Since we don't have enough threads already...
I didn't want to put this in the summertime rant thread, because it's not a rant. Just wanted to share my experiences having ridden one (actually two) for the first time on Saturday.
Back story: my dad recently retired, and wants a motorcycle for touring around and exploring new places. One of the many he's considering is a Softail Deluxe. He's also looking at VTX's, Goldwings, and a few others. So Saturday afternoon we each grabbed one of my bikes and rode over to the Harley dealer. After puttering around the showroom a bit, one of the sales girls offered to let us test ride whatever we like. He picked a 2013 Softail Deluxe, I wasn't originally going to take anything, but hey, free bike demo! So I took a 2014 Fat Bob (or Street Bob? I still can't keep them all straight). Pretty bikes, looked like these, same colors and everything:
We did a 7 mile loop, back to the dealer, then traded bikes and ran it again.
Street Bob: Rode this first, and I actually really like the controls/ergos/feeling of everything. It was a very well built bike, with very little cheap plastic bits. My legs were a little more stretched out, in a good way, than on the Shadow. On my 750, it's pretty much sitting down, with your knees at 90 * posture. This was maybe 45 * , with your legs more out in front. I could see where it would be nice to stretch out on the highway. The clutch and brake levers, shifter, seat, etc. were all very nicely made, and felt great: weight of the controls, feel of the seat, etc.). And the bike is QUIET!!! Oh how quiet. With a stock exhaust it was downright pleasant. A little snarl when you cranked it open, but almost silent the rest of the time. Dropped into corners and took a set well, and for a heavy bike, you get used to it quick. Ground clearance seemed fine on the couple tight turns I really leaned it over. On the downside, man that engine shakes. I can see why foxtrapper and others said they occasionaly raise the revs at lights, but that didn't seem to help me. And it didn't *really * smooth out, in my opinion. I either felt like I was lugging it, causing it to shake, or over-revving it and it was getting buzzy. There was only a narrow range where it seemed happy, which was compounded by the lack of a tachometer.
Softail Deluxe: Similar quality of build and niceness of controls, and this one had a lot more instrumentation: tach, fuel gauge, gear indicator, etc. It had floorboards and a heel and toe shifter, which I wasn't used to, but it was workable. If I had a bike with these I would probably convert it to pegs and pull the heel half of the shifter. It rode similarly, with one exception: the counter-balanced engine completely cured all the vibration and harshness of the engine. This one was comfortable at idle, comfortable near redline, and anywhere in between. Much, much, much better. And it was solidly mounted, vs. the rubber mounts on the Street Bob, which made it even more impressive. The only downside on this bike was it was used, with like 900 miles, and someone had already put a very loud exhaust on it. When we got back, they asked us what we thought, and my dad said, "Love the bike, hate the exhaust. Would have to put a stock one back on it." I said he could probably put a 'want to trade' ad on CL for a stock Softail exhaust and have 30 responses the first day.
He really liked the Softail, and also said he was thrilled we switched bikes and went back out, because he didn't realize how much the rubber mount engines still shook (his Harley experiences are 30 years old), but it was great to confirm how nice the stock exhaust was on a different bike, so lots of good comparison data.
Anyway, figured I'd post up because I know Harleys get a lot of flack here, and it's easy to criticize via heresay and an internet filter, but far more interesting to go experience things in person. I have a much more positive view of their bikes than I did on Friday. Though I still don't like super-loud exhausts, on anything 
. I'd encourage anybody on here that criticizes them without ever having ridden one to swing by a dealer and take a softail with stock exhaust out for a spin.
. I still don't think I'd buy a Harley, but after this weekend I would think about it long and hard if the right deal came along.
