The right Harley?

 So I finally decided it was time to get a new bike.  My current bike
is a Triumph Bonney America, and it's the first bike I ever bought
(6 years ago).  After my gal and I hooked up, I bought an old Yamaha
Venture Royale that I only use when we're together for short rides,
and so except for that, it's been the Triumph.

The reason I've kept it so long is that the geometry seems to work
very well for me.  I made a set of forward pegs, and a driver
backrest, and I can literally ride indefinitely on the thing.  I
rode 2,000 miles to and from Rolling Thunder (DC) last May, and I
could've gone coast to coast on it.

My point is that comfort and handling means a great deal to me, and
I know that the next bike I buy will probably be my last bike, and
so I want it to be right.  I'm gonna first rent whatever I decide to
buy just to make sure it's what I want, but to narrow down my
choices, I'm curious what you guys would recommend.

In riding long distances, not only is comfort essential, but bags
are also a must.  A detachable windshield would be a plus, but I
don't like the look of ferrings.  A bike just doesn't look sporty
enough with a ferring, IMO.

As far as the bags go, I wouldn't mind either leather or plastic.

I ride in the Northeast, where the roads can get pretty bad (pot
holes and cracks).

I've got the Yamaha for my gal & I, and so accommodating a passenger
on the new one isn't a priority.

Finally, I'm 6'-4", and so either forward controls (really forward),
or forward pegs are a must.

Anyway, I made up my mind on a Harley, but I know almost nothing
about their product line, and so I'd like any advice you could give
me (or even any advice to change my decision about a Harley).   Some
of my buddies have suggested a Road King, and others a Heritage, or
a Fat Bob.

Cheers.

 
Sounds like a Road King or Heritage are good ones for you to look
into.  I suppose you can put some forward controls on those, if you
want to.

I'm 6' 2" and have a '98 Road Glide and an '07 Street Bob.  If you get
chance to hop on a Street Bob with long-reach forward controls (e.g.
Kuryakin), take it for a spin.  That's what I have on mine and it's a
terrific ride.  Comfortable the whole day (and that's with just the
stock seat).  If you're more focussed on carrying-capacity, I'd look
at the Road King, given your dislike for fairings.

 

:
:Sounds like a Road King or Heritage are good ones for you to look
:into.  I suppose you can put some forward controls on those, if you
:want to.

Comon Don!

Electra-Glide with a back rest. There is no substitute.
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Cogito Ergo Spam - I think therefore I ham

 
Yeah, but the guy wants forward controls and doesn't want a fairing.

And besides, Electra-Glides are for poseurs.

Oops.  Forgot you are one.  <g>

 
:Yeah, but the guy wants forward controls and doesn't want a fairing.

Yes he does. He just doesn't know it yet.
___
Cogito Ergo Spam - I think therefore I ham