Contemplating my first Harley!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 990
Likes: 3
From: lakeside ca.
I would give a lot of thought as to what kind of riding I do most..
you can tour on any harley I ride a softail std. most of my riding is two up only we usually only go max 300 miles round trip..
we do have saddle bags and a big tail bag and I have done 24,00 mile trip. we prefer a more stripped down bike because most of our rides are short and we don't need all that stuff on the bike..
you can tour on any harley I ride a softail std. most of my riding is two up only we usually only go max 300 miles round trip..
we do have saddle bags and a big tail bag and I have done 24,00 mile trip. we prefer a more stripped down bike because most of our rides are short and we don't need all that stuff on the bike..
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
How big is the wife, no numbers here, small, med, large, xlarge, xxlarge, if she falls in anything above med to large and up you two would def be better off on touring bike. I weigh 270, 6'4" tall, wife is 5'2" med to large,(she was looking over shoulder here, orig typed petite, she gone now prolly get sum tonight). We have RK, about to switch back to Ultra. Always been comfortable on touring bikes.
Oh, well.Hey Miami Cruzer, thanks for the tip - very convincing. Definately looking forward to testing it. Just heard that RK has a longer wheel base than RKC but I always liked leather bags look better. This just keeps adding to dilemma
but I like it
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 1
From: Alabama Gulf Coast
She's 5'6" medium and I am mostlu blocking her veiw Oh, well.
Hey Miami Cruzer, thanks for the tip - very convincing. Definately looking forward to testing it. Just heard that RK has a longer wheel base than RKC but I always liked leather bags look better. This just keeps adding to dilemma but I like it
Oh, well.Hey Miami Cruzer, thanks for the tip - very convincing. Definately looking forward to testing it. Just heard that RK has a longer wheel base than RKC but I always liked leather bags look better. This just keeps adding to dilemma
but I like it
Banned
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 2
Test ride test ride test ride and assess what exactly what most of your riding will be. Around town? Long distance? solo? 2 up? You're plopping down a significant amount of money and doing it with as much hands on research is the best. No bike automatically makes you feel "at home" right away. But fit and function specifically for your needs can be discerned. The comfortable feeling "at home" will come with miles and miles once you purchase the bike.
Too bad an Ultra wasn't part of your equasion or even the awsome street glide (for a more youthful application to touring)..
Too bad an Ultra wasn't part of your equasion or even the awsome street glide (for a more youthful application to touring)..
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 0
From: Dikes, windmills & wooden shoes
Welcome to the club and get used to the occasional roasting. In my two up days the RK had it all over the Dyna I had previously been riding and we did a lot of kilometers on a lot of different types of highways and byways. Now that momma is ridin' her own machine I'm going back to a Dyna and already have a Fat Bob on order - seems like a nice machine. I'll try it for a while and if it doesn't meet my expectations - it'll be some other model the local stealer can rip me off on.
By the way; got rid of my 2nd K1200RS not too long ago as I just never went out on it anymore - great bike too but you just can't compare that sort of machine with a Harley. Good luck
By the way; got rid of my 2nd K1200RS not too long ago as I just never went out on it anymore - great bike too but you just can't compare that sort of machine with a Harley. Good luck
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
The road king sits higher and has more ground clearance. I rode both the 2009 Fat Bob and the 2009 Road King before. The Fat Bob is a nice bike and I think great for around town driving. It's a whole different story getting on the King. I'm 6'-1" and found the King to be a much better fit. In fact, I liked the King out of all bikes I've ridden so far (including other 2009 touring models).
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,530
Likes: 607
From: Raleigh NC
when in doubt.... find a "demo-day" and try as many as you can. RK's are nice bikes.... so are FB's..... but don't discount the many other fine bikes.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 4
From: Celebration, FL
You'll be amazed on how many people I've seen (including myself) go from all the other HD styles to a Road King or Electraglide. I believe its mostly comfort, but those smooth lines on the Road King were my main reason, the comfort was a bonus surprise for me, and you won't believe how easy of a bike it is to handle, despite its large size.
