2016 Road King VS 2015 1200T Sporster
#1
05-17-2016, 08:29 PM
2016 Road King VS 2015 1200T Sportster
I have had the good fortune of owning two wonderful Harley Davidson motorcycles the last two years. Here is my comparison of the two. Hopefully this may be a benefit for someone who is in the market for a Harley Davidson, and needs more information.
1. RK is much faster and has better handling around corners. This is because of a better lean angle and lower center of gravity.
2. RK has much smoother ride: This is because of a bigger and better suspension with adjustable air shocks.
3. RK is ‘physically’ a bigger bike. This makes for more room and comfort for both driver and passenger when touring. Bigger bikes look and feel nicer. (Yes, I know the last statement is subjective).
4. RK has 6 speeds. Only 2,500 rpms at 70 mph. for RK vs 3,500 rpm for Sportster.
5. RK does not vibrate like the Sportster at 60-70 mph. The mirrors are clear at all Speed/RPM ranges.
6. RK has floor boards allowing feet to beplaced forward, mid, and to the rear.
7. RK has an electronic cruise control.
8. RK has a needle fuel gauge and an electronic fuel gauge indicating the cruising miles you have left.
9. RK has a 6 gallon tank capable of cruising 200+ miles.
10. RK has a high performance air-cleaner and cam. There is much stronger pull and torque on acceleration, under load, and passing at all speeds.
11. RK has a bigger engine. 1690 cc or 103 cu in. vs 1200 cc or 74 cu in.
12. RK has better bottom out clearance.
13. RK has larger, hard, color matching luggage cases. Luggage does not have a bar blocking the loading of things into it, and the RK has a better lock that does not leak water.
14. RK has the ability to accept color matching King Tour-Pak luggage and KingTour-Pak pad for the passenger. This unit can be removed and a regular luggage rack put in its place.
15. RK came with front and luggage crash bars.
16. RK has an oil cooler.
17. RK has dual front disc brakes.
18. RK has fog lamps.
19. RK has a ‘Twist Grip Sensor’ for throttle control which means no difficult throttle cable adjustments. Switching right grip is also much easier.
20. RK does not need to have its cam chain adjusted.
21. RK has passenger floorboards.
1. Sportster is lighter: 600 lbs. vs 814 lbs. (40 lbs. more with King Tour-Pak luggage, backrest pad, and hardware). This means it is easier to move around for parking and the bike is less likely to fall when handling.
2. Sportster has a lower seat height. Better for duck walking.
3. Sportster got better gas mileage. 40 mpg vs 35 mpg. on average. (Where I live there are 20-30 mph head winds which affect gas mileage).
4. Sportster has better acceleration from a stop.
5. Sportster only has only 2 two places to change oil: engine and transmission.
6. Sportster was less expensive.
Happy Riding!
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 2015 1200T SPORTSTER
AND 2016 ROAD KING
1. RK is much faster and has better handling around corners. This is because of a better lean angle and lower center of gravity.
2. RK has much smoother ride: This is because of a bigger and better suspension with adjustable air shocks.
3. RK is ‘physically’ a bigger bike. This makes for more room and comfort for both driver and passenger when touring. Bigger bikes look and feel nicer. (Yes, I know the last statement is subjective).
4. RK has 6 speeds. Only 2,500 rpms at 70 mph. for RK vs 3,500 rpm for Sportster.
5. RK does not vibrate like the Sportster at 60-70 mph. The mirrors are clear at all Speed/RPM ranges.
6. RK has floor boards allowing feet to beplaced forward, mid, and to the rear.
7. RK has an electronic cruise control.
8. RK has a needle fuel gauge and an electronic fuel gauge indicating the cruising miles you have left.
9. RK has a 6 gallon tank capable of cruising 200+ miles.
10. RK has a high performance air-cleaner and cam. There is much stronger pull and torque on acceleration, under load, and passing at all speeds.
11. RK has a bigger engine. 1690 cc or 103 cu in. vs 1200 cc or 74 cu in.
12. RK has better bottom out clearance.
13. RK has larger, hard, color matching luggage cases. Luggage does not have a bar blocking the loading of things into it, and the RK has a better lock that does not leak water.
14. RK has the ability to accept color matching King Tour-Pak luggage and KingTour-Pak pad for the passenger. This unit can be removed and a regular luggage rack put in its place.
15. RK came with front and luggage crash bars.
16. RK has an oil cooler.
17. RK has dual front disc brakes.
18. RK has fog lamps.
19. RK has a ‘Twist Grip Sensor’ for throttle control which means no difficult throttle cable adjustments. Switching right grip is also much easier.
20. RK does not need to have its cam chain adjusted.
21. RK has passenger floorboards.
HOW THE SPORTSTER IS BETTER
1. Sportster is lighter: 600 lbs. vs 814 lbs. (40 lbs. more with King Tour-Pak luggage, backrest pad, and hardware). This means it is easier to move around for parking and the bike is less likely to fall when handling.
2. Sportster has a lower seat height. Better for duck walking.
3. Sportster got better gas mileage. 40 mpg vs 35 mpg. on average. (Where I live there are 20-30 mph head winds which affect gas mileage).
4. Sportster has better acceleration from a stop.
5. Sportster only has only 2 two places to change oil: engine and transmission.
6. Sportster was less expensive.
Happy Riding!
Last edited by henryw; 05-17-2016 at 09:36 PM. Reason: misspelled sportster
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