Watch some Motor Skills Competition vids on Youtube. It's all low speed, tight maneuvering skills. Road Kings represent. You probably won't find many vids with the new Heritage.

 

Thanks again, guys. Yes, Nevada72 - the clearance is better on the RK as I have dragged the floorboards several times on my Heritage and specs show the RK to be much better. I am by no means an aggressive rider (63 and intend on riding for many years ahead) and my risk taking days have long passed. Every time I dragged my boards I was totally surprised - not speeding or being aggressive (I thought) but did not like it. That is another reason I am considering the RK.

 

Thanks T^2 - is the Transmission fluid migration or sumping an issue with a 2017 and newer RK? I have not heard of this and thought I was being pretty good with my reviews and research on the 2017 and newer RK's. Fill me in, please!

 

Yes... All M8 Touring models are affected. All the touring models have the hydraulic clutch and are susceptible to the transmission fluid migration issue. Technically, all M8s are supposed to be susceptible to the sumping issue. However, you'll be hard pressed to find a story about a Softail M8 sumping (If I remember correctly, I can only vaguely remember one). The Touring models on the other hand have had a crap load of reports about the sumping problem. Go check out the M8 forum. You find many threads and a crap load of post on these issues.

I had considered the RK when I was considering my next purchase. Some folks have reported they have had no problems with the new touring models. But there's been too many reports as described above for my taste (too much of a crap shoot). Besides, the advantages of the Heritage in my mind out weighed the advantages that the RK brought to the table. If we were talking pre 2018 Heritages, I'd say RK. But with the new M8 models, I think the Heritage has it and might be one of the best all rounders in HD's line up.

No reason the Heritage can't be setup for touring and do just fine at it.

As for comfort during prolonged stints in the saddle... Start by replacing the stock seat with a good one.

 

Thanks T^2 - I will look into that.

 

Rusty, I am only 5'7" and I went from a Fat Boy to a 2018 Road King last year. Pretty happy with my decision. The King is a little heavier when horsing it around in a parking lot, but I always manage fine. On the road itself, no comparison. The King is nimble, stable, and very maneuverable. In my opinion you'll do fine with either the Heritage or the King. By the way, no sumping or other issues here; owning the King has been great.

 

I love the look of the new Heritage but, being a competition rodeo rider, I'd pick the Road King all day long. That said, I recently traded my '17 FLHR for a '19 FLHTP. Back to a fairing for me!

 

Thanks to everybody - most responsive motorcycle forum I have been on. I bet a fairing is great but I will put off trying that for a few more years (probably / maybe).

I do believe I will head on over to Bluegrass Harley-Davidson this afternoon and ride that new RK!! If I do, my Heritage will most likely be on their "pre-loved Inventory" list!

 

still might a good idea to play around with seating options on your 18 Heritage to see if that makes a difference in longer distance riding, would save a pretty penny if it comes down to the seat

 

Once moving faster than a crawl the Road King will be just as easy to handle as the Heritage.

Get that stock seat modded as another poster suggested and you will be good to go. They can shave some foam off the front of the seat so your legs don't have to be splayed out as much, makes it easier to reach the ground.