Man, I sold my Road King last year and got a 23 Low Rider S. Added a pair of quick detach leather pros and it's an amazing all around bike with awesome power. I don't like fairings, windshields and radios. The FXLRS is so much lighter and faster, still very comfortable to ride.
I absolutely love me my 2023 Softail Standard. I love the chrome and the stripped down bobber look. It’s a pain not having any bags, but I like the look too much to add any. I have a snap-on windscreen for longer highway rides, but mostly go without. Only real complaint is that the gas tank is a little small (3.5 gallon).
For me it started back in 1975 riding back from Daytona’s Bike Week up I-95 to Ft. Bragg NC on my then naked 1973 Kawasaki 900. The ride was extremely wet, I must have looked like a drenched water rat about to drown. Laying on top of the gas tank trying to maintain the double nickel speed limit, I all of a sudden hear music coming up behind me. Here’s this rider on the same bike as mine smoking a cigar and listening to his tunes appearing to look far dryer than me. The difference, his bike was sporting a Windjammer fairing with radio, as he passed me in his cocoon of dry comfort. I decided I wanted a fairing on my bike. Once I got over my cold that I developed on that ride, a few days later I had a Windjammer fairing installed on my bike. It didn’t end there, I had to have a CB radio self installed as well. Anyway, I’ve been known to crush miles during my military days and once out I’ve been riding over 1M miles since 1972. My present bike a 2015 Road Glide CVO it has 143K miles on her, and it’s never been out of the state of Florida. All those miles within a 250 mile radius of my home. I do like cruisers, I’ve owned several, however the bugs the size of small birds here in South Florida are no fun hitting them at 70 plus’s MPH. Personally I’m so use to riding my bagger everywhere that its size and weight is easily forgotten. I believe it also gives me an edge on safety over the cruisers due to the visibility over the smaller bikes.
YESSS the WindJammer, fairing and bags! I been there too on my Kawasakis getting drenched and fighting the elements, it's amazing how all the sudden those baggers ain't so bad. That's some impressive miles on that CVO!
The handling is what helped the bagger craze. Seven years ago I was looking for a touring bike .I test rode them all .I test the Gen 5 Goldwing the k1600 BMW the ultraglide even the road master and the Kawasaki Voyager. They handled really well for their weight and out right size . The other thing is the availability of really great used bikes of every name plate. Due to coming off neck surgery I chose a 06 Goldwing, got it for 8500 out the door with a 3 year warranty. Two years ago I helped a 20 year old young man get a 07 ultra with 19 k on the odometer. I was a little shocked that someone his age was considering a touring bike. The bike had 6 thousand miles on a rebuild using a SnS kit. He ended up getting it for 9 k out the door. All the big touring bikes handle extremely well and you can't go wrong with any of them. The suspension tech has gotten so good that you have to test ride them all .
1) if it has a Cupholder, it is NOT a Motorcycle 2) If it has a stereo, it is NOT a Motorcycle Cars have those things, and windshields too. Just drive yer cars with the side windows down, same effect as a Bagger
Nope, not a car just because it has a stereo and a cup holder and a windshield. There are still quite a few differences. Your definition of a "motorcycle" is different than the actual definition of a motorcycle. Maybe you are confused between a bicycle or tricycle and a motorcycle. People have been running around with "stereos" on their bodies (Walkmans) for many decades now, so having one built-in on a motorcycle in 2024 does not seem like a huge stretch or stop it from being a motorcycle. If you are heading out on a 500 mile day (not a trip around the block, an actual 500 mile day in the elements), you might want to bring your coffee with you in the morning or a bottle of water during the day... hence the cup holder. And yup, on an actual motorcyle, hard as that might be to comprehend for some folks.
Or a convertible. See many baggers at my shop that are 10 to 15 years old with less than 20,000 miles on em. I'm 57 years old and if you can't make a 100 mile ride on any bike it might be time to consider a different mode of transportation
It’s the motors that kept us from wanting a touring bike for everyday use. 60 hp on a 850lb bike doesn’t sound appealing. Same motor in a 600 lb soft tail chassis and it’s doable.
Youre correct , at laconia last week it was like tourfest , u had to look hard to c cool choppers , low riders etc. The HA' s who were there in numbers have nice cool rides , dynas , fxrs , cool custom designed fairings etc 👍
I like my HD 1200 Sportster with leather bags and a removable windshield. My bike is light compared to full baggers. I don't really like overly heavy motorcycles. Because i do ride on a lot of back roads that are mostly dirt and gravel.
As you said, a bagger can do pretty much everything and anything you want. Even in the peak custom bagger craze, the frames were mostly unmodified so making them usable wasn't the challenge that a hard tail is. I do think that the love of gadgets we have in life plays a role too. Stereos and GPS(those things are handy) and comfy seats, especially for the pillion, make them hard to beat. I can ride for hours to another state on my RG with all my stuff and spend a few days leisurely riding around to then head back eating miles all on the same bike. It's hard to deny how nice that versatility is.
Yeah, I had a 06 street glide. It was a very popular bike. You couldn’t buy them used. They were a five speed and 88 motor. 07 was the first year of the 96 and a six speed. I really like my six around town with that five speed you put 95 hit on it with some compression with the five speed. It walked away from CVO. And the floorboards would fold up when they change the frame you hit the floorboard brackets and deliver it but I like the old frame I had my floorboards down to nothing fun stuff
I ride a road king flhpi .....its the best of both worlds in my opinion. Feel like stripping off the windshield and the bags , whole different bike. Going on a trip? Put all of it back on and add a quick release trunk. Its all in your preferences....
I used to think it was stupid to hop up a bagger. When I got my 2015 RK I said I was going to leave it stock but nope I had to hop it up like my shovel 😂
The looks, comfort, excellent wind deflection, loud radio and more storage is what i think the bagger had over your typical cruiser. I was a diehard Sportster guy. That's all i rode bc they are so much fun but the aggressive look of the street glide had me hooked. I ended up buying an Electra glide that was stripped down to look like a SG and then i eventually traded for one. A 2014 SG special. Unfortunately i wrecked it and now am in the process of buying another street glide.
That time was before i started riding i never liked choppers but crusiers were always cool. I started out on a fatboy great bike but once i got one with a fairing better ride storage espically 2 up never got another softail after that on my 3rd electra glide 2016 model and just turned 27. I always use my tour pac even when solo during the work week id never own a bike without one. One more thing in my area in new england the lowest milage bikes for sale when i look are harley touring bikes. I couldnt picture the old days with dynas and softails running around not a bagger in site
I started out on a new 2011 streetbob which I wish I still had. Traded it in on a new 2013 streetglide and have not went back. Radio, push button cruise control, full floorboards and the hard bags did it for me. I just prefer them for those reasons.
Great video, but 1 correction. The Street Glide came out in 2006. I was going to buy one, but the dealership's were getting a premium for it because it was a new model. I purchased a Yamaha Stratoliner instead. Again, great video!!!
Back in the day you didn’t need or have all the fancy gear you now need to stow when you stop for a beer. There weren’t any cellphones , gps units , ezpass , helmets , rain gear or anything. Now a days everyone is carrying so much stuff you need a place to stow it.
I remember just going, not packing anything or worry about nothing. I am guilty of packing everything now for those long rides in case it rains or what if I have to plug a tire.
