I am consdering the purchase of a second bike and attempting to make a decision between a road king and a softail springer classic. I currently ride an `07 1200L and am very confortable on the bike. The only issue that I run into is while riding 2-up. 1st, when the wife rides with me she pushes me way forward on the bike and 2nd, after about 125 miles of riding she is really moving around back there. I would use the bike to commute to work on occasion (256 miles round trip) and weekend riding with average rides between 100 and 200 miles 2-up along with some weekend trips 2-up, maybe even and extended tour once or twice a year so bags and maybe a tour pack would be a requirment along with a windshield. I have ridden several road kings and find the ride nice and smooth, on the other hand I cannot find a springer to test ride. I have ridden an`07 deuce and really did not think the ride was all that great (my own opinion of course), how does the ride/handling of the springer compare to the deuce or hopefully some one has had the opportunity to ride both models for several hundred miles and canmake a stab at some type of comparision.
The bike would be bought used and I am looking between the years of 2000-2005 and want a fuel injected model. I am keeping the sporty.

 

Well heres a shot of my 05 with the quick detach tour pac and bags from a 03 Heritage Springer. Love the bike its great on the road have run a lot of 300-400 mile days and it does it with ease. And when I want to run it striped down it takes about 2 minutes to pull the tour pac and windshield.

 

Thanks for the reply! Bike looks great and the photo with the tour pack and windshield really helps. I keep leaning to the springer basically because of looks. Does the bike bottom out ever when you ride 2-up and packed for a trip?

 

Ive bottomed it out once when riding two up but it was a pretty good size bump I hit and I'm no little guy guy at 6'2" and about 275 and she weighs about 135. I think no matter what we would have been on would have hit.

 

I have strong opinions on this one; won't bore you or anyone else with them. Demo ride or rent one of each and ride them as you will when you've made your decision. I'd have one of each if I could.

FBL

 

For a nostalgic look, I would go with the Springer Classic. I don't have any proof right in front of me, but wasn't the Springer and the Classic discontinued this year? If so, you might want to grab a Classic whenever you get the chance. While mine isn't the classic, I haveput over 11,000 miles on my 05 and have enjoyed every mile of it. Good luck

 

Here's my 1997 Heritage Springer. This was the first year run of this remember when bike. I have 60K miles and she is as strong now as ever and just as fun as day one. A real head turner when I start her up, ride by and I see folks gawking at her nearly everywhere I park, not just bike events but everywhere. I've owned 5 harleys and this bike has caused the start up of conversations more thanall of the others combinned. I doubt that I'll part with her even though I have a 2003 Ultra Classic also.
chappy

 

There is nothing like the "Old School" look of the Springer Classic!

 

I'm not really sure which one I'd choose...

 

My Springer Classic ROCKS!!