Heritage or Road King Special
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,866
Likes: 17,924
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
I ride a Evo powered Heritage. I installed Avon grips and they made a huge difference for me.
Do you ride with gloves? If not, try full gloves.
My Avon grips made such a difference that I dislike riding with gloves now because the grips with the gloves gives me too much of a sterile feeling that is unsettling.
For those of you in Rio Linda, an Evo does not have counter balance shafts.
The new Softails have two counter balance shafts and do not have rubber mounts. The new touring bikes have a single counter balance shaft and are rubber mounted.
The new touring bikes have a hydraulic clutch whereas the Softails still use a cable operated clutch.
Do you ride with gloves? If not, try full gloves.
My Avon grips made such a difference that I dislike riding with gloves now because the grips with the gloves gives me too much of a sterile feeling that is unsettling.
For those of you in Rio Linda, an Evo does not have counter balance shafts.
The new Softails have two counter balance shafts and do not have rubber mounts. The new touring bikes have a single counter balance shaft and are rubber mounted.
The new touring bikes have a hydraulic clutch whereas the Softails still use a cable operated clutch.
Last edited by Prot; Oct 5, 2019 at 07:25 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 783
Likes: 66
From: Sacramento
Coming from an 07 Street Glide, I noticed occasional vibration in the grips and a little on the floorboards. After break in and a set of slip ons, I noticed a significant reduction following the installation of the Powervision tuner and doing several autotuning sessions. The only theory I have is the power pulses from cylinder to cylinder are more even following a good tune. I realize this has warranty implications but even as the engine revs up, it's smoother and doesn't have the surging feel through the rev range. I've got 23k miles on the Heritage (had 96k on the Street Glide) and with the handling improvement, the mustang touring seat and the Freedom shield, this bike is less tiring for me with long days on the bike. I miss the larger saddlebags of the Street Glide though.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 112
Likes: 62
From: blue ridge mountains
I just wanted to make a stupid comment. It's funny how much we've come to expect from bikes. Too many vibrations, or too little storage, or too uncomfortable for long distance, etc. It's funny because I think about the thousands of miles I put on my 1968 Honda Dream 305 two-up with backpacks, etc. LOL. All of the little bikes I had when I was younger I'd take virtually anywhere. No windscreen, bags, etc. Just pick up and go 5-600 miles or more. Now I need more acommodations to travel farther!
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,322
Likes: 731
From: Pennsylvania
I am still in the "evolution stage" I started off on a small Honda 600 cruiser. Awesome for commutes (my job at the time was perfect for that). But not good at highway speeds or on mountains. I did make her sound incredibly decent with new pipes though.
That was right before I saw a bike that spoke to me in volumes. So I purchased that 02 Wide Glide. I was ready for a bigger bike. Big at the time - for me. But as I am getting older, I found I don't like being so wiped out after a day or weekend of riding. So I purchased a 19 Heritage. That was much more comfortable with saddlebag storage and a 6th gear for highway speeds. And of course a bit more power. I did keep the Dyna as a "bar hopper" by the way.
All that said, I do not have the 20 or 30 years of experience like many on here. So I can't talk about the 5 or 10 bikes I've owned. Just three. But I am quite happy with current one. Sure, I will be spending thousands of dollars to make it my own. Let's face it - we all do. Even "cosmetic" parts such as pegs and floorboards can drain your wallet. Some people race cars. Some people ride and/or show horses. Some people ride motorcycles or show classic cars. We do what we do with no apologies.
That was right before I saw a bike that spoke to me in volumes. So I purchased that 02 Wide Glide. I was ready for a bigger bike. Big at the time - for me. But as I am getting older, I found I don't like being so wiped out after a day or weekend of riding. So I purchased a 19 Heritage. That was much more comfortable with saddlebag storage and a 6th gear for highway speeds. And of course a bit more power. I did keep the Dyna as a "bar hopper" by the way.
All that said, I do not have the 20 or 30 years of experience like many on here. So I can't talk about the 5 or 10 bikes I've owned. Just three. But I am quite happy with current one. Sure, I will be spending thousands of dollars to make it my own. Let's face it - we all do. Even "cosmetic" parts such as pegs and floorboards can drain your wallet. Some people race cars. Some people ride and/or show horses. Some people ride motorcycles or show classic cars. We do what we do with no apologies.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 543
From: MN
Yep.
Loving the crap out of my Heritage, but my oldest son is a galoot, so trying to get him to move on from his trainer bike (Nightster S) to his 1st real bike - a Road King. Heritage too small and light for him. He fits on a Road King like a glove. Dealership was all over him, lol.
Loving the crap out of my Heritage, but my oldest son is a galoot, so trying to get him to move on from his trainer bike (Nightster S) to his 1st real bike - a Road King. Heritage too small and light for him. He fits on a Road King like a glove. Dealership was all over him, lol.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 787
From: France
Although this is a somewhat incongruous comparison in the sense that they are two bikes fundamentally different in their technology, they are nonetheless intended for a fairly similar use, touring and cruising and as a former owner of two Heritages and two Road Kings, and as I sold my last Road King two years ago for a Heritage in order to downsize a little to be easier in my use, I must say that I am quite divided today.
I like the Heritage for its coolness, its handling and ease of riding and the Road King for its natural class, its stability, its carrying capacity and its suitability for two up.
But all this also depends on your stature and your ability to handle a big bike or not.
The most for the Road King special, its badass look for those who like black, its lighter front with the 19" wheel.
In conclusion I vote for the Road King special, but that's because I already had the two others...
I like the Heritage for its coolness, its handling and ease of riding and the Road King for its natural class, its stability, its carrying capacity and its suitability for two up.
But all this also depends on your stature and your ability to handle a big bike or not.
The most for the Road King special, its badass look for those who like black, its lighter front with the 19" wheel.
In conclusion I vote for the Road King special, but that's because I already had the two others...
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 787
From: France
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
Here's a proven rule as far as I'm concerned. If you ride on a regular basis and want the best experience on a Harley for all types of rides, distances, and roads you need BOTH motorcycles. I miss my roadking for a total time of about 2 months a year living where it gets cold in the winter. I am moving back to SC and I will miss it about 4 month of the year. This may sound stupid to you but I have wished for a long time that I could afford 2 Harleys and in addtion to the cost of maintaining 2 Harleys I can't afford a bigger garage.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 543
From: MN
Here's a proven rule as far as I'm concerned. If you ride on a regular basis and want the best experience on a Harley for all types of rides, distances, and roads you need BOTH motorcycles. I miss my roadking for a total time of about 2 months a year living where it gets cold in the winter. I am moving back to SC and I will miss it about 4 month of the year. This may sound stupid to you but I have wished for a long time that I could afford 2 Harleys and in addtion to the cost of maintaining 2 Harleys I can't afford a bigger garage.