First Harley: Road King or Low Rider S?
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 1,229
From: Depends on where I am
For what you are wanting, the Road King is the winner. It is the most versatile and best looking bike H-D makes.
I like being able to take off the windshield, luggage rack, and backrest for a stripped down look and wind in my face. But in 5 minutes, I can put on the shield, backrest, luggage rack, and tour bag, and go cross country in comfort. I don't ride 2-up, but even solo, the ride is better on a touring bike long-distance.
I like being able to take off the windshield, luggage rack, and backrest for a stripped down look and wind in my face. But in 5 minutes, I can put on the shield, backrest, luggage rack, and tour bag, and go cross country in comfort. I don't ride 2-up, but even solo, the ride is better on a touring bike long-distance.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 914
Likes: 245
Ok, Lowrider S guy here, came from a Yamaha Fz1. I mainly ride solo, commute on a bike but also wanted some 2 up options. Let me just sort of address what you wrote with my opinion.
I've done a 3000 mile road trip on my LR-S. Over 9 days, some days had 500+ miles on them, some I was stuck in traffic for 12 hours at 5-30mph. I'm in my 30s and didn't have a passenger, but what I'm trying to say is there is a point where better for a longer trip is more opinion and your experience. Sleeping in the back of an RV would be better for a longer trip to some people, to me I'd want to ride harder and enjoy it differently.
The LR-S will work 2 up for weekend trips just fine. If nothing else they make wide passenger seats. And maybe the Road King will move how you want it too on a day you just want to hit it hard.
So a couple other things to consider... the 110 engine vs the M8. They feel different. The M8 is also new and new sometimes is code for 'bugs to work out'. The issues with the 110s are known.
Another thing is the LR-S is considered a modern classic, Harley basically threw all the toys they had at it. It will be easier to sell down the line because of that.
For me, I solve it this way at the end of it all... which bike are you going to turn around at look at when you walk away? Which one excites you more? Can the other one be built to do the same?
I smile every time I ride my Lr-S. I look at it every time I walk away. I stop and go, "man that's a great looking bike" when I come back to it. I get people that have called it a work of art when I stopped or told me how much they loved it when I was stopped at a light... not just a few times either. It is a beautiful machine. It's nothing against the Road King, that bike just didn't move me the same way. Find the one that does, everything else is just extra.
Let me explain what I'm looking at and how I intend to use the bike.
I currently have an Aprilia Tuono Which means you like to ride fast. A Harley will not handle like a Aprilia, but you're wanting something else out of this bike. A Lowrider S will handle more like the Aprilia though and may satisfy what you like out of a bike more than any other Harley that's even somewhat factory.
and would like to add something to my garage that will be better 2up and that I can take on the occassional weekend trips with my wife.
You'd like to go 2 up, but are not looking to tour 2 up,
just have it be something the two of you can enjoy on the weekend sometimes as well. Touring with 2 people is a whole different ball game than just a weekend trip and unless you're looking to put down 400+ miles every weekend trip, a good passenger seat on a Dyna should work fine, but a lot of that comes down to how often you stop and what she's expecting out of comfort. Might try test riding a standard Lowrider since it has a 2 up seat and see how she likes it, sometimes they let you test ride for hours on a used bike, you could actually properly test it on a weekend type trip
However, the bike will mainly be ridden solo(commuting and weekend rides) or on short rides in town with my wife or when I want something more laid back than the Tuono. Looking for more comfortable but not replacing the Tuono. Keeping the Tuono may satisfy wanting to ride hard,
but again the LR-S won't be as big of a gap and will be a whole lot more fun in my opinion when you're riding solo. A whole lot more in my opinion
So I will need a pillion seat and backrest as well as bags on the Low Rider.
I put a Lucky Daves seat on mine, found the bike actually handles more like a sportsbike, or at least I can use my hips to move it a lot more. There are cheaper options. Also depending on how much luggage you need a backpack tied to a sissy bar does wonders. If you have spendy tastes this will run about $1000, if you buy used parts it will be much cheaper
The Low Rider S I'm looking at is.... price right up to that of a new 2018 Road King Special.
I know I would eventually put money in to the Road King for an exhaust and a stage kit or similar at some point as well.
So $1000 for passenger comfort with spendy tastes,
or $1500 for a stage 1 and not the suspension setup, so depending on what you want out of it in the end, they're on par cost wise
I have ridden both bikes in stock form last year and the upgrades to the Low Rider are exactly what I would want done.
Which is good, means you don't have to go through all that work and enjoy it right out the gate. A used one might be cheaper but they're rare used and even then
The Low Rider appeals to me for the lower weight and because after the travel accessories I wouldn't have to fiddle with anything, but the Road King is more where it needs to be right now and would be better on a longer trip.
Better on a long trip 2 up, but maybe not as much fun for a shorter trip 2 up and I'd say not nearly as fun solo but I'm bias of course.
I currently have an Aprilia Tuono Which means you like to ride fast. A Harley will not handle like a Aprilia, but you're wanting something else out of this bike. A Lowrider S will handle more like the Aprilia though and may satisfy what you like out of a bike more than any other Harley that's even somewhat factory.
and would like to add something to my garage that will be better 2up and that I can take on the occassional weekend trips with my wife.
