Had a look at one in black at frasers .very nice

Liked it and bought a black one

^ Congrats. Can you show us a pic without the screen and bags? I've not yet seen a pic of one in the black stripped down

I oredred a black one and added wider bars and put on a screamin eagle slip on to try and change the note (hasn't changed much) and put on a luggage rack and sissy bar and collected it last week and it looks pretty good.

Went for a rided to the Curry for breakfast this morning and had the wife on behind and it handles really well but you have to hunt it along pretty good to make use of the 6th gear otherwise around 100 to 110 it labours to much but all in all it's a good bike, the old Wide Glide still takes pride place in the shed though.

Rode one today, it was a stage 1, didn't go much on it, Seemed a bit sluggish down low but seemed to flow better in the higher rev range, It didn't have a screen and you seem to catch an awfull lot of wind, my 96 cube wide glide seems to go better. Also found the stock suspension a bit hard, but I suppose we all like different set up's and configurations..... Be pretty shit if we all liked the same thing.

Rans

Bought a black one a NTMC nearly two weeks ago. Lovin it.

 they are in stores now perth harley has one that color around $27K ,I think they are based on a  Dyna street bob frame so the weight of the bike is considerably less than other tourers

 your right macka. I was going from memory with $27K & the amount of Miller Draft I consume dont help with memory

rode one today and wasn't impressed but had original pipes - no sound. no punch - even a bit of a lag in engine respone no where near the grunt of the Road King ( rode that as well) screen was way too short for me ( 180cm) felt vibration through the bars but would still consider buying one
would like to hear an SB owner who has allowed it to breathe 1 with kit and better pipes - really like the look and practicality of the screen and the panniers for touring and then to strip down for local riding

Yeh I agree with GeeBee, ended up taking one for a spin out on the Monaro hwy last week. The 103 isnt obvious, would need the breathing mods and exhaust to get it noticeable I reckon. The screen was horrible at 100+, buffeting & lots of noise. Seemed to have a lot more vibes than my 06 Superglide but mind you this bike only had 70 k's on it.

bottom line - I wouldnt race out and buy it tomoz....would still consider a 2nd hand Heritage or RK over the Switchback.

I jumped on an ember red one

For years I wanted to put a fatter front end on my 05 dyna and make it look it like an earlier FLH

Mother  HD got the message and built one, quite happy with it so far and I kept the 05 to play around with

Don't forget the pics Trev. was going to get one myself, but I had to lash out on a new work ute

I so want one,I love the look of them apart from one thing (Personal Opinion) the single  exaust.

Can u convert the exaust to duals?

I really think this is one of the best models out for a long time with thoughts to people whom do long distance and also want a street cruiser,HD are on a winner with this one.

Congrats to all you people whom bought one, there a mint looking & functional bike.

Cannot wait for some more pictures peoples.

Oh well, One powerball.

 

 

man that thing would look bad ass with duel pipes

 

thought this article would interest you Trev.... a real 'ladies bike'.... looks like a natural upgrade   

 

MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: Harley-Davidson FLD Dyna Switchback, with Video

An economical touring motorcycle

By Genevieve Schmitt, Editor; Photos by Tricia Szulewski
11/29/2011

---

Email to a friend

---

Once in a while, a motorcycle is introduced that I believe has “woman rider” written all over it. The 2012 Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback is one of those motorcycles. Why do I think this? Because it is a purpose-built touring motorcycle designed for riders who can’t or don’t want to handle the large touring motorcycles—and that description fits the majority of women riders.      

The large touring bikes, often termed “baggers” because of their abundant storage space, are built on a chassis designed for long-distance riding comfort and come from the factory with accessories and components, like a windshield and floorboards, that increase comfort when traveling for long stretches of time. Because the average height of women is between 5-foot-4 and 5-foot-5, the majority of women riders find it difficult to maneuver these large motorcycles. Women want to experience all the benefits of touring on two wheels, but they desire a bike with all the creature comforts and handling of a large touring motorcycle, but in a lighter, more manageable package. Enter the Switchback. 

If you’ve done any research on the Switchback, you’ll find that most of its advertising focuses on the bike’s most marketable attribute: the Switchback is actually two bikes in one. First, it’s a tourer because it comes stock with a windshield and hard-sided saddlebags. But it’s also an around-town cruiser when you remove the bags and windshield, which can be done easily and quickly. When you’re ready to “switch back” to a tourer, simply reattach those accessories.

The Dyna Switchback comes with matching hard saddlebags and a windshield.

With the saddlebags and windshield removed, the Dyna Switchback becomes a straightforward boulevard cruiser.

