Thank you for all the reply’s. The dealer is supposed to have the bike ready today. I’m going to ask about anything being done to the tensioners and take it for a ride before I sign the paperwork. My only real worry is the cam chain tensioners. I know I’ve heard the twin cam motors can easily go to 100k miles. They are only asking $5500 for the bike, that is sportster money. If it wasn’t taken care of cosmetically like it was I probably wouldn’t be interested in it. I attached a picture of the bike.

 

 

Do as you wish, but remember -there are all kinds of bikes for sale at that price.

 

This guy is right ^

50K miles on an 03 is too many if the cam chain tensioners haven't been attended to. I'd want to see the cam cover off before I'd even consider to make the deal. If there was a spring tensioner set up still in there that would change my offer by 1500.00, minimum, and that's if I don't hear any noise. The compensator nut will need to be shimmed or the nut will need to be taken down a little per a service bulletin for the nut backing off. Failure to attend to that can cause damage to the compensator, primary, rotor and crankshaft splines. I'm not saying this is going to happen, it just needs to be attended to. A repaint almost always cuts used bike value. I would use a soft magnet to test the tank and fenders for body filler. Painting over an anniversary model would put my antennas up.

If I were in the market for an older Road King I'd look to the 2002.

Forged crank
Timken left side bearing (and not subject to the aforementioned 2003-2005 comp nut loosening)
Delphi fuel injection
Improved swing arm that doesn't crack like prior years
A great 5 speed transmission

The only down side is the cam chain tensioners that can be dealt with a number of ways effectively for as little or as much as you want to spend.

 

Nothing I can add that hasn't already been said except for I owned an '03 Road King and it was one of the best bikes I ever had. I would not have a problem paying $5500 for it if I were looking for a bike. The paint job on that one is pretty nice, I always liked green.

 

Thats got to be a regional thing. No such thing as a cheap harley in this area thats not a basket case.

 

 

exactly, hes not in socal, hes in warren ohio.

 

 

I will just add that I have a '03 RKC also, and it's been a fantastic bike. I replaced the bearings and chain tensioners myself, and will most likely install the updated cam plate/oil pump this winter.

From what I can see of it, the paint job seems to have been done well. Why did they paint it though? I'm thinking something had to have happened that required repainting. What that is, who knows?

OP just be careful with the purchase. No one will be able to ask all the perfect questions, just ask as many as you can. If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, you have plenty of folks here that are willing to help you with whatever issues may come up.