@@anthonymasluk2295 like my old man always said....if your going on a trip...lay out all your clothes and all your money.....cut the clothes in half and double up on the money
Just bought my first Harley Davidson Road glide 2021 love it back in the day I worked for a motorcycle shop building choppers, but you can’t beat a bagger man
The last bike I owned before my current one was a Softail Springer. I had it for nine years. I loved that bike but I couldn’t do more than 100 miles on it before it just kicked my ass. I’m 60 years old now so I sold it and bought an Ultra. It’s not as cool as the Springer but I can ride it all day long. At some point you just want the comfort. Softails ain’t soft.
I think these trends are kind of funny. Been riding 50 years or more and started on Honda dirt bikes then Shovelheads, Evos, Suzukis, you name it... Back then, any road bike I owned, I put saddlebags and longer bars on them. Motorcycles without some kind of bag is rather limiting because I don't want to go home to get a car or truck to pick something up. The longer bars helped me spread-out. Even back in the day, you had to carry tools with you somewhere in case you broke down, and in the AMF days, that was pretty common. Heck, even Arnie's Fat boy in T2 had a saddlebag. Now I ride a Yamaha XT250 dual sport, a Heritage Classic and Road King. I got rid of my Goldwings, Ultra Limiteds and my Indian Roadmaster because I'm just not riding the distances anymore to justify that big and heavy of a bike. I can take the windshield off and throw my leg over that Heritage and enjoy riding a simple, classic motorcycle with wind in my face and bags in case it rains, or I have to pick up something from the grocery store. Also, with Bluetooth, you can pipe music into your helmet on longer rides. Every bike is a compromise, but some are just in the middle enough that they can pull double duty.
Those abominations with 30 inch front wheels, stretched bags, and sitting flat on the ground are 100% GHETTO. I have no idea why mainstream society is so desperate to copy GHETTO culture. It just seems ridiculous. And to me, a lot of those "choppers" of the late '90-s and early 2000s weren't really choppers at all. I always considered the Peter Fonda bike from Easy Rider to be the epitome of a "chopper" It was my dream bike since I was a kid. I raked out the forks and put a tall sissy bar on my Schwinn Sting Ray. Many years ago I actually bought a bike that had the same basic layout. But it was not a Harley. It had a SOHC Honda 750 inline four engine in a factory made hardtail frame. I quickly learned that riding such a bike was not nearly as much fun as it looked like. I didn't keep it very long. I have done a lot of touring. Around a million miles of it. It is by far my favorite type of riding. I've had a couple of Goldwings, but didn't keep them very long either. Too much like being in a car. Surrounded by all that plastic. I have a particular dislike for windshields. You have to look through both a face shield and a windshield. I tried them, and gave up on them as well. And they ruin the lines of a bike. My 1989 FXRS Low Rider is my favorite touring bike out of all the bikes I've owned since age 16. I can put a tall sissy bar on it, strap stuff to both sides of it, and if I need to carry more stuff, I can use throw over leather bags. When I get back, all that stuff come off easily and quickly, and I have what I consider to be a proper looking motorcycle again. Trends come and trends go, and aside by being somewhat disgusted by some of them, I pretty much ignore them. My idea of what a motorcycle should look like goes back over 50 years, and I still feel the same today. My FXRS has the same basic layout as a real chopper, but dialed back enough to make it fun and comfortable to ride. As for a stereo on a motorcycle, that is just beyond me. Why would anybody want to ruin a nice ride with something they can listen to at home, or in a car? At the very least it is very distracting to the rider, and my riders make it even worse by sticking a "smartphone" to their handlebars. To me the reason for riding is to GET AWAY from all that crap. To take a break from all the TRASH technology I have to deal with in life. The idea of taking all TRASH with me just seems ludicrous. I use an old school flip phone, and I keep it put away in an inaccessible place while riding.
I'll admit I wasn't a fan of the bikes on TV but I loved what it did for motorcycles. It got people excited about bikes and out in the dealers, so many people that never thought about a motorcycle got excited about it from the tv shows.
I ride a 2000 model Roald King, best of both worlds. Not weighed down with useless stuff like stereos and such but still have the saddlebags and suspension of a tourer
They might be dead in your world but they are alive and well in mine. Got a 77 FXE, 80 XLH, 02 FXD, and the closest thing I have to a touring bike is a 00 Road King Classic.
You hit the spot! I pulled up to a bar and was surrounded by baggers. I felt like an outsider on my 04 Fatboy. I loved every minute of it! People pay attention and give me compliments.
I love to hear that! That's the flip side of things anymore these days, you pull up on a Fat Boy and it's not something everyone sees all day every day now!
Harleys aren't a bike for a rebellious American who wants to get on two wheels anymore, they're a status symbol of wealth now, and most of the folks buying them want to feel as close as possible to being in a car. They're doing everything they can to get a bike that doesn't feel like a bike lol Also, once all the modules, computers and electronics fail in 15 years, there's no replacing them. Unless the afternarket figures out a simple wiring harness swap for old school ignition and carburetors.... our bikes are doomed to obsolescence and a junkyard.
Got me a "geezer glide" 2yrs ago(2014 Street Glide)Love the cruise control, love the stereo, love momma being more comfortable. But... smartest thing i did was keep my 2002 Softail Standard (which i bought new) Love to take the longer trips on the SG & shorter ones on the softail. Best of both worlds. Even take the wifes 1200 custom out occasionally. And just bought a 1980 CB900C last yr to re-live some of my youth. What a bunch of fun thats been. Variety is the spice of life!! Own as many as you can & ride as long as you're able
I got a Road King so could take long trips, if had the money and place to keep them, I get a cruiser for short rides, although the bags on the King make it nice for work and grabbing some things from the store.
Never got near the customized chopper bit. My model 80 Electra Glide came with some accessory leather bags on. I cleaned it up with H-D hard bags and a full National windshield . Even my 08 FXSTC ( cruiser ) has nice leather bags on. You can't carry everything in your pockets
As a young boy, I grew up riding the tour bikes of old (evo/shovels) with my old man. When I was in my 20s, I went with dyna and softail while friends rode crouch rockets. But in the last 20 yrs I went to the baggers like my old man and been happy. Had a buddy who trying to sale his chopper for a cheap price but I am still looking for an evo or shovel in dyna or softail just for the nostalgia and old memories of my old man.
Back in 2005 I got my license. I REALLY wanted a Road King, but I definitely couldn't afford one. People will probably be hating on this, but I found a Honda Shadow Aero 750 and I still ride it.
It has always fascinated me how people follow others with all kinds of trends that have always happened .It is at the point where people come up to me and ask what my older Softail Custom is. I wonder what the next trend will be in the motorcycle world. For me I am not ready for the full touring design. I go wherever I choose on my Evo and know if I have any issues with it on the road I most likely will fix it. I guess I am at the old-school age now like when I saw the shovel head riders back in the day. Everyone be safe out there.
Demographics. Aging rider, more retirees with time to spare to go touring and have the money to buy a touring model. Less youngins around to buy cruisers and with the death of the Dyna and Harley going further into the premium market, the softails became too expensive for a younger person to buy until they were settled in their careers. By then, they’ll want a touring model
I retired at 51 and still proudly ride my FXSTC. Looking at all of the soy/betas out there also explains why so many want a windshield and handguards...👌
Good video Gixx. Maybe I'm the odd one but I use my highway cruiser for... well... cruising on the highway and my softail for around town. My bagger is more of a tool for me to do what I love but I absolutlely love riding my hopped up tricked out Deuce. But hey, ride your ride and I'm good with whatever you like.
