Road King changes by year
#1
08-28-2018, 08:35 PM
Road King changes by year
is there a site that lists the changes by year? Looking at a newer road king and would like to have some type of knowledge of what I’m missing as I go back in years.
As as a side note, can anyone compare a 2016 road king to a 2018 heritage anniversary edition? Either of them should be way ahead of my 03 road king. I like the looks of the anniversary and there is one available close, but unsure of a smaller, non-touring.
As as a side note, can anyone compare a 2016 road king to a 2018 heritage anniversary edition? Either of them should be way ahead of my 03 road king. I like the looks of the anniversary and there is one available close, but unsure of a smaller, non-touring.
Last edited by freeman73; 08-28-2018 at 08:39 PM.
#3
08-29-2018, 07:16 AM
Tourer
I love the RK and wanted it before finding my deal on the RG. The ONE THING I hate that the designers did to the last couple years or so is to get rid of the classic "Road King" script on sides of front fender and went to the nearly unreadable tiny badge!!! C'mon Harley, really. Did micro-sizing that badge save you THAT much $? I may be a lone voice on this but it's definitely how I feel about it😳
Still a beautiful ride.
Still a beautiful ride.
#4
08-29-2018, 09:22 AM
From Wiki... where all good info comes from... kind of, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley-Davidson_FL
Unfaired Glides[edit]
2006 Road King CustomAn unfaired version of the FLH Electra Glide, known as the FLHS Electra Glide Sport, was available from 1979 to 1982. An unfaired FLHT Electra Glide reintroduced the FLHS Electra Glide Sport name in 1987. In 1994, the FLHS Electra Glide Sport was replaced by the FLHR Road King, which continues to the present day.[16]
2009 Touring chassis[edit]
For the 2009 model year, Harley-Davidson redesigned the entire touring range. The changes included a new frame, new swingarm, a completely revised engine-mounting system, 17-inch front wheels for all models except the Road King Classic, a 6 US gallons (23 l; 5.0 imp gal) fuel tank, and a 2-1-2 exhaust. The changes result in greater load carrying capacity, better handling, a smoother engine, longer range and less exhaust heat transmitted to the rider and passenger.[23][24]
#5
08-29-2018, 10:02 AM
This is what I've put together so far. Feel free to add anything or fix errors...
2005 - EFI was still optional.
2006 - is the last year for the 88CI and 5t speed.
2007 - 96ci motor, 6 speed tranny
2008 - ABS optional, 6 gallon tank, drive by wire, cruise control available (std on FLHRC), isolated drive system (can be retrofitted to 2007 I think)
2009 - new chassis, larger tires and wheels, touring specific tires from Dunlop, redesigned exhaust - rear cyl pipe curved away from rider's right leg
2010 - helical cut 5th gear
2014 - Rushmore 103
2015 - Hydraulic Clutch?
2016 - hard bags instead of the soft leather bags, mags instead of wire wheels, narrow primary
2017 - Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, Rear exhaust pipe and catalytic converters repositioned away from the passenger, Precision oil-cooling, Front suspension uses Showa Dual Bending Valve (SDBV) technology and gives you 117 mm of travel, bigger pistons improve dampening performance over the range of suspension travel, Hand-adjustable emulsion rear shocks provide 15-30% more preload adjustment and adjust with the turn of a single ****, new bigger pistons improve damping performance over the range of suspension travel
2018 - No changes in the 2018 Road King. The Road King Special, blacked-out styling, gloss black turbine wheels, stretched saddlebags, new mini-ape bars, and new front and rear suspensions.
2019 - 114 in special configurations, Hiawatha headlamp
From a Heritage vs Road King discussion, the 2018 Heritage does not have tubes. Lean angle is 27 degrees versus 32 on the Road King.
2005 - EFI was still optional.
2006 - is the last year for the 88CI and 5t speed.
2007 - 96ci motor, 6 speed tranny
2008 - ABS optional, 6 gallon tank, drive by wire, cruise control available (std on FLHRC), isolated drive system (can be retrofitted to 2007 I think)
2009 - new chassis, larger tires and wheels, touring specific tires from Dunlop, redesigned exhaust - rear cyl pipe curved away from rider's right leg
2010 - helical cut 5th gear
2014 - Rushmore 103
2015 - Hydraulic Clutch?
