Road King versus Heritage Classic
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 46
From: Yamato, Japan
I was in a similar boat to you, having recently weighed a '19 Heritage or '19 Road King.
The Heritage is a very nice bike. The new Softail frame in '18 is a true upgrade and an across the board improvement. You're probably going to get a lot of votes for the Road King on the Touring Forum... posting on the Softail Forum I'm sure you'll get the opposite.
Honestly it's very close. I really like the hard bags on the Road King, both in utility and in looks with the two-tone paint schemes, and felt the suspension was a notch nicer. I *do not* like the rectangular metal bits on the Heritage seat and bags... but I'm sure others do. It's heavier but handles very well. If you're going to eat up a lot of miles touring, I think the Road King is the winner (although the Heritage is an able solo touring bike). If you're very short or light, perhaps the Heritage is the winner. Otherwise they are both nice models and you can't go too far wrong with either.
The Heritage is a very nice bike. The new Softail frame in '18 is a true upgrade and an across the board improvement. You're probably going to get a lot of votes for the Road King on the Touring Forum... posting on the Softail Forum I'm sure you'll get the opposite.
Honestly it's very close. I really like the hard bags on the Road King, both in utility and in looks with the two-tone paint schemes, and felt the suspension was a notch nicer. I *do not* like the rectangular metal bits on the Heritage seat and bags... but I'm sure others do. It's heavier but handles very well. If you're going to eat up a lot of miles touring, I think the Road King is the winner (although the Heritage is an able solo touring bike). If you're very short or light, perhaps the Heritage is the winner. Otherwise they are both nice models and you can't go too far wrong with either.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,199
From: Oxford, Nc
It's been awhile since riding on a Softail but I recall the huge difference in the center of gravity between the two. Cruising down the road, I'm a Road King guy. Moving a bike around the garage and stopped at a traffic light., the Softail feels lighter. As I get older, that's going to make a difference for me.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 4,209
From: NC
Heritage - Best one up multi purpose bike to ever roll off an assembly line. It sounds contrived, however I find it true - you sit on a RK; you sit in a Heritage. If riding two up, then RK.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 722
Likes: 374
From: Daytona
You can’t go wrong with either a Road King or Heritage, both are great bikes and can be ridden local or long distance.
‘The biggest difference is the Road King is better suited to high speed long distance riding due to the rubber mounted driveline.
‘The Heritage is literally 100 pounds lighter which makes it quicker than the RK. Also, it puts your butt a little closer to the ground. You will feel more engine vibration at highway speeds due to the solid mount driveline. It’s not intrusive but, it’s there. The advantage is the engine becomes a stressed member of the frame adding stiffness and less frame flex.
‘The Heritage rides much better than the Road King, the difference being you will feel more road shock in the bars than the RK but zero in your butt.
‘The biggest difference is the Road King is better suited to high speed long distance riding due to the rubber mounted driveline.
‘The Heritage is literally 100 pounds lighter which makes it quicker than the RK. Also, it puts your butt a little closer to the ground. You will feel more engine vibration at highway speeds due to the solid mount driveline. It’s not intrusive but, it’s there. The advantage is the engine becomes a stressed member of the frame adding stiffness and less frame flex.
‘The Heritage rides much better than the Road King, the difference being you will feel more road shock in the bars than the RK but zero in your butt.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,858
Likes: 5,421
From: My own little slice of heaven
It's been awhile since riding on a Softail but I recall the huge difference in the center of gravity between the two. Cruising down the road, I'm a Road King guy. Moving a bike around the garage and stopped at a traffic light., the Softail feels lighter. As I get older, that's going to make a difference for me.
I have both a softail and a RKS.. totally different bikes. Two different tools for different jobs. With that being said, I prefer my RKS most times. Much more versatile I can see a day where the RoadKing goes and the LRS stays due to age
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 1,466
From: Charleston, SC
I am considering a 2018 Road King or a 2018 Heritage Softail Classic. The Road King has bigger saddle bags and there appear to be more aftermarket parts for it than the Heritage. Havent ridden either yet, although I am a long time Harley owner. It looks like the Heritage would be cheaper. Please share pros and cons of each if you can. Not considering other models! Thanks.
You see where I'm going with this? I've ridden softails but just for very long distances. I am biased, I'll admit, but the Road King isn't called The KING for nothing. Keep that in mind. It handles( more agile) than the Heritage. Two main reasons for that: greater lean angles, AND, it has a 26 degree rake. Heritage has a 32 degree rake. That means that the front end of the RK is straighter up and down ans will turn tighter than a 30 degree front end on a Heritage. Combined with the ability to lean more on the RK, that also allows for a tighter turn. THOSE two factors are necessary for Police riders when working in confined areas. That's why the choose the RK over a Heritage for Police work.
However, the cons for the RK are primarily 2 things: Seat and Handlebars. Almost everybody changes BOTH to get comfortable. Those 2 mods are not optional, but a MUST! Now if the 2018 model you are looking at already has those two mods made, and they fit you, you're ahead of the game. You can get on a STOCK Heritage and ride it for as long as you own it, IN COMFORT, without changing a thing. But you do have to add crash bars, which come standard on a RK. You're going to add the front crash bars on a Heritage because you have no where to add footpegs if you don't. Rear crash bars may be optional.
About Touring: Both are equal as far as I know. Heck, you can Tour on a Moped.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
It looks like most have provided pros and cons of both bikes, and I agree either is a good choice. The Heritage seating stance is still the "in-the-bike" Softail seating and the RK is the "on-the-bike" seating, so it's a personal choice.
You can accessorize both with tourpaks, batwing fairings and change the shocks for a better ride if you want, but the one thing that hasn't yet been mentioned is, like on Softails, when you take off the bags the Heritage still looks good. And the '18 Heritage comes in a 114 motor, if you like that.
I've had my King now for 9 years and I still love it. I've rented a Heritage on a weekend for a long trip a few years ago and I prefer the King's comfort better. Good luck in your choice.
You can accessorize both with tourpaks, batwing fairings and change the shocks for a better ride if you want, but the one thing that hasn't yet been mentioned is, like on Softails, when you take off the bags the Heritage still looks good. And the '18 Heritage comes in a 114 motor, if you like that.
I've had my King now for 9 years and I still love it. I've rented a Heritage on a weekend for a long trip a few years ago and I prefer the King's comfort better. Good luck in your choice.