Yeah..... but today the posers all want a big TV screen with all the software and sound options on their bike, and a touring can hold much more chrome and bigger lights then a naked chopper, so they stand out more passing by.
Hey Gixxer, we bar hopped on our Electric Glides all the time going back to 1980 and never once felt out of place. I love the FLH and will always take a bagger over a cruiser. However as we age the cruiser's are looking really cool, due to the weight of them. Take Care
I was actually shifting back to a softail because of the weight of my road glide, but when I rode the new rode glide it seemed to have the best of both a cruiser and a touring bike . It’s light, handles well and has a lot of get up and go. I traded my low rider st and my road glide special for a 2024 road glide. Surprisingly, it’s been trouble free even with the tech they’ve added. In the past my luck with HD tech was never good. Hope my luck holds!
I'm 31 years old. I daily my indian chieftain. I hardly ever drive more then 45 mins in one direction. Not including coming back. I've been car less since march. I should finally have the 5k to fix my car In Aug. I lost my Job and took a few months, to find a job that works 6-7 days.
BS brother, baggers have always looked like shit to me, might as well wear their reflective suits with em as well. I still CRUISE my 95 Evo Fatboy, sure I ain't long haulin her across the states, but I could, just throw a couple temporary saddle bags on her back at best, no dumb ass looking shield or fairing either. Not bashin the vid, it is the unfortunately reality with the new school, but I don't care if everyone is ridding ugly garbage, I will be cruising my 95 and laughing at them.
What do you think of the Harley-Davidson bagger trend? Do you feel it's killed off the basic cruiser market?
Almost every rider in my area of the PA mountains has a bagger. With extras! If you need that much storage take the van. Windshields with stereos and bluetooth headsets? It's still laughable; defeats the point of being on 2 wheels and in the wind...👌
@@JamesMorton-hf3xb
That’s why I got a road king , after riding my low rider for 35 years I wasn’t sure I would like a windshield so the RK windshield is detachable & I don’t need a Radio or anything but the pipe music
I feel like the new rider wants the fairing so they can have a big ass stereo just to turn heads going down the road… when before ,,they could never turn heads… ha ha
Love my Breakout. Had a Roadglide but happy to be back on a Softail.
@@lanceandmelanierogers6255
I think a bagger is too heavy for new riders. Just my opinion but I rode a Harley FXS for 35 years before I got a RK and I was amazed how much heavier it was specially in tight spots
I did it backwards. I started out on a used RK police bike. When I sold it I went to the cruiser, and that's all I've ridden since. I don't crush miles anymore, just do day trips or morning rides in the mountains. I want simplicity on my bike. No ride modes, ABS, info screen, stereo's, heck I don't even care to have a tachometer. Just be connected to my bike and road. I love listening to how my motor is running. Just tuned in to the bike and not blasting music. I'm not a fan of those giant front wheel stretched baggers dragging the road. All show no go. Just gonna be me and my Fatboy till I am no more. Great topic and video GixxerFoo!
Thank you! That's about how I am anymore these days, I just like some day trips and maybe some overnighters but I don't venture nearly as far as I used to.
I luv choppers i dont want a bagger
A Fatboy is a close in between. I mean that's a beefy cruiser.
That's how it's done.
Very well said, I've felt the same way for years, a simple, no frills cruiser. I've always loved the sound of a Harley V twin and the stripped down look. That's what made me gravitate to bobbers. I never liked the baggers/touring bikes for the look, weight, and unnecessary excess.
My wife and I are both 70. I ride a 2010 FXDC Superglide (no shield, bags, warm grips or tunes). Wife rides a 2015 Sportster 48 Special also (no shield, bags or crap) We are doing a 21 day trip across Canada again this year. I dont buy that getting old thing. Ive always called baggers "geezer glides".
Right on! That's awesome to hear, I love those 48 Specials!
Less you sir!
Yeah. Gotta make it tough on yourself in the 70s
I'm 60 and absolutely agree. I'll never own a full dresser. Love my cruisers.
Agree 100%.Old farts were the only people that rode them. I'm still on a Sportster after 45 yrs of riding.
Been riding cruisers all my life and recently while on a day trip I switched my wide glide with a friend’s street glide because he kept telling me how great it was. At 57 years old I figured at some point that’s the direction I would have to go due to age and fatigue. It gave me the same feeling as riding a school bus. Not bashing the baggers but just didn’t have the same feeling I’d grown to love on bikes without all the bells and whistles. Give me a naked cruiser any day, I may have to rest more frequently as I get older but that’s fine with me. 8:09
I like the baggers out on the highway, you can for sure ride longer and farther without the fatigue. They just don't feel as good as the naked bikes to me either!
@@GixxerFoo I took your advice and recently bought a 2016 Switchback. This will hopefully keep me on a Dyna for the rest of my riding days. Love the FLD! Thanks for the advise
I grew up thinking choppers were too extra and baggers were “old man bikes”. Watching Arnold and Sylvester Stallone riding cruisers in their movies, I really wanted a cruiser. It’s still my bike of choice at 33 years old today.
Terminator 2 sold a ton of not just Fat Boys but Harleys in general!
@@GixxerFoo oh 100%! lol and all the bikes in Cobra I thought were cool too. Especially when Stallone is riding by the camera with the girl on a Harley Cruiser while the credits fade in. These moments stuck with me lol
Wild Hogs was a hilarious movie too. Added more fuel to the fire
Zach, that movie will make a LOT more sense in 20yrs. Enjoy it while you can!
I’m 57, a still ride a cruiser. It suits my needs and desires better.
You grew up with the correct opinion lol
Trends mean squat. Dumped my dyna for a road glide and it has been the best decision ever. Put the tour pack on when needed or ride without and have a bit of storage. Reality is, ride what you love and trends be damned…
Facts
Exactly! Doesn't matter what you ride as long as you're riding!
You are spot on. The whole culture of riding is to be yourself and ride what you want.
At 63 still ride my Sportster with a windshield and top box. Had her 25 years and see no need to change. Bike is heavy enough for me don't need 200 more lbs to deal with.
I absolutely love a Sportster, they can be anything you want them to be!
@@GixxerFoo They are not a gateway to big twin ownership. They are a bike unto themselves.
I’m 67. Still riding my Sportster. Easy to ride. Easy to back up into a parking spot. Been riding them since 1975.
@@GixxerFooquick, nimble and have exhaust note all their own
@@billcarson1971 i,ll be 74 next month....still ride my 96 fxds most of the time (widshield and bags optional) or fire up my 2012 flhp throw on the tour pac and away we go...
Trends happen in "Cycles." Back in the 60s only old men and cops rode something with saddlebags. We chopped everything else. Then we got older and our butts and backs started hurting so we started looking for bikes that weren't all cut up. The next generation comes along in the 90s and they want "cool". So they buy choppers. Ten years later their butts and backs start hurting so they started looking for something more comfortable. I imagine that another 10 years from now you'll start seeing choppers again.
Good Point.
Yep, it's just about whatever trend is in at any given time & everything cycles back around eventually.
Young man walks into a Harley dealership. " I would like a Harley, what do you have in the 10k range" salesman turns and tells him "get lost, i don't even have a womans bike at 10k" man looks over at the motorcycle near the front of the entrance " how much is that one ?" "It's 49,599$ son, I do have a whole lot of 50$ dollar t-shirts for you to choose from" .... Man leaves and goes and gets a faster, lighter, more agile, cheaper Japanese motorcycle.