2016 - hard bags instead of the soft leather bags, mags instead of wire wheels, narrow primary
2017 - Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, Rear exhaust pipe and catalytic converters repositioned away from the passenger, Precision oil-cooling, Front suspension uses Showa Dual Bending Valve (SDBV) technology and gives you 117 mm of travel, bigger pistons improve dampening performance over the range of suspension travel, Hand-adjustable emulsion rear shocks provide 15-30% more preload adjustment and adjust with the turn of a single ****, new bigger pistons improve damping performance over the range of suspension travel
2018 - No changes in the 2018 Road King. The Road King Special, blacked-out styling, gloss black turbine wheels, stretched saddlebags, new mini-ape bars, and new front and rear suspensions.
2019 - 114 in special configurations, Hiawatha headlamp
From a Heritage vs Road King discussion, the 2018 Heritage does not have tubes. Lean angle is 27 degrees versus 32 on the Road King.
Last edited by freeman73; 08-29-2018 at 10:03 AM.
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mprima (07-11-2019)
#6
08-29-2018, 03:51 PM
Elite HDF Member
This is what I've put together so far. Feel free to add anything or fix errors...
2005 - EFI was still optional.
2006 - is the last year for the 88CI and 5t speed.
2007 - 96ci motor, 6 speed tranny
2008 - ABS optional, 6 gallon tank, drive by wire, cruise control available (std on FLHRC), isolated drive system (can be retrofitted to 2007 I think)
2009 - new chassis, larger tires and wheels, touring specific tires from Dunlop, redesigned exhaust - rear cyl pipe curved away from rider's right leg
2010 - helical cut 5th gear
2011 - Road King Classic gets 103 ci motor
2012 - Standard Road King gets 103 ci motor
2013 - Last year the Road King Classic was available in the USA
2014 - Rushmore 103
2015 - Hydraulic Clutch?
2016 - hard bags instead of the soft leather bags, mags instead of wire wheels, narrow primary
2017 - Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, Rear exhaust pipe and catalytic converters repositioned away from the passenger, Precision oil-cooling, Front suspension uses Showa Dual Bending Valve (SDBV) technology and gives you 117 mm of travel, bigger pistons improve dampening performance over the range of suspension travel, Hand-adjustable emulsion rear shocks provide 15-30% more preload adjustment and adjust with the turn of a single ****, new bigger pistons improve damping performance over the range of suspension travel
2018 - No changes in the 2018 Road King. The Road King Special, blacked-out styling, gloss black turbine wheels, stretched saddlebags, new mini-ape bars, and new front and rear suspensions.
2019 - 114 in special configurations, Hiawatha headlamp
From a Heritage vs Road King discussion, the 2018 Heritage does not have tubes. Lean angle is 27 degrees versus 32 on the Road King.
2005 - EFI was still optional.
2006 - is the last year for the 88CI and 5t speed.
2007 - 96ci motor, 6 speed tranny
2008 - ABS optional, 6 gallon tank, drive by wire, cruise control available (std on FLHRC), isolated drive system (can be retrofitted to 2007 I think)
2009 - new chassis, larger tires and wheels, touring specific tires from Dunlop, redesigned exhaust - rear cyl pipe curved away from rider's right leg
2010 - helical cut 5th gear
2011 - Road King Classic gets 103 ci motor
2012 - Standard Road King gets 103 ci motor
2013 - Last year the Road King Classic was available in the USA
2014 - Rushmore 103
2015 - Hydraulic Clutch?
2016 - hard bags instead of the soft leather bags, mags instead of wire wheels, narrow primary
2017 - Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, Rear exhaust pipe and catalytic converters repositioned away from the passenger, Precision oil-cooling, Front suspension uses Showa Dual Bending Valve (SDBV) technology and gives you 117 mm of travel, bigger pistons improve dampening performance over the range of suspension travel, Hand-adjustable emulsion rear shocks provide 15-30% more preload adjustment and adjust with the turn of a single ****, new bigger pistons improve damping performance over the range of suspension travel
2018 - No changes in the 2018 Road King. The Road King Special, blacked-out styling, gloss black turbine wheels, stretched saddlebags, new mini-ape bars, and new front and rear suspensions.
2019 - 114 in special configurations, Hiawatha headlamp
From a Heritage vs Road King discussion, the 2018 Heritage does not have tubes. Lean angle is 27 degrees versus 32 on the Road King.
Last edited by TKDKurt; 08-29-2018 at 03:54 PM.
