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I'm a big guy, 6'4"ish 330lbs. I'm told a guy my size should be looking at the touring chassis. I'm considering getting a road king, & removing the windshield & bags for daily riding. I was wondering if any of you are already doing it.
The wind shield and saddle bags are highly recommended. Getting hit by a rock that is kicked up by another vehicle is no fun. Even getting hit by a June Bug or Japanese Beetle will sting. So keep the Shield.
The Saddle bags will be needed for your stuff like coat, gloves, boots, tools, plug kit, air pump, etc...
I went through a 3 year period where my only transportation was a bike. Put 25K Miles a year on it during that time.
Your bike your choice.
The Road King doesn't look right with the bags removed.. Harley actually recommends not doing it because you're taking off the rear side reflectors which are on the bags. Guess it's some sort of safety issue..
I find it's really nice to have luggage capacity. I'm retired, so I don't commute, but I often go shopping and pick up stuff like groceries, clothing, couple of dozen beers , and even bike accessories like engine oil, filters etc. I'd rather take the bike over the car for stuff like this.
Then there's things like having a jacket to put on if it gets cold, or putting one away if it gets hot.. A place to keep rain gear. Carrying a tool kit, and or a tire patch kit, All very handy.
i never had a bike with a windshield or bags until 2012. I sure would miss them now for my daily rider.
Use to leave on Monday on my stripped down bike and ride 125 miles to work and stay all week with just the cloths i could jam in a gym bag and strap on the bike.
Sounds like a Road King would be a good fit for you, either that or a stripped down Heritage.
I regularly commute to work - pretty much every day that weather is decent and I don't have to wear a suit. It's about 40 miles round-trip with a mix of interstate and surface streets. Having the bags and tour pack make it a lot easier to carry my briefcase, lunch etc. (I had a Kawasaki Vulcan S before the Road King and it was a pain strapping those things onto the back all the time.) I also keep the windshield on most days, unless it's really hot or I just want to feel the wind. If the windshield is off, then I take the tour pack off, because I think it looks goofy with tour pack and no windshield. For me, the ride home really reduces stress and gets me out of the work mindset before I get home. The only downside I've found is that it's hard to concentrate on work when the bike is sitting outside on a beautiful day. 2023 FLHP
I commute quite a bit on my bike. Typically, any day it isn't below 40*F, raining, or if I don't need to dress well.
I have a 2024 Street Glide that I've commuted 5000 miles so far in 5 months. Before that, I had a 2017 Street Glide that I put 45,000 miles on in 7 years. I had a Buell before those and I commuted 40-50 miles roundtrip, 8000 miles in two years, on backroads.
I'll never commute on another naked bike like the Buell again; the windshield and bags are a must. I need a place to put my rain gear, gloves, lunch, hat, or even mail I'm going to drop off at the post office, the 12-pack or prescription I pick up on the way home, etc.
I have lived in and commuted in Dallas-Fort Worth for a few years where I commuted about 35-40 miles roundtrip, having to pass through or go around downtown: about 50% surface roads, 50% interstate. Absolutely would rather have a touring bike in those conditions.
I now live back in BFE and have a 70-mile roundtrip on 75 mph state highways. Again, a touring bike feels better to me in these conditions. The windshield prevents a lot of head whipping due to wind. The bags allow me to pick up or drop off things on the route.
I do carry a tourpack sometimes when I know I'm going to stop at the grocery, or in the spring/fall when it's cold in the morning and cool in the evenings and I need to bring winter pants, jacket liner, etc. and there isn't enough room in the bags.
Last edited by BrandonSmith; Dec 6, 2024 at 01:45 PM.
I work from home 2-3 days/week, but on the days that I do have to into the office, I almost always ride my bike (as long as its above freezing). I love commuting on a dresser. Theres plenty of room for my computer bag, lunch, and anything else I might have to take. I started on an old 4 speed sportster, then went to a Victory Kingpin, an Ultra Classic, now a 24 SG.
I put about 12-15K miles/ year on my bike, so it doesnt collect much dust.
I commute daily year-round on a road king. If you don't like a windshield and bags then get a fat boy. I've run my road king on the interstate without a windshield and it's horrible, Anything over 50 mph and I feel like the wind is trying to rip me off the bike. Plus, it looks like hell without the bags. Funny thing, my electra glide without the fairing doesn't blow wind in my face hard when it's off.
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, and even bike accessories like engine oil, filters etc. I'd rather take the bike over the car for stuff like this.
