Fatboy to Road King - First Ever Touring - Impressions
#1
04-09-2016, 02:26 PM
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: NC
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Fatboy to Road King - First Ever Touring - Impressions
Hello,
Longtime lurker here coming over from the Softail forum, and wanted to share my impressions.
Before I go any further I should note that I'm 6'4" and 265lbs, so in addition to how the ride felt I wanted to gauge how the bike fit me before we start talking about mods for comfort (more on that in a future thread).
About a week ago I went to the local dealer and had a look at the 2016 Road King, Street Glide and Road Glide. All three were at the very front of the dealership right as I walked through the door, so I didn't have to look far. I sat on all three and took the Road King and Street Glide for a ride. There was a black Road King right as I walked in that I was enamored with the moment I saw it - something I can't say I experienced with the other two bikes. I took the Road King for a spin first and, in addition to the classic styling I really enjoyed the way the bike handled - that is, compared to the Fatboy, which I had to fight to get into a corner, a modest press on either side of the handlebar and I was rounding corners with ease on the RK. There's also the small matter of the fantastic ride and hardly feeling any bumps going down the road. I next rode the Street Glide, and while the ride was similar to the Road King, what was not was the cramped feeling I had while on the SG - likely due to the fairing and the bars. Finally, I sat on the Road Glide and had the exact same impression as I had on the SG - cramped and uncomfortable. Long story short, I rode off the lot with the 16 Road King with ABS and security.
I've since been riding around for a good week, a nice, even mix between city and highway riding, and my impressions of the bike follow.
Power - I'm coming from having a 103 Stage 3 with ported heads, and the HO 103 really surprised me. Even for stock, there's lots of power on tap and I can be at the desired speed very quickly and smoothly. I'm interested to see what happens when I start doing some engine upgrades.
Ride/Comfort - I have to make a few adjustments to the seat and handlebars, but for the stock experience coming from a Softail, the ride is very comfortable. I feel little to no bumps or jolts going down the road and the bike tracks in a laser-straight line with no front end wobble (an issue I experienced frequently with the Fatboy).
Style - this one's a no-brainer. I love how this bike looks. The classic styling and the black and all the chrome really make for spontaneous urges to head out to the garage for a look at the bike. The bike is also begging for apes and a 21in spoked front wheel.
All in all, I am very happy with this bike and had no idea what I was missing. I should have made the transition sooner, but now that I'm here I'm certain this bike is staying in the family.
Longtime lurker here coming over from the Softail forum, and wanted to share my impressions.
Before I go any further I should note that I'm 6'4" and 265lbs, so in addition to how the ride felt I wanted to gauge how the bike fit me before we start talking about mods for comfort (more on that in a future thread).
About a week ago I went to the local dealer and had a look at the 2016 Road King, Street Glide and Road Glide. All three were at the very front of the dealership right as I walked through the door, so I didn't have to look far. I sat on all three and took the Road King and Street Glide for a ride. There was a black Road King right as I walked in that I was enamored with the moment I saw it - something I can't say I experienced with the other two bikes. I took the Road King for a spin first and, in addition to the classic styling I really enjoyed the way the bike handled - that is, compared to the Fatboy, which I had to fight to get into a corner, a modest press on either side of the handlebar and I was rounding corners with ease on the RK. There's also the small matter of the fantastic ride and hardly feeling any bumps going down the road. I next rode the Street Glide, and while the ride was similar to the Road King, what was not was the cramped feeling I had while on the SG - likely due to the fairing and the bars. Finally, I sat on the Road Glide and had the exact same impression as I had on the SG - cramped and uncomfortable. Long story short, I rode off the lot with the 16 Road King with ABS and security.
I've since been riding around for a good week, a nice, even mix between city and highway riding, and my impressions of the bike follow.
Power - I'm coming from having a 103 Stage 3 with ported heads, and the HO 103 really surprised me. Even for stock, there's lots of power on tap and I can be at the desired speed very quickly and smoothly. I'm interested to see what happens when I start doing some engine upgrades.
Ride/Comfort - I have to make a few adjustments to the seat and handlebars, but for the stock experience coming from a Softail, the ride is very comfortable. I feel little to no bumps or jolts going down the road and the bike tracks in a laser-straight line with no front end wobble (an issue I experienced frequently with the Fatboy).
Style - this one's a no-brainer. I love how this bike looks. The classic styling and the black and all the chrome really make for spontaneous urges to head out to the garage for a look at the bike. The bike is also begging for apes and a 21in spoked front wheel.
All in all, I am very happy with this bike and had no idea what I was missing. I should have made the transition sooner, but now that I'm here I'm certain this bike is staying in the family.
#2
04-09-2016, 03:04 PM
Road Warrior
Congrats!!! I did something really really similar last month... rode into a dealership on a Slim and rode out on a '16 Road King. I didn't test ride a Road Glide because the looks just put me off. My test ride on the Street Glide just felt a little front heavy in slow speed maneuvers and while I can flat foot both the RK and the SG the SG felt maybe just a little too low for me.
Every once in a while at a stoplight I find myself a little wistful of the smoother idling softail but over I'm really loving the Road King!
Every once in a while at a stoplight I find myself a little wistful of the smoother idling softail but over I'm really loving the Road King!
#3
04-09-2016, 03:06 PM
#5
04-09-2016, 04:06 PM
Cruiser
#6
04-09-2016, 04:48 PM
#7
04-09-2016, 04:58 PM
I'm partial to Road Kings, I like the classic look and like a windshield over a fairing, just me. I rode a FatBoy for sometime and enjoyed the right , just not as much as the touring bikes. I have a 13 RKC, was my first new bike, all other bikes have been used. I'm 64 and have never owned a new car or truck so when my wife gave me the Road King for Christmas I was pretty happy with it and still am.
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#8
04-09-2016, 05:31 PM
First off, I would like to welcome to the Forum, and the Touring family.
You have a nice review, and assessment of the three touring Bikes that you look at.
I hope when you were test riding the Road King (RK) that the windshield was in place.
I also trust that over the week of riding you have been on the highway for some miles
to assess protection the windshield affords you at higher speeds. The good news is that
you can also remove that same windshield. I think the first modifications should be for
rider & passenger comfort. such things as Handlebars, or Footboard extensions, maybe
back rest, it goes on and on, you know the drill.
Your RK will evolve over time, keep us posted.
You have a nice review, and assessment of the three touring Bikes that you look at.
I hope when you were test riding the Road King (RK) that the windshield was in place.
I also trust that over the week of riding you have been on the highway for some miles
to assess protection the windshield affords you at higher speeds. The good news is that
you can also remove that same windshield. I think the first modifications should be for
rider & passenger comfort. such things as Handlebars, or Footboard extensions, maybe
back rest, it goes on and on, you know the drill.
Your RK will evolve over time, keep us posted.
Last edited by OldPhat; 04-09-2016 at 05:34 PM.
#9
04-09-2016, 05:58 PM
Tourer
Congrats on the ride. Same here, Heritage to Ultra years ago. Still like the Heritage, but it feels tiny now when I ride one. 6' 4" 265 36-36 riding jeans and 14 boot. I now own a '14 Ultra Limited with a CVO Limited heated seat, 10" bars and highway pegs. It's all I will need to do. 570 mile trip only stopped for gas and lunch and when we got home I felt I could go another 5,000. Will be doing a 3,000 mile trip this summer. Hopefully it goes as well as it seems it would. Worst thing about the bike is the fact that it won't be worth much with all the miles I'm putting on. Guess I'll be keeping it for a while.