The following users liked this post:
mprima (07-11-2019)
#7
08-29-2018, 05:33 PM
Not a Moderator!
This is what I've put together so far. Feel free to add anything or fix errors...
2005 - EFI was still optional.
2006 - is the last year for the 88CI and 5t speed.
2007 - 96ci motor, 6 speed tranny
2008 - ABS optional, 6 gallon tank, drive by wire, cruise control available (std on FLHRC), isolated drive system (can be retrofitted to 2007 I think)
2009 - new chassis, larger tires and wheels, touring specific tires from Dunlop, redesigned exhaust - rear cyl pipe curved away from rider's right leg
2010 - helical cut 5th gear
2014 - Rushmore 103
2015 - Hydraulic Clutch?
2016 - hard bags instead of the soft leather bags, mags instead of wire wheels, narrow primary
2017 - Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, Rear exhaust pipe and catalytic converters repositioned away from the passenger, Precision oil-cooling, Front suspension uses Showa Dual Bending Valve (SDBV) technology and gives you 117 mm of travel, bigger pistons improve dampening performance over the range of suspension travel, Hand-adjustable emulsion rear shocks provide 15-30% more preload adjustment and adjust with the turn of a single ****, new bigger pistons improve damping performance over the range of suspension travel
2018 - No changes in the 2018 Road King. The Road King Special, blacked-out styling, gloss black turbine wheels, stretched saddlebags, new mini-ape bars, and new front and rear suspensions.
2019 - 114 in special configurations, Hiawatha headlamp
From a Heritage vs Road King discussion, the 2018 Heritage does not have tubes. Lean angle is 27 degrees versus 32 on the Road King.
2005 - EFI was still optional.
2006 - is the last year for the 88CI and 5t speed.
2007 - 96ci motor, 6 speed tranny
2008 - ABS optional, 6 gallon tank, drive by wire, cruise control available (std on FLHRC), isolated drive system (can be retrofitted to 2007 I think)
2009 - new chassis, larger tires and wheels, touring specific tires from Dunlop, redesigned exhaust - rear cyl pipe curved away from rider's right leg
2010 - helical cut 5th gear
2014 - Rushmore 103
2015 - Hydraulic Clutch?
2016 - hard bags instead of the soft leather bags, mags instead of wire wheels, narrow primary
2017 - Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, Rear exhaust pipe and catalytic converters repositioned away from the passenger, Precision oil-cooling, Front suspension uses Showa Dual Bending Valve (SDBV) technology and gives you 117 mm of travel, bigger pistons improve dampening performance over the range of suspension travel, Hand-adjustable emulsion rear shocks provide 15-30% more preload adjustment and adjust with the turn of a single ****, new bigger pistons improve damping performance over the range of suspension travel
2018 - No changes in the 2018 Road King. The Road King Special, blacked-out styling, gloss black turbine wheels, stretched saddlebags, new mini-ape bars, and new front and rear suspensions.
2019 - 114 in special configurations, Hiawatha headlamp
From a Heritage vs Road King discussion, the 2018 Heritage does not have tubes. Lean angle is 27 degrees versus 32 on the Road King.
Plus you left out a bunch of other updates that came with the Rushmore redesign in '14 but that's a subject for another thread.
Last edited by Dynamick; 08-29-2018 at 05:35 PM.
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#8
08-29-2018, 05:55 PM
Road Captain
Originally Posted by freeman73 
This is what I've put together so far. Feel free to add anything or fix errors...
2002(?) - changed (optional) EFI system to Delphi
2002-2003(?) - lost timken bearing on crank
2005 - EFI was still optional.
2006 - is the last year for the 88CI and 5t speed.
2007 - 96ci motor (redesigned cam chain/tensioners and plate, higher volume oil pump, redesigned higher flow heads), 6 speed tranny
2008 - ABS optional, 6 gallon tank, drive by wire, cruise control available (std on FLHRC), isolated drive system (can be retrofitted to 2007 I think)
2009 - new chassis (incl. additional motor mount/stabilizer to front head), larger tires (180 rear) and wheels, touring specific tires from Dunlop, redesigned exhaust - rear cyl pipe curved away from rider's right leg
2010 - helical cut 5th gear
2011 - upgraded SE compensator standard, I think? At some point cam chain tensioner shoes changed material I believe
2011 - Road King Classic gets 103 ci motor
2012 - Standard Road King gets 103 ci motor
2013 - Last year the Road King Classic was available in the USA
2014 - Rushmore 103 (front suspension upgraded, redesigned brake rotors/wheels?, "HO" motor w/better cams, I believe?--and heavier clutch spring?)
