I'm considering selling my Fatboy and buying a Road King for the extra range, cornering clearance, and smoothness at speed. I have never been one to buy new bikes as there are lots of garage queens out there, but I would like to get the best bike for the buck. My questions are as follows:

1. Is the new frame (2009 on) that much better than the older models?

2. Are there any years to stay away from for whatever reason?

3. I like my carbed 88, but it aint no speed demon. Are the bigger bikes significantly faster in like tune? (mine's just a stage one).

Thanks for your input.

 

I went from a Springer classic to a 2012 RK in April of 2012. I actually bought it from a dealer used with 500 miles on it (someone returned it as trade on a Fatboy Low). I was specifically looking for an '09 and up as the newer frame design is supposed to eliminate the "wobble" at higher speeds. I have never owned a pre-2009 touring so I can't make that comparison.

The 103 and 6 speed has considerably more power and is much smoother than my old 88 with EFI and a 5 speed. I am much more comfortable cruising at higher speeds. I have stage 1 with SE race tuner dyno'd by my dealer and run VH power duals with Rush Big Louie slip ons. I have had no issues with this bike and I am at 20K miles. I would never go back, it cruises comfortable for hundreds of miles even 2 up.

 

I was in the same boat early in the summer.

I started looking for 09 and up for the newer frame....then the 12 up for the 103 motor, then ended up buying a new Rushmore RK for all the latest updates!

Tough decisions.

 

1. yes, the newer frame is much better than the pre-'09s. and the new '14 and ups are even better.
2. can't answer this, but I would at least try the '12 and up to get the 103 and 6 speed (if you can't or don't want to go to the '14 and newer)
3. apples to apples the 103 is going to be much better than the 88, plus you are going to a fuel injected bike. much better and no worries on the tune when traveling around the country (different altitudes and such)

 

I dont know about the new frames, but the old frames with a stabilizer is the ticket for lots of fun, with out going broke

 

If you don't want to get a '12, the '09 police Road King has the 103 engine.

 

Yeah, I think the 103 and 6 speed combo would be the way to go, however, they are considerably more expensive. Saw a nice '12 RKC with like 3000 miles on it for 14,800 unfortulately that's double what the old Fatboy is worth.

 

I just have an old junkyass '02. I bought it in 2010 and it's taken me 38,000 trouble free miles. It's the best bike I've ever ridden. Go buy one. Hell, buy two if you can afford it.

 

My FB is an '02 as well, and has been a great bike so far. In a way I hate to get rid of it, and thought about keeping it and stripping it down for a short hopper, but I really don't need 2 bikes to keep up with - don't have enough riding and wrenching time.

 

And the '14 has a completely updated front end.