You'd like to go 2 up, but are not looking to tour 2 up,
just have it be something the two of you can enjoy on the weekend sometimes as well. Touring with 2 people is a whole different ball game than just a weekend trip and unless you're looking to put down 400+ miles every weekend trip, a good passenger seat on a Dyna should work fine, but a lot of that comes down to how often you stop and what she's expecting out of comfort. Might try test riding a standard Lowrider since it has a 2 up seat and see how she likes it, sometimes they let you test ride for hours on a used bike, you could actually properly test it on a weekend type trip
However, the bike will mainly be ridden solo(commuting and weekend rides) or on short rides in town with my wife or when I want something more laid back than the Tuono. Looking for more comfortable but not replacing the Tuono. Keeping the Tuono may satisfy wanting to ride hard,
but again the LR-S won't be as big of a gap and will be a whole lot more fun in my opinion when you're riding solo. A whole lot more in my opinion
So I will need a pillion seat and backrest as well as bags on the Low Rider.
I put a Lucky Daves seat on mine, found the bike actually handles more like a sportsbike, or at least I can use my hips to move it a lot more. There are cheaper options. Also depending on how much luggage you need a backpack tied to a sissy bar does wonders. If you have spendy tastes this will run about $1000, if you buy used parts it will be much cheaper
The Low Rider S I'm looking at is.... price right up to that of a new 2018 Road King Special.
I know I would eventually put money in to the Road King for an exhaust and a stage kit or similar at some point as well.
So $1000 for passenger comfort with spendy tastes,
or $1500 for a stage 1 and not the suspension setup, so depending on what you want out of it in the end, they're on par cost wise
I have ridden both bikes in stock form last year and the upgrades to the Low Rider are exactly what I would want done.
Which is good, means you don't have to go through all that work and enjoy it right out the gate. A used one might be cheaper but they're rare used and even then
The Low Rider appeals to me for the lower weight and because after the travel accessories I wouldn't have to fiddle with anything, but the Road King is more where it needs to be right now and would be better on a longer trip.
Better on a long trip 2 up, but maybe not as much fun for a shorter trip 2 up and I'd say not nearly as fun solo but I'm bias of course.
I've done a 3000 mile road trip on my LR-S. Over 9 days, some days had 500+ miles on them, some I was stuck in traffic for 12 hours at 5-30mph. I'm in my 30s and didn't have a passenger, but what I'm trying to say is there is a point where better for a longer trip is more opinion and your experience. Sleeping in the back of an RV would be better for a longer trip to some people, to me I'd want to ride harder and enjoy it differently.
The LR-S will work 2 up for weekend trips just fine. If nothing else they make wide passenger seats. And maybe the Road King will move how you want it too on a day you just want to hit it hard.
So a couple other things to consider... the 110 engine vs the M8. They feel different. The M8 is also new and new sometimes is code for 'bugs to work out'. The issues with the 110s are known.
Another thing is the LR-S is considered a modern classic, Harley basically threw all the toys they had at it. It will be easier to sell down the line because of that.
For me, I solve it this way at the end of it all... which bike are you going to turn around at look at when you walk away? Which one excites you more? Can the other one be built to do the same?
I smile every time I ride my Lr-S. I look at it every time I walk away. I stop and go, "man that's a great looking bike" when I come back to it. I get people that have called it a work of art when I stopped or told me how much they loved it when I was stopped at a light... not just a few times either. It is a beautiful machine. It's nothing against the Road King, that bike just didn't move me the same way. Find the one that does, everything else is just extra.
Last edited by CaptainAwesome; Mar 7, 2018 at 04:17 PM.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 17,008
Likes: 14,675
From: in a cave at the foothills
I read to where you mentioned your wife. No brainer, the Road King. That is of course you want to step up to something with a fairing. Then it would be a Road Glide. Just take test rides and figure it out between the 2 of you.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 31
Likes: 6
From: North Carolina
First bike.
My personal opinion is go with the road king. I agree that it is one if the best that Harley has made. I have an 07 and love it . it rides good and sits low . I've got an Ultra also and its a wonderful ride. But I get on the road king and I love the way it feels and handles. Get you a road king . you won't regret it.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 31
Likes: 6
From: North Carolina
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 115
From: British Columbia
My last four new Harleys have been touring models, couple road glides and a couple Electra glides mixed up. If your just doing a few short trips with the wife, the lrs will work just fine. This lrs that I bought last fall is by far the most fun of any bike Ive ever owned. Its fast and it handles good for a Harley. The touring bikes are great, dont get me wrong, but the lrs just makes me giggle like a little girl when I ride it!
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 358
Likes: 67
From: Dallas, TX
IF the choice is ONLY between those two...Road King in a heart beat.
BUT if you dont really give the Heritage a strong look, you are missing out.
Ive got a 17, so its the older softail chassis and 103 engine, but for me its a great bike. I dont ride it 2 up yet, but I will. I mostly run around town, havent done any long trips on it, but I plan to, solo at least.
If I hadnt gotten such a smoking deal on my 17 since the 18 softails were just released when I bought mine, I was seriously considering a Road King.
BUT if you dont really give the Heritage a strong look, you are missing out.
Ive got a 17, so its the older softail chassis and 103 engine, but for me its a great bike. I dont ride it 2 up yet, but I will. I mostly run around town, havent done any long trips on it, but I plan to, solo at least.
If I hadnt gotten such a smoking deal on my 17 since the 18 softails were just released when I bought mine, I was seriously considering a Road King.