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2015 Harley Street Glide vs 2014 Scrambler

13K views 96 replies 45 participants last post by  nferr 
#1 ·
Last night I went for a ride with a few friends and was joined by a fellow I know who owns a brand new Street Glide Special. Massive thing, computerized everything, wicked stereo.

He kept walking around my Scrambler and asking a million questions about it, complaining about his bike, that this little thing was wrong and that little thing was bugging him. I could tell he wanted to take the Scrambler for a ride, so for the first time ever, I offered to trade bikes with someone for a short ride.

When I got on his bike, the first thing I had to do was accept a bunch of fine print that appeared on a screen in the dash, I guess something some bureaucrat lawyer househusband wrote about how I was 'engaging in a hazardous activity' and I had to "Accept". Or else... the bike won't start. ***? What is this madness?

The Street Glide felt like a roofless Volvo. The stereo got loud and quiet depending on my speed, blasting out some local rock station. How do they do that, I wondered. I kept fumbling around with my foot on the chrome floorboards, trying to find the shifter and brake. I tapped the rear brake, the nose dove. Linked brakes. Hmm. (I wondered why it even had a front brake. Maybe just for the cool factor.) It cornered like a greased pig in a tube slide. Maybe the weight had something to do with the fact that it felt a bit sluggish. Six gears, good golly. The seat was terrible - I can ride my plank stock Scrambler seat for 8 hours. 20 minutes into this ride, my hips needed a stretch. Calm in the light breeze behind a big fat fairing, the highway floated past. I kept thinking if a deer jumped out, I'd just run the darn thing over with my bike-truck. I could see some of the appeal.

I looked over at my friend at one point and his cheekbones were flapping skin, eyes tearing past his glasses, a huge grin on his face. He's a big guy, and the Scrambler seemed small under his huge frame.

A half hour later we pulled over and we got off our bikes. It took him a minute to figure out why his Harley hazard light flashers were stuck on, mumbling something about how the computer sometimes 'sticks' and does 'weird things' on his bike and this had happened before.

Then he turned to me and said "That was awesome. I'm going to the Triumph dealer tomorrow. I paid 35 Grand for this bike, and yours is just plain more fun. That's what real motorcycling is about - wind in the face, man! It turns on a dime! That's the most fun I've had riding in years."

He got back on his bike, commenting how awful the seat felt (compared to the stock Scrambler! lol!) I thundered off home, the wind in my face, the Scrammy snarling happily, eating up the road... thinking, "yep, this is a real motorcycle!"

All bikes are fun. Some are just more fun. But for me, there's one that's just ... the MOST fun I've ever had on two wheels.

I love my bike.
 
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#2 ·
Yep know where your coming from, a lot of my mates have gone the big Harley way and one of my mate that has always saying why did I buy a Thruxton you be better on the highway riding a big Harley, I always say, well my Thruxton is great on the highway and does everything I need to do on a bike, but once they are brain washed with the Harley thinking they just become one sided, he is always putting **** on me but I do the same to him, we went riding a few weeks ago the weather was over cast with a few showers, all day we didn't see one Harley out on the road, a little bit of rain and they stay home, but when I told my mate about the Sunday ride he just said because all the Harley's were way a head of me, so I just reminded him when we all go riding together that he always has troubles keeping pace with me on my slow old Triumph, I just run circle around them and don't they get upset about it when you remind them.
Most of my Harley mates won't even go riding with us no more as we like the way out of places to ride mostly in the tight mountain ranges where they shamelessly get left behind, but we always wait for them to catch up, usaualy time to have a pee or chat, some may even have a smoke while waiting for them, life is great on my non Harley bike.

Ashley
 
#4 ·
Before I got my Speedmaster, I had a 2010 Road Glide Custom. The Harley was a good bike...reliable, had a nice stereo (I upgraded the system from stock, not going way overboard but just increasing the amp size and quality of the speakers). Good power for pretty much stock, and honestly, it handled pretty good for a bike it's size. And a stunning bike to boot, in a cool scarlet red. But I ended up trading it in for the Speedmaster. Why? Because I just didn't feel like I had control over it when the bike came to a stop. It was a heavy beast. I am not the tallest guy, but not the shortest either, and I couldn't lower the bike enough without spending a ton of money. So, I got back to my Triumph roots (I had an America in 2009), and got the Speedmaster. Like the guy who tried your bike, I find the ride overall more fun on the Speedie, and I don't have to muscle the bike when at a stop, or at slow speeds. For me, my Speedie is what makes riding fun!
 
#5 ·
I admit to being HD ignorant, but $35k?!?! :eek:

To each their own and everything, but damn. If I wanted what you seem to describe as a lumbering 2-wheeled small car without a roof, I may as well get the 4-wheel version that handles better called "a convertible".

Again, to each their own.
 
