I'm a believer...2018 Heritage 114...
#81
09-26-2017, 09:44 AM
Thanks for nice review. I'm on the fence and like you, on an 09 road king now that I just dumped a lot of $ into to update and refresh motor with 107. I'm not touring at all this summer but piling the miles on locally. This Heritage just looks like a ton of fun to scoot around the mountains on.
.Sorry to hear that Lauren. Hopefully tomorrow! I want to read your review and see more pics of your paint. Love that combo. I think the denim finish with the gloss black paint really set each other off well. When a bike is too pretty I usually feel like I have to keep it pretty...these matte finishes just say "go for it - I can take it" to me. Happy riding.
#82
10-25-2017, 02:39 AM
Tourer
Thanks for nice review. I'm on the fence and like you, on an 09 road king now that I just dumped a lot of $ into to update and refresh motor with 107. I'm not touring at all this summer but piling the miles on locally. This Heritage just looks like a ton of fun to scoot around the mountains on.
Thanks again for the great post fish
#83
10-25-2017, 03:01 AM
Wow! That's a great looking bones kb....
There's a few bikes I've missed enough to try to buy again...that's a tough lesson to learn once....I really like me 114 Heritage, but I'd have had to think long and hard before parting with something I was bonded with. The RK was great, but I had the least history with it and in 2 years and 10,000 miles it wasn't too painful to consider trading it. I took that as a sign to roll the dice on love...why else do we have bikes but to love them...Clearly the king was more "like" than "love".
Of course that logic is what's stuck me with more than a few bikes. Having two felt like a lot...three was crazy town...now it's more and I've just accepted over the years that I have my reasons to enjoy them and I ride them all...maybe there's room for you to keep the bones too. I know I'd want to.
There's a few bikes I've missed enough to try to buy again...that's a tough lesson to learn once....I really like me 114 Heritage, but I'd have had to think long and hard before parting with something I was bonded with. The RK was great, but I had the least history with it and in 2 years and 10,000 miles it wasn't too painful to consider trading it. I took that as a sign to roll the dice on love...why else do we have bikes but to love them...Clearly the king was more "like" than "love".
Of course that logic is what's stuck me with more than a few bikes. Having two felt like a lot...three was crazy town...now it's more and I've just accepted over the years that I have my reasons to enjoy them and I ride them all...maybe there's room for you to keep the bones too. I know I'd want to.
#84
10-25-2017, 04:38 AM
Tourer
Wow! That's a great looking bones kb....
There's a few bikes I've missed enough to try to buy again...that's a tough lesson to learn once....I really like me 114 Heritage, but I'd have had to think long and hard before parting with something I was bonded with. The RK was great, but I had the least history with it and in 2 years and 10,000 miles it wasn't too painful to consider trading it. I took that as a sign to roll the dice on love...why else do we have bikes but to love them...Clearly the king was more "like" than "love".
Of course that logic is what's stuck me with more than a few bikes. Having two felt like a lot...three was crazy town...now it's more and I've just accepted over the years that I have my reasons to enjoy them and I ride them all...maybe there's room for you to keep the bones too. I know I'd want to.
There's a few bikes I've missed enough to try to buy again...that's a tough lesson to learn once....I really like me 114 Heritage, but I'd have had to think long and hard before parting with something I was bonded with. The RK was great, but I had the least history with it and in 2 years and 10,000 miles it wasn't too painful to consider trading it. I took that as a sign to roll the dice on love...why else do we have bikes but to love them...Clearly the king was more "like" than "love".
Of course that logic is what's stuck me with more than a few bikes. Having two felt like a lot...three was crazy town...now it's more and I've just accepted over the years that I have my reasons to enjoy them and I ride them all...maybe there's room for you to keep the bones too. I know I'd want to.
