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I am trading in my sportster. Today I test rode a Road King Classic and a Herratige Softail Classic. I can't decide whicg one I like better. They both look great, have a smooth ride and are almost the same price. I will probally be riding about 60% 1-up and the rest 2-up riding. No overly long trips planned as of yet but I would like to be able to get the girl to ride 100 miles or so. I kinda like the feel of how you sit down in the softail a little more and it feels a little more nimble. Anybody else had both? What do you think of each?
Thanks
I guess my first question is why are you getting rid of the Sporty? But that's just me.
Howdy Krom, what I would do if I was in your place is pick the bike that felt the best to you, because you are the one that is paying for it and also will be riding it. Future customizing will have an effect on the looks and handling of your bike, but I would be looking at right now. If the Softail feels the best to you after you have tested both bikes, than get the Softail and enjoy the ride.
Howdy Krom, what I would do if I was in your place is pick the bike that felt the best to you, because you are the one that is paying for it and also will be riding it. Future customizing will have an effect on the looks and handling of your bike, but I would be looking at right now. If the Softail feels the best to you after you have tested both bikes, than get the Softail and enjoy the ride.
It's funny that this question and this same answer always come up. I think we need to have an FAQ section that addresses this:
Q: What bike should I get?
A: Whichever bike you like, fits, can afford, feels comfortable, your wife will let you get, etc.
I feel that you have a good point about the FAQ section. In the short time that I have been on this forum, I have seen a lot of repeat questions, I'm sure that I have done this same thing myself. New members might not understand or know that sometimes their questions might have been asked before. I think that sometimes it might be easier to just ask the question than to go back into the history of the forum. Just my 2cts worth.
After years of riding bikes with a fair amount of rake and trail, I decided to swap my 98 Wide Glide for an 01 RK Classic prior to taking a 5,000 mi, 2 week trip with a bunch of friends. A couple of guys who went with us rode Wide Glides, and were definitely more beat up at the end of the day, even with windshields, road pegs and nice seats. Heritage guys were okay, about the same as RK riders. The guys on the Ultras definitely fared best, other than when it was 100 degrees plus (but did much better in the rain).
Two primary things contribute to the difference in the look between a RK and a Heritage: the Heritage has more rake which makes the bike look lower (even though the seat height is about the same), and the Heritage exhaust is a dual down the right side while the RK has a crossover and a pipe down each side. The two other significant differences are less visible: the softails have the counterbalanced engine, while the RK has uses rubber mounts for vibration dampening; and, of course, the suspension. The RK is suspension is much more compliant, and is air adjustable.
It's probably no accident that guys who sit on bikes all day for living (i.e. cops) ride Touring models. They're very manueverable, corner great, and track well.
The shame is that most of us have to pick one. I envy my buddy who has both a Wide Glide and Road King. I think I'd like to have an Ultra for the long trips and a Deluxe for a bar bike.
PL
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Never been on anything but my heritage but love the classic look and feel of it. Don't think you can make a bad choice here. Mine was the heritage due to the feel of the handle bars and the leather bags. Vibration is nill with the balanced engines now. Just go with your heart.
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