Harley Touring Bikes Are No Longer Geezer Glides (These Ain't Grandpa's Harley)

Harley touring bikes are not your dad or granddad's old Harley anymore these days. While Harley touring bikes still have the comfort they are so much more these days and were not just talking technology and features. Modern Harley touring bikes actually make some decent horsepower and incredible torque stock. Not only are they making power but they are lighter and handle extremely well for what they are. Harley touring bikes have come a long way from back in the day of being rolling road barges that do one thing well and that was just running down the highway for miles on end. Harley touring bikes have evolved into comfortable high performing and practical machines.

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Motorcycle: 2016 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200CP (Sportster 1200 Custom)

Custom Parts Installed:
Screamin' Eagle Heavy Breather air cleaner
Harley-Davidson Reach Seat
Harley-Davidson Chrome and Rubber Collection grips
Drag Specialties Offset Clevis Footpeg Conversion Kit
Aftermarket Detachable Back Rest
Harley-Davidson Air Flow timing cover
Harley-Davidson Air Flow clutch cover
Screamin' Eagle spark plug wires
Screamin' Eagle spark plugs
Flipped Down Stock Mirrors

Motorcycle: 2017 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200X (Sportster Forty-Eight)

Custom Parts installed:
Harley-Davidson Factory Security System
Screamin' Eagle Exteme Billed Air Cleaner (Black)
Harley-Davidson Burst Collection Foot Pegs
Harley-Davidson Burst Collection Grips
Harley-Davidson Burst Collection Shifter Peg
Screamin' Eagle spark plug wires

[GixxerFoo]

What's your take on the modern baggers and how they've changed from back in the day?

[lovingmylifeasIage]

I love my Heritage because it makes me feel more like biker. I can see the road right in front of my front wheel. I hated the 2021 Street Glide I had because it felt more like a 2 wheel car with a dashboard in front of me. And the weight was way too much up front. My dad rode a 1959 Pan Head Hydra-Glide. He also rode a Duo-Glide. I've been on Harley's ever since I was in diapers. I'm 70 years old now.

[truthbetold-jqiw]

Back in my day it took real men to ride those machines and they didn't cost 30k. We weren't competing by who had the flashiest or fastest motorcycle. We just enjoyed cruz'n.

[martincvitkovich]

Back in 69 my buddy and I were sitting on our BSA and Triumph bikes near the road when a 'bagger' went by. He said there goes a old man's bike. Now after riding these old mens bikes for the last few decades, my strength isn't what it used to be. My current 'geezer glide is an 883. which I'm having a blast riding.

[georgedelarosa]

I had a ‘05 Road King, then sold it to a good friend. I bought a ‘17 Road King and couldn’t believe the difference in power and handling. The first time my wife road on the new bike, she couldn’t believe the ride comfort. When my friend and I go riding, he likes to jump from a roll, and I just smoke him due to the acceleration of the M8 motor. Btw, both bikes have stage 1 upgrades, and I replaced his cam tensioners last year. That bike has 65k miles, and not a single wear pattern on the cam or lifters. I always used synthetic oil and changed every 3k - 4k miles. Anyone thinking about getting a new bagger, if you travel very much, it’s worth the investment. Great channel Gixman!

[saddlebag]

Took me about 40 yrs of riding before I considered an HD. They seemed to get the sumping problems and oil transfer problems resolved in 2020, so I gave one a try. I like it so much, I now own two.
Shame they didn't make them this well back in the 90s when you couldn't get a new one to save your soul. They finally get it right and nobody rides anymore...

[geraldscott]

I am mostly a touring rider. Way back when I was young I would take two week rides. I'm now 65, have some health issues, and usually ride no more than one or two days max. I have never owned a Harley bagger, but I have had a couple of Goldwings. I did not have them very long, simply because they did not work out for me. Aside from being way too smooth and quiet, I simply do not like a huge windshield and fairing in front of me. I don't even use a handlebar mounted windshield. For me, the whole purpose of riding a bike instead of driving a car is to be out in the wind, with nothing in front of you. I do wear a full face helmet. That is an unfortunate necessity. And I don't mean just in a crash. I have never crashed. But when you are riding 75-80 mph on a freeway, that wind will literally rip your face off. And I have been hit hard in the face shield by objects big enough to have caused me to crash, including a couple of large birds, had I not been wearing that helmet.

