New Models From HD

[Stoneman]

Seems like HD is hooking it's wagon to the successes it learned with the King Of Baggers circuit and releasing a few hopped up from the factory fatties.

The Road Glide, Street Glide & Low Rider will all have "ST" models. sportier suspension, S&S hotter cams, intake & exhaust among other things, all with the 117CI M8. Seems the Low Rider ST will get a frame mounted fairing as well. I read somewhere that they'll all be fitted with "standard" saddle bags that have been raised vertically by 2" to help accommodate better cornering clearance as well.

Interesting. Even more interesting is how much they've relied on customer input in developing new bikes in general.

[01xj]

Look at that. It's almost as if a bike that handles better and has more power is more appealing to ride.

[Stoneman]

Look at that. It's almost as if a bike that handles better and has more power is more appealing to ride.

Even though it's my current ride, I'm certainly no HD fanboy. But it appears they've been trending in that direction for a few years now.

It would seem having true direct competition in their niche from a US manufacturer has helped that process and really lit a fire under their asses. The fact that they're listening more & more to their customers is always a good sign, no matter the product. But what's truly unique is they're listening to YOUNGER crowds saying, "...if you made 'this', you'd have NEW customers..."

[nhbubba]

Weird. I grind the crap out of the floor boards, but not the bags on my RK.
Still, I'd take higher mounted bags. Flipping through the google the bags just look smaller, not mounted higher.

Looks like the street glide ST does not get the better forks the other ST models get? Bummer. Shame, I dig the batwing look

The inverted forks and extra rear travel have my attention.

[Stoneman]

Weird. I grind the crap out of the floor boards, but not the bags on my RK.
Still, I'd take higher mounted bags. Flipping through the google the bags just look smaller, not mounted higher.

Looks like the street glide ST does not get the better forks the other ST models get? Bummer. Shame, I dig the batwing look

The inverted forks and extra rear travel have my attention.

I believe only the Low Rider ST gets the inverted forks while the SG & RG get the same forks as the Specials. It appears the Low Rider ST gets some goodies the SG & RG don't including the rear suspension. I think the talking head at the HD shop wasn't 100% correct. The standard bags on the SG & RG look to be where they should be while the Low Rider gets smaller, raised bags. All are supposed to be sold with solo seats as well from what I was told.

[nhbubba]

I do think the "Harleys handle like shit" line is a bit overdone.
Maybe I'm smoking something, but with good tires on public roads I'd put my RK up against a Gold Wing/F6B or similar heavy tourer any day of the week. The performance isn't that far off. Both break speed limits with ease, just like any other motorcycle. I think the biggest problem with the heavy Harleys is the rear suspension and lack of travel, especially on the "special" models. But Harley has done well polishing the turd in that aspect. On good pavement the bikes handle better than many think.

On crap pavement or dirt they are a complete shit show, however.

[nhbubba]

I believe only the Low Rider ST gets the inverted forks while the SG & RG get the same forks as the Specials. It appears the Low Rider ST gets some goodies the SG & RG don't including the rear suspension. I think the talking head at the HD shop wasn't 100% correct. The standard bags on the SG & RG look to be where they should be while the Low Rider gets smaller, raised bags. All are supposed to be sold with solo seats as well from what I was told.

Ah, I see. I thought I saw a stock photo of the RG ST with the forks. Can't find it now so I must have imagined it.

[Stoneman]

I do think the "Harleys handle like shit" line is a bit overdone.
Maybe I'm smoking something, but with good tires on public roads I'd put my RK up against a Gold Wing/F6B or similar heavy tourer any day of the week. The performance isn't that far off. Both break speed limits with ease, just like any other motorcycle. I think the biggest problem with the heavy Harleys is the rear suspension and lack of travel, especially on the "special" models. But Harley has done well polishing the turd in that aspect. On good pavement the bikes handle better than many think.

On crap pavement or dirt they are a complete shit show, however.

