2009 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Review

Thanks, Paul. But I just don't like the Goldwing, and I've always wanted a Harley.

I was in AZ and rented an 09 Street Glide for the day and rode it into the mountains. What a blast. I came home and traded in my 08 Heritage Softail Classic on a new 2010 Stteet Glide. I hope it gets warm soon. Great deal, great people at Chicago Harley in Glenview. Go buy a Harley from them.

All you guys praising the Street Glide are coming off of girls bikes. Heritage Softail Classic? Yeesh. The SG is a ripoff. It was part of Harley's charge more for less program. Instead of functionality, you pay for styling. Why do you think the windshield is useless. And like ugly women in a hair salon, you fork over your hard earned bucks. There's nothing different about the SG and any other batwing touring bike, it just costs more. Oh yeah, they throw on a few parts yanked from the P&A parts bin. Best touring bike, no way. The Road Glide beats all the batwings hands down.

Paul wrote:

Try riding a Honda Goldwing you will try to sell your wornout Harley tomorrow.

I've had a Goldwing, nice machine, if that's what your looking for. It's actually a little over the top, it's just missing two doors. Then it would be a Civic.

Well, I ended up buying the '09 FLTR Road Glide. I love this bike more than I have ever loved any other inanimate object that I have ever owned. I have only been riding since August of '08, and the Road Glide makes it easy. What a pleasure. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I have to agree with other positive posters about the 09 Sg. I am a retired Canadian living hwere in the Puerto Vallarta Area, purchased my 09 Street Glide in Guadalajara, and it is a truly wonderful machine. I am off tomorrow on a week long road trip and cannot wait to venture into the mountains again.

If you own this bike, you love it, does not matter what others say, especially a Honda, you like it, you ride it.
The 09 SG is the best for me and everyone loves the look.If you do not own one, get a life with your anti HD comments.

I must have read ten times about how the SG "turns heads." This statement underscores the fact that these people are looking for attention. Why else would you buy a SG? It was part of Harley's charge more for less program. Useless windshield, which requires replacement, as it provides no protection from eye or head injury (it's not just wind out there, my friends, if you've encountered the gravel, stone and debris kicked up by spinning automobile tires). The SG has no spot/passing lamps, which adversely affect functionality and safety by severely restricing both vision and visibility after dark. No fender tip lamps, which further reduce visibility. No passenger seat to speak of, which reduces functionality. No passenger backrest, which greatly affects passenger comfort and sense of security if one were actually to get on. If you want to install these parts after purchase, plan on spending big dollars. And yet, these items come stock on other Touring models, which of course, are cheaper than the SG. Hence, the phrase "charge more for less." And yet the discussion always seems to be about "turning heads." For people who really ride, it's about functionality. It's about riding and living to talk about the ride, instead of your recovery.

Mark:
With all due respect, what we are talking about here is the "experience" of riding. Whatever gives that enjoyment to the individual rider is what is important to that rider. As I said, I bought a Road Glide. I love the ride, I love the stability, and I love the ease of it. But I also ove riding what I consider a work of art. I never get tired of looking at it. To me it is a beautiful piece of sculpture which, for me, enhances the entire "experience." If you are happy with the bike tha you ride... wonderful! But the attitude of superiority that you adopt becuse YOU don't ride a Harley is just as snarky as the attitude of Harley riders who look down on those who ride metrics.

mark wrote:

I must have read ten times about how the SG "turns heads." This statement underscores the fact that these people are looking for attention. Why else would you buy a SG? It was part of Harley's charge more for less program. Useless windshield, which requires replacement, as it provides no protection from eye or head injury (it's not just wind out there, my friends, if you've encountered the gravel, stone and debris kicked up by spinning automobile tires). The SG has no spot/passing lamps, which adversely affect functionality and safety by severely restricing both vision and visibility after dark. No fender tip lamps, which further reduce visibility. No passenger seat to speak of, which reduces functionality. No passenger backrest, which greatly affects passenger comfort and sense of security if one were actually to get on. If you want to install these parts after purchase, plan on spending big dollars. And yet, these items come stock on other Touring models, which of course, are cheaper than the SG. Hence, the phrase "charge more for less." And yet the discussion always seems to be about "turning heads." For people who really ride, it's about functionality. It's about riding and living to talk about the ride, instead of your recovery.

I'm sorry, Stuart.

Accepted!

mark wrote:

I'm sorry, Stuart.

A new honda? rather go for a new vacuum cleaner..

I just traded my '06 Vulcan 1500 for 2010 Street Glide. Absolutely, awesome, frankly mere words cannot describe how happy I am with SG. Everything about it. I did alot of research before & Demoed a bunch of others.This bike handles better than any cruisers/tour. I can't wait to ride across country.

Just turned 15,000 miles or trouble free miles. Gonna put a new set of tires on this week

Re the Goldwing comment, enjoy what you enjoy but remember where you are before you start chirping. If I wanted a car I would buy a car. I want a bike and my 09 FLHX leaves nothing to want for. A Goldwing? Really?

Just purchased a 2011 Street Glide in sodonna orange.......first new Harley since 1990.....wow what a bike.....200 miles so far.....just gonna add some twin slash slip-ons after reading all the forums....everyone seems to like them for touring.

Well..decided to go with fuel motto jackpot headers,cfr slip-ons,and fuel motto power comander V dynojet......wow what a difference in sound and power. These headers are stainless steel and oem heatshields,and cfrs are radio friendly. Dyno gained 15 hp and 22 lbs torque. You will not be disappointed with this setup.

rex d wrote:

Just purchased a 2011 Street Glide in sodonna orange.......first new Harley since 1990.....wow what a bike.....200 miles so far.....just gonna add some twin slash slip-ons after reading all the forums....everyone seems to like them for touring.

Yes they are great, I have an Orange one also and love it.

Well 6000 miles latter I have installed a stage i w/jackpot headers and jackpot exhaust. Love the sound and preformance. I had cfr mufflers but could never get them tuned just right,but the jackpot sound identical but a little quieter.