Test rode a couple bikes
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 341
Likes: 61
From: Tn
Test rode a couple bikes
I’ve been kicking around getting a 2nd bike for solo trips. I have a great 2up touring bike not a Harley but after 10 years on an ultra classic I wanted a change. But I miss the ability to tinker and customize. So I test rode a new RKS and a fatboy. I was really wanting to like the Road King however the bar position was a no go. It was not even the ergonomics as much as I couldn’t get comfortable with the handling to pay attention to what the bike has to offer. I know bars get changed and the stock bars have a reputation for being awful. But I also know it gets expensive swapping bars more than a couple times. I’m going to try and do another test ride and ask at least for the bars to be rolled more towards me because I have so much planned for this bike during the winter months etc. It’s also tough for me to justify having essentially 2 touring bikes. All I’ll say about the fatboy because this is a touring forum is I was very comfortable on it in stock form but the biggest hurdle for me on that bike is blacking out all the chrome but the winters are long.
JJ
JJ
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 953
From: Sarasota Florida
I would ask the dealer to adjust the bars while you are sitting on the road king. I rotated the bars on my 23 road king back an inch and it made the riding position much more comfortable.
Also, the stock road king seat is garbage. I got a saddleman seat and it is very comfy.
Also, the stock road king seat is garbage. I got a saddleman seat and it is very comfy.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 341
Likes: 61
From: Tn
Here’s a write up I did, Also retired Army btw…
Ok I’ll try to keep this short, This is simply my views and opinions not creating a debate. I picked up my first Wing yesterday a 2022 DCT standard. I’ve been riding for about 35 years everything from dirt bikes, cruisers, super sport, and sport touring bikes. Longest bike owned was an 09 Ultra classic (first and only Harley) shortest bike owned Katana 750 (stolen).
I’ve come to learn there is no perfect bike. My 03 Valkyrie came close which is probably why I’ve owned 2 of them over the years. But I knew I wanted a sport touring bike after spending a couple years on a Concours 14. I eventually ended up on a K1600B over the wing really because of the deal I got and maybe right place right time kinda thing. I don’t think you could go wrong with either bike. I really just fell in love with the motor on the beemer. But after a couple years it was apparent we did not get along well with tall top heavy bikes. as a solo bike it was great I dealt with the nuances knowing every bike was a little different. But two up the “couch rocket” was a handful. moving down the road wasn’t so much the issue even though it never felt planted. There was always a little weaving or movement and it didn’t like dirty air at all. Nothing unsafe or unnerving but there none the less. But it was a pig in the parking lot and stop and go traffic. The least bit of inattentive behavior and it would reward you with the urge to tip over and for me that was exhausting with my wife on the back.
So I ended up selling the B and was contemplating possibly a used bike to stay riding or maybe a trike. Stumbled across a good deal on a wing. And we drove up and rode it home. And it confirmed what I already knew. There’s no perfect bike but there are bikes that work better for certain riders. My first ride was almost 600 miles and this my initial impressions. I’ll skip the dead horse topics such as windshield, seats, comfort etc..
However the wing is what everyone has said it is and more. First and foremost it’s stable. No wandering, weaving, wanting to tip over, dirty air affected me more than the bike. I noticed no difference in how the bike handled at any speed. I did Atlanta rush hour without a hiccup the DCT is amazing for stop and go traffic. With the BMW there seemed to be a dead spot with the linked brakes so using just the rear coming to a slow stop didn’t really work, forcing you to apply a little front brake which causes a wrestling match with the front wheel. But I digress. I’m not gonna repeat all the positives that have been discussed I’ll just concur it’s an amazing machine. I will leave on this note. This bike has restored my confidence in riding, I would not hesitate to take it down the road 10 minutes on an errand or 10,000 miles across the continent. I couldn’t say that for the B, If I wasn’t gonna be out more than an hour it stayed in the garage and I would pop the top on my Jeep for the short trips. Oh did I say I was going to keep this short….oops
Ok I’ll try to keep this short, This is simply my views and opinions not creating a debate. I picked up my first Wing yesterday a 2022 DCT standard. I’ve been riding for about 35 years everything from dirt bikes, cruisers, super sport, and sport touring bikes. Longest bike owned was an 09 Ultra classic (first and only Harley) shortest bike owned Katana 750 (stolen).
I’ve come to learn there is no perfect bike. My 03 Valkyrie came close which is probably why I’ve owned 2 of them over the years. But I knew I wanted a sport touring bike after spending a couple years on a Concours 14. I eventually ended up on a K1600B over the wing really because of the deal I got and maybe right place right time kinda thing. I don’t think you could go wrong with either bike. I really just fell in love with the motor on the beemer. But after a couple years it was apparent we did not get along well with tall top heavy bikes. as a solo bike it was great I dealt with the nuances knowing every bike was a little different. But two up the “couch rocket” was a handful. moving down the road wasn’t so much the issue even though it never felt planted. There was always a little weaving or movement and it didn’t like dirty air at all. Nothing unsafe or unnerving but there none the less. But it was a pig in the parking lot and stop and go traffic. The least bit of inattentive behavior and it would reward you with the urge to tip over and for me that was exhausting with my wife on the back.
So I ended up selling the B and was contemplating possibly a used bike to stay riding or maybe a trike. Stumbled across a good deal on a wing. And we drove up and rode it home. And it confirmed what I already knew. There’s no perfect bike but there are bikes that work better for certain riders. My first ride was almost 600 miles and this my initial impressions. I’ll skip the dead horse topics such as windshield, seats, comfort etc..
However the wing is what everyone has said it is and more. First and foremost it’s stable. No wandering, weaving, wanting to tip over, dirty air affected me more than the bike. I noticed no difference in how the bike handled at any speed. I did Atlanta rush hour without a hiccup the DCT is amazing for stop and go traffic. With the BMW there seemed to be a dead spot with the linked brakes so using just the rear coming to a slow stop didn’t really work, forcing you to apply a little front brake which causes a wrestling match with the front wheel. But I digress. I’m not gonna repeat all the positives that have been discussed I’ll just concur it’s an amazing machine. I will leave on this note. This bike has restored my confidence in riding, I would not hesitate to take it down the road 10 minutes on an errand or 10,000 miles across the continent. I couldn’t say that for the B, If I wasn’t gonna be out more than an hour it stayed in the garage and I would pop the top on my Jeep for the short trips. Oh did I say I was going to keep this short….oops
Last edited by jerryleejr; Jan 18, 2024 at 06:19 PM. Reason: Quotes
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 341
Likes: 61
From: Tn
I would ask the dealer to adjust the bars while you are sitting on the road king. I rotated the bars on my 23 road king back an inch and it made the riding position much more comfortable.
Also, the stock road king seat is garbage. I got a saddleman seat and it is very comfy.
Also, the stock road king seat is garbage. I got a saddleman seat and it is very comfy.
JJ
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 149
Likes: 109
From: Florida
The only Harley that I owned and didn’t like was the Road King. I did not like the way it handled.
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Tourer
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 800
From: Colorado
On the older RK's, was common to swap out the lower beach cruiser bars to the Hertage bars (police bars) so hands where higher up. The heritage "style" bars had the hand grips more upright, while the heritage bars has the hand grips more pulled back and either bars could be swapped, without having to replace cables or brake lines.
On the newer RK;s, not that much of a difference between the bar heights between the standard and the police bike isntead.
On the newer RK;s, not that much of a difference between the bar heights between the standard and the police bike isntead.