I've been going through all the threads on here trying to chose between a Road King Classic and the Softail Heritage Classic. The comments from all of you have been helpful. Never having owned a Harley before, I was, at first, thinking about getting a 1200 Sportster... you know, to get the feel for riding one. Talked to the saleman, Mike, at Route 66 Harley-Davidson in Tulsa (who has been great) and explained what I (we, my other half will be with me sometimes) wanted. Two-up riding for any distance pretty much eliminated the Sportster so moved up to a Dyna - trying to watch what I spent. Then Mike said if you are going to ride two-up on a regular basis you need to look at this, and he showed me the Heritage... that was all it took. That and some cash. Went in last Tuesday and plunked the money down on a 2007 Softail Heritage Classic in Burgundy and Cream w/gold trim. Won't be in for about 7 weeks,so I'llhave to wait.[:@] I liked these colors, they seemed "old school" to me. There is a black Heritagecoming in on the same truck and after I see them both I may change my mind. So far I have added a Tour Pak, "Sundowner" two-up seat and mustache engine guard along with Shorty Dual pipes and a Stage One kit. I read about the heat problem and the corrections on the new models with the remap. I also read about the problems with 5th gear and that changing out the gear oil at 1000 miles seems to help a bunch the problems with noise (what I read about thetransmission sounds chased me away from the Road King and the Electra). None of these are a lock and I can change things over the next seven weeks. I want the bike to sound like a Harley, so I am not sure about the Shorty Duals, although Mike said they would be great. If any of you have any suggestions please let me know. I haven't seen the mustache guard on any bikes around here and am wondering if I should go with the regular chrome guard and add highway pags to it instead of getting the mustache... Mike spoke well of the "Sundowner"; the TourPak will allow us to carry some extras on multi-day trips. I also added the security system and locks for the TourPak and detachables -- any thoughts on those?

I keep seeing a couple things pop up though... How important would it be to get either thePower Commander(PCIII) or the Screamin Eagle Race Tune(SERT)on the bike? I've seen a lot of posts about these and from what I can find, these are on bike systems that control fuel/air mixtures and boost HP and torque. Does installing either of these mess with the warranty? It seems that the SERT is a permanent installation and that you need a computer to change the settings, while the PCIII can be installed and removed easily and can be changed without having a computer available.

I know my ignorance is showing and that some of you hard-core guys are going "S&#@, another yuppie on a Harley". I'm not some yuppie - did my time in VietNam before yuppies were even born. Just always wanted a Harley and things have finally worked out this way. And I need to learn about the bike. You know how we teachers can be.

Personally, I'm waiting to see what the principal (not to mention my students)does when I pull up at school on the Heritage. D@#& never thought seven weeks would seem like that much time...

 

Hello, you have definitely come to the right place for advice. It took me 4 months to find the right bike. I was looking at the same type of bike that you are. I found my love in a Deuce. Have you had the opportunity to ride both? The owners in this forum are very knowledgable and very helpful. With you being in Tulsa did RT66 work well with you? I have heard the Myers is truly one of the best. When i was looking I went to Action Toys in Broken Arrow, they have some great deals on some really nice Harleys, if you wont posssibly a used bike. I am located in NW Arkansas and traveled the 4 state area to find my bike and ended up getting it locally at the HD shop here. You might want to come over here and avoid the wait. The dealer here has about 150 bikes in the showroom. Let me know if there is anything I can help with.

 

Congratulations on your 1st Harley. I am confused... Is it the RK or the Heritage? Either bike would be good, I am sure some RK riders would dissagree but if I had to choose.... RK. Anyway good luck with your choice and congrats on your first Harley.

 

Welcome aboard, and congrats on the new "Hog", your going to love it.

As for the SERT or PCIII, I believe you have it backwards. The PCIII would be a permenently installed piece where the SERT is only plugged in to change or load new maps into the ECM.
Neither isneeded if you leave everything on the bike alone. Its only when you start the nearly inevetable engine "mods" that they become necessary. Once you start changine the intake and exhaust you allow the engine to breath better and the ECM is an idiot system that has no idea that the engine needs more fuel. So you need one of the above named pieces to either trick the ECM (like the PCIII) or modify the ECM's internal maps (using a SERT) to compensate for the changes.
BTW both need a computer to modify the internal settings properly.

As for being a Yuppie, forget it, if you are so am I and as a fellow VietNam vet I might take offence at that.

