Bought the XV1900 after a hiring an Electra Glide for a USA vacation - the first V twin I'd ever ridden. When I handed the bike back I was pretty much convinced that V Twins were the greatest motorcycle engines possible and I still do. However, the the rest of the 2007/8 Electra Glide was somewhat below par, specifically the brakes, emitted engine heat, pillion to rider distance. When I got home I swapped the 1100GS I'd owned for 11yrs from new for a XV1900 thus getting a big V Twin with brakes etc belonging to the modern era.
The XV was great at one thing and one thing only - it was brill banging along at 50mph in a straight line, utterly relaxing, utterly pleasant and firing every lampost. Doing anything else was less enjoyable.
People complaining about HD ground clearance have not ridden a XV. Decking the floorboards at tee junctions is not a good sign. This chronic lack of ground clearance, coupled with the wheelbase of a barge meant every corner needed to be bang on from start to finish, mid corner corrections were difficult and limited.
I never felt safe on the thing and my pillion she was constantly trying fight against the bike mid corner. Vibration could be an issue too. Pannier size and shape were feckin' silly.
In 2009 I sold the XV for an Electra Glide standard after HD in that year addressed most of the issues which spoiled my 2007 hire bike.
The XV was barely acceptable except for the 50mph thing. It was a bastard to clean and work on. The handling/ground clearance probs made it unpleasant tbh. It's not easy to enjoy the ride knowing the next corner may be your last.
I don't know or care what anyone considers the real thing but my opinion is this. The post '09 Electra Glide is by far a more refined and practical bike. Easier to work, smoother, easier to clean and safer by a mile. Nowt's dropped of in 37k miles either.
Make sure you can live with the XV before you buy. Make sure your pillion can take the stress.
Fine looking bike though.