Harley is just dying a slow death, t-shirts can't carry a motorcycle brand forever.
During the chopper craze, I bought a Road King Classic (discontinued). During the bagger craze, I picked up a hard candy Sportster 72 (discontinued) and a Dyna Low Rider (discontinued). Keeping all three! Fads are for followers! 👌
I never got into the choppers either, you've got a garage full of awesome bikes!
You have serious good taste in Harleys! The 72 is really underrated.
Fact!
I've always felt that the road king was the best motorcycle for the money. They are comfortable to ride long distance and has storage. Remove the windshield and you got as cruiser.
The Road King is a great bike. Gotta be careful cleaning the windshield so as not to scratch it. That’s my only concern.
That's why I like my Road King Classic-- cruise and tour.
That really is an awesome bike that splits the difference the two worlds there!
I believe the idea of Harley owners aging is true. Sportster riders are now cruiser riders. The cruiser riders are now bagger riders. The bagger riders are now trike riders. The cruiser to baggers are 30 to 50 and the baggers to trikes are 51 to 70 or whatever. Point is no one is coming off of the rev motor line-up to get on a cruiser which pales in comparison in performance. So I believe we are at a stand-still in search of a group to occupy the cruiser line-up in the next 10 years
That's a really good point! I could see there being a cruiser drought for a while!
Well said, that is very true.
68yrs and still kicking over my solo extended springer ridged shovel fishtail Frisco style pull backs rear brake only 60s era Chopper. Bad back and all. Keeps me loose fast and dangerous. And wouldn't have it any other way.
Your amazing I hope to make it to thaat age and ride at that age mate
@@anthonymasluk2295 Appreciate you, Live to Ride - Ride to Live
@@danielcombs3048 thanks mate
Hell yeah my friend! Keep it loose, fast and dangerous!!
Good job 👍 I’m 64 and I have only kicked a handful of times after I broke my knee cap in a dirt bike wreck in 1980 and had 5 surgeries on it since. I can still kick in an emergency if I must.
I'm 35 and have an 07 R1 and an 08 Ultra Classic... paid around 5k for each and am able to experience either extreme whenever I want! The real answer is have more than 1 bike!
Now you've got the setup right there! I would love to get another sport bike eventually, even if it's a naked bike.
@@GixxerFoo Track days on the R1 have actually greatly improved my bagger riding.. especially with braking technique and confidence since neither bike have ABS! Nothing better than pushing a personal limit safely on the track and translating those skills to touring and twisty back roads on the Ultra Classic. Highly recommend!
you got a great deal on your Ultra Classic, these days you cant find anything less than 7.5-8K for used UC.
I’m almost 56 and ride a 2015 gsxr 600. I’d like another bike, a Sporty or a Dyna or Softail. It has to be no more than 6 grand so I don’t have sell the Gixxer.
@@RomVlad That's awesome! I hope I'm still riding sport bikes 20 years from now! From personal experience though, I would highly recommend a bagger if you can find one. I sold a Sportster to get the UC. There's nothing like the ability to carry stuff in the saddlebags and top case. Makes grocery shopping on a bike actually doable!
As a present owner of a Softail Custom EVO and TC88 Superglide, I can say the best years riding (1984 to 2018) were on full-dress Electra Glides. I took them grocery shopping, bar-hopping and interstate rally-going - anywhere...
My 1981 FXS low rider was the shit back in 82
Those were some seriously popular models, it iconic enough they emulated the same style in the later models!
I've been running around town on my 2022 Road King Special all day today and I loved every minute of it. I just got my Road King last week after 2 years on my Sportster1200.
I dont like fairings . Don't want a stereo . Road King Special is my dream bike..rode with no windscreen and no face protection all day. Got some bugs in the face.... worth it.
I don't care much for baggers. A full size touring bike would be my option for the long hauls. But I'll never give up my DYNA for cruising.
It's just not the same riding around the lake with fairing out front, cruiser you can actually feel the wind out there.
I think the touring bike thing blew up because everyone wants to keep up with the Joneses and talking down on bikes that cost less than theirs. It's a flex. There's a certain segment of Harley owners that are more concerned about flashing money than riding.
could notagree with you more spot on
I feel you on that. I have both. Fatboy that’s for quick rides. But commuting to work 65 miles each way twice a week and going for long rides. The fairing, the radio, the gps and the storage is invaluable. I also ride sportbikes on the track. Every motorcycle is awesome if it’s used for its intended purpose.
You mean every harley rider lmao
@@TheScrubmuffin69 Many Harley riders, true. But you'll also see your fair share of Ducati and BMW riders that are no different.
Yeah the RUBS !
I got a roadking, and I rarely see other roadkings on the road. It's all streetglide, roadglide. Love my roadking!
I could never get a modern Harley who needs half the electronics on it. Fuel injected softail heritage is the peak for me.
I love those Heritages, they will do anything you want them to!
In the same boat , new bikes just have too much technology that I don't need or want . I have bags, and a batwing on my 2008 Fat Bob , it gets the job done
I feel the same with cars. My old 08 CVPI was the pinnacle of what cars should be, excluding its power lumbar and analog/digital gauges, and dbw.
I’ve never had a touring bike, or even a windshield. I’ve been riding for 40 years. Now I have a 2022 114 street Bob. Mainly I love day trips. I only take some water, some chewing tobacco, a usb charger for my phone, a hat and a pair of sunglasses, which all fit nicely in my tank bag or swingarm saddlebag. Don’t need all that storage space slowing the bike down. And I feel Part of the adventure is, getting a bug in the face occasionally. Hahaha
Cruiser's are your roots . Got to love them . Older folks want comfort . I like simpler rides
I like the simpler rides myself too, really felt the 90's was the golden era for cruisers.
I'm 73 and still ride my 2000 Fatboy all over the West. It is set up to fit me perfectly, and I don't need an 800-900 lb. behemoth to enjoy the trip! My bike is basic......carburetor, detachable saddlebags for long trips, and minimum electronics to fail. I do my own work on it and know the bike intimately. It is the last Harley I will own!
Amazing your a year older then my mom I hope to ride at your age if I make your age cheers
I ride a. 09 fatboy zero issues had it from brand new
There was a time when you couldn't find a Fat Boy in the dealers! I love to hear they are still out there on the road, you can anything with a Fat Boy!
@@GixxerFoo I agree that’s why my ride is a keeper I bought it brand new in November 2008 I had to wait 5 months for it as I wanted vivid black it was worth the wait
I detest what they broadcast on the radio, so I'll stick with my dyna and fxr. The radio really makes me wanna barf.
Bluetooth your phone into it. I haven’t listened to FM in 10 years.
Psst…psst…you don’t have to listen to the radio like in 1978….
I think people finally came to their senses after asking a thousand times "Can I put my jacket and gloves in your bags"?
Lol I can't say I am not guilty of that myself.
That cuts deep, bro. Took me two weeks to get my little bag back from my buddy's saddlebags. FXDB for me! Dyna!
People were strapping things to their bikes way before dressers budro. Get some straps and bungee cords 💨
@@amerigo88 I see you brother! Dyna crew
@@brandonmacon3317 I have a sissy bar and a Biltwell bag that carries more than my Dad's saddlebags.
I've been riding a long time. What you are talking about is "trends", I could care less about trends, I ride what I like.
Baggers became popular with yuppies because they need bags to carry around their GF's stuff. They put $60k into a bike so that they can put their jackets in the bags when they ride to their local bike night or when they load it onto a trailer.
