Harley Davidson Forums

Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Road King // Touring Suspension Question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 11, 2015 | 05:57 PM
Share
  #1  
uncle kebo's Avatar
uncle kebo
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,238
Likes: 5,784
From: On the Big Blue marble
Default Road King // Touring Suspension Question
This is my 1st cool weather season with a Road King // Touring bike ever. I had Softails before. My RK is a 2015 w/stock suspension. In the cool weather the ride is a little choppy and the handling seems slow. Everything is up to snuff, the tires are set to spec and the air suspension is at 10 pounds. Does s sub 75 degree affect the handling of these bikes?


Thanks
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 12, 2015 | 07:53 AM
Share
  #2  
foxtrapper's Avatar
foxtrapper
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Navy
Veteran: National Guard
10 Year Member
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
Community Team
Default
I can't speak from experience on the newer models, but it does not affect my 04, nor any other bike I've owned. I might be a little stiffer though, especially if I'm not wearing gloves.
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 12, 2015 | 09:12 AM
Share
  #3  
Buffalolake's Avatar
Buffalolake
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 8
From: Terlton, Ok
Default
Some guys change their fork oil to a different viscosity to change the way that the front end handles. Colder weather tends to make oil thicker, so that could be the change that you are feeling.
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 12, 2015 | 09:35 AM
Share
  #4  
From_Behind's Avatar
From_Behind
Club Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,386
Likes: 900
From: Columbus, Ohio
Riders Club Member
Default
Mine handles the same, regardless of the weather.

How much do you weigh, and are you riding solo? Anything in your saddlebags?
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 12, 2015 | 12:08 PM
Share
  #5  
todd-67's Avatar
todd-67
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
Default
Mine never changed on my 09 glide. My 10 king is not suspended by OEM (garbage).
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 13, 2015 | 07:34 AM
Share
  #6  
uncle kebo's Avatar
uncle kebo
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,238
Likes: 5,784
From: On the Big Blue marble
Default
Riding solo, 220 lbs, bags empty
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 13, 2015 | 07:53 AM
Share
  #7  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Default
Sub-75? Doesn't often get that high around here! I've been riding touring Harleys for 25 years and haven't noticed any change in ride in all that time. In fact I enjoy it more when the weather is cool/warm, rather than hot.
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Oct 17, 2015 | 05:20 AM
Share
  #8  
PSRumors's Avatar
PSRumors
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 547
Likes: 43
From: Cartersville, GA
Default
I can feel aa slight difference in cool weather. Bike seems to need to loosen up a bit. I think it is a combination of the tires and fork oil being cold
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 17, 2015 | 05:49 AM
Share
  #9  
Notgrownup's Avatar
Notgrownup
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,650
Likes: 9,112
From: Snow Hill, NC
Default
No change here much but I put a lot of air in my shocks, and higher viscosity oil front and back to stiffen the bike...
 
Reply
0
Old Oct 17, 2015 | 06:28 AM
Share
  #10  
RKZen's Avatar
RKZen
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,062
Likes: 1,943
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Default
I recently changed my front and rear suspension and this will be my first cool weather riding on them. But before, I hadn't noticed any difference, just add some air to the rears shocks.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:15 PM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE