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RE: Baggers without windshields or fairings (Let's see em!)
ORIGINAL: nsodpty52
I think kings are nice bikes but after riding with a stereo holy crap I'd never buy a bike without.
ZPA speaking if sporty I have been told that the leather or "soft bags" like on your bike make it unstable at high speeds. A guy I ride with has them. Couldn't figure out why his bike was so unstable going 80 90 and plus. he heard about the bags. borrowed a set of hard bags from work. his bike was fine with the hard bags at speed. Have you noticed this?
I have a rk custom with the leather bags. It is actually leather on top of a rigid plastic. It does flex, but I have never once noticed any unstability at any speed. I regularly go over 70 MPH, and I have never had an issue.
As far as shields go. I have one. I have 18" apes, and in order for my bars to be in the position I like, I have to take the shield off. The only time that shield is ever on, is during my winter rides... otherwise, it is laying against the wall in the garage. It does take some getting use to when you are really moving, especially with my arms up at my shoulders (I am a big wind sail). It does wear you out faster than I get with it on, but I have really become use to riding with the shield off...
RE: Baggers without windshields or fairings (Let's see em!)
04 rk custom. I have a fairing and a windshield. Having the tunes is nice on long trips but cruising the twisties and foothills without a shield is the way to go. I found riding without a shield is much easier with a rider backrest too. It gives good support and cuts down on the fatigue.
Having the options to go with/without a shield is what I really like about the rk.
RE: Baggers without windshields or fairings (Let's see em!)
Thanks for the great pics! Glad to see I'm not alone! Please keep them coming!
To answer some questions:
1. The pipes on my bike are cycle shack. They sound better than any pipes on a bagger that I've yet to hear. They give at least another 1/4 growl to any true duals. And they make my RK look so much different than any I've seen. That is what apealed to me.
2.As for the leather bags, I regulary ride at 80+. I've never had any problems. I would think a big fairing would be a much bigger problem with stability, but I wouldn't know as I don't have one.
3. As for not having "tunes", I love music as much as the next guy, but honestly, listing to the radio or a CD while riding doesn't interest me. I like listening to the bike andlooking at the scenery. In my honest opinion, I think the music could be a bit distraciting, especially since being on bike is so dangerous to begin with that you really need to concentrate as much as possible on what some idiot in a car might do.
4. As for the wind problem, yes, I agree, over 50 mph all you hear is unbelievable wind noise that sounds like someone holding blowdryers next to your ears. It is incredibly annoying for me, which is yet another reason that I wear a full helmet (safety first and eliminating wind noise second). Helmets are a "choice" I know, but last August I went down at 60mph when a car turned across my path. I'm glad the chunck taken out by the pavement came from my helmet and not my forehead.
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