I want to be able to take long trips. I have gotten up to speed on my Heritage and there is a tight vibration in the handlebars. I have been told there is nothing I can do about it. It seems to move around quite a bit passing an 18 wheeler. I have heard from many folks that have a touring platform, it is more stable on the highway. I also love the bags on the RKS. I know you can modify the Heritage to accept the larger bags, but with the platform I was looking at using, cyclevision, it is 4.5" away from the fender. To me it looks like the bags are too wide in the back. The RKS back end looked tapered, more visually appealing to me.

Now on top of this, I am female 5'2" with 28" inseam. I already have the lowering kit on the Heritage. I can be flatfooted with a shaved seat and 11" shocks for the

Maybe I am just complaining too much?

 

Me thinks you are being a bit too critical. As I see it the Heritage is a perfectly capable touring bike.... I'm a guy that has crossed N. A. many time and toured Eirope on my bike for 7 summers 8-19 weeks each year. I've toured on RG's, FXR W/O windshield and throw over bags, Several BMW's, Guzzi, and have done a 28 day cross country on a Vespa 300 in 2013. For me it's not about the tool, it's about the journey. Each bike bring a different flavor to the adventure..... it's all good.

My experience is that all bikes that mount a windshield to the handle bars or forks is likely to have a bit on instability at high speed in turbulent air dur to air pressure being instable on the windshields from turbulent air. The mistake riders make is to install a large windscreen, I fine a smaller screen best for me, It keeps the wing off my torso and my head in the wind to help keep me cool, comfy and to remind I'm not at home siting in my recliner.

Paul

 

I'm a special kind of stupid and started out with a Heritage, traded for a RK, and am now trading back to a Heritage. The reason? Mostly because with the first Heritage, my wife took more of a liking to riding along than I thought she would. So we needed the extra space and traded for a RK. A little time passed and the wife got a little freaked out about putting two of us on a bike together for long distances with a three year old at home which I completely understand and back. So, with her not riding any more, I'm going back to the Heritage which I am so much more comfortable on around town. I won't be doing any super long distance rides for the foreseeable future so the Heritage will be perfect for around town and the random 400 mile round trip I may take.

 

The vibration is from the solid mounted motor. It is not bad for the bike. I like it, but everyone feels different about it. If it bothers you, the RKS will feel night and day better in that area. IT's hard to beat the RKS for longer rides, and I find it great local as well. I commute daily in Los Angeles traffic and the RKS has been great.

I know I gave a lengthy review already but just to fill in some info...The main reason I got to take so many "test rides" on a RKS is that my wife bought one first! She could not love it more. we both have a 30" inseam so 2" taller than you, but it does sit pretty low. Hopefully you'll get a good demo ride in and see how it feels for you. One advantage the RKS has over the Heritage at higher speeds is it extra weight gives it a bit more stability. As pointed out, a windshield does tend to react more to wind (and truck air wash) than a frame mounted fairing (Road Glide - maybe should try an RGS too) or just open bars, but you will notice less than the Heritage with shield. I've added a 16' detachable shield (smallest) to my RKS this week for upcoming winter weather. My wife much prefers no shield. Straight wind does take a good seat and some effort, but I find it less tiring than buffeting from the sides that shields and fairings tend to give you. Some add fork deflectors...etc...anything to reduce wind. Personally clean wind is great 1) if you have some back support 2) aren't freezing your butt off.

Taking the shield off of the Heritage will reduce the wind wobbles, but not the vibration you mention or the lighter weight manners. One other thing I did when I had my Heritage was swap to Michelin Commander 2 tires...big improvement to me on the freeway regarding stability....The stock Dunlop's tread really likes to follow every seam and irregularity in the road. Just a few things you can try to save your Heritage...

But honestly, I made the swap because the RKS just won me over, and it looks ridiculously good! Feels good, sounds good, rides good.....3/3.

Here's our pair...

Attachment 617662

Totally agree with all this, and I love touring on smaller bikes too, but everyone has their happy place...which sometimes changes over time too. I go back and forth. I'm struck by the RKS in a way that my older RK never did...in fact it made me swear off touring bikes... so I was shocked when the RKS tempted me back...especially because I thought nothing would make me accept trading my Heritage.

This might sound preachy or over dramatic, but my wife and I have three kids...15, 21, 23...She and I both commute on our bikes daily as well as take trips. We know the risks and do our best to be the best riders we can be. It's one of the reasons we ride separate bikes....so ideally one of us survives a worst case scenario for our kids. Part of that deal for us is riding the bike we absolutely want to most if its in our means to do so...even if that means losing a little $$. When I was younger ANY bike was perfect...I still love all bikes, but I think we all deserve to be critical when it comes to such a personal joy and certainly one that can be the last thing we do. Not to sound fatalistic or grim at all...It's just worth going for the bike that totally grabs you at the moment as much as possible and just ride the wheels off it.

I'd never say no to another Heritage BTW if it came in range. Also looking forward to some trips on my '71 Ironhead I'm rebuilding. Enjoy the road.

 

Totally relate to all of that! my RK was for touring that dropped off. The Heritage was the PERFECT replacement...Well, touring is BACK on the menu (son on back - wife on her own bike) and honestly the Heritage handles that great, but 114 RKS is a different beast and much more enjoyable than my Rushmore RK was. It feels significantly more nimble and responsive...so the Heritage became a RKS a few months ago...

Round and round we go. I used to want the RIGHT bike...and I own a few I'll never sell, but with life changes I've found there is more than one for me.

 

Motorcycles, for me, is all about passion. I’d go ride a Road King first. If I loved it, I’d have no qualms about trading up if finances could swing it.

My distance rig is a BMW 1250 GSA so I cant help you there, but I’ve ridden the RK/S and Heritage and love them both!

 

The RKS is such a great looking bike. Congrats on the new ride!

 

Thanks. Really loving it!

 

Heritage is a girls bike...

 

I went from a Sportster to a Electra Glide, my bike was in the shop and I was givena Heritage for the time I was without...The handlebars buzzed at interstate speed and after a while it was very annoying to me, other than that it was a beautiful bike...For this I would pick the RK for longer distances, for around here for a 2nd bike, I would get the Heritage.