2015 - Hydraulic Clutch? (buddy's '15 RK still has cable and pulls hard as hell)
2016 - hard bags instead of the soft leather bags (classic had leather?, but std RK always had hard bags), mags instead of wire wheels (again std always had mags), narrow primary
2017 - Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, Rear exhaust pipe and catalytic converters repositioned away from the passenger, Precision oil-cooling, Front suspension uses Showa Dual Bending Valve (SDBV) technology and gives you 117 mm of travel, bigger pistons improve dampening performance over the range of suspension travel, Hand-adjustable emulsion rear shocks provide 15-30% more preload adjustment and adjust with the turn of a single ****, new bigger pistons improve damping performance over the range of suspension travel
2018 - No changes in the 2018 Road King. The Road King Special, blacked-out styling, gloss black turbine wheels, stretched saddlebags, new mini-ape bars, and new front and rear suspensions.
2019 - 114 in special configurations, Hiawatha headlamp
From a Heritage vs Road King discussion, the 2018 Heritage does not have tubes. Lean angle is 27 degrees versus 32 on the Road King.
This is what I've put together so far. Feel free to add anything or fix errors...2002(?) - changed (optional) EFI system to Delphi
2002-2003(?) - lost timken bearing on crank
2005 - EFI was still optional.
2006 - is the last year for the 88CI and 5t speed.
2007 - 96ci motor (redesigned cam chain/tensioners and plate, higher volume oil pump, redesigned higher flow heads), 6 speed tranny
2008 - ABS optional, 6 gallon tank, drive by wire, cruise control available (std on FLHRC), isolated drive system (can be retrofitted to 2007 I think)
2009 - new chassis (incl. additional motor mount/stabilizer to front head), larger tires (180 rear) and wheels, touring specific tires from Dunlop, redesigned exhaust - rear cyl pipe curved away from rider's right leg
2010 - helical cut 5th gear
2011 - upgraded SE compensator standard, I think? At some point cam chain tensioner shoes changed material I believe
2011 - Road King Classic gets 103 ci motor
2012 - Standard Road King gets 103 ci motor
2013 - Last year the Road King Classic was available in the USA
2014 - Rushmore 103 (front suspension upgraded, redesigned brake rotors/wheels?, "HO" motor w/better cams, I believe?--and heavier clutch spring?)
2015 - Hydraulic Clutch? (buddy's '15 RK still has cable and pulls hard as hell)
2016 - hard bags instead of the soft leather bags (classic had leather?, but std RK always had hard bags), mags instead of wire wheels (again std always had mags), narrow primary
2017 - Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, Rear exhaust pipe and catalytic converters repositioned away from the passenger, Precision oil-cooling, Front suspension uses Showa Dual Bending Valve (SDBV) technology and gives you 117 mm of travel, bigger pistons improve dampening performance over the range of suspension travel, Hand-adjustable emulsion rear shocks provide 15-30% more preload adjustment and adjust with the turn of a single ****, new bigger pistons improve damping performance over the range of suspension travel
2018 - No changes in the 2018 Road King. The Road King Special, blacked-out styling, gloss black turbine wheels, stretched saddlebags, new mini-ape bars, and new front and rear suspensions.
2019 - 114 in special configurations, Hiawatha headlamp
From a Heritage vs Road King discussion, the 2018 Heritage does not have tubes. Lean angle is 27 degrees versus 32 on the Road King.
A couple additions in red above.
Few more in green
#9
07-09-2019, 08:12 PM
The motorcycle model guides at this site seem to do pretty well: https://www.totalmotorcycle.com/. There is an option to view two or four cycles side-by-side: https://www.totalmotorcycle.com/moto...Compare4Frames
#10
07-10-2019, 06:28 AM
Road Master
I love the RK and wanted it before finding my deal on the RG. The ONE THING I hate that the designers did to the last couple years or so is to get rid of the classic "Road King" script on sides of front fender and went to the nearly unreadable tiny badge!!! C'mon Harley, really. Did micro-sizing that badge save you THAT much $? I may be a lone voice on this but it's definitely how I feel about it😳
Still a beautiful ride.
Still a beautiful ride.