In truth, Betty is more dresser than 1970's Super Glide. The engines are mounted differently, and even the non-B engines are smoother. The frames are stiffer, the inverted forks soak up more front end jolts, and progressive shocks for our bikes are indentical.

Truthfully BI63, I think the real definitive difference in ride quality between your dresser and Betty could easily be overcome if Betty had a Sundowner seat.

Its way more than that. Its night and day difference between your dyna and my Ultra. Because of the weight factor the Ultra simply has more of a commanding presense on the road and in every aspect, at least on the open highway. An advantage your Betty has would be the nimbleness of the front end and what advantage that gives say in a city.

Tourist I've ridden both and recently. As mentioned before, just the other day I spent a couple hours on a brand new Wide Glide. I don't think you've marked even slight road time on a full dressed, Ultra bagger to have an accurate fact based comparrison.

It took me a year easy to get use to it and to make the personalized touchs....204 cam,stage II down load,bagger bars, lower seat(I'm short),upgrade the twin cam gear drive,XM radio,lower windshield and other personalized acoutrements. Here a picture of handle bars,mirrors,XM radio and short windshield:

Obviously Betty isn't made for constant, long term touring. But then, virtually no one is doing that anyway.

As I stated, our service writer stated last year that the average Electra-Glide mileage was between 3K and 4K. That has been revised downward. In speaking with a parts guy a few days ago they now guestimate the mileage is hardly 1K. To boot, Glides are sitting unsold.

The kicker here is make-up of members in this forum. For example, I have 700 miles on my new tire and I would consider such a tally "simply running errands." In one week I will easily break 1,000 miles, surpassing the average total--and on a bike marketed to "urban entertainment." (Bar hopping.)

So, if you consider the HRF membership only, big Glides have a purpose. In the general population a big-twin is a big-twin. The odometer mileage ends up the same.

For me, the new Harleys are like luxury cruise ships. Arriving home after a spirited weekend of "sharing fraternal accompaniment" I was beat from road pounding, and I was 20 years old. Those old Super Glides had terrible rear shocks, and a front end grafted directly from a Sportster. Now, at three times the age the mileage doesn't matter. I believe it's the frames and the suspension. Look, even our local police and sheriff use additional modifications because of real use.

However, a guy at the gym is more representative of 'the world.' He too has a boated out Glide. Last year, 1300 miles. This year he hasn't ridden at all. Compare that to our membership. Look at how many threads deal with leaks, squeaks and wear. Those are concerns for guys who actually ride.

Sorry brother your logic is flawed, not all of us are married, and just because our bikes are comfortable doesn't mean there is a long term anything when it comes to the sweet young bad things.... LOL

You nailed it, once you really ride one you wonder why you didn't sooner...

the one thing I wanted to add, check out the police rodeo videos, you won't believe what they do on these bikes. AND no you cant do that on a dyna either....

You guys forget that I worked for Harley as a mechanic, and we had to ride what we tuned. And that included the dressers and the police bikes.

I think the issue here is the definition. What you guys consider plush, I consider bloated and sloppy in the corners. What I consider taut your guys consider harsh.

However the items you guys consider the major deal breakers have been removed and upgraded from both Spinner and Betty. And that was my original point. These parts exist. But instead we get huge engines that neither dresser owners or custom riders actually utilize.

Is that all ya got Tourist,lol. While I got you back peddling let me start by stating that every make and model of Harleys have owners who twinkle toe the light fan dago ergo...minimum miles on them. You name the model and I'll easily find a long line of owners of said model, including the Betty version who put non existent miliage. Fact of the matter is many have wanted to own one for a life time and simply buy one now older and are happy to own one and riding long distance is of no concern. Not just baggers but every model.

The guy in the gym is not representative of the world. He is representative of the group of riders who have a Harley for a cornecopia of reasons, none of which is truly riding as they are meant to be ridden.

And yes I was no different when I was younger. I had the waist long pony tail, beard, tatto's,colors etc..and rocked my rigid pan w/ jockey shift and for near 20+ years. I have grown mentally, physically since then and personally,that life is no longer a life that brings any enjoyment to me.

I am currently very disapointed in the state of affairs in the Harley riders of world of today. The brotherhood is fake and word easi;ly thrown around. So......locally,where I live I am a loner chosing instead to utilize the cyper connections to meet solid and proven bro's like yourself Tourist rather than wade thru the buffonery of the bullsh*t brotherhood today..for we exist, we are the few and the far between. I been burnt by to many of these coca cola c suckers.

Baggers are no longer sloppy in the corners...new frame.

Baggers are specifically built for comfort. Its not a coincidence that the hands down majority of bikes in the Hoka Hey are baggers. Oh there are some Sporty's,Wide Glides and other models but scant few compared to the made for the open road for too many reasons to list baggers.

I've watched them thats how I worked out some of the kinks of riding my Ultra initially. I was having a hardtime turning right up a hill from a dead stop.

https://www.ridelikeapro.com/

If you look at the geometry of a pure race bike - grand Prix stuff, then compare all the Harley line to it and the bikes with the closest match are the FL family... My bike's not sloppy in corners or at anything. I can corner it comfortably to the the frame scrapes, and that's the limiting factor. As for bloated, 5 gallon tank, and saddle bags don't a bloated bike make. I don't have a radio or any electronics other than the speedo and that year - that was a big thing. My fenders actually work and keep road gunk off me, my lighting is almost adequate, and the balance is superb. I've ridden no handed for many miles at a stretch don't know if you'd be able to do that on other bikes. The best part of my bike is the Mill, 80 cubes of evolution beauty and simplicity. You're not going to ever see that again....