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I love my King also. I prefer a simple bike to compared to one loaded with all types of electronic gadgets. My local dealer has a used 15 or 16 King that has had a Big Bore kit installed. Also about 4 other used Kings.
I had a 2003 Road King and a 2007 Road King. Each had about 50,000 miles. I traded both in on a 2015 CVO Roadglide. I gave the Roadglide 1 year and 13,000 miles. I tried to love it. I really did. In the end I really missed the Road King. Traded the 15 CVO Roadglide in for a 16 Road King for myself and another one for the wife. I'm never leaving the realm of the King again.
Traded my 07 Heritage for a 12 RK and wished I would've done it sooner. Much safer bike to me on increased cornering clearance alone.
Don't consider myself an over aggressive rider but really got tired of scraping the floorboards in turns. Hated that metal grinding sound. Have yet to scrape the boards even once on the King.
I prefer the taller sit of the King as well. I'm 6'3 and just feel more comfortable plus better 2 up bike when mama wants to go.
If, and that's a big if I ever get another scoot, it'll be another King.
Last edited by scootertex; Nov 15, 2016 at 04:52 AM.
I adore my 2017 RK!! I love the headlight and the windshield. I tried the RG/SG but the fairing didn't do it for me. 1600 miles and Zero issues or concerns.
I've had five cruisers, first HD is the 2012 RK classic I have now, was debating between it and a Heritage Softail but glad I went with the RK. I lucked out and found this 2012 with only 350 miles on it. Like other replies I'm not a fairing person and never will be. Don't need all the instrumentation, and the only music I need to hear comes from the bike itself. In terms of wind management the factory windshield was ok but even better now with a LRS windshield, and I have the wind deflectors. I'm 6'2", 240 lbs, have 14 inch apes and highway pegs, bike fits me like a glove. First bike ever where I can ride for 2 and a half hours straight without being in pain. This bike is the really the best of both worlds in terms of cruiser/touring.
I had a heritage, then 3 ultras (one limited) and now a Roadking. From my perspective, when I was traveling a lot with the now ex, the Limited was the bike to have. But now, I only occasionally ride with the now GF and she can't ride long rides, I love the RK. As a visual, you can see the versatility. You can go from a cruiser to tourer in 20 mins. It isn't as comfortable on a long ride as the Ultra, but for me, I can ride from Toledo Ohio to Austin and back no problem. The SG was very popular a few years ago, now the RG is becoming the next thing. So that is why there are more of them around. I personally don't like all the gadgets and I like the clear windshield, being able to see more of the road. I plan on keeping this bike for a long time.
In the last two years I bought a Tri-Glide (for trips with my paraplegic wife) and a '16 Road King (for the larger frame and engine, ABS, etc.). Neither time could I talk myself into trading in my beloved '01 Road King, which I still ride more than the others (except the trike gets the nod on ice-covered roads in the dead of winter).
My attachment to the '01 is well described above. That, and I've done so much work on her myself (cams, drive belt, tires, shocks, forks, etc.) that I've bonded all the more. I'll probably keep the '01 until I die. No one will ever pay me what she's worth to me.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
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.
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.
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.