There always were some old school guys who rode baggers because they did long distance rides, I get that, they have my respect but most of the bagger riders today are just trend followers, no different than the fat tire, neon paint guys from the 90's.
I ride what you call a cruiser & I put miles on it. I don't load it on a trailer.
Baggers are popular because of their versatility. You can go to the hardware store or grocery store and have a place to bring home your purchases. You can ride around town or bar hop on one as well. When you park outside one of these establishments, people know your bike is more expensive and feature rich than a cruiser. Most riders crave that acknowledgment. Highway travel of any type, whether it be a day trip, weekend trip, or m/c touring vacation, is waaaay more pleasant on a bagger or touring bike. Additionally, many riders, including myself, like having a cruise control and stereo on these longer journeys. So versatility, prestige, and comfort combined to make cruisers kind of like the small hatchbacks of the motorcycle world!!!
Choppers 4 ever! Still have my 1st, a 51 Pan chopper that I bought in 1983 for $2400. It's seen a few small changes, and a rebuild..but after 3 trips to Sturgis(956 miles) I got a bagger in 1991. Sold it and got a 93 FLHTP that I've customized..no fairing, solo seat, and a small old tour pack for the dog.
It ain't yours, till you build it yourself!
It doesn’t really matter what the reason is as long as there are people still buying and still riding! We all belong to a unique community be glad the community still exists!! Safe riding and keeper out of the ditch!!!
It truly is a unique community, I really hope that it makes resurgence back to where we were before the 2008 recession.
What do you think about Road King Police models?
I ride a Road King so I'm not sure where I fit in, however the plastic windshield works on long runs....I can build it up or strip it down for whatever occasion and I'm not stuck with all the crap.
I'm still on my '86 FXR I got in 1991 four $8K. Had the engine rebuilt in '07, an S&S engine installed last month, and at age 71 it is still all I'll ever need.
Go live on your bike and you’ll find out. People just get tired of bungees and rock straps. Dry bags are often beat by hard cases. I ride an FXR, but that’s why the nomad bagger crowd rolls like they do.
That's a very good point, having something that is designed for it makes a huge difference not having to think about how and where to tie something down.
Once I bought my wind-up bike and built it as long hauler with legends front and rear, upgraded stereo, hopped up the motor, and having place for all my and my Queens crap there was no going back to the night train. Myself and 3 friends all got baggers and all kept our soft softails, dynas even one Big Dog K9 chopper because we were confident we would ride the hell out of them and our old man baggers for trips. None of is currently own those bikes because no matter the destination or distance the baggers were the choice. No going back. If you have ridden for ever and plan on ridding until you die, trust me you too will "Wind-Up" on baggers. Love your content and are the only creator I've followed from the start of me watching RUclips until now. Stay safe.
Exactly! I have had 2 in my shed for years, until recently. An Ultra (now Street Glide) and a Dyna. Touring bike for longer trips, Dyna for shorter trips / day rides. Or so I thought. Not true at all, no matter how long the trip, I still wanted the comfort and convenience of the touring bike. Finally sold the Dyna, it did not get ridden.
Riding a bagger in a sea of baggers. No thanks, not my thing unless it were a Road King. I ride a springer softail bobber cruiser, and absolutely want for nothing else! I only take with me whatever will fit in the one swing arm saddle bag and my pockets!
You don't see many springers anymore these days! Honestly they draw a bigger crowd than any bagger cause you don't see them every day.
I do the same thing with my Wide Glide. I don't even have the saddle bag. My wallet in one pocket, my phone in the other. No shield.
I bought a Road King back in 2009 & put an aftermarket bat wing fairing on it. At the time, it was rare to see panniers on a Harley at the pub or the club. Now, almost all the bikes I see around the traps have fairings & panniers. Now I'm looking to buy a Dyna. Not just to assert my individuality but because, while the Road King is a great bike, great also means big & sometimes it would be nice to have less bike to throw around because sometimes, less is more.
A Streetglide is just an Electraglide Standard. The Roadglide is a Tourglide, In the late 90's and early 2000's all I had was my FXR which I still have. I rode that to Myrtle beach from New York every year with no problems. When I got a girlfriend who wanted to ride I picked up an Electraglide Standard for her comfort on the long rides. I currently have the FXR, a Heritage and a Ultra Classic. Most of the people I ride with have Baggers and I now noticed alot of them are moving over to Trikes! I just think that it's a comfort thing as alot of them carry passengers. As for me, well there is nothing I like more than going on a blast on the FXR!!
That FXR has to be a blast to ride! I do have to admit the trike are pretty comfortable and easy to ride without having to deal with all the weight!
@@GixxerFoo 28 years and counting. 120K on the clock.
We Got Old! We need to take our Sh*t with us. LOL
I traded in a ‘17 Heritage Softail for a 2024 Roadglide, best decision I ever made. The new bike is super comfortable and super fast, I love it!! Way more powerful and comfortable than my Softail was and the motor runs much cooler.
I've been riding Harley since 1977.I've seen baggers come and go I'm sure it'll come and go again. I'm sure Harley Davidson is loving it. Selling these bikes for that whole lot of money.
I bought a new 2017 Streetglide. I wanted something with a windshield, I never thought I would really like having the radio, and then how nice it was to have the hard bags.
I cannot stand bikes with fairings. If someone gave me one, I'd sell it. Give me leather saddlebags and a windshield. No stereo. No passenger couch.
I like fairing is some situations but anything other than running down the highway I am good without it.
Fairings killed your mom?
Fairings stole my FXR.
@@onerider808fairings took out my clutch
Roadsters rule👍
I was 40 when I got my -92 Electra Glide. It was cheap and something I just could afford. It was more or less in pieces and my start with Harleys began putting one back together. I never planned getting a touring bike, but it literally was the only option to get a Harley. I have never been much into built baggers, but I have put 18" front wheel, -1" monotube shocks to forks, shorter shocks to rear, 14" ape hanger etc... All that I've done to enhance the rideability and handling, not to build a bagger just to be fashionable and in the scene. It has been my daily ride ever since, for 10 years now and even I want to trade it to something else time to time, I think I can't ever let it go.
I still have a 70's era chopper that is sitting in the shed. Someday soon plan on getting it going this year. Not seen one for years around here.
Silly conversation. I ride what I like. I do not care what type of bike is parked in the parking lot. If you want bags, its okay with me. I like sportsters and bobbers. Its never been a matter of what is popular. I'll even drink beers with a Yamaha rider. Pull the old chopper out and ride if its what puts you in the zone. Get the closest thing you can get to your dream bike and just ride.
20% do it, 80% will follow. Baggers became cool with a niche group and everyone else followed. Also RV, ADV, and “overland” vehicle sales went through the roof in 2020. Baggers, or any faired bike, kinda fall in that category of wonder lust vehicles. I believe that is why the momentum in popularity hasn’t stopped growing.
Completly agree Gix, recently sold my 1995 Softail and bought a 2006 roadking, im seeing a massive trent in the club/stunt style baggers and dynas
I'm 62 now. My body aches getting out of bed in the mornings but I'm not crazy about holding onto another 200 lbs at a light either. My cruiser is 720 lbs on a flat and 1400 lbs on its side. 😂 A bagger is what 900 lbs? I'll pass on that hernia, Thank You very much...
That's the big thing with the touring bikes is just the sheer weight you have to deal with.
