Only one real complaint....the rest is sweet as pie!

My 2008 FLHX Street Glide was a birthday gift to myself for my 45th birthday. It is my first Touring model, my first bike with a real fairing, my first bike with a windshield, my first bike with a radio/CD player....and I am sure there a few more firsts there some place, but I digress.

Like I said ...I had only one real complaint about the Street Glide, and I believe that the problem spans the entire touring line from HD. Its the fact that because of a mistake the MOCO made with mounting the engine in the frame....having only two links and not three like it should. This causes the engine to shift in relation to the rear wheel, causing all sorts of moderate to high speed handling issues. For the most part the feeling you get is that of a tire that is almost flat in the rear. If you happen to be going through a long sweeping curve at 60>MPH, and the road had a slight dip, or you hit a small bump mid apex9or anyplace in the turn), you will go directly into almost a tank slapper. Its enough to make you turn white. This is the case with all the touring models going back who knows how many years. I have since added a third link to my Street Glide. There are about a dozen or so products on the market designed specifically to address this problem. The one I bought and installed is called the TWR Missing Link, and it changed the bike overnight. It rides like its on rails now....to just say its much better now is a gross understatement. Another fault with the bike is the short wind shield.....it is useless. In fact it is just the right hight to create a buffeting effect that will drive you nuts.....changing it out for a 8" Clear View Re-Curve unit did the trick there.
My Dark Blue Pearl FLHX has just under 3000 mi on it now, and I can say it has broken in nicely. I actually like everything else about the bike just the way it is. OH.....hold on a sec.......
The gauge cluster.....on the bottom left side of the inner fairing there is a ambient air temp gauge.....needless to say it is another useless part. HD sells a oil temp gauge kit that matches the rest of the gauges exactly. The kit comes with all you need to do the install the HD method. I decided (and most everyone else that has installed this 2" oil temp gauge kit) to just install the sending unit in the oil pan using the extra drain plug the MOCO has placed right there. IIRC its called the "Allen head" drain plug in the factory service manual. So now at least I know how hot my oil/engine is getting.....because as we all know these 96" baggers make way too much heat. I did switch over to Red-Line synthetic oil at 2500 miles, and also switched the primary and trans to Red-Line synthetic lubes. Even just the switch over to synthetic engine oil has cooled things down a bit, and the rider selectable cooling system that Harley has put on their 08' models also works nicely. The rear cylinder will shut down via a command from the ECM, but only after several parameters have been met like a stated engine temp, closed throttle, bike stopped and so on. Then the ECM will stop both fuel and spark to the rear cyl. You can turn this system off by rolling off the throttle a few mm's past the normal stop. Hold it there for three seconds, and the cruise control light in the tach will flash either green or red (well orange). The light will be there even if your bike didnt come with cruise....if it flashes green the system is on.....red and its off. This can be done with the engine running or not. With the engine not running the ignition switch must be in the run position though, and the kill switch set to run.
The engine in its totally stock form performed ok....the gearing was a bit too tall but you can get over that. The rear air shocks work well for two up riding, but a set of real high quality shocks are just a number$$$ away. Since I bought my FLHX I have added a SE-Heavy Breather intake, and Rinehart True Duals, along with the new SE Pro Race Tuner...that comes with a device that you can if needed attach to your belt, and then if your bike is exhibiting some sort of problem thats engine related (even things like the brakes and transmission are monitored to though) you push a little red button on the device and it will digitally record the event. Then you or a tech can view it on a PC and see whats wrong, then via the Race Tuners new SW you can correct the problem.
All in all I love this bike.....even though I feel like a old man riding it! Read Full Review

Almost perfect all round touring

I absolutely enjoy getting on this bike! Everyone I ride with says I have way too much fun. Everything is exactly where I want it to be, and even though it's the heaviest bike I've ever ridden, I do things on this bike that I've never done on any bike before. For reference, I'm 46, 6'2", and 21...5lb. I get on and go 500+ miles (with 1 gas stop), and then go hang out like it was 50 miles. The other guys have hand, leg, shoulder, and back problems.

And of course you can't beat it for curb appeal. IMO, the best looking Harley ever made, although I've only ever owned a Dyna Low, I've also ridden Fat Boy's, Road Kings, and Sportsters as well. No comparison.

The one area that could be improved... Going around bumpy, or washboard corners, needs extra care because of a little bit of "squiggles". The higher the speed, the worse it feels. I hear that's part of the improvements made to the frame in 2009. Oh well.

I'd buy this bike again in a heartbeat.

p.s. It also has the SE 103 ci stage II kit on it, with the chrome front-end. Read Full Review

2008 FLHX 105th anniversary street glide.

What can I say about this fantastic ride. I have had the oppourtunity to purchase 4 new harley Davidson'd since 1999 I believe that my new '08 FLHX is by far the best that Harley has built yet! From the six speed tranny,The six gallon fuel tank, The Brembo brakes,The custom copper and black paint, T...he ride, the performance I can go on and on. My wife and I can cruise on our street glide for hours before we need to pull over for a break. Everywhere we go whether it be Vermont, New York, Myrtle Beach etc. we get complimented on this bike and to think that this FLHX 105th anniversary model is unique as there was Only 3000 made in these colors! We really stand out. Thank You Harley Davidson.
Paul & Denise
Read Full Review

STILL SMILING

The last time I owned a Harley was in Germany in 1975. It was a Sportster and shook me most of the time. Just recently I purchased a 2008 Street Glide (White Gold Pearl) and I am once again a Happy Camper. Being only 5'7", I had to have it lowered in both the rear & front...I consider it ...a major safety issue if I can't plant both feet on the ground at a stop. I have join the millions of others adding things to their bikes....so far I have added the chrome lights to the fairing, changed the windshield height & put on lightly smoked windshield. The stereo is excellent and being a smoker...I still smirk about having a cigarette lighter on this bike. Haven't made any highway trips yet, but love the back county roads and feeling the freedom. For anyone wanting a Touring/Sports bike, without all the big passenger seat & extra bag....THIS IS THE BIKE FOR YOU ! I thought I wanted a Fat Boy, but approx 5 different friends talked me out of it....I am so happy they did. Read Full Review

LOVE IT!

I am 21 years old, and last year I bought a brand new 2008 street glide. where to start?!



1) Had a crotch rocket, rode dads new 08 ultra, hooked, had to get a harley!

2) went to get a fat boy, and dad talked me out of that into a street glide! and i am so glad he did, allthough i still love fatb...oys and hope some day i can get one for another bike i love my street glide.

2 complaints (one for me and one for my girl)

1) brakes squeek, my dads ultra hs same brakes and his dont do that, talked to dealer, and i guess this is common and they have no idea
2) seat is good for me, girl said isnt big enough or comfy for her, had new one put on.

LOVE THE BIKE! you will not regret buying a street glide Read Full Review