I'm with you, I used to look for "the" bike, the one, the one that ticks all the boxes. The one I could hammer on for 5 minutes or cruise on for 5 hours. The one that reminded me of my youth, my home, my dad and his dad before him but with a 6 speed, a great ride, a really great ride, and something I can just plain pour over. I'm stoked that you've shared your new bike and experience with post and photos and that you continue to add to others experience and knowledge with your post. Pretty sure you may tip a few over the threshold of purchase. Love the rust color you choose, and if I was to be brutally honest with myself , I think it's my favorite. I orded the "green one" as if something in my gut said, "there can be only one" I simply can't vary from it now. It has taken hold.
Keep up the great work fish. You da man! Look forward to following more and contributing to the journey. cheers JAG
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Thingfish (10-25-2017)
#85
10-25-2017, 08:26 AM
I traded my '16 Road King for a Heritage 114....
Being an Evo guy...and eventually a reluctant but satisfied Evo/Twin Cam owner...I have been curious about the M8...
I've appreciated my Twin Cams, but they never have completely felt as good as my Evo, in a set in my ways kinda guy way...
The "smooth" Softails sounded like a step worse to me. We have other bikes for pure speed and power, Harley has alway "felt" the best in other ways. That's what I loved about them. Specs and numbers don't make riding fun by themselves.
Well...
Yesterday was my 4am to 2:30pm work day so what do I do with a few extra hours of daylight? Headed to my dealer to test ride a few new Softails. I'd had an '04 Deluxe for 35,000 miles which I sold in '09 when I had to admit I just couldn't stand the counterbalanced motor in an otherwise great bike. I was excited to see the M8 go back to a single cam design, but unhappy when I'd heard they'd added a second counterbalancer to the new Softail version. I love my FXR, my Dyna...Sporties, RK...good vibes to me are part of the pleasure.
Getting off the Road King and firing up the Heritage, my first reaction was "hell no! Too smooth...is this thing running?" My King had a strong stage 1 and Bassani DNTs so at first I was underwhelmed with the 114...After a few miles I started to feel the difference though. Swapped to a Deluxe and then back to the Heritage. Each time I started to appreciate the M8 more and more. I liked the weight difference. Handling was great, and I liked the looks even though I know why Heritage purists don't. I even liked the dreaded red denim...which is what I bought....To me it looks great in person and I've had a great experience with my black denim '09 Fatbob over the years. Most trouble free paint I've ever had and I think it looks good even though you see it everywhere now. I like the gloss paints, but to me the flat red works with the gloss black also.
If I had taken one ride straight off my King I'm not sure I'd have traded, but the more time I spent with the M8 the more I liked it and the more I could feel what it was, that the 103HO King wasn't. In the end my dealer made me a fairly straight across deal and I decided to roll the dice saying goodbye to my RK.
Had to meet my family for dinner and a movie, and then a nice 35 mile ride home to start the break in. The more I rode it, the more I liked it. It IS smooth, particularly at idle and take off but, luckily for me, it is not without good vibes or character...especially above 40mph...it has a nice presence and where my old TC Deluxe felt flat and a bit buzzy at 80, the M8 just throbs along in a really nice way. It reminds me much more of an Evo going down the road. The 114 makes effortless power too. 75 Mph in 6th is about 2700rpms...and trust me there is no lugging going on.
The 107 Deluxe felt great too, but the Heritage just had what I needed and I loved the look...plus not going to argue with the 114.
Personal reasons for trading the king were that I originally got it to tour with my 13 year old son (aside from always liking Road Kings) but he actually preferred my FXR or Dyna to the king...I know it's strange but he found it "boring" so mostly I rode the king solo...it was a great, bike but bigger than I needed for daily riding and trips were mostly on the smaller bikes...backwards I know...
The only design thing that even I don't love is the saddlebag locks...just ugly and weirdly on top...should have hidden those better. Something will address that down the road. Otherwise I'm very happy with the new bike.
https://imgur.com/gallery/g7b9o
https://imgur.com/gallery/g7b9o
Being an Evo guy...and eventually a reluctant but satisfied Evo/Twin Cam owner...I have been curious about the M8...
