IdahoRenegade
.060 Over
Well, the saga, and search, continues for me. About 3 weeks ago I had my R3 into a dealer while on vacation. While there I had the opportunity to ride a BMW K1600RT. Inline 6, 160hp, 129 ft-lbs. of torque. All the touring goodies (except trunk, available as an option). A technological marvel. Very smooth, very capable, perhaps the "best" touring bike available today. But...still, something missing when coming off the Rocket. The R3 just has that instant connection between the throttle and rear wheel, torque is always there. And is just feels so SOLID, like a steel ingot, not molded plastic. By all objective standards the BMW is probably the better bike, and I do have a thing for sport tourers. But it just doesn't call to me like the R3. If anything the inline 6 is too smooth-it felt like an electric motor, not an engine.
Tonight I stopped by the HD dealership, who was kind enough to let me try a Street Glide Limited. My impression....a very...pleasant...bike. Engine was a great deal different than the Vic-it pulled smoothly from 1500RPM on up. Overall quite smooth at any RPM I rode it (in my short, supervised ride). And it didn't feel big, heavy or intimidating. Only real negative was the heal-toe shifter didn't leave any room for my size 13 boot. But that could be addressed. Overall though...no WOW factor. Engine was nice, "polite"...but no big rush of power or torque. Bike felt pretty light and easy to ride...but lacking that solid "steel ingot" feeling of substance of the R3. As far as features...nice, but lacking compared to say an Indian Roadmaster (no electric locking luggage, no heated seats, no pushbutton (but keyless) start, no quick release tourpack, no power windshield). Nice, pleasant, capable, sure...but no WOW factor. And it looks an awful lot like every Street Glide produced since about 1970...including the half dozen I passed between work and the dealer. No exclusivity. I hope to try out a Roadmaster soon-but am waiting for a HOT day-heat off the engine is the biggest complaint about it that I've seen. I spent quite a bit of time looking them over at m local dealer-I do have to say the features of the RM and the impression of quality are certainly there.
Still want to check out the Vaquero/Voyager as well as the new Venture.
I'm really starting to think that, for a guy on a budget that currently owns a R3R...the best thing to do for a capable touring bike might be quality bags, a MC Cruise control and a seat upgrade.
Tonight I stopped by the HD dealership, who was kind enough to let me try a Street Glide Limited. My impression....a very...pleasant...bike. Engine was a great deal different than the Vic-it pulled smoothly from 1500RPM on up. Overall quite smooth at any RPM I rode it (in my short, supervised ride). And it didn't feel big, heavy or intimidating. Only real negative was the heal-toe shifter didn't leave any room for my size 13 boot. But that could be addressed. Overall though...no WOW factor. Engine was nice, "polite"...but no big rush of power or torque. Bike felt pretty light and easy to ride...but lacking that solid "steel ingot" feeling of substance of the R3. As far as features...nice, but lacking compared to say an Indian Roadmaster (no electric locking luggage, no heated seats, no pushbutton (but keyless) start, no quick release tourpack, no power windshield). Nice, pleasant, capable, sure...but no WOW factor. And it looks an awful lot like every Street Glide produced since about 1970...including the half dozen I passed between work and the dealer. No exclusivity. I hope to try out a Roadmaster soon-but am waiting for a HOT day-heat off the engine is the biggest complaint about it that I've seen. I spent quite a bit of time looking them over at m local dealer-I do have to say the features of the RM and the impression of quality are certainly there.
Still want to check out the Vaquero/Voyager as well as the new Venture.
I'm really starting to think that, for a guy on a budget that currently owns a R3R...the best thing to do for a capable touring bike might be quality bags, a MC Cruise control and a seat upgrade.
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