#6 ·
I've had HD-itis on and off since I saw the new 883s in 1986. Gonna get one of those and ride cross country was what we all said back then. It never happened. I test rode a new 1200c sportster not too long ago, and it fit me like a glove. It has great torque and hit the ton with ease. The shaking at idle I could do without though but I guess that's just the way those are. They wanted me to trade my Bonnie for it. No way. Even after making me an extremely reasonable offer for it. Still no way. My bike is now part of me. Even my wife likes it and rides with me at times. A bigger bike would be nice at times, but that will just have to be a separate purchase. That Road King sure looks nice....maybe I will try one some day but not giving up my fun daily rider.


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#7 ·
All seats have butts that will fill them. Harleys are just another bike, limited in most ways many other bikes are not but they have their devotees. My mates that have them only do so as part of a comprehensive array of motorbikes, Triumphs (Meridens and Hinckleys) BSAs, Ducatis, Hondas, Yamahas etc. They are just not my style but I do see the appeal of a Knuckle or Pan, 60s XLH/XLCH. Give me a Bonneville or Scrambler any day.
 
#8 ·
Only ever rode one H-D , a 883 sportster and I wouldn't swap my BA for one of them . But it appears to me I'm seeing folks getting sore after an hour riding many different brands including the beloved bonneville ;) Many of those HD guys must be a tuff bunch though and lacking a vagina , for there's an awful lot of them who road trip on them back and forth the country regardless of how crippling they are to some non harley owners who test ride the occasional one :)
 
#9 · (Edited)
I kept thinking if a deer jumped out, I'd just run the darn thing over with my bike-truck. I could see some of the appeal.
Haha now that's funny!

I also can see the appeal, especially the new 48's. But I don't get the arrogance from so many riders. To the point that I'm completely turned off and away for fear of having anything to do with them.

"I don't wanna be a pirate!" -Jerry Seinfeld
 
#23 · (Edited)
Harley 48s seem pretty cool (but expensive IMO), and I get the impression that my Thruxton has more performance. Also, I don't like the Harley 48's seating position (feet splayed out forward in a semi-cruiser position, with the upper torso bent forward to reach lowish bars - that's gotta get uncomfortable during an extended ride).

As for Harley rider arrogance - I live in Harleyland (in the Milwaukee metro area), and oftentimes it seems like all I see for bike encounters are Harleys. Some of the Harley riders are pretty nice people (one of my apartment building neighbors has a couple of Harleys, and I chat with him occasionally - he thinks my Thruxton's a pretty cool bike), but it's funny how almost all of the motorcycle waves (of hello), I get when I'm out riding, are from non-Harley riders. Is it a case of the Harley people turning their noses up at me for not riding a Harley? I don't know.

To the OP - yep, I can see why your friend had a blast on your scrambler. My last bike (a 2004 BMW R1150R) wasn't as big as a Street Glide, but it was a moose compared to my Thruxton. It was a good bike, but I wanted something that was a bit more nimble on the backroads. I took a couple of test rides on a Thruxton, and I was sold on it. I'm lucky enough to live only a little over a mile and a half from the country, and some fun country roads. I have fun every time I go out riding on those roads with my Thruxton. As for the riders who claim the Harleys (or Goldwings for that matter) are better highway bikes - well, my Thruxton's fine on the freeway, but that's boring riding, so if I decide to make the 28 mile commute to work on it, I take the backroads, which turns a boring morning commute, into an enjoyable ride.

Different strokes for different folks riding-wise,
Ellen
 
#12 ·
I have an 08 Street Glide and love to ride it but don't very much. I've been riding for about 40 years now and have had times in my life when I was bored with riding. This happened in 93 so instead of quitting I went from a brand new Kawasaki Zepher 750 to a Ninja ZX6 E model and was loving to ride again. So now I own a '12 Bonnie Mag wheel, a Street Triple, and my Street Glide. My lady will only ride with me on the Street Glide. So after riding every road around me in 100 miles so much, riding was getting boring again. I went out and bought a Yamaha XT250 and now ride down country roads looking for side roads with out mail boxes. I have discovered a few and enjoy some off roading and the country rides. I hope I never loose the passion for riding but my garage is getting kind of full. The Street Triple is a blast but I can't trust myself with all that power. It just doesn't seem as fun unless I'm doing illegal speeds. I've considered trading in my Street Glide and Striple for a light tourer like the FZ6R but not quite sure that It has enough power for passing of which I really only need.My attempt at trying to be practical in the impractical world of motorcycling.
 
#13 ·
I've owned several big twin HD's and as many Triumph old and new.

For me I like and enjoy both bikes almost equally. The HD's are better for long hauls you can pack all sorts of stuff on those Glides and they are especially wonerful for two up riding with a lady since they have room for all those extra little things they need.

For my solo riding the Triumph fits my riding style since I do enjoy leaning into turns now and again, that is so much more fun on the Triumph then a big twin.

Have also own a couple Sportsters and have found most people cut those bikes short as far as the handling department. A well sorted Sportster can stay neck to neck with a Triumph.

As far as one bike that can just do it all well I'll say my Standard Bonneville fits that category about as good as can be found.

Lot of offerings out there these days with motorcycles, you can find a tool for just about any type of riding, it's all individual choice and preferences.
 