I don’t think this switcheroo feature is what will attract most women. Sure, it’s nice to have the option to remove the windshield and saddlebags when you don’t need them, but what woman doesn’t need or want a way to carry extra gear? And what woman doesn’t want a way to protect her face from the ravages of the wind? OK, I’m generalizing here, but you get what I mean. I believe the biggest appeal for women is that the Switchback is a motorcycle that’s set up for touring right from the factory and is much easier to handle and costs a lot less than Harley-Davidson’s larger touring models.

When I first sat on the Switchback, I immediately thought “mini Road King.” The image of a man and woman riding side by side popped into my head, the man on his Harley-Davidson Road King and the woman on her “Road Queen,” the Switchback. His and hers—a matched set. So for couples wanting to tour together, consider these two motorcycles. Note to Harley-Davidson: I’ll allow you to use my idea of marketing these two motorcycles together as “his and hers.” With women influencing 85 percent of households’ purchasing decisions, this would appear to be a smart marketing strategy to get more guys (your core market) on the road. You can thank me later. 

Comparing the Switchback to the Road King:

The Switchback weighs 718 pounds and has a narrow profile and a seat height of 26.1 inches. The price is $15,999. Saddlebag capacity on the Switchback is about two-thirds of that on the Road King.

The Road King weighs 812 pounds and is built on a larger frame, with a seat height of 26.5 inches. It costs $17,499.

Weighing nearly 100 pounds less than the Road King, most women, and some men (smaller guys as well as aging baby boomers dealing with waning strength and balance), will find the lighter weight and narrower profile easier to handle. The $1,500 cheaper price tag makes the jump from midsize cruiser (750cc to 1300cc) to the world of touring Harleys financially feasible, too.      

With the Switchback, a rider doesn’t have to spring for touring accessories, like a windshield and saddlebags. With most of Harley's non-touring motorcycles, you’ll plunk down hundreds of dollars for these and other touring-oriented aftermarket parts. But for a price starting at $15,999, the Switchback is ready for your long-distance journeys. 

Close-up of the fork-mounted windshield attachment.

To remove the windshield, lift on the metal handle that releases it. It comes off in seconds.

Comparing the Switchback to the Softail Deluxe, a motorcycle that’s more popular among women than the Road King because of its extremely low seat height and stylish looks, the Switchback is a bargain at $1,100 less, which includes those saddlebags and that windshield. If you're wondering why I'm not comparing the Switchback to the Heritage Softail Classic, a bike that does come with bags and a windshield too, it's because that bike is not as popular among women riders, at least not as popular as the Deluxe.

Comparing the Switchback to the Softail Deluxe:

The Switchback has a seat height of 26.1 inches, includes saddlebags and a windshield, and costs $15,999.

The Softail Deluxe has a seat height of 24.5 inches and costs $17,149. It does not come standard with saddlebags or a windshield.

It costs approximately $1,500 to add hard saddlebags to the Softail Deluxe ($800 for locking leather saddlebags) and approximately $425 for a windshield. Your “tour-ready” Softail Deluxe now costs around $18,300. So the Switchback, at $15,999, is a bargain, and it boasts the same powerful engine as the Deluxe, the Twin Cam 103 (that translates to a displacement of 1690cc). The same engine also powers the Road King and Harley-Davidson’s other touring motorcycles.    

The power of the 103 engine is mightily evident on the Switchback. I’ve ridden all the Dyna models and have come to expect a certain amount of power out of these nimble motorcycles. I definitely felt the additional power of the 103—6 percent more torque over the Twin Cam 96—as I shifted through the six gears to get up to speed. Much of the torque (the muscle of the bike) is felt in the midrange of the powerband—that is, when shifting through third and fourth gear—producing up to 100 ft. lbs. of peak torque. Then when you’re up to about 70 mph in fifth gear, it’s nice to have that sixth gear to lower the RPMs so the motorcycle doesn’t feel like it’s screaming.

I cranked the throttle to 80 mph and was pleasantly surprised that the “cruising” feeling was maintained without the bike feeling like it was being pushed beyond its limits. I felt some vibration in my feet at high speeds (despite the rubber dampening on the floorboards), but nothing that adversely affected the ride. 

So how does the Switchback handle corners? With grace and ease, never missing a beat. The Switchback inspired confidence, allowing me to fly through the twisties without that lumbered, heavy feeling that I’ve always said I felt on some of the Softails, namely the Fat Boy. The Switchback’s low-profile Dunlop 130/70B18 front tire and new front-end geometry contribute to the bike’s stable and planted feeling. While it doesn’t have any of a sportbike’s “zippy” qualities, the Switchback certainly feels right at home on the switchbacks, giving you an enjoyable break from the straightaways.

The stock suspension setting was ideal when I had the motorcycle loaded up with my backrest bag and saddlebags full of 25 or 30 pounds of gear. I glided over bumps, with the shocks soaking up the impact. However, my 118 pounds were not enough to compress the rear shocks with that extra weight removed, so I did feel the bumps a little more abruptly. If I owned this bike, I might have my dealer adjust the settings on the adjustable rear shocks. The stock setting may be just fine for riders weighing more than me.

