I'm looking at two different bikes I'm considering buying. One is a 2001 FLHRI and the other is a 2005 FLHRCI. I can't tell any difference between the bikes. Both have hard bags. Anyone know?

Thanks

 

They shouldn't both have hard bags but those could have been replaced. The Classic also came with cruise control, the 'Classic' windshield and spoked wheels standard.

 

Stiggy,
Which of those models should have the hard bags? They both have spoked wheels. I'm not sure about Cruise. I did notice the 2005 FLHRCI had no fender skirt on the front fender, light on the top of the fender, or windshield where the 2001 FLHRI had all three.

 

The FLHRI was a Road King. Came stock with hard bags, mag style wheels, black wall tires, and a windshield.
The FLHRCI was a Road King Classic. Came stock with bags that looked like leather bags, wire spoke wheels & wide white wall tires. May have come stock with cruise too, but I'm not sure on that.
Both came with Fuel Injection (the "I" at the end of the model designation) and a fairly large windshield.
Essentially the same bike, with the Classic made to look like Harleys of the 50s or older, and the regular Road King to look like Harleys of the 60s & early 70s.
Both nice bikes. I like the looks the look of the Classic better, but the spoke wheels are a pita and if you stay with the wide white wall tires, they take a lot of care to look nice.

 

Here are links to both:
http://www.nationalpowersports.net/i...x?itemID=26356

http://www.nationalpowersports.net/i...x?itemID=26323

 

I'm betting the 2001 is a regular Road King, because of the two-tone paint scheme....the bags match the tank. The 2005 looks like its been customized a bit and probably started out as a Classic.

 

You've got another trade off here. The '01 has the better (best actually,) bottom end ('99'- '02,) but the '05 has the current Delphi injection.

Given a choice, I'd still take the '01 as my '00 has 160,000 miles on the original bottom end and is still going strong.

 

Cruise control did not become standard on th Classic until 2002. Larger diameter axles came in 2002 or 2003 I think. 2001 still had the Morelli EFI. The Delphi was introduced in 2002. This makes a big difference as the older EFI system is limited in how you can retune it while the Delphi system allow you to refashion the ECM, use various tuners, etc.

I have a 2001 FLHRCI with over 53,000 miles, probably 40,000+ on touring cross country. It has a 95' big bore and cams that were installed at the dealer when I bought it new. I have put lots of upgrades on the bike and it has been wonderful. Still have it in the garage, my son rides it.

 

Thanks for all your help.

I am leaning toward the 01, mainly because it looks like it hasn't been messed with. Do these prices sound decent? I'm not finding anything similar cheaper around here whether from a dealer or individual owner.

Also, is the FI a problem on the older bike?

 

I've had a 2000 FLHRCI since new. Have about 70,000 miles on it. Been a great bike. Over the years I added a 6-speed tranny, cams, and 95" conversion to the engine. Also replaced the front and rear suspension with Progressive components.

The early Twin Cams had a Magnetti Marelli fuel injection system. Mine worked fine until I had the 95" done, and then I couldn't get the fueling right, and was having troubles with the system holding its hot and cold idle settings. There were probably other ways to address it, but I replaced the MM with the S&S VFI system and had it dialed in by a very good tuner certified by S&S. I have been very pleased with the setup.

I'm going to continue to hang on to this bike. I love it.