#15 ·
Funny post, Draeger. :D

I accept it takes all kinds to make the 2 wheeled world go around and ask only one thing from Harley (or any cruiser rider)...if I come up behind you on my Bonnie please do not go fast in the straights and then take up the entire lane to go slooooowwwly through the curve, because if you do I'll have to pass you somewhere dangerous, and neither of us will like that.

Thanks in advance for your attention to that matter.
 
#18 · (Edited)
...if I come up behind you on my Bonnie please do not go fast in the straights and then take up the entire lane to go slooooowwwly through the curve, because if you do I'll have to pass you somewhere dangerous, and neither of us will like that.
With more breathing and a little tuning the Procom, you shouldn't have to do it in the dangerous areas. You'll just pass them on the straight-a-ways, too! That's what I do ;) Granted, not all are looking for that, but if you are, you've already got the goods to do it.

I did it the other day and nearly gave the rider a heart attack with my D&Ds singing full volume. I thought he knew I was behind him, the way he was riding. But the spastic jump as I passed said it all haha
 
#20 · (Edited)
I rented a 2014 street glide last year in the outer banks. Had a 300 mile day, two up. I had never rode a touring bike, or anything over 550 pounds for that matter. I was expecting it to feel like I was riding on a cloud with no wind stress either...I was wrong. The suspension was good for the weight of the thing-it handled better than expected but my ass was still sore after about 50 miles. The front fairing came up to eye level on me which seemed to knock the air straight into my helmet. So really, aside from the radio and the storage, there was NO advantage over my Bonneville.
 
#22 ·
Funny thing - The whole H-D lifestyle that envelopes you when you buy one of their bikes. I enjoyed the XR1200x I owned a few years back but I got the distinct impression that the H-D community didn't know what to make of it.

Having said that I did enjoy riding it. I liked the vibration, the chunky controls and the fact that it was different from the norm.

I also really like the Switchback model but I can relate to the comments about the Street Glide in the OP. It's always struck me that with H-D there is a definite price/value point after which there is a real feeling of diminishing returns. IMHO the touring models cross that whereas the Sportster and Dyna models don't. Just my opinion of course.
 
#26 ·
Most big model Harley riders class the Sportsters as a the baby Harley or a girls bike, although the Sportsters will handle better than the bigger Harlies, my mate brought a new 48, had a lot of troubles with it and costed a lot of money to get sorted even with warrenty because of all the modes that he got conned into buying when he brought it new, but the other thing is the small fuel tank needing to stop more than anyone else on a ride (110/120 ks or so) no good for long distant touring.

Ashley
 
#29 · (Edited)
Yes the girls or ladies bike gets tossed around by many for the 883's . Forcheto I guess the HD ladies are a strong and tuff lot :) I guess even mature elephants can be a little light and underweight at times ;)
 
#31 ·
I think a lot of guys buy new Harley's because it's easier to get financing, but yeah, they are a lot of money. I see guys trading a year-old bike to get a new one, and I just don't get it.

Personally, I'd never buy new. Good deals are out there in the private sector if one can swing it.

I have an '06 HD Softail Deluxe, and that is one fine bike. It's heavy, but rides like a Cadillac. It handles well, but doesn't have as much lean angle as the Bonneville does.

The HD has a completely different personality than the Bonne does, and I love both bikes.

And Sonic, if you come up behind me while I'm on the HD on a twisty road, I'll pull as far to the right as I can and wave you by with a smile on my face. I'm in no hurry to get to any place in particular when I'm on the road....on either bike.
 
#32 ·
I understand the idea that long distance interstate travel may be more comfortable on a heavier bike which can absorb some of the the road bumps. All my HD riding friends mention this. But at my age, 2 straight hours in the saddle are all my surgically repaired hip, knee and back can take. Long distance travel even in a car requires frequent stops to walk out the kinks every 3 hours or so. I like a bike for busting around on and short hops. 800 lbs. of HD ain't gonna cut it.
 
#34 ·
All my mates that have gone down the Harley road use to all ride British bike, but once brain washed, what I don't understand is the cost of parts for them, my mate pays over $400 for a rear tyre and they go throught them, where I can buy front and back tyres cheaper than they pay for their rear ones and get twice the milage out of them and look how much it cost for throw on accerories that they got to have.

Ashley
 
#35 · (Edited)
Simple facts, no judging: Around here (meaning "on this planet") there's a "sameness" to summer Harley riders that can't be denied. For cruisers it's a half face helmet, t-shirt (including any passenger), gloves about 2%…for bad boys it's the little helmet cap thing, t-shirt. Neither has mufflers of any type, and this is also without exception. I was in Maine recently and noted that Harley riders do not wear helmets of any kind, and this also is without exception (seemingly). Me, full face helmet, summer leather jacket (some Triumph thing with mondo-vento), jeans with armored underwear "summer version" (that Bohn stuff…I like it, but NEVER let anyone see you wearing it before putting your jeans over it as they can't "unsee" that…"Look! A middle aged ballet dancer being attacked by tires!"), summer venting armored gloves. I wonder, do I look like some under powered border line paranoid safety conscious Old Bike freak to them? Well, do I? I do…you know I do…*sigh*...
 
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