‘18 Sportster to ‘03 Road King
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 2
From: Staten Island
‘18 Sportster to ‘03 Road King
Hey all,
This is my first post here and I’m just looking for some advice/ answers to some questions.
I found an ‘03 Road King 100 yr anniversary with 7k miles. I am trading my ‘18 Sportster Iron 1200 for it. I got it for an even trade out the door.
I use my bike to commute during the nice weather & take trips with my girlfriend & club where a majority of guys have Street & Road Glides, and the 3.3 gallon gas tank is a little inconvenient.
I haven’t picked the bike up yet but is there anything I should I keep an eye out for that particular year & model?
I’m purchasing the bike from The Cycle Exchange in Andover, NJ if anyone has had any prior experience with them.
I appreciate all info & advice, thanks in advance!
This is my first post here and I’m just looking for some advice/ answers to some questions.
I found an ‘03 Road King 100 yr anniversary with 7k miles. I am trading my ‘18 Sportster Iron 1200 for it. I got it for an even trade out the door.
I use my bike to commute during the nice weather & take trips with my girlfriend & club where a majority of guys have Street & Road Glides, and the 3.3 gallon gas tank is a little inconvenient.
I haven’t picked the bike up yet but is there anything I should I keep an eye out for that particular year & model?
I’m purchasing the bike from The Cycle Exchange in Andover, NJ if anyone has had any prior experience with them.
I appreciate all info & advice, thanks in advance!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,559
Likes: 3,955
From: Vermont
Cam chain tensioners. I’m guessing at only 7k miles that they were not addressed. You’ll want to check them at least around 20-25k miles, or just replace to a better setup like hydraulic.
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 2
From: Staten Island
I did see that on a video about that model. Is there anyway I can check that without being a mechanic myself? And when you say to go to hydraulic, do you mean turn it into a hydraulic clutch? That was a thought when I first saw the bike because I heard good things about the hydraulic clutches on the new bikes. I’ll hopefully have this for the next 10+ years.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 307
From: Salem IN
The cam chain tensioner pads wear down to fast. You can replace the pads or go with a newer type kit, which is hydraulic not spring loaded. Look on you tube there are plenty of vids that cover this.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,559
Likes: 3,955
From: Vermont
I did see that on a video about that model. Is there anyway I can check that without being a mechanic myself? And when you say to go to hydraulic, do you mean turn it into a hydraulic clutch? That was a thought when I first saw the bike because I heard good things about the hydraulic clutches on the new bikes. I’ll hopefully have this for the next 10+ years.
Last edited by dawg; Feb 23, 2020 at 09:55 AM.
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 2
From: Staten Island
To check them, right footboard comes off, exhaust has to be dropped, and cam cover pulled. Outer is easy to check. Inner can be done with a flashlight, dental mirror and pry tensioner up away from chain. PITA but doable. Hydraulic kit is a upgrade to tensioners to 07 and later style. Other option is simply to replace tensioner pads with Cyco when needed. If you want to keep for 10+ years, assuming you stay where you live now, you’ll probably average 5-7k miles a year on good years unless you ride all the time. That said, it has 7k on it now.....ride this year as is and make your comfort upgrades that you find you want like seat, bars, highway pegs, etc. and over the winter take a peak at the tensioners. You’ll probably be good to ride it the 2021 season too, mileage depending. Then, winter 2021, assuming you have close to 20-25k miles on it consider upgrading tensioners to a hydraulic setup and do cams, lifters, freshen up top, etc. You never said whether the bike is completely stock, but you might want a stage 1 prior to this, or do it all then with exhaust, AC, tuner, etc.
The bike is stock I believe, so stage 1 is a definite but it may not be until next year that I add an exhaust, intake, fuel tuner, etc. I’ll most likely do smaller aesthetic & comfort mods this year. It looks like the seat & passenger seat w/ backrest will be comfortable enough for now. I’ll add pictures once I pick the bike up for everyone to see. Upgrading to the hydraulic clutch is definitely something I’ll look into.
