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Well I took the 2009 Streetglide for a ride and put just about 400 miles on it. 326 solo and 46 with the wife. After all the riding I do believe that the Streetglide is what I am looking for so the Venture has been placed in the classifieds. I did want to share my thoughts in case anyone is interested. I'll start by saying I'm 6' and 205 pounds with long legs and long arms. My wife is 5'6 and about 150 pounds so that should give you a comparison as to how we fit both bikes. I will start with my opinion on looks. I just think that the Streetglide is a much better looking bike than the Venture. Probably because it's sportier looking but also I prefer straight boxy lines which lends itself better to the Harley than the Venture. I was surprised just how close the overall comparison was in many other aspects so I'll just hit the more drastic ones. The two things that were the furthest apart were power, which the Venture has more of and pulls harder, and weight/balance where the Harley is far superior, especially at low speeds. Holding any highway speed without using cruise control on the Harley is something you constantly need to adjust. I've gotten used to finding a speed and basically just holding my grip on the RSV and it riding down the road at that speed. Not so on the streetglide. There were constant modifications needed to hold 75 mph and up hill at speed you could really feel the power difference. just the opposite at low speed. I could flick the streetglide around like it was the Warrior without a care. Cornered great, I've been told due to the new frame in 2009, and handled any twisty I could find. Almost shocking compared to the last Harley I rode. I will mention that the streetglides brakes weren't exactly confidence inspiring but I think in part that was due to being a rental. There was a bit of pulsation that others I have spoken to say is not normal on their bikes and this one faded quickly. I know some here don't like the brakes on the RSV but I do. have never run into a problem with them and have complete confidence in mine. The short windshield did not keep the wind out of my face but it did keep the pressure from hitting me in the chest. On my Warrior at highway speeds it always feels like I'm hanging on due to the wind pressure hitting me in the chest. The wide fairing on the streetglide blocks that and I get buffeting at the top of my helmet. Not too awful bad but it's there. The plus side is due to the sitting arrangement my wife believes that she gets bounced around a lot less by the wind on the streetglide. However she isn't exactly pleased with how far she needs to spread her knees to sit on the bike. She believes she can get used to it but it is better on the RSV. The other thing that saddens me is the stereo situation. Yamaha is a premier sound system company. Why don't they share a little of the quality with the motorcycle division. The two speaker system on the Harley sounds so much better than the 4 on the RSV that it is noticeable. Also there is no provision for intercom on the streetglide. Wife hates that fact but I'm still undecided. :-) There is a little less leg room for me but the pull to the bars was about right so I feel once I put a set of highway bars on I'll be good. All in all the streetglide will blend the attributes I am looking for between my Warrior and Venture. It won't be as good a tourer as the Venture, but I can't really think of anything that is, or as sporty as the Warrior but it will work. And the bottom line is what someone else here pointed out. Life is short. If you want something and can find a way to buy it then do it. Although I do not feel that the Harley is worth that much more than the Venture, if I want it that's what I have to pay.
