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I went last night to buy my first bike. My intention was to get a roadking, but I fell in love with a softail deluxe. I need to know the difference in the bikes and the ride. I liked the softail because it was lower to the ground. Does it corner as well as the roadking. I know the motor mounts are different. Do both run as smoothly ? I need advice. Can I ride the softail long distances comfortably ? etc. etc.
Both are great bikes. The new softails are counter balanced so the ride is very smooth. I too am short and like the lower bikes. You could lower a RoadKing but the Deluxe is a great looking ride. Actually the Deluxe will probably handle as good or better on curves that the King.
road king gets my vote. im 5'6" with an electraglide lowered it an inch and a half. ive spent my life on my tip toes. doesnt bother me at all i have no problems with the bike!!
Sit on 'em and decide which feels right for you. Road King is probably gonna be a better touring bike, and the low speed handling is pretty good with the front end design. It also has a rubber mounted engine. Softail is a fine machine, but is a design compromise to give suspension yet still look like an old rigid frame bike. Counterbalanced engine is way smoother than the older motors and makes distance riding fine. Either one will require a better seat to keep your cheeks happy for any length of time.
Personally, I'm a Sloptail fan. Just like the looks, and I do not care for the looks of the touring-type frames,
Some good advice from above. It's a major purchase and one in the end result that you want to say I made the right decision. I think sometimes you need to weigh what is it that you want to do with the bike. Do I want a very comfortable bike that I can ride two up and go across country if I desire to, or would I like a bike for more show and go, and short trips taken on. It's all a fine line on what makes you decide what is the bike intended for.
Sometimes it takes a few years of riding different bikes to settle on one that will do an all around job to suit your riding style, of course if you have enough money you can have two or three different bikes to cover it all, most people don't have that luxury including myself.
Good luck and post some pics when you get your dream bike.
It really comes down to riding preference, and to what length of riding you intend on doing. You may find the lure of cross country on a bike, or you may prefer just to stay with short runs, and god forbid, trailer your bike. Your gut instinct will normally lead you the right way, however a test ride would prove valuable with such a decision. Good luck.
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