The luggage on a bagger can certainly provide a place to carry stuff, but it is unnecessary. For me, a SuperGlide, FXR, or Dyna is the best touring bike. Put a sissy bar on it, you can strap a T Bag to both sides of that, and use a set of throwover leather saddle bags. You can strap a whole lot of stuff to such a bike, then remove it when you get back, and not have to ride around all the time on what is pretty much a motor home on two wheels.

Stereos, CB radios, and tons of computerized garbage are the last things I want on a bike. I want the simplest bike possible. Over the past few years, I have done a lot of long distance (meaning a few hundred miles on interstate highways) on my Sportster 1200. A sissy bar, T Bag, hard leather saddlebags attached with Easy Brackets, and, because my 2006 Sportster has a wide 4.5 gallon tank with a flat top, a 14L magnetic tank bag. No windshield, no phone on the handlebars, no stereo. Then Came Bronson style. And it is an absolute blast. I ride to get away from all the trash that most people want to take with them. Why not just stay at home, or drive a convertible?

[williambarry]

My neighbor and a bunch of his friends all ride these modern baggers. Those things look fast as lightning to me. And they sound like freight trains when they hit the gas. They are dayum impressive.

[FriedPi-mcyt]

I’m happy rolling on my Road King. No “car dash” in front so I can see all the road. I gave up driving cars a long time ago. I just ride my bikes. I just got Shark Road slip ons for it. I’m going to drop an Arlen Ness Big Sucker Stage 1 air intake on it this weekend. I need to find a good map for the V&H FuelPak3 tuner I put on it. I’m planning on De-Catting it the weekend after next when I get access to a mig welder. Let that girl breathe!!

[shep]

Love my geezer glide...14 Ultra Limited. Like I said over on Laidlaw's channel: once you have a king tour pack you'll never want to go w/out again.

[Rick-Williams]

I'm a geezer so I like my geezer glide. If you ain't glidin' you ain't ridin'. LOL Thanks for the pics of the older glides.

[timk]

I'm a little younger than you and I call my touring bike my geezer glide. I have a Dyna too but I usually am out there on the geezer glide because why not? More horsepower or stripping a few lights and the bag guards off doesn't change anything, it's still my old man bike. Which is just fine with me.

[trucknwitayee]

98 Evo Road Glide Anniversary Numbered. Love it

[gorion]

Always loved the "GeezerGlide" term.

[johnhartley]

Bagger with performance? Kawi concourse 14. 10 sec motorcycle that is fast, quiet, smooth with handling aspiring to be a sport bike. Find em used for under $7k all day long.

[Jluck]

Any touring model 2014 and newer will handle surprisingly well and if you drop in a set of Legends or Ohlins shocks you can really fly through the corners. They handle well, stop well and they are stable. Add fuel, have fun.

[geraldgoodiii]

I fkn love my road glide

2023 FLTRX
SS 124 11.7:1 comp ratio
fkn thing rips
Ohlins suspension and shit
Yet I can ride it all damn day in any weather
And carry all my shit

My other ride is 2008 FLHRCI with 16s and 555 cams
That one for pottering around ..
Only riding touring frame bikes .. love how they feel
And I’m not a bit dude
5’9
170lbs

Always on a touring bike
Softails feel tiny

[rickanna]

Seems like I'm the only big HD guy that doesn't like the baggers, never have, never will.

[mickeygaines]

I put a Wood 22XE in my ‘22 Road King. Took it to the city yesterday to do a little stoplight to stoplight, and just tears it up. If you’d told me I was on a sportster I would have believed you if I didn’t know better. I’m 5’4 160 and can throw it around town fine. A bit heavier than a Heritage but I feel also handles better than the fairing models without that weight up front. If you want you can get a tour pack also. The full out Ultra Limiteds and Road Glide Limiteds and such are now I think going to appeal to a very small niche in the biker world.

[GJM]

I bought my 1998 FLHT new and never looked back. I do everything with this bike, shopping, travelling, bar hopping. As far as I'm concerned it does everything well. There's a reason the police use them.