I'm also 62. I've been on cruisers since '93, switched to a Street Glide in '09. Ultras and now a Street Glide again since then. The weight is an issue but it's not that bad, especially if you've been riding for years and know how to balance a bike, guessing you have. No hernias. The comfort for myself and my wife is huge on a touring bike compared to a Dyna or Softail. Those body aches you describe are the reason TO get a touring bike. Have had several of each (Dynas & Softails) and they are all gone now but an Ultra and Street Glide remain (Ultra at cabin, SG at home). Traded my '13 Super Glide Custom for that used Ultra for the cabin this spring, and that was a great move, I loved my Super Glide and didn't ever want to part with it but the Ultra is so so much more useful for us at the cabin.
I'm guessing very few if any on here who are bashing touring bikes for some reason have ever owned a touring bike because if you have, you know how much more comfortable they are and how insignificant the weight difference is relative to the improved comfort. Sold my '17 Ultra a couple years ago and bought a Low Rider ST for a more back to the basics, light weight, simple experience. I was all about lighter, simpler, easier, more fun... Well that bike is gone now & back to the touring bikes. When I'm riding several hours on a weekend for fun, I want to be comfortable. Or I will just stay home on the couch, it's that simple. Street Glide and Ultra just fit us so good, and the storage in the bags and tour pack make them useful as well. Jackets, helmets, groceries, etc., once you get used to having storage for stuff you feel like you're on a useless bike when it has no storage. Street Glide weighs over 100 lbs more than my cruisers did, but no big deal. We love music & the sound system adds a new level of entertainment to any ride. Cruise control is a must for me in whatever vehicle I'm driving these days. And the built-in GPS is great when you're out exploring new roads (and NO, you do not know every cool back road within a few hours of your house no matter who you are). The wife is 100% more comfortable on a touring bike as well, the tour pack backrest and the floor boards make it a much better experience for her. Maybe some of you ride alone or don't care if your significant other is comfortable, then a cruiser is much more feasible.
I was cruiser cruiser cruiser in the '90's and 2000's, but got spoiled in a big hurry when I got my first touring bike in '09. When I tried to go back to a cruiser 2 years ago, that was a total failure.
I'm going back to 1994 when Harley introduced the Road King. Then upped the ante with the Road-Glide before upping the ante again with Willie Gs Street-Glide. With cruise control, radios & air ride suspension etc, the yuppies & older guys wanted to cruise in comfort. I always owned my 46 raked & stretched flathead chopper & Softails. I looked down on baggers as Geezer-Glides. Until I realised they had twin disc front, & the biggest lean angle. So I bought a rusty 94 Electra-Glide Classic with broken fairing & touring pack. I'm making it naked into a Road King. I then found a 98 95th Anniversary Electra-Glide Ultra Classic with a matching painted trailer to circumnavigate Australia on. It was a bargain I couldn't pass up. I will not modify that
Man, I sold my Road King last year and got a 23 Low Rider S. Added a pair of quick detach leather pros and it's an amazing all around bike with awesome power. I don't like fairings, windshields and radios. The FXLRS is so much lighter and faster, still very comfortable to ride.
I absolutely love me my 2023 Softail Standard. I love the chrome and the stripped down bobber look. It’s a pain not having any bags, but I like the look too much to add any. I have a snap-on windscreen for longer highway rides, but mostly go without. Only real complaint is that the gas tank is a little small (3.5 gallon).
For me it started back in 1975 riding back from Daytona’s Bike Week up I-95 to Ft. Bragg NC on my then naked 1973 Kawasaki 900. The ride was extremely wet, I must have looked like a drenched water rat about to drown. Laying on top of the gas tank trying to maintain the double nickel speed limit, I all of a sudden hear music coming up behind me. Here’s this rider on the same bike as mine smoking a cigar and listening to his tunes appearing to look far dryer than me. The difference, his bike was sporting a Windjammer fairing with radio, as he passed me in his cocoon of dry comfort. I decided I wanted a fairing on my bike. Once I got over my cold that I developed on that ride, a few days later I had a Windjammer fairing installed on my bike. It didn’t end there, I had to have a CB radio self installed as well.
Anyway, I’ve been known to crush miles during my military days and once out I’ve been riding over 1M miles since 1972. My present bike a 2015 Road Glide CVO it has 143K miles on her, and it’s never been out of the state of Florida. All those miles within a 250 mile radius of my home.
I do like cruisers, I’ve owned several, however the bugs the size of small birds here in South Florida are no fun hitting them at 70 plus’s MPH.
Personally I’m so use to riding my bagger everywhere that its size and weight is easily forgotten. I believe it also gives me an edge on safety over the cruisers due to the visibility over the smaller bikes.
YESSS the WindJammer, fairing and bags! I been there too on my Kawasakis getting drenched and fighting the elements, it's amazing how all the sudden those baggers ain't so bad. That's some impressive miles on that CVO!
those kaw 900's were one fast machine
The handling is what helped the bagger craze. Seven years ago I was looking for a touring bike .I test rode them all .I test the Gen 5 Goldwing the k1600 BMW the ultraglide even the road master and the Kawasaki Voyager. They handled really well for their weight and out right size . The other thing is the availability of really great used bikes of every name plate. Due to coming off neck surgery I chose a 06 Goldwing, got it for 8500 out the door with a 3 year warranty. Two years ago I helped a 20 year old young man get a 07 ultra with 19 k on the odometer. I was a little shocked that someone his age was considering a touring bike. The bike had 6 thousand miles on a rebuild using a SnS kit. He ended up getting it for 9 k out the door. All the big touring bikes handle extremely well and you can't go wrong with any of them. The suspension tech has gotten so good that you have to test ride them all .
1) if it has a Cupholder, it is NOT a Motorcycle 2) If it has a stereo, it is NOT a Motorcycle Cars have those things, and windshields too. Just drive yer cars with the side windows down, same effect as a Bagger
That's a very interesting take, I like it!
Nope, not a car just because it has a stereo and a cup holder and a windshield. There are still quite a few differences. Your definition of a "motorcycle" is different than the actual definition of a motorcycle. Maybe you are confused between a bicycle or tricycle and a motorcycle. People have been running around with "stereos" on their bodies (Walkmans) for many decades now, so having one built-in on a motorcycle in 2024 does not seem like a huge stretch or stop it from being a motorcycle. If you are heading out on a 500 mile day (not a trip around the block, an actual 500 mile day in the elements), you might want to bring your coffee with you in the morning or a bottle of water during the day... hence the cup holder. And yup, on an actual motorcyle, hard as that might be to comprehend for some folks.
Or a convertible. See many baggers at my shop that are 10 to 15 years old with less than 20,000 miles on em. I'm 57 years old and if you can't make a 100 mile ride on any bike it might be time to consider a different mode of transportation
in the 60s we called em garbage barges!!
Amen to that. Remember we was skeered we'd sprain our thumb if'n it didn't have a kicker
Geezer Gllde
garbage wagons.
It’s the motors that kept us from wanting a touring bike for everyday use. 60 hp on a 850lb bike doesn’t sound appealing. Same motor in a 600 lb soft tail chassis and it’s doable.
That's a good point, the Evo powered tourers were very underpowered and they were much heavier back then as well.
Youre correct , at laconia last week it was like tourfest , u had to look hard to c cool choppers , low riders etc. The HA' s who were there in numbers have nice cool rides , dynas , fxrs , cool custom designed fairings etc 👍
I like my HD 1200 Sportster with leather bags and a removable windshield. My bike is light compared to full baggers. I don't really like overly heavy motorcycles. Because i do ride on a lot of back roads that are mostly dirt and gravel.
