Got a CVO Roadking but miss my Softail..
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
Yo... Where's all that additional weight? Is it up high?
No way I'm stripping mine down, but I'm definitely on the lookout for lowering the CG. Probably go with a LIon battery over the winter, as I doubt the original's going to last much longer anyway. Just a drop in the bucket, but every drop counts.
Beautiful King you've got there, btw. Mine's WAY more "retro" looking - to me it leans in the Softail direction, style-wise, even with the hard bags. I wonder what the fundamental difference in CG actually is...
No way I'm stripping mine down, but I'm definitely on the lookout for lowering the CG. Probably go with a LIon battery over the winter, as I doubt the original's going to last much longer anyway. Just a drop in the bucket, but every drop counts.
Beautiful King you've got there, btw. Mine's WAY more "retro" looking - to me it leans in the Softail direction, style-wise, even with the hard bags. I wonder what the fundamental difference in CG actually is...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,834
Likes: 496
From: Northern WV
Your RK seat may be what 28-29" while your old Softail was 26'-27"? IMO it's all relative. Your old Softail had you sitting lower so the slightly taller RK seat position is making you temporarily uncomfortable. I believe you'll get used to it and it will become your new "norm".
FWIW my two main rides are a RK and R1200GSA ( 37" seat height). LOL when I ride the RK after the GSA it feels like I'm sitting so low, almost like on a commode, but I get used to it after a few miles. Going back to the GSA it's like whoa this is tall. Then I get used to it.
Adapt yourself to your CVO RK and enjoy it.
FWIW my two main rides are a RK and R1200GSA ( 37" seat height). LOL when I ride the RK after the GSA it feels like I'm sitting so low, almost like on a commode, but I get used to it after a few miles. Going back to the GSA it's like whoa this is tall. Then I get used to it.
Adapt yourself to your CVO RK and enjoy it.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 435
Likes: 11
From: Colorado
I went bikeless for a few years after a family tragedy. I was brought back to my senses when I was given a Triumph Scrambler. I hadn't been on hiatus for THAT long, but I spent years trying to get used to the height of that bike, and finally had to accept that, for whatever reasons, it wasn't going to happen. I was masochistically ruining my own riding experience!
Had I known then what I know now, I'd have traded her in for a Road King. But I broke out the wrenches and my wallet and lowered the Triumph instead - about 1-3/8" front, 1" rear. That little bit made ALL the difference, and now I'm glad I still have her AND the Road King. Two such entirely different bikes...
Had I known then what I know now, I'd have traded her in for a Road King. But I broke out the wrenches and my wallet and lowered the Triumph instead - about 1-3/8" front, 1" rear. That little bit made ALL the difference, and now I'm glad I still have her AND the Road King. Two such entirely different bikes...
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
Your RK seat may be what 28-29" while your old Softail was 26'-27"? IMO it's all relative. Your old Softail had you sitting lower so the slightly taller RK seat position is making you temporarily uncomfortable. I believe you'll get used to it and it will become your new "norm".
FWIW my two main rides are a RK and R1200GSA ( 37" seat height). LOL when I ride the RK after the GSA it feels like I'm sitting so low, almost like on a commode, but I get used to it after a few miles. Going back to the GSA it's like whoa this is tall. Then I get used to it.
Adapt yourself to your CVO RK and enjoy it.
FWIW my two main rides are a RK and R1200GSA ( 37" seat height). LOL when I ride the RK after the GSA it feels like I'm sitting so low, almost like on a commode, but I get used to it after a few miles. Going back to the GSA it's like whoa this is tall. Then I get used to it.
Adapt yourself to your CVO RK and enjoy it.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 435
Likes: 11
From: Colorado
I know exactly what you mean, Zakk. I just thought that's "how it was", but your Softail experience proves otherwise. I'm going to try to figure out what makes me feel those same things (and actually drop it once) and see if I can engineer some improvement.
It'll keep me busy while the roads are iced up, anyway.
It'll keep me busy while the roads are iced up, anyway.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,834
Likes: 496
From: Northern WV
its the feeling that the bike just wants to flop over sometimes that i dont like..Its weird it will feel balanced and fine and everything is great and then ill be sitting there at a stop light kinda relaxed and then when you least expect it i feel it give to the side a little and it catches me buy surprise. Or when im riding in a parking lot really slow it dont feel as balanced as my softail did..
Your RK has 26 degree rake while the Softail is 31. The RK is designed to tilt and corner while a ST is made to go straight ahead.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 7,855
Likes: 11
From: Oroville,Washington.
Always good for a laugh when some nimrod says a softail is a better handling bike than a Road King. A touring bike will run circles around the kiddie bikes,with the exception of the Sportster. If you can't ride a motorcycle,then the big touring bike is a handful.
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Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
For me riding it really isn't the problem.. matter of fact if you seen the places ive rode it youd be impressed.. and I could ride it in slow maneuvers no problem.. im just talking about the feel of it.. when it feels like it wants to flop when you least expect it.. ive been riding along time and doubt that would ever happen and as I said im just talking about the feel.. and as I said I do love it.. I guess my softball just felt lighter and easier to be more relaxed on while stopped and walking it around. Thats all I ment.. hard to explain I guess.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,618
Likes: 5,181
From: Green Country
I traded a Heritage Softail for my '14 RK. Maybe it's me, but to me anyway the RK feels smaller and more responsive than my Heritage. I loved the Softail, but the RK takes the ride to a whole 'nuther level.