Model advice
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2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2025
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From: OR
Model advice
Hello, I have spent years doing the adventure bike thing (lots of dirt and gravel roads) . Now that I'm in my 50's I'm ready to move on to 2 lane highway cruising. I've never owned a Harley, but I really like the looks of the Road King Police models. Does anyone have any guidance for me on whether or not the RKP would fit my needs well?
HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Sydney Australia
@danielmccurry I have moved this thread from the Welcome section to the General Harley Davidson Chat section as you will get better responses to your question in this section.
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 6
Likes: 5
From: OR
@danielmccurry I have moved this thread from the Welcome section to the General Harley Davidson Chat section as you will get better responses to your question in this section.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Virginia
Daniel, I’ve owned every Harley touring model over the decades including cop roadkings. They all are great at long distance riding once you get them the way you like them. Things you will learn as a new Harley owner is they can be modified endlessly. My preference is bikes with tourpaks, lowers, sound systems etc. you have to decide what’s important to you. Take a road glide, street glide and a road king for test rides at your local dealer and see which one feels the best to you.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
Welcome to the HDFORUM. Some factors come into play.
Your height may determine what fits best. How far you plan on venturing out.
Try them on. At minimum, buy what looks good on you.
Welcome to the HDFORUM.
Hope you stick around and enjoy the HDFORUM with us.
Your height may determine what fits best. How far you plan on venturing out.
Try them on. At minimum, buy what looks good on you.
Welcome to the HDFORUM.
Hope you stick around and enjoy the HDFORUM with us.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,315
Likes: 1,663
From: Tampa
Welcome
I would personally recommend something more in the Softail line as an intro to Harley, and based on your desired riding scope. Mainly due to the lower seat height, lower center of gravity, and lower weight.
In my honest opinion, the Heritage would be a great option for you. If you ever planned on longer interstate rides the Heritage would do just fine, but if your primary use is 2-lane back roads, I think it would be a better fit than a Road King.
Ultimately though, Harleys tend to be more of an emotional purchase than logical. Case in point, my dad wouldn't pull himself away from Street Glides until he physically couldn't control them at parking lot speeds. Too top heavy and his legs were growing weaker. THEN he logically went to a Heritage and loved everything about it.
I would personally recommend something more in the Softail line as an intro to Harley, and based on your desired riding scope. Mainly due to the lower seat height, lower center of gravity, and lower weight.
In my honest opinion, the Heritage would be a great option for you. If you ever planned on longer interstate rides the Heritage would do just fine, but if your primary use is 2-lane back roads, I think it would be a better fit than a Road King.
Ultimately though, Harleys tend to be more of an emotional purchase than logical. Case in point, my dad wouldn't pull himself away from Street Glides until he physically couldn't control them at parking lot speeds. Too top heavy and his legs were growing weaker. THEN he logically went to a Heritage and loved everything about it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 9,546
From: central NC
Hello, I have spent years doing the adventure bike thing (lots of dirt and gravel roads) . Now that I'm in my 50's I'm ready to move on to 2 lane highway cruising. I've never owned a Harley, but I really like the looks of the Road King Police models. Does anyone have any guidance for me on whether or not the RKP would fit my needs well?
As of this year HD is no longer making the police Electra Glide, and police Road King. The new 2026 police Road Glide has been recently introduced but will be more expensive because of all the things included with it.
I own a police Road King and love it, including the police seat, but I am tall. That seat can be removed if you dont prefer it and you can install whichever frame mounted touring seat you like that fits that year model.
Daytona HD usually has some used police bikes in stock. You can check them out.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 9,546
From: central NC
Hello, I have spent years doing the adventure bike thing (lots of dirt and gravel roads) . Now that I'm in my 50's I'm ready to move on to 2 lane highway cruising. I've never owned a Harley, but I really like the looks of the Road King Police models. Does anyone have any guidance for me on whether or not the RKP would fit my needs well?
As of this year HD is no longer making the police Electra Glide, and police Road King. The new 2026 police Road Glide has been recently introduced but will be more expensive because of all the things included with it.
I own a police Road King and love it, including the police seat, but I am tall. That seat can be removed if you dont prefer it and you can install whichever frame mounted touring seat you like that fits that year model.
Teddy Morse - Daytona HD usually has some used and new police bikes in stock. You can check them out.
Last edited by gonemad; Sep 13, 2025 at 06:34 AM.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: USA
A Road King is a nice bike. Had one for years myself. Put many miles down on long rides and such.
But a lot depends on you and your body. Being only a little taller than Mickey Rooney, I always found the Road King a handful at stops and slow conditions. As I aged, that become more and more of a problem, for me. Now if you're 6'2" and strong, it's going to be a non-issue for you.
The police model I don't think has cruise control, and the seat is quite a bit taller than the stock seat. And different police departments handle maintenance and servicing with different levels of skill and care. Personally, a police model isn't something I would actively look for, but that's just me.
You may also want to explore the post 2018 M8 Softails, particularly the Heritage or the Fat Boy if you like the Road King. The suspension on them is better, they are more nimble and seat you lower, and are perfectly capable of long touring rides. Many a smaller or older rider is happier on them than on a touring model. Just something to consider.
But a lot depends on you and your body. Being only a little taller than Mickey Rooney, I always found the Road King a handful at stops and slow conditions. As I aged, that become more and more of a problem, for me. Now if you're 6'2" and strong, it's going to be a non-issue for you.
The police model I don't think has cruise control, and the seat is quite a bit taller than the stock seat. And different police departments handle maintenance and servicing with different levels of skill and care. Personally, a police model isn't something I would actively look for, but that's just me.
You may also want to explore the post 2018 M8 Softails, particularly the Heritage or the Fat Boy if you like the Road King. The suspension on them is better, they are more nimble and seat you lower, and are perfectly capable of long touring rides. Many a smaller or older rider is happier on them than on a touring model. Just something to consider.