Pulling the trigger on a Road King
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,157
Likes: 2,564
From: CT/FL
Great choice! Try to get the dealer to include the 4-point dock with your purchase. then you can add your choice of removable backrests, luggage racks, and even a tour pack. If you are just looking to make your wife comfortable you can get a nice back rest and save the $1000 for a tour pack. My wife likes the backrest just fine. She also likes the stock RK seat. I added a $120 cloth luggage the one time I needed more room.
Ditto on Duct taping garden hose or something like that on the crash bars - for slow speed drops they work well to protect the rest of the bike and leave it upright enough to lift back up single handedly.
Good luck!
Ditto on Duct taping garden hose or something like that on the crash bars - for slow speed drops they work well to protect the rest of the bike and leave it upright enough to lift back up single handedly.
Good luck!
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 424
Likes: 36
From: El Paso, TX
It's most likely going to be a 2015... the reason I'm waiting until January, is that I want as much leverage for getting the best deal possible. There isn't much difference between that 15-16 models (other than color... which I prefer the color schemes of the '15 models better), so I see no reason to pay more for a '16.
As a matter of fact micmoren... is that the Mysterious Red Sunglo/Blackened Cayenne in your sig? The is one of the colors I'm seriously considering!
As a matter of fact micmoren... is that the Mysterious Red Sunglo/Blackened Cayenne in your sig? The is one of the colors I'm seriously considering!
And yes, my King is in the Mysterious Red Sunglo/Blackened Cayenne color. Loved it when I saw it, along with the whitewalls and had to have this bike.
You'll be happy with the King.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 809
Likes: 40
From: Duluth, MN
Mine is a 2006. I absolutely love mine. The only thing I would have liked to have had was the bigger engine and 6 speed....BUT...I love it....it is what I wanted from day one...just took me a million years to finally get it....
As far as the bars...if you found them comfortable in your test rides...I would roll with it for a year before ya do much....I road mine for a year before I made any modifications....now I have 16's...best thing I did...FOR ME....it is not for everyone...
Enjoy the new ride!!!
As far as the bars...if you found them comfortable in your test rides...I would roll with it for a year before ya do much....I road mine for a year before I made any modifications....now I have 16's...best thing I did...FOR ME....it is not for everyone...
Enjoy the new ride!!!
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 438
Likes: 160
From: Waxhaw, NC
I agree with the other posters...I have had metric bikes since high school (30 years) and have admired the Road King since it was first rolled out. I have saved for the last few years, and got a deal on a gently used 2004, with relatively low miles. The more I ride this bike, the more I love it.
By the way...I am currently saving for a new RK, and may not even trade the '04 in.
Tim
By the way...I am currently saving for a new RK, and may not even trade the '04 in.
Tim
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,087
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Great choice on the King. I don't think you'll have any issues going from the Honda to the King, as I've gone from a Sportster to my King. Might want to checkout some leather wraps for the engine and bag guards for protection.
As for the bars, you might check out some beach bars, as they're similar to the Deluxe. HD has back rests and a popular one is the electric adjustable one.
I also ride year round. Besides the seat and grips, look into a heated jacket or liner and some gloves.
Good luck, and post up some pics when you finally get that King.
As for the bars, you might check out some beach bars, as they're similar to the Deluxe. HD has back rests and a popular one is the electric adjustable one.
I also ride year round. Besides the seat and grips, look into a heated jacket or liner and some gloves.
Good luck, and post up some pics when you finally get that King.
Last edited by RKZen; Oct 19, 2015 at 03:04 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 49
From: Northern California
get, watch, learn and practice the Ride Like a Pro series by Jerry pallidino?
Do this and you will ride circles around 98% of the folks on bikes.
In my opinion the Road King is an easier bike to ride especially at low speeds, the only negative is the weight in comparison to the Honda.
Do this and you will ride circles around 98% of the folks on bikes.
In my opinion the Road King is an easier bike to ride especially at low speeds, the only negative is the weight in comparison to the Honda.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 664
Likes: 9
From: Nowhere
I guess I'm one of the few people that are not crazy about the Roadking bars and the HD website doesn't show a whole lot of replacements. They are too close to me and then if I rotate them forward, they are too high.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 631
From: NorCal Rocklin
But some heated gloves. Today's gloves have batteries in them so you don't have to wire them to the bike. Also a set of wintergloves help also that blocks the wind out. I use a set of winter gloves all year round. I have a better heat torlerance than most. Held, revit, and Klim make decent gloves for winter riding
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 123
From: Spokane, WA
Curious why you say that you are 'likely' to lay it down, especially since you have cruiser experience? The weight is not an automatic reason to drop a bike. I ride a RK being 5'9" with my riding boots on and I am not some 'roided out weightlifter but I have yet to be concerned about dropping it in traffic or in my driveway. The bike is very well balanced and is stable even just barely rolling along so it will stay up if the rider is paying attention.
I think that there is some consensus that the current bars on the RK are way better than they were a few years ago. I know that I like them better than the bars that were on my previous '13 fatboy.
Last edited by Nickatnyt; Oct 19, 2015 at 09:36 PM.