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Hey.. New to these forums.. I put a deposit down on either a Road King or Road King Special.. I can't decide which one I want. The reason I'm torn is because I want the ability to do some longer rides with the wife on weekends (200-300 miles). During the week it would be mostly local cruising and work commutes. I love the look of the RKS and I really like the bars and ergos.
For the RKS, I would be adding a windshield (22"? - I'm 5'9"), a back rest, passenger floor boards and maybe a more comfortable seat. For the RK, I wouldn't really have to add anything except the back rest, but I'd be missing out on the look that I love.
I'm worried about overall comfort with a passenger on the longer rides and also wind buffeting.
I'm 5'9" about 185lbs, shes 5' about 105lbs. If anyone has any input, I'd be grateful.
Hey.. New to these forums.. I put a deposit down on either a Road King or Road King Special.. I can't decide which one I want. The reason I'm torn is because I want the ability to do some longer rides with the wife on weekends (200-300 miles). During the week it would be mostly local cruising and work commutes. I love the look of the RKS and I really like the bars and ergos.
For the RKS, I would be adding a windshield (22"? - I'm 5'9"), a back rest, passenger floor boards and maybe a more comfortable seat. For the RK, I wouldn't really have to add anything except the back rest, but I'd be missing out on the look that I love.
I'm worried about overall comfort with a passenger on the longer rides and also wind buffeting.
I'm 5'9" about 185lbs, shes 5' about 105lbs. If anyone has any input, I'd be grateful.
"I want the ability to do some longer rides with the wife on weekends (200-300 miles)" get the RK..you can strip it down for your local rides..less expensive to subtract than add on!
RK's the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden just as it came off the showroom floor. Changed that ugly air box, installed some slip-on's and that's it. You can pop the windshield and the bags have more room for mama to stuff full of the usual crap.
RK's the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden just as it came off the showroom floor. Changed that ugly air box, installed some slip-on's and that's it. You can pop the windshield and the bags have more room for mama to stuff full of the usual crap.
Yea.. That's really all I'd have to do. The parts list for the RK is about 750. The parts list for the RKS is 1700.
The logical, smart financial decision would be the standard RK.
What about general comfort for longer rides with a passenger on the RK? I rented one, road it on the highway, I get some buffeting above 65 mph. Earbuds help, but what's it like for a passenger?
Yea.. That's really all I'd have to do. The parts list for the RK is about 750. The parts list for the RKS is 1700.
The logical, smart financial decision would be the standard RK.
What about general comfort for longer rides with a passenger on the RK? I rented one, road it on the highway, I get some buffeting above 65 mph. Earbuds help, but what's it like for a passenger?
Pillion seat ain't going to be comfy for long rides unless your wife is the size of a Gymnast, in which case congrats on the new bike, and wife! head buffeting is 90+% eliminated with fork air deflectors..and make sure you get the RK with Reflex ABS..it's an option and there are some on the floors without it
Looking on the HD bike comparison the RKS has ABS and security standard the RK it’s a $795 option for ABS and security isn’t offered. After a near accident, all my fault, locking up the brakes on my old softail I like ABS and I think you would appreciate it. Also you seem to really drawn to the look of the RKS. If you buy the RK will you wish you had purchased the RKS every time you see one? Adding to the RK to make it look more like the RKS would cost you far more than just buying the RKS now. As for windshields you may need to change the one on the RK since it was buffering and that negates the savings of one coming on the RK. Seat wise to be really comfortable on those longer rides you may need to change the seat on either bike. When you are cruising around the RKS seat looks more sleek than the RK seat. Lastly what do you see yourself on? Think about just cruising around or riding to work. When you pull up to a stop light and look down at your bike, when you walk out into the garage to get on it which one will put the biggest smile on your face and make you say, dang I’m glad I bought this bike? Good luck
I would do the RKS, I had a RK and actually set it up like the RKS a year before they issued it, added CVO bags, SG facia, SG wheels powdered coated black, floorboards, and pegs but did not go black. I took the bike on several trips back and forth to my Florida home and it performed well. Of course I did not have a passenger, my wife had her own HD, CVO deluxe. You won't be disappointed with either purchase. I like the look of the black out RKS.
Here is my ride with the windshield removed and solo seat.
Last edited by Badbagger09; Feb 4, 2018 at 05:37 AM.
You like the looks of the bikes right, and especially the special? Don't blame you. One reason I couldn't do the fork deflectors, butt ugly IMO. Every bike out there deals with buffeting to some degree. The issue was drastically reduced when I swapped shields for an LRS. If I was looking for a new Road King it would be the special but that is one of the reasons I got the 17 RGS.
Thanks for the advice guys.. Based on your suggestions I went for another ride this morning out to daytona on the I4. Blocking the wind from below the windshield made for about 85% reduction in buffeting and that was using just my arms. I put my feet up on the crash bars and stuffed them under the windshield to simulate the fork deflectors and it made it about 90% difference.. Game changer.
After I dropped the rental off at the dealership, I sat on the Special again and I can honestly say that I would be kicking myself if I got a Road King that wasn't the Special.. So if I do go with the king, it will almost certainly be the special.
Now the question of passenger comfort. What do Road King passengers complain about the most? Is it the comfort of the seat? If so, do you have any recommendations for a seat? I think I priced it out with the unheated Hammock. Is it the closeness to the rider? Wind? Comfort and height of the backrest? If I can figure a passenger solution, I'm ready to buy.
Thanks for the suggestions guys.. really helpful.
Edit: If you missed it in the first post, wife is 5 feet tall, 105lbs
Last edited by voxmortis; Feb 4, 2018 at 10:11 AM.
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Another Advice Thread!
