My Road King impressions
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 274
Likes: 10
From: Danbury CT
My Road King impressions
Now that I have over 100 miles on my new RK I figured I would post my initial impressions.
After 4 years on a Yammie 1100 Vstar I finally have a Harley
My Road King impressions
Buying experience- It’s a Harley so it was expensive. I had planned on getting rid of my Yammie 1100 VStar in the spring and upgrading to a Harley. On Black Friday 2007 my Father in law called me and asked if I would go to the HD dealer (Danbury Harley) with him. He rides a RK and wanted to pick something up. While he was talking to one of the guys I milled around. Its hard to explain but when owning a metric I just didn’t feel in place at the HD Dealer. I know but that’s me. So I see this RK and thought to myself “That’s an awesome looking bike”. Looked at it for a long time then walked around some more. Finally a salesman approaches me and I ask him about some bikes. Basically getting some info. We got talking price and I said I just cant afford one now. It was holiday season after all. So he says “I do have an 07 RK left over that I can work with the number on”. For sh*ts and giggles I said “ok show me”. Wouldn’t you know it’s the one I was ogling earlier. So he says I can do this one for $18K. If you do it today. I talked it over with my Father in law and he says “offer $17K and see what he says”. So I do and he says “Done”. So he gives me the paperwork and I am expecting to pay $17k plus prep, delivery, 2 tone option, security etc. Nope. $17k plus tax and reg and title. That’s is. The actual price on the invoice was $16k+ the delivery and all that. So I think I got a good deal. Only thing that burns my *** is that I had to Buy a tee shirt. Thought they would throw it in but whatever.
Ride- Coming off a metric “knock off” cruiser, the Road King is like night and day. Its hard to explain but the RK just feels like more bike. The Yammie now seems like I was riding a toy. The RK is just more substantial. Don’t get me wrong I loved my Yammie but the RK is euphoric. Power is much more apparent. Response is much quicker (probably due to the FI). Comfort is similar. The RK is a little more cramped. I am 6’4” and had 5 inch Floor Board extensions on the Yammie with a corbin Seat which made it real comfy. I am also not crazy about the position of the handle Bars on the RK. They seem narrow and not as close as the Yammie was. I will probably change the bars and extend the Floorboards soon. I was also very pleasantly surprised how well the bike handles for a machine of its size. It is so well balanced that the handling is outstanding.
Appearance- What can I say? I love the classic look of the RK. Especially with the Windshield off. I also love the look of the hard bags. My color is great as well. I have Fire red pearl and Pearl Black 2 tone. Shifting is different as well. More solid. Easier to find gears. Clutch a lot easier. Vibrates a lot more than the Yammie. Noisier engine than the Yammie.
[size=3][font="times new roman"]Overall impression of the bike is outstanding. I am completely and totally happy with the decision. I love the look, feel, ride. I am a little concerned about some of the issues I have heard about (Cr
After 4 years