When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Not only do the 14 up have slightly better forks,they have a better top triple tree. The 2 combined make a difference. I swapped out my stock tree and tubes for a custom cycle engineering Tour trac kit and race tech springs;added Ricor intiminators. I had already installed a plastic front fender, slightly lighter wheels, composite ceramic discs an Avon cobra tires. All added together made it a significantly better handling bike.
Rode a 95 RK, did not like it,the handling alway felt stiff and like I had to force it. Same with a 2007 RK, better but it just felt off. Fast forward with a factory frame and suspension change my 2017 road king handles like it's on rails. I'm not a conservative rider, we've got the roads & twisties to play with, bikes never been anything but solid feeling and I use most the lean angle.
If your going to compare then pick the bikes that match. Road king and Road Glide special in the same generation have the same frame, forks and suspension but different wheel sizes and tires. Not a match and will ride differently. RKS and RGS same everything and can be compared fairly and the RKS will win everyday in the handling but not so much in the wind protection. Radio, can't hear it on the highway so wasted weight in my opinion.
So I have both an RKS and RGS, the RKS wins everyday and twice on Wednesday. Just finished a 5k mile trip on the RKS and it was great, the RGS sat at home as it is just not as fun and contrary to popular belief sucks in high winds just like the SGS. RKS is still affected by the winds just not as much since it does not have as much mass on the front end. Yes on a good day the other two have better highway protection than the RKS (that can be fixed easily with a detachable fairing), but we're on bikes so why try to have a bike that acts like a car? Bottom line the RKS with everything the same as the RGS and SGS is more nimble, more fun, and a better ride highway or around town.
Just my two cents in a world that counts opinions with counterfeit dollars.
Edit to mention: I still plan my rides out on a map and go, never use Nav in anything and don't connect my phone to anything. Riding/driving is the time to pay attention to the road not the phone. (For those that mention car play)
Last edited by coopmonte; Aug 17, 2023 at 12:34 AM.
In some respects, like slow riding and turning, the King is a bit more nimble, but depending on setup, theyre a bit different. Did 4 years with a King, its a road bike. Had the bags and matching tour pack. I like 16 bars, it was fine, did a few road trips.
Got a new RGS, no changes. Put 10 bars but nothing extreme, cuts the wind better than the King, has music I can hear at sub 60-65, well enough. Has GPS.
I still want a King, just love the look. The RGS looks great as well. Like everything Harley, its the individual who makes it right and tight for them.
man do i love the looks of road kings. i know some dont like the specials but a RKS in the right paint combo is just gorgeous. if i could have 4 bikes i'd own one. 3rd bike, if i could have one, is going to be a wide glide
Originally Posted by NoRegerts
There was something I had not considered. I was comparing apples to apples. I missed where you said it was '13 King and '18 RG. The newer forks are what you're feeling. The thicker 49mm legs are going to be a lot more responsive. To really compare, you need to feel all three from the same generation.
really good points, not quite an apples to apples comparison on those two bikes.
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
