OK Gang, I have had my FW for a year and thought I would post a few comments. Due to a lot of rain around here during 2015 I have only managed to put just under 9,000 miles on it; normally I ride 12K - 15K a year.
1) Performance is very good IMO. The bike is still stock and I am still quite happy with the performance, even riding 2 up. The gearing is a bit tall but I don't really have a problem with it. I have spent a fortune on my other bikes (15 different bikes) boosting the performance but so far I am happy with the FW. May change exhaust and air cleaner and add a tuner next year but that would be it.
2) Exhaust - this is the best sounding Harley OEM Exhaust I have heard. I have changed it out with a couple of sets of slip on mufflers I have in the garage but have now put the stock mufflers back on it. Others were too loud and droned on the highway. Maybe I am just getting too old?
3) Gas mileage is good for a trike. I get 32 - 35 routinely riding single or 2 up in the 60 - 65 MPH range. If I run 70 - 80 MPH it will be anywhere from 28 to 32 depending on terrain and wind. Only other trike I had, a Gl1800 with a MotorTrike conversion, got about 32 tops. Usually on the road at 70 MPH it was 28 to 30.
4) Comfort - This is a mixed bag. On rough roads it is not good but on good roads I am happy with the ride. The wife says it is comfortable enough for her but we haven't been on any long trips, just day rides and one 3 day trip covering about 750 miles to the Texas Hill Country. I changed out the stock seat to a Sundowner seat, added a gel pad to it and then bought a Mustang seat as soon as one was available for the Freewheeler and am now happy with the seat. My next project is to fab a different passenger backrest that will move it back about 2 inches. The OEM passenger backrest is too far forward. It can be moved back 2 - 3 inches and still allow the trunk to open. My biggest complaint now is too much wind buffeting. I have the 20" windshield plus a Laminar Lip extension, bring it up to about 22" tall but too much wind comes up under the windshield. After several bikes with fairings this is not very comfortable. Will add fork mounted wind deflectors to see if this helps. I have the HD soft lower fairings that slip onto the crash bars but they don't solve the issue and you shouldn't run them in warm weather.
5) Handling is great, the bike is very quick to respond and the 2 wheelers I ride with have a hard time keeping up with me through the curves. I ride pretty aggressively and I have never pulled a back wheel off the ground (yet). Braking is very good even 2 up.
6) Luggage capacity is limited. On the one 3 day trip we had enough room with the trunk and a bag on the luggage rack but for a long trip it is not enough. Before a longer trip I will add a hitch so that I can use a hitch rack and bag that I have. I have pulled a trailer with other bikes but I don't plan on doing that again.
7) Dependability - So far I have not had a single issue (wouldn't expect to in a year and only 9,000 miles).
8) Overall quality of the bike is very good. Fit and finish, paint, chrome, etc. etc. is all top notch IMO. The lack of accessories available through Harley is aggravating.
Would I buy it again? Maybe. If the wife and I were still doing a lot of long trips, probably not but it is a heck of a lot of fun to ride. My biggest complaint is still the lack of wind protection, it is quite annoying. I don't remember my other bikes with only a windshield having this much wind buffeting but that was a few years ago.
Just my thoughts. Would be interesting to hear other FW owner thoughts.
Sunman
1) Performance is very good IMO. The bike is still stock and I am still quite happy with the performance, even riding 2 up. The gearing is a bit tall but I don't really have a problem with it. I have spent a fortune on my other bikes (15 different bikes) boosting the performance but so far I am happy with the FW. May change exhaust and air cleaner and add a tuner next year but that would be it.
2) Exhaust - this is the best sounding Harley OEM Exhaust I have heard. I have changed it out with a couple of sets of slip on mufflers I have in the garage but have now put the stock mufflers back on it. Others were too loud and droned on the highway. Maybe I am just getting too old?
3) Gas mileage is good for a trike. I get 32 - 35 routinely riding single or 2 up in the 60 - 65 MPH range. If I run 70 - 80 MPH it will be anywhere from 28 to 32 depending on terrain and wind. Only other trike I had, a Gl1800 with a MotorTrike conversion, got about 32 tops. Usually on the road at 70 MPH it was 28 to 30.
4) Comfort - This is a mixed bag. On rough roads it is not good but on good roads I am happy with the ride. The wife says it is comfortable enough for her but we haven't been on any long trips, just day rides and one 3 day trip covering about 750 miles to the Texas Hill Country. I changed out the stock seat to a Sundowner seat, added a gel pad to it and then bought a Mustang seat as soon as one was available for the Freewheeler and am now happy with the seat. My next project is to fab a different passenger backrest that will move it back about 2 inches. The OEM passenger backrest is too far forward. It can be moved back 2 - 3 inches and still allow the trunk to open. My biggest complaint now is too much wind buffeting. I have the 20" windshield plus a Laminar Lip extension, bring it up to about 22" tall but too much wind comes up under the windshield. After several bikes with fairings this is not very comfortable. Will add fork mounted wind deflectors to see if this helps. I have the HD soft lower fairings that slip onto the crash bars but they don't solve the issue and you shouldn't run them in warm weather.
5) Handling is great, the bike is very quick to respond and the 2 wheelers I ride with have a hard time keeping up with me through the curves. I ride pretty aggressively and I have never pulled a back wheel off the ground (yet). Braking is very good even 2 up.
6) Luggage capacity is limited. On the one 3 day trip we had enough room with the trunk and a bag on the luggage rack but for a long trip it is not enough. Before a longer trip I will add a hitch so that I can use a hitch rack and bag that I have. I have pulled a trailer with other bikes but I don't plan on doing that again.
7) Dependability - So far I have not had a single issue (wouldn't expect to in a year and only 9,000 miles).
8) Overall quality of the bike is very good. Fit and finish, paint, chrome, etc. etc. is all top notch IMO. The lack of accessories available through Harley is aggravating.
Would I buy it again? Maybe. If the wife and I were still doing a lot of long trips, probably not but it is a heck of a lot of fun to ride. My biggest complaint is still the lack of wind protection, it is quite annoying. I don't remember my other bikes with only a windshield having this much wind buffeting but that was a few years ago.
Just my thoughts. Would be interesting to hear other FW owner thoughts.
Sunman