As you said, a bagger can do pretty much everything and anything you want. Even in the peak custom bagger craze, the frames were mostly unmodified so making them usable wasn't the challenge that a hard tail is.
I do think that the love of gadgets we have in life plays a role too. Stereos and GPS(those things are handy) and comfy seats, especially for the pillion, make them hard to beat.
I can ride for hours to another state on my RG with all my stuff and spend a few days leisurely riding around to then head back eating miles all on the same bike. It's hard to deny how nice that versatility is.
Absolutely, well said!
Yeah, I had a 06 street glide. It was a very popular bike. You couldn’t buy them used. They were a five speed and 88 motor. 07 was the first year of the 96 and a six speed. I really like my six around town with that five speed you put 95 hit on it with some compression with the five speed. It walked away from CVO. And the floorboards would fold up when they change the frame you hit the floorboard brackets and deliver it but I like the old frame I had my floorboards down to nothing fun stuff
That Street Glide became a very hot bike in the first few years and it's carried Harley for many years now!
I ride a road king flhpi .....its the best of both worlds in my opinion. Feel like stripping off the windshield and the bags , whole different bike. Going on a trip? Put all of it back on and add a quick release trunk. Its all in your preferences....
I used to think it was stupid to hop up a bagger. When I got my 2015 RK I said I was going to leave it stock but nope I had to hop it up like my shovel 😂
I used to feel the same way too, but now that they handle pretty well they are a lot of fun to put some power in!
@@GixxerFoo I agree
The looks, comfort, excellent wind deflection, loud radio and more storage is what i think the bagger had over your typical cruiser. I was a diehard Sportster guy. That's all i rode bc they are so much fun but the aggressive look of the street glide had me hooked. I ended up buying an Electra glide that was stripped down to look like a SG and then i eventually traded for one. A 2014 SG special. Unfortunately i wrecked it and now am in the process of buying another street glide.
That time was before i started riding i never liked choppers but crusiers were always cool. I started out on a fatboy great bike but once i got one with a fairing better ride storage espically 2 up never got another softail after that on my 3rd electra glide 2016 model and just turned 27. I always use my tour pac even when solo during the work week id never own a bike without one. One more thing in my area in new england the lowest milage bikes for sale when i look are harley touring bikes. I couldnt picture the old days with dynas and softails running around not a bagger in site
Once you get those bags and wind protection you can ride longer and more comfortable, actually carry things and it's all down hill from there.
I started out on a new 2011 streetbob which I wish I still had. Traded it in on a new 2013 streetglide and have not went back. Radio, push button cruise control, full floorboards and the hard bags did it for me. I just prefer them for those reasons.
I love those Dynas, I would have to keep the cruiser if I could even with a bagger. Although most riders get the bagger and the cruiser sits.
Would you consider the Road King more cruiser style even though it has bags. To see a Road King at bike night is getting more rare.
The Road King is on the touring platform, I still consider it a touring bike myself. Now that you mentioned it I am seeing less of those as well.
Great video, but 1 correction. The Street Glide came out in 2006. I was going to buy one, but the dealership's were getting a premium for it because it was a new model. I purchased a Yamaha Stratoliner instead. Again, great video!!!
Back in the day you didn’t need or have all the fancy gear you now need to stow when you stop for a beer. There weren’t any cellphones , gps units , ezpass , helmets , rain gear or anything. Now a days everyone is carrying so much stuff you need a place to stow it.
Yes people carry to much stuff
I remember just going, not packing anything or worry about nothing. I am guilty of packing everything now for those long rides in case it rains or what if I have to plug a tire.
@@anthonymasluk2295 like my old man always said....if your going on a trip...lay out all your clothes and all your money.....cut the clothes in half and double up on the money
@@samcuratolo3885 that’s a good one Sam I love it mate
Just bought my first Harley Davidson Road glide 2021 love it back in the day I worked for a motorcycle shop building choppers, but you can’t beat a bagger man
The last bike I owned before my current one was a Softail Springer. I had it for nine years. I loved that bike but I couldn’t do more than 100 miles on it before it just kicked my ass. I’m 60 years old now so I sold it and bought an Ultra. It’s not as cool as the Springer but I can ride it all day long. At some point you just want the comfort. Softails ain’t soft.
The ride pretty well but not as much as the name implies lol.
I think these trends are kind of funny. Been riding 50 years or more and started on Honda dirt bikes then Shovelheads, Evos, Suzukis, you name it... Back then, any road bike I owned, I put saddlebags and longer bars on them. Motorcycles without some kind of bag is rather limiting because I don't want to go home to get a car or truck to pick something up. The longer bars helped me spread-out. Even back in the day, you had to carry tools with you somewhere in case you broke down, and in the AMF days, that was pretty common. Heck, even Arnie's Fat boy in T2 had a saddlebag. Now I ride a Yamaha XT250 dual sport, a Heritage Classic and Road King. I got rid of my Goldwings, Ultra Limiteds and my Indian Roadmaster because I'm just not riding the distances anymore to justify that big and heavy of a bike. I can take the windshield off and throw my leg over that Heritage and enjoy riding a simple, classic motorcycle with wind in my face and bags in case it rains, or I have to pick up something from the grocery store. Also, with Bluetooth, you can pipe music into your helmet on longer rides. Every bike is a compromise, but some are just in the middle enough that they can pull double duty.
Spot on Foo! Harley almost priced themselves out of business in the last few years, can't wait to see how it goes.
It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out for Harley, they are getting way too expensive even for Harley.
@@GixxerFoo By the way I have 2 Sportsters, 2 Dynas and a Police Electra Glide . Some might say I have a problem...
Love my 09 Dyna but my 09 street glide with a touring pack is my go to these days… I live 45 minutes on the highway from the nearest town
Those abominations with 30 inch front wheels, stretched bags, and sitting flat on the ground are 100% GHETTO. I have no idea why mainstream society is so desperate to copy GHETTO culture. It just seems ridiculous. And to me, a lot of those "choppers" of the late '90-s and early 2000s weren't really choppers at all. I always considered the Peter Fonda bike from Easy Rider to be the epitome of a "chopper" It was my dream bike since I was a kid. I raked out the forks and put a tall sissy bar on my Schwinn Sting Ray. Many years ago I actually bought a bike that had the same basic layout. But it was not a Harley. It had a SOHC Honda 750 inline four engine in a factory made hardtail frame. I quickly learned that riding such a bike was not nearly as much fun as it looked like. I didn't keep it very long.
I have done a lot of touring. Around a million miles of it. It is by far my favorite type of riding. I've had a couple of Goldwings, but didn't keep them very long either. Too much like being in a car. Surrounded by all that plastic. I have a particular dislike for windshields. You have to look through both a face shield and a windshield. I tried them, and gave up on them as well. And they ruin the lines of a bike. My 1989 FXRS Low Rider is my favorite touring bike out of all the bikes I've owned since age 16. I can put a tall sissy bar on it, strap stuff to both sides of it, and if I need to carry more stuff, I can use throw over leather bags. When I get back, all that stuff come off easily and quickly, and I have what I consider to be a proper looking motorcycle again.
Trends come and trends go, and aside by being somewhat disgusted by some of them, I pretty much ignore them. My idea of what a motorcycle should look like goes back over 50 years, and I still feel the same today. My FXRS has the same basic layout as a real chopper, but dialed back enough to make it fun and comfortable to ride.
As for a stereo on a motorcycle, that is just beyond me. Why would anybody want to ruin a nice ride with something they can listen to at home, or in a car? At the very least it is very distracting to the rider, and my riders make it even worse by sticking a "smartphone" to their handlebars. To me the reason for riding is to GET AWAY from all that crap. To take a break from all the TRASH technology I have to deal with in life. The idea of taking all TRASH with me just seems ludicrous. I use an old school flip phone, and I keep it put away in an inaccessible place while riding.
I'll admit I wasn't a fan of the bikes on TV but I loved what it did for motorcycles. It got people excited about bikes and out in the dealers, so many people that never thought about a motorcycle got excited about it from the tv shows.
I ride a 2000 model Roald King, best of both worlds. Not weighed down with useless stuff like stereos and such but still have the saddlebags and suspension of a tourer
They might be dead in your world but they are alive and well in mine. Got a 77 FXE, 80 XLH, 02 FXD, and the closest thing I have to a touring bike is a 00 Road King Classic.
nice stable you have there my friend
Thank you, keeps me sane
You hit the spot! I pulled up to a bar and was surrounded by baggers. I felt like an outsider on my 04 Fatboy. I loved every minute of it! People pay attention and give me compliments.
I love to hear that! That's the flip side of things anymore these days, you pull up on a Fat Boy and it's not something everyone sees all day every day now!
Harleys aren't a bike for a rebellious American who wants to get on two wheels anymore, they're a status symbol of wealth now, and most of the folks buying them want to feel as close as possible to being in a car. They're doing everything they can to get a bike that doesn't feel like a bike lol
Also, once all the modules, computers and electronics fail in 15 years, there's no replacing them. Unless the afternarket figures out a simple wiring harness swap for old school ignition and carburetors.... our bikes are doomed to obsolescence and a junkyard.
They've for sure got the control and planned obsolescence down on the parts, especially with the elctronics.
Got me a "geezer glide" 2yrs ago(2014 Street Glide)Love the cruise control, love the stereo, love momma being more comfortable.
But... smartest thing i did was keep my 2002 Softail Standard (which i bought new) Love to take the longer trips on the SG & shorter ones on the softail. Best of both worlds. Even take the wifes 1200 custom out occasionally. And just bought a 1980 CB900C last yr to re-live some of my youth. What a bunch of fun thats been. Variety is the spice of life!! Own as many as you can & ride as long as you're able
I love all bikes. Everyone has reasons why they ride and what they ride. I don't try to figure it out. Life is short. Ride what you like.
I'm the same way, if it's got two wheels I am in. Just don't worry what others think and do your thing.
@@GixxerFoo I'm happy to hear that. Keep up the good work.
I got a Road King so could take long trips, if had the money and place to keep them, I get a cruiser for short rides, although the bags on the King make it nice for work and grabbing some things from the store.
Never got near the customized chopper bit. My model 80 Electra Glide came with some accessory leather bags on. I cleaned it up with H-D hard bags and a full National windshield . Even my 08 FXSTC ( cruiser ) has nice leather bags on. You can't carry everything in your pockets
That's for sure a reason why those bag come in handy, I have lost so much stuff out of my pockets over the years.
the chopper scene is alive and well in the US .. the younger generation is carrying it on. Lots of chopper events and contests each year
As a young boy, I grew up riding the tour bikes of old (evo/shovels) with my old man. When I was in my 20s, I went with dyna and softail while friends rode crouch rockets. But in the last 20 yrs I went to the baggers like my old man and been happy. Had a buddy who trying to sale his chopper for a cheap price but I am still looking for an evo or shovel in dyna or softail just for the nostalgia and old memories of my old man.
I love that, I been trying to talk my old man into a touring bike but he 76 and just absolutely stuck on the Vrod.
Even the hard core biker groups are riding touring bikes. No more chopper gang.
Back in 2005 I got my license. I REALLY wanted a Road King, but I definitely couldn't afford one. People will probably be hating on this, but I found a Honda Shadow Aero 750 and I still ride it.
We got old dude. 😂😂😂
Yeah there's that, I didn't want to call it out though!
It has always fascinated me how people follow others with all kinds of trends that have always happened .It is at the point where people come up to me and ask what my older Softail Custom is. I wonder what the next trend will be in the motorcycle world. For me I am not ready for the full touring design. I go wherever I choose on my Evo and know if I have any issues with it on the road I most likely will fix it. I guess I am at the old-school age now like when I saw the shovel head riders back in the day. Everyone be safe out there.
Demographics. Aging rider, more retirees with time to spare to go touring and have the money to buy a touring model. Less youngins around to buy cruisers and with the death of the Dyna and Harley going further into the premium market, the softails became too expensive for a younger person to buy until they were settled in their careers. By then, they’ll want a touring model
That's a really good point, kinda sad to see the cruiser market fading away. No doubt Harley is pushing back into high end premium only.
I retired at 51 and still proudly ride my FXSTC. Looking at all of the soy/betas out there also explains why so many want a windshield and handguards...👌
Good video Gixx. Maybe I'm the odd one but I use my highway cruiser for... well... cruising on the highway and my softail for around town. My bagger is more of a tool for me to do what I love but I absolutlely love riding my hopped up tricked out Deuce. But hey, ride your ride and I'm good with whatever you like.
Yeah..... but today the posers all want a big TV screen with all the software and sound options on their bike, and a touring can hold much more chrome and bigger lights then a naked chopper, so they stand out more passing by.
That's really where it's gone is all fancy electronics anymore, we used to get bikes to get away from all that.
Ya need to go look what Billy Lane is working on these days, older springers and Dina’s! Love them
I Loved and Miss my ol'Choppers, unfortunately I got old, and now I ride a bagger, but I love it too
I really hope the chopper make a come back, that was some wild times back in the early 2000's.
@@GixxerFoo 70's and 80's, even the 90's too
Hey Gixxer, we bar hopped on our Electric Glides all the time going back to 1980 and never once felt out of place. I love the FLH and will always take a bagger over a cruiser. However as we age the cruiser's are looking really cool, due to the weight of them. Take Care
That's awesome! I remember seeing touring bikes around back then, it was just mostly cruisers years ago.
baggers suck, a real bike doesn't have all the junk a bagger has.
I personally prefer the stripped back simple look and ride myself, now if I am going out on the highway all day I do like a dresser.
I was actually shifting back to a softail because of the weight of my road glide, but when I rode the new rode glide it seemed to have the best of both a cruiser and a touring bike . It’s light, handles well and has a lot of get up and go. I traded my low rider st and my road glide special for a 2024 road glide. Surprisingly, it’s been trouble free even with the tech they’ve added. In the past my luck with HD tech was never good. Hope my luck holds!
I'm 31 years old. I daily my indian chieftain. I hardly ever drive more then 45 mins in one direction. Not including coming back. I've been car less since march. I should finally have the 5k to fix my car In Aug. I lost my Job and took a few months, to find a job that works 6-7 days.
BS brother, baggers have always looked like shit to me, might as well wear their reflective suits with em as well. I still CRUISE my 95 Evo Fatboy, sure I ain't long haulin her across the states, but I could, just throw a couple temporary saddle bags on her back at best, no dumb ass looking shield or fairing either. Not bashin the vid, it is the unfortunately reality with the new school, but I don't care if everyone is ridding ugly garbage, I will be cruising my 95 and laughing at them.