I've appreciated my Twin Cams, but they never have completely felt as good as my Evo, in a set in my ways kinda guy way...
The "smooth" Softails sounded like a step worse to me. We have other bikes for pure speed and power, Harley has alway "felt" the best in other ways. That's what I loved about them. Specs and numbers don't make riding fun by themselves.
Well...
Yesterday was my 4am to 2:30pm work day so what do I do with a few extra hours of daylight? Headed to my dealer to test ride a few new Softails. I'd had an '04 Deluxe for 35,000 miles which I sold in '09 when I had to admit I just couldn't stand the counterbalanced motor in an otherwise great bike. I was excited to see the M8 go back to a single cam design, but unhappy when I'd heard they'd added a second counterbalancer to the new Softail version. I love my FXR, my Dyna...Sporties, RK...good vibes to me are part of the pleasure.
Getting off the Road King and firing up the Heritage, my first reaction was "hell no! Too smooth...is this thing running?" My King had a strong stage 1 and Bassani DNTs so at first I was underwhelmed with the 114...After a few miles I started to feel the difference though. Swapped to a Deluxe and then back to the Heritage. Each time I started to appreciate the M8 more and more. I liked the weight difference. Handling was great, and I liked the looks even though I know why Heritage purists don't. I even liked the dreaded red denim...which is what I bought....To me it looks great in person and I've had a great experience with my black denim '09 Fatbob over the years. Most trouble free paint I've ever had and I think it looks good even though you see it everywhere now. I like the gloss paints, but to me the flat red works with the gloss black also.
If I had taken one ride straight off my King I'm not sure I'd have traded, but the more time I spent with the M8 the more I liked it and the more I could feel what it was, that the 103HO King wasn't. In the end my dealer made me a fairly straight across deal and I decided to roll the dice saying goodbye to my RK.
Had to meet my family for dinner and a movie, and then a nice 35 mile ride home to start the break in. The more I rode it, the more I liked it. It IS smooth, particularly at idle and take off but, luckily for me, it is not without good vibes or character...especially above 40mph...it has a nice presence and where my old TC Deluxe felt flat and a bit buzzy at 80, the M8 just throbs along in a really nice way. It reminds me much more of an Evo going down the road. The 114 makes effortless power too. 75 Mph in 6th is about 2700rpms...and trust me there is no lugging going on.
The 107 Deluxe felt great too, but the Heritage just had what I needed and I loved the look...plus not going to argue with the 114.
Personal reasons for trading the king were that I originally got it to tour with my 13 year old son (aside from always liking Road Kings) but he actually preferred my FXR or Dyna to the king...I know it's strange but he found it "boring" so mostly I rode the king solo...it was a great, bike but bigger than I needed for daily riding and trips were mostly on the smaller bikes...backwards I know...
The only design thing that even I don't love is the saddlebag locks...just ugly and weirdly on top...should have hidden those better. Something will address that down the road. Otherwise I'm very happy with the new bike.
https://imgur.com/gallery/g7b9o
https://imgur.com/gallery/g7b9o
Love mine, just put in the kuryakyn sound bar looks good and sounds pretty good.
The following users liked this post:
Thingfish (10-25-2017)
#86
10-25-2017, 10:08 AM
I'm with you, I used to look for "the" bike, the one, the one that ticks all the boxes. The one I could hammer on for 5 minutes or cruise on for 5 hours. The one that reminded me of my youth, my home, my dad and his dad before him but with a 6 speed, a great ride, a really great ride, and something I can just plain pour over.
The following users liked this post:
kb_jag (10-27-2017)
#87
04-04-2018, 09:24 AM
Nice Heritage, that color is starting to grow on me. Not crazy about those bag locke either. Is there any problems with them leaking?
#89
04-04-2018, 04:54 PM
Tourer
If you look at that locking mechanism for the saddlebags it would not take a lot of redesign to turn the key/button assembly 90 degrees and then shorten the latch by 2 inches. Kind of hard to believe they designed it the way they did. Like it was a last minute thing.
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