Hey folks,
Brand new here. Considering coming over to the wild side and dumping my Road Glide and purchasing a RIII tourer. I have come close a couple times over the years and almost pulled the trigger before I got the road glide. I have not problem with the RG, just like the look, power, and individuality of the RIII Tourer. I'd consider the Roadster, but will definitely will be my 2up bike. Any guidance you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Ok, I have had my R3T for about 15 months now. I ride it about everyday. I have ridden it for fun in the back roads of rural SC. I commute on it everyday to work and back through town. I take it to Daytona at least twice a year down I-95. I have 16K on it right now. I put all this so you know I have some time in the saddle of the thing, I have never had any Harley with an blockhead engine, but I do have two shovelheads and have had two others and a pan. I know nothng about the Road Glide but here is my take on the R3T
I have put in a 200 mile stretch on I-95, non-stop and felt fine when I got off the bike. I have bad knees and they usually hurt after about an hour, not on this thing. The seat is not the best in the world but I have an Airhawk pad I use on long trips that fixes it right up. I have the sissy bar for my wife and when we ride 2 up she loves the bike, sitting position and running boards are very comfortable for her. She loves it. About the longest I have had her on it is an hour then a break. I am 5'10 and the ergo's of this bike fit me perfect except for the bend in the bars but I have gotten used to them. I was used to straighter and closer in to the trees like my FJR1300 and my Trophy have. Running boards are right were I need them and they are big enough I can move my feet around and with the highway pegs I can stretch out. About what you would get with the HD, except I think my boards are a little longer.
I like the R3T. I could have gotten a Harley, I even own stock in the company and have all the T-shirts but I wanted something different. Everyone I see on a new HD makes me think that all the wannabee's from 20 years ago finally got enough money to buy a bike so they could pose better. Guys trailering a touring bike to Daytona from Jacksonville seem to be the norm for new HD riders and I wanted to set myself apart from that group. I have power, tons of it, torque to spare and more HP than my bro's 103 screaming eagle engine with all the special high speed stuff you can get from the HD catalog. I got it straight from the box. With the TORS I have almost 160 lb Ft on tap at 2k rpm's so this thing just keeps on pulling for as long as I want to hit the throttle smoothly. It isn't the Roadster or standard but I don't care about top end, must getting out of that Sububans way riding home. (And keeping up with those sportbikes, at least for a while).
To me the R3T is about the best all around bike for what I like to do. Bags for traveling and carrying my laptop to work. Windshield to block some wind at speed but removable when the weather is nice. Quick when I want to show off, burnouts and wheelies are possible for the asking. Handles well at low speeds making it easy to ride around town and parking lots. Stable at high speeds making it more enjoyable on the interstate. Heavy enough that it takes a lot to move it also in high winds. I live near the ocean and travel over bridges a lot so I know what I am talking about. This is just a good, all around useful bike that will do about anything you want it to do. I can even get a fairing with the steareo and do-dads if I want to spend 2K more. Cruise control is just hooking it up. Friend of mine converted an aftermarket car one to his FJR and it should work on my R3T and cost him a whole $90.
I know I sound like a Triumh ad but I actually was thinking about this on the way to work this morning, how much I liked my bike and why, and then here was your question.
And you can even get T-shirts.
