The All things ROAD KING SPECIAL THREAD
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 654
From: Southern Coast o' Maine ON DA BEACH!
Buy the RKS. You will not be sorry. I've owned many bikes and my '19 RK Special is the best ever. I've done a ton of mods to it. Stuck a 22X-E cam in it along with other upgrades and it's a beast!! My g/f loves it too...very comfortable with the Saddlemen road sofa seat...putting 16" 1.5" thick Carlini gansters on it right now after having 14" KST's on it.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 200
Likes: 38
From: Belgium
Thanks for all the comments, I often read people stating their bike is the 'best ever', guess that's what us bikers do. As long as the RKS is a definitely improvement over my Low Rider S (2021) I will be pretty happy. A two hour test ride tells only so much, but seating position and the way it felt really clicked with me. The only things that stood out to me were the firm clutch (but I think my LRS was kinda same, maybe a little lighter, a 2021 does not have a hydraulic clutch btw) and the firm suspension but dealer has checked and said the rear was set to 5. I weigh 72kg so he says it can be setup a little softer. Guess I'll upgrade to larger shocks anyway.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 654
From: Southern Coast o' Maine ON DA BEACH!
Thanks for all the comments, I often read people stating their bike is the 'best ever', guess that's what us bikers do. As long as the RKS is a definitely improvement over my Low Rider S (2021) I will be pretty happy. A two hour test ride tells only so much, but seating position and the way it felt really clicked with me. The only things that stood out to me were the firm clutch (but I think my LRS was kinda same, maybe a little lighter, a 2021 does not have a hydraulic clutch btw) and the firm suspension but dealer has checked and said the rear was set to 5. I weigh 72kg so he says it can be setup a little softer. Guess I'll upgrade to larger shocks anyway.
Sounds like you're moving towards the RKS. Hope you do...it's a truly amazing machine!!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
Yes the RKS is absolutely smoother than the Softail once you are above idle. I put plenty of miles on my 114 Heritage and now on my 114 RKS
the RKS is much smoother. Honestly, even with the extra weight I feel the RKS has a bit more snap to its power as well
not sure if its having less drag with one less counterbalancer or maybe a slightly torquier cam profile possibly, but the RKS accelerates with great authority.
Gotta tell you that softail vibrations are not nearly as bad as what I felt when test rode BMW R18 bagger. That thing was bad.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 654
From: Southern Coast o' Maine ON DA BEACH!
the RKS accelerates with great authority
"the RKS accelerates with great authority". Truwith the stock 114, but try putting a WOOD PERFORMANCE 22X-E cam in the motor. holy sheet!
Yes the RKS is absolutely smoother than the Softail once you are above idle. I put plenty of miles on my 114 Heritage and now on my 114 RKS
the RKS is much smoother. Honestly, even with the extra weight I feel the RKS has a bit more snap to its power as well
not sure if its having less drag with one less counterbalancer or maybe a slightly torquier cam profile possibly, but the RKS accelerates with great authority.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
No doubt a cam works magic. It's in the works.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 654
From: Southern Coast o' Maine ON DA BEACH!
Ya boy! I'm not saying it should be the 22X-E, but I love it. I think the top 3 cams for the M8 are the 22X, 22X-E and the Redshift 468. Which cam you looking at?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
Those are all on my list as well as the TTS 100. Steve Cole is local to me so I'm lining up to discuss a plan and recommendation with him.