The Switchback that I test rode is seen here loaded up with my backrest bag.

My Switchback test model was equipped with a backrest and a luggage rack, aftermarket accessories costing about $400.

The single-disc brakes in the front and rear provided adequate stopping power for the bike. ABS is available as a $1,195 option that comes bundled with Harley-Davidson’s Smart Security System. 

Seat height is a low 26.1 inches—certainly not as low as the Softail Deluxe’s 24.5 inches, but the Switchback’s narrow profile makes up for what is lost in the wide saddle spread on the Softail Deluxe. That said, the feeling of a low center of gravity is not as pronounced on the Switchback as on the Deluxe. 

The ergonomics were right on for my taste and my size. The seat was plenty comfortable after hours in the saddle, and the position of the floorboards in relation to the seat and handlebars (the three points of contact) flowed just right for me. However, at 5-foot-6.5, I’m taller than most women and have longer arms. Women taller than I am, and men of average height, will feel right at home on the Switchback.

Women who fall into the average height category mentioned above and want to get lower to the ground and closer to the handlebars can install Harley-Davidson’s Super Reduced Reach Solo Seat for $199.95 (part number 54384-11), which brings the rider 1 inch lower and 3 inches forward. There’s also a Reduced Reach seat providing increased reach that’s not as pronounced. These Reduced Reach saddles that the Motor Company introduced a few years ago have been very successful in positioning riders closer to the handlebars and lower to the ground without requiring them to adjust the handlebars or floorboards or change out the shocks. I highly recommend looking into these seats first to see if that improves positioning. 

Harley-Davidson introduced a new type of lockable hard saddlebag on the Switchback, one that is latched on and removed from the bike differently than the bags on the company’s other touring motorcycles. I have a Harley-Davidson Street Glide with hard bags, so I was used to positioning the top lid a certain way to close it. The Switchback saddlebags have a different latching mechanism that does not interfere with packing or reduce usable bag volume. It took me a while to get used to doing it this different way, which is no easier or harder, just different. Riders who’ve never used Harley’s hard saddlebags will probably have no problem with it.    

The saddlebags lock using the same key as the ignition switch.

You use the knob inside the saddlebag to detach the bag from the bike.

Genevieve Demonstrates How to Remove Saddlebags:

Here’s a close-up of the knob that unlocks the saddlebag.

Here’s what the rear of the Switchback looks like with the saddlebag removed. The unobtrusive docking points stay on the bike.

I spent some time in the passenger seat of the Switchback and found it to be comfortable enough. I think passengers may be slightly shortchanged with the smaller backseat accommodations when compared to, say, a Road King, which has more space between the passenger and the rider, along with floorboards for the passenger’s feet. But the smaller size of the Switchback doesn’t allow for either.

It’s nice that women riders now have the Switchback as an option for touring with their husbands, partners or friends. Because of the cost, a woman making the transition from a beginner Sportster to a tourer will simply outfit her Sportster with saddlebags and a windshield—still cheaper overall than a brand-new Switchback. But it’s frustrating for many women that their Sportster’s smaller engine has a hard time keeping up with the bigger bikes or that they get that “beat up” feeling at the end of the day from riding long distances on a smaller, less comfortable motorcycle. Thus, the Switchback fills a huge need in many ways.    

Specs At A Glance: 2012 Harley-Davidson FLD Dyna Switchback
Displacement: 1690cc
Seat Height: 26.1 inches
Weight: 718 pounds
Price: Starts at $15,999
Colors: Vivid Black, Brilliant Silver Pearl, Ember Red Sunglo

WRN Recommendation 
For women riders ready to start taking multi-day journeys on a motorcycle, the Switchback is a great option. The Switchback keeps the rider comfortable, reduces long-day riding fatigue, keeps up with the big boys, and is economical when compared to Harley-Davidson’s other touring bikes. Confident beginner riders ready to move up from their first “real” bike to one they can keep for a long time will want to consider the Switchback.
     

That's why they're nicknamed a 'road queen' Ho, lol.

That's why there's a Fat Bob Quack!

Fair enough bloke, horses for courses. People I know seem to have no issues with their RK's around town nor in the twisties.

I like the look of the Switchback stripped down, especially that rear fender (wheels are meh) but with its bags and screen (not withstanding a dual exhaust set-up coming out soon) they look too much like a try hard mini Road King moreso aimed at those who can't handle a proper sized tourer.

I like the silver one...Maybe when the house is finnished and I can sell my softy...Until then it's only a dream...

I want one but of course i didnt know that they were coming out so bought a 2010 Dyna