Welcome Home Brother.[sm=americanasmiley.gif][sm=biker2.gif]

 

Let's see where to start??
Funniest first. "What will the principal say?" I'm a middle school principal in Missouri, and guess what the kids say? Right, they love it. The boss, our superintendent smiles, there's occasional laughs at district principals meetings, and life goes on.
I bought my Heritage Classic in January 06. There is so much you can do that I suggest that youseriously consider doing nothing at all until the first oil change.
I'd recommend sitting in the stock seat for awhile. You'll be able to change that yourself whenever you get ready. I'm still riding in my stock seat, but I've heard so much about the Mustang Wide that I want to sit on one and see. . . My 2cents,the first thing should be togo with the Stage 1 setup: full exhaust, re-map the fuel injection, high performance air cleaner.I'd hold off on the tour pak until you ride a bit and look a bit more, and maybe even consider a luggage rack on the back of that sissy bar that allows you to set luggage on it or not.
I love the versatility of the Heritage. I think you'll be real pleased as time and the miles go on.

 

NW FXSTS,

I had thought about moving up to a RK, specifically the Classic,because it seemed like more of a touring bike. The guys at 66 have been great and Mike even said if I wanted to go with a straight touring bike I should look at the RK or the Electra, although they didn't have any Classics in stock. The Ultra would bemy choiceif all I was going to do was tour; I figured with the RK Classic I could add some detachables and still have a bike I could ride around Tulsa on, as well as a bike that my other half would feel comfortable on for extended trips (extended meaning multi-day trips -- up to two weeksand averaging about 200 to 300 miles a day). I want to make sure she is going to be comfortable because the last thing I want is to be out four days on a 10 day trip and have her complaining about her backside. But after reading all the posts about noise in the transmission on the '07's touring models,I am very hesitant about going in that direction. So I went with the Heritage (besides, momma likes the look of the Heritage). However, other than the trips to school every day, I will be riding on my own at least 75% of the time, so I wanted something for me to play on.

Kid N8,

I think the kids will love it. One of the other teachers has a 25th edition Corvette and the kids are already arguing over who will have the sweeter ride... When you say full exhaust -- I assume you mean changing out the entire exhaust system and not just adding slip-ons. Is this correct? May I ask what part of Missouri? My folks lived in the Reeds Spring/Kimberling City area until they passed away. I love that part of the state, as well as NW Arkansas... Gorgeous country -- can't wait to ride some of it on the bike.

mdewberry,

Myers didn't have any Heritage Classics in stock and didn't seem as willing to talk over other options with me, so I went back to 66. Nothing against Myers, just my own experience with them. In some ways, waiting seven weeks is a pain... in other ways the extra time allows me time to get some input from everyone here. I can always slide into a different bike, get different options, etc...

 

Understand about Myers, hey look me up sometime if you are riding over here in the Ozarks, Eureka Springs or Bike blues and BBQ in OCt.

 

Welcome aboard! Don't worry about being new here, everybody was new at one time or another. Good choice on the Heritage Classic. I have had a Super Glide, Low Rider, Ultra Classic, and now a 2005 Heritage Softail Classic. The Ultra is great for touring, but I never liked riding it around town. When I decided to trade it for a new bike, I sat on a Road King and the Softail Classic. To me the Softail just feels better - the seat sits lower and gives me a feeling of sitting down in the bike rather than on top of it. Either one is a great bike - to me it's just a matter of personal preference, just as any mods that are done to it. Pick out the model that you think looks and feels the best to you. Then mod it to fit your style - that's what makes it yours.

Congrats again, and keep the shiny side up! [sm=smiley20.gif]
Jim

 

I'm sorry I forgot to congratulate you on your purchase. I think you'll love it however you decide to proceed.
Yeah, I was talking about complete exhaust systems --mine happen to be Vance and Hines Big Shots Staggered.
I live about an hour west of St. Louis in the country,so the two-lane opportunitiesare endless. I saw some of the country you're talking about when I lived in Springfield years ago. Get the bike. Get ready for some undescribable joy.




When you say full exhaust -- I assume you mean changing out the entire exhaust system and not just adding slip-ons. Is this correct? May I ask what part of Missouri? My folks lived in the Reeds Spring/Kimberling City area until they passed away. I love that part of the state, as well as NW Arkansas... Gorgeous country -- can't wait to ride some of it on the bike.

 

Congrats! Do not buy the mustache bar the pads will fall off.