A Happy 2007 Rider
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 48
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A Happy 2007 Rider
Hi all,
I have been away from the forum pretty much since May. Too little time what with working and riding. I would just like to make the following observations.
I purchased a 2007 Road King in April and this is my first ever Harley. I have owned Hondas primarily everything form my original CB 350 in 1973 to an ST1300 in 2003. Throw in one Kawasaki ZX11 and I have had the chance to ride a lot of different bikes. I never thought for years that I would own a Harley. I pretty much dismissed them during the AMF debacle of the 70s and really didn't look at them at all. I traded my Honda ST1300 for a sweet Ducati ST4 Sport Tourer and then decided I also wanted something a little slower in a smell the roses kinda way. Saw and loved the Road King and bought one without so much as a test ride. Oh yes, I kept the Ducati as I could not bring myself to get rid of that yellow beauty.
In 4 months of riding I have put about 4000 miles on the Harley and another 3000 on the Ducati. The harley has been stone dependable. I have not noticed the transmission whine some have pointed out nor have I experienced anything in the way of excessive heat. The one warranty issue was a beauty ring around the ignition switch that was coming off. Fixed without a question.
This may be a ramble but all I have to really say is that all bikes have their issues (ever paid for a valve adjustment on a Ducati) but I love them all. I love my Road King and with planned relocation upon retirement from the cold confines of Ottawa to someplace near Greensboro or Asheville NC I look forward to a 12 month riding season and a chance to give both bikes their due.
There done
Paul
00 Ducati ST4 "Francesca" simply the best Sport Tourer
07 Road King "Clementine" just the most fun
I have been away from the forum pretty much since May. Too little time what with working and riding. I would just like to make the following observations.
I purchased a 2007 Road King in April and this is my first ever Harley. I have owned Hondas primarily everything form my original CB 350 in 1973 to an ST1300 in 2003. Throw in one Kawasaki ZX11 and I have had the chance to ride a lot of different bikes. I never thought for years that I would own a Harley. I pretty much dismissed them during the AMF debacle of the 70s and really didn't look at them at all. I traded my Honda ST1300 for a sweet Ducati ST4 Sport Tourer and then decided I also wanted something a little slower in a smell the roses kinda way. Saw and loved the Road King and bought one without so much as a test ride. Oh yes, I kept the Ducati as I could not bring myself to get rid of that yellow beauty.
In 4 months of riding I have put about 4000 miles on the Harley and another 3000 on the Ducati. The harley has been stone dependable. I have not noticed the transmission whine some have pointed out nor have I experienced anything in the way of excessive heat. The one warranty issue was a beauty ring around the ignition switch that was coming off. Fixed without a question.
This may be a ramble but all I have to really say is that all bikes have their issues (ever paid for a valve adjustment on a Ducati) but I love them all. I love my Road King and with planned relocation upon retirement from the cold confines of Ottawa to someplace near Greensboro or Asheville NC I look forward to a 12 month riding season and a chance to give both bikes their due.
There done
Paul
00 Ducati ST4 "Francesca" simply the best Sport Tourer
07 Road King "Clementine" just the most fun
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,294
Likes: 33
From: Po-Dunk Looziana
RE: A Happy 2007 Rider
I LOVE mine as well! Can't quit thinking about it when I'm not riding it. The wife is aware of this "affair" and she ain't happy.
Not a single scoot I've ever owned given me this much enjoyment of owning and riding. Love it!
Not a single scoot I've ever owned given me this much enjoyment of owning and riding. Love it!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,928
Likes: 117
From: Ashby, Ma
RE: A Happy 2007 Rider
Me too. I love my 07, and haven't had any issues with it.
It's been perfect. I can't hear any whine in 5th (but if I did, I wouldn't notice much because my Honda Valkyrie whines in 5th due to the square cut gears) and the only "clatter" I hear is the compensation spring/clutch at low rpm in 5th or 6th when I might be lugging the engine. It's just a small amount of mechanical noise, moree like a clicking than a clatter.
I have no doubt that these other guys have real problems, I don't think they're whiners. I bought my bike in late May, so maybe some of the earlier ones have assembly/parts issues that the Moco needs to own up to. That's possible. But, my 07 is rock solid and I'm a happy camper.
I hope the guys with problems get them resolved.
It's been perfect. I can't hear any whine in 5th (but if I did, I wouldn't notice much because my Honda Valkyrie whines in 5th due to the square cut gears) and the only "clatter" I hear is the compensation spring/clutch at low rpm in 5th or 6th when I might be lugging the engine. It's just a small amount of mechanical noise, moree like a clicking than a clatter.
I have no doubt that these other guys have real problems, I don't think they're whiners. I bought my bike in late May, so maybe some of the earlier ones have assembly/parts issues that the Moco needs to own up to. That's possible. But, my 07 is rock solid and I'm a happy camper.
I hope the guys with problems get them resolved.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,032
Likes: 9
From: Alabama
RE: A Happy 2007 Rider
I've got about 4000 miles on my Electra Glide and my ownership experience has been just as positive. I do have a little whine in 5th but every jap bike I've ever owned did it as well so I don't care. Excessive heat? Hell, there's a 1600cc gas-fired heater 3" below your nads, so there will be some heat. Oil cooler helped a lot & now there's no more than I had with my air-cooled metrics.
Build quality is light-years ahead of the metrics, as is customer support. Personally, I'm very happy and satisfied with my '07.
Build quality is light-years ahead of the metrics, as is customer support. Personally, I'm very happy and satisfied with my '07.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 627
Likes: 195
From: St. Louis
RE: A Happy 2007 Rider
Amen to these posts. I have a 2001 FLHTC with 39,000 and plan to ride it to 100k. I also have a 2007 Softail and love this bike. Once I got used to the start-up clunk, it is no big deal. And crazy as it sounds, now that I have 1700 miles on it the softail seems to be running a little cooler. 
That one's got me thinikin'
This 07 is a great bike. smooth ride, great handling, and I expect to ride it a long time.
FYI everyone, if you think HD quality is questionable, go to the BMW sites and listen to those guys belly-ache about the final drive failures, valve adjustments, throttle cable synch, bad headlights, etc. Those bikes are not bullet proof as a lot of guys say.
That one's got me thinikin'This 07 is a great bike. smooth ride, great handling, and I expect to ride it a long time.
FYI everyone, if you think HD quality is questionable, go to the BMW sites and listen to those guys belly-ache about the final drive failures, valve adjustments, throttle cable synch, bad headlights, etc. Those bikes are not bullet proof as a lot of guys say.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 1
From: Indy area
RE: A Happy 2007 Rider
Been away from riding for nearly a couple of decades. Always said my next bike would be a big v-twin. Either Harley or Ducati, depending on my preferences at the time. Saw a Road King Classic sitting on a dealer floor while working out of town this spring and bought one when I got home. No test ride or nothing; it was the bike I had to have.
Absolutely love the damn thing. Put mufflers on to richen the tone a bit and went ahead with fuel-management and air cleaner assembly 'cause "why not?". Other than that nothing comes to mind that needs addressing. For me, they hit the nail squarely on the head with this one.
Absolutely love the damn thing. Put mufflers on to richen the tone a bit and went ahead with fuel-management and air cleaner assembly 'cause "why not?". Other than that nothing comes to mind that needs addressing. For me, they hit the nail squarely on the head with this one.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 600
Likes: 16
From: Arizona
RE: A Happy 2007 Rider
Couldn't be happier with my 07. It's my fourth Harley and the best so far.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Sunny NH
RE: A Happy 2007 Rider
[sm=thanx.gif]It's nice to hear positive comments for a change.
I have ridden metrics for22 years. I too purchased my firstHarley in April. I have just over 4000 miles on it with absolutely no problems!
I love this bike. Some 5th gear whine, so what, it's the design. It clatters when I lug it, but sodid the last 2 metric V-Twins I owned. I don't lug it.
This is by far the best bike I've ever owned.
I have ridden metrics for22 years. I too purchased my firstHarley in April. I have just over 4000 miles on it with absolutely no problems!
I love this bike. Some 5th gear whine, so what, it's the design. It clatters when I lug it, but sodid the last 2 metric V-Twins I owned. I don't lug it.
This is by far the best bike I've ever owned.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: KY
RE: A Happy 2007 Rider
Just bought a 2007 Street Glide 3 weeks ago. After reading all the negative posts about the 07's I was a little worried to say the least.
I put 1800 miles on it the first two weeks I had it and am 100% happy with the bike. It does have a different sound in 5th but no other issues. This is my first touring bike and the best Harley that I have owned.
I have no doubt some of you have problems with your 07's. There are problems with any year. I'd be mad as he!! also. Hopefully MoCo will step up and do the right thing for you guys.
I put 1800 miles on it the first two weeks I had it and am 100% happy with the bike. It does have a different sound in 5th but no other issues. This is my first touring bike and the best Harley that I have owned.
I have no doubt some of you have problems with your 07's. There are problems with any year. I'd be mad as he!! also. Hopefully MoCo will step up and do the right thing for you guys.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,032
Likes: 9
From: Alabama
RE: A Happy 2007 Rider
ORIGINAL: blmoore20
...Some 5th gear whine, so what, it's the design. It clatters when I lug it, but sodid the last 2 metric V-Twins I owned. I don't lug it...
...Some 5th gear whine, so what, it's the design. It clatters when I lug it, but sodid the last 2 metric V-Twins I owned. I don't lug it...
As for running hot, lean, tranny noises, etc. I had a '91 Suzuki Intruder 1400 that ran lean (and hot) from the factory. Several trips to different dealers netted me the same answer- "That's normal- they have to comply with EPA regs." Same story on my OL's Kawi Vulcan- EPA, runs lean, it's normal, etc. etc. etc.
We didn't keep the Kawi long, but I put 35,000 miles on that Intruder riding in the heat of Miami, FL and it never had any heat-related problems. Like any other bike it would clatter like hell if you lugged it (imagine that) and suffered spark knock something fierce- yet it was still running like a champ when I sold it.
I don't doubt there are those experiencing problems with their bikes; these are, after all, mass-produced machines and I hope they get them fixed to their satisfaction. If not, sell it & buy another brand and write it off as a bad experience. That's exactly what I did in several cases- with bikes and with cages.
But I will continue to roll with the MoCo simply because I've owned enough of the competition to know that the grass is definitely not greener...