Last edited by figmatic; Feb 23, 2020 at 01:11 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,191
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From: Washington
Nice looking older Road King. You do have to understand you're trading a 2 year old Harley for a 17 year old one, with not too many miles on it. It may have been "recently serviced" but lord knows what that means. I think you should be prepared to spend a few hundred dollars on basic maintenance, then your likely to have a great bike. If mine, here is what I would do, or have done by and independent service shop:
* check tire date codes, possible original - if so change out.
* check plugs and air cleaner, make sure clean and serviceable.
* get a tube of Harley Lube at the HD dealer, they are about $6 and have a needle nose tip on them. Lubricate everything that rotates - lever pivot points, hinges, etc.
* lubricate all your cables - throttle cables, throttle, clutch cable. Keep the clutch cable lubed, you won't need a hydraulic unit.
* get either an owners manual and/or shop manual.
* check the maintenance table in the manual. Do the following if called for in the manual maintenance table: grease wheel bearings, grease steering head bearings, grease rear fork bushings (swing arm), change fork oil.
* exam the drive belt and check belt tension.
Sounds like a lot and may have to hire some of it done, but it will ride like a new bike. Like you, I once bought a 17 year old low mile electraglide, a 1991, did all that maintenance and it was very pleasant and reliable to ride.
* check tire date codes, possible original - if so change out.
* check plugs and air cleaner, make sure clean and serviceable.
* get a tube of Harley Lube at the HD dealer, they are about $6 and have a needle nose tip on them. Lubricate everything that rotates - lever pivot points, hinges, etc.
* lubricate all your cables - throttle cables, throttle, clutch cable. Keep the clutch cable lubed, you won't need a hydraulic unit.
* get either an owners manual and/or shop manual.
* check the maintenance table in the manual. Do the following if called for in the manual maintenance table: grease wheel bearings, grease steering head bearings, grease rear fork bushings (swing arm), change fork oil.
* exam the drive belt and check belt tension.
Sounds like a lot and may have to hire some of it done, but it will ride like a new bike. Like you, I once bought a 17 year old low mile electraglide, a 1991, did all that maintenance and it was very pleasant and reliable to ride.
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Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 2
From: Staten Island
Nice looking older Road King. You do have to understand you're trading a 2 year old Harley for a 17 year old one, with not too many miles on it. It may have been "recently serviced" but lord knows what that means. I think you should be prepared to spend a few hundred dollars on basic maintenance, then your likely to have a great bike. If mine, here is what I would do, or have done by and independent service shop:
* check tire date codes, possible original - if so change out.
* check plugs and air cleaner, make sure clean and serviceable.
* get a tube of Harley Lube at the HD dealer, they are about $6 and have a needle nose tip on them. Lubricate everything that rotates - lever pivot points, hinges, etc.
* lubricate all your cables - throttle cables, throttle, clutch cable. Keep the clutch cable lubed, you won't need a hydraulic unit.
* get either an owners manual and/or shop manual.
* check the maintenance table in the manual. Do the following if called for in the manual maintenance table: grease wheel bearings, grease steering head bearings, grease rear fork bushings (swing arm), change fork oil.
* exam the drive belt and check belt tension.
Sounds like a lot and may have to hire some of it done, but it will ride like a new bike. Like you, I once bought a 17 year old low mile electraglide, a 1991, did all that maintenance and it was very pleasant and reliable to ride.
* check tire date codes, possible original - if so change out.
* check plugs and air cleaner, make sure clean and serviceable.
* get a tube of Harley Lube at the HD dealer, they are about $6 and have a needle nose tip on them. Lubricate everything that rotates - lever pivot points, hinges, etc.
* lubricate all your cables - throttle cables, throttle, clutch cable. Keep the clutch cable lubed, you won't need a hydraulic unit.
* get either an owners manual and/or shop manual.
* check the maintenance table in the manual. Do the following if called for in the manual maintenance table: grease wheel bearings, grease steering head bearings, grease rear fork bushings (swing arm), change fork oil.
* exam the drive belt and check belt tension.
Sounds like a lot and may have to hire some of it done, but it will ride like a new bike. Like you, I once bought a 17 year old low mile electraglide, a 1991, did all that maintenance and it was very pleasant and reliable to ride.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,809
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From: OH
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