Dyna vs. 2014 Road King
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
From: S.E. Missouri
I really like my W/G but I wouldn't wait a minute to part with it for a ride like this. Very nice.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 109
Likes: 1
From: Powder Springs, GA
What kind of Fairing and Apes did you have on the road king?
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 153
Likes: 2
From: Beaverton
I happen to have an '01 FXD and a 2014 RK (an XR1200 too but that's beside the point).
Quite different machines. I've had the FXD since it was new which says a lot for it. Its been on many trips and I still enjoy riding it every chance I get.
To be fair it has the advantage of 14 years of tweaking and modifying and is kind of like a comfortable chair that has broken in to your body. Mustang seat, Ohlins shocks, reworked forks and various other ergonomic tweaks have brought it to that point.
The RK is simply more aimed at touring. I wanted the hard, locking bags, abs, cruise control and bigger windscreen. I find its a very stable handling bike and a real delight to ride. Its smoother than the Dyna and I would say the brakes are a considerable improvement.
I love them both and if it came down to having to part with one it would be a difficult decision.
Quite different machines. I've had the FXD since it was new which says a lot for it. Its been on many trips and I still enjoy riding it every chance I get.
To be fair it has the advantage of 14 years of tweaking and modifying and is kind of like a comfortable chair that has broken in to your body. Mustang seat, Ohlins shocks, reworked forks and various other ergonomic tweaks have brought it to that point.
The RK is simply more aimed at touring. I wanted the hard, locking bags, abs, cruise control and bigger windscreen. I find its a very stable handling bike and a real delight to ride. Its smoother than the Dyna and I would say the brakes are a considerable improvement.
I love them both and if it came down to having to part with one it would be a difficult decision.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
A year ago to the month, my wife and I both bought FLD's. I had test ridden other flavors of Dyna's and also the 2014 RK. I'm 6' w/ 34" inseam and the RK felt big. In my test ride, I thought it outhandled the Fat Bob I had also ridden that day, thought it had better suspension than any of the Dyna's, and by far had the best brakes over the Dyna's. However, I couldn't get past the extra 100lbs over the Switchback. I thought the FLD combined the fun factor of the Dyna's and the touring friendly amenities of the RK. Also thought the FLD handled the best of the Dyna's. I've modded my FLD to be comfy for me and I don't feel the RK has anything over the Dyna for my needs.
The RK is great bike, but one has to want that flavor of HD. The FLD does it for me.
The RK is great bike, but one has to want that flavor of HD. The FLD does it for me.
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 153
Likes: 2
From: Beaverton
A year ago to the month, my wife and I both bought FLD's. I had test ridden other flavors of Dyna's and also the 2014 RK. I'm 6' w/ 34" inseam and the RK felt big. In my test ride, I thought it outhandled the Fat Bob I had also ridden that day, thought it had better suspension than any of the Dyna's, and by far had the best brakes over the Dyna's. However, I couldn't get past the extra 100lbs over the Switchback. I thought the FLD combined the fun factor of the Dyna's and the touring friendly amenities of the RK. Also thought the FLD handled the best of the Dyna's. I've modded my FLD to be comfy for me and I don't feel the RK has anything over the Dyna for my needs.
The RK is great bike, but one has to want that flavor of HD. The FLD does it for me.
The RK is great bike, but one has to want that flavor of HD. The FLD does it for me.
I agree, one has to want whatever flavor of HD it is.
I strongly considered the FLD as well. Theres a lot to like about that bike and I do like Dynas. The main things that stopped me were these:
The windshield seems to small. I have a larger one on my Dyna, custom cut by Rifle for the HD windshield brackets and it still does a lot of buffeting, much more than the RK.
At the time they weren't offering abs on the FLD and I really prefer to get it if I can when I buy a new bike.
I thought the bags were significantly smaller than I wanted. I could have lived with them but it didn't seem like there was an easy trunk solution available at the time.
The FLD did not have cruise control and I really wanted that feature also.
The good thing was that the FLD was much lighter than the RK and it is a Dyna. It was a pretty close call but I just came down on the side of the RK. If I were doing it again today I think it would still be the RK but maybe not.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
This is exactly where I'm at right now. I'm riding a '14 FXDC, the one in my sig pic.
However, I'm starting to look at more longer rides, and I love the look of the RK. A local tech is a former professional MotoGP racer, owns a Dyna and an RK, and we were talking about "liking to really ride". He said when he takes a ride through the local twisties, he always takes the RK.
I think I'll rent one for a day, and see what I think.
However, I'm starting to look at more longer rides, and I love the look of the RK. A local tech is a former professional MotoGP racer, owns a Dyna and an RK, and we were talking about "liking to really ride". He said when he takes a ride through the local twisties, he always takes the RK.
I think I'll rent one for a day, and see what I think.