You need to ride a "Special" post 2016. As I pointed out in my Street Glide thread, handling has continually amazed me even with fully loaded bags and a passenger.

Even on dirt roads, I have every bit of confidence I did riding any sport bike on the same.

[nhbubba]

You're right. Most of my experience is with the old air-over-oil shock models like my '14. Most of the time I've spent on M8 era machines has been focused on the motor. (Which is also better.)

I still think engineering in more rear travel would be great.

[Stoneman]

Another thing the talking head apparently got wrong: he told me they were going to be chain final drive. Doesn't seem to be the case.

[nhbubba]

Ha! Why would anyone want a chain on a heavy tourer! No thanks.
I love the belt drive on mine.

[Gixxer]

Ha! Why would anyone want a chain on a heavy tourer! No thanks.
I love the belt drive on mine.

To correct power loss allegedly, and Stunting baggers seems like the new trend. Just a guess thi

[loudbeard]

I really like the look of the Low Rider ST.....


Until I read the part about 721 lbs

[SteveM]

Any pics for the extremely too lazy to go look?

[Stoneman]

Ha! Why would anyone want a chain on a heavy tourer! No thanks.
I love the belt drive on mine.

To correct power loss allegedly, and Stunting baggers seems like the new trend. Just a guess thi

Stunters convert as well as people serious about drag racing them. Pretty sure the bikes in Moto America's King of The Baggers all run chain conversion too.

[Stoneman]

I really like the look of the Low Rider ST.....


Until I read the part about 721 lbs

I didn't realize the bags and fairing added that much! The Low Rider S is "only" 650 or something?

[Stoneman]

Any pics for the extremely too lazy to go look?

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/index.html

[boosten lebaron]

Not really the same vehicle but I've always thought my sportster handled very well with my main problem being that I grind everything all the time when turning. To me I have always thought the other motorcycle companies put more effort into what happens when you start pushing corners a little more where as Harley just assumed you were never going to turn but the suspension could do it, just not the rest of the bike.

[nhbubba]

Go ride a Yamaha Bolt. Worse, IMO.

[R7]

Is it bad when I saw the tread title, my mind went to a new appliance model at Home Depot?

[Stoneman]

Not really the same vehicle but I've always thought my sportster handled very well with my main problem being that I grind everything all the time when turning. To me I have always thought the other motorcycle companies put more effort into what happens when you start pushing corners a little more where as Harley just assumed you were never going to turn but the suspension could do it, just not the rest of the bike.

Let's be honest though. Until recently there was very little desire to build a HD that would be pushing corners. I for one am grateful they began realizing this a few years ago and are finally making steps to present somewhat aggressive bikes.

Again, I'm no fanboy. But I'm impressed at what I've got and continue to be impressed by the way they're developing new & updated models. And I love that they're getting a run for their money by another American manufacturer.

[Stoneman]

Is it bad when I saw the tread title, mind went to a new appliance model at Home Depot?

[nhbubba]

Again, I'm no fanboy. But I'm impressed at what I've got and continue to be impressed by the way they're developing new & updated models. And I love that they're getting a run for their money by another American manufacturer.

And the Pan America is no joke either.

[Stoneman]

And the Pan America is no joke either.

Apparently, the new models have a load of improvements & upgrades too. I haven't really looked much into that though.

[union]

Ha! Why would anyone want a chain on a heavy tourer! No thanks.
I love the belt drive on mine.

Another thing the talking head apparently got wrong: he told me they were going to be chain final drive. Doesn't seem to be the case.

To correct power loss allegedly, and Stunting baggers seems like the new trend. Just a guess thi

I can't ever see Harley offering a chain drive touring bike again. The belt has some very nice advantages. It's quiet and is pretty much maintenance free. I've heard some guys say they have 100k miles on the same one.

I do wish my Dyna was chain drive though. The gearing is so tall and gaps between too big to make cruising around town a pain in the ass. I so want to change the final gearing to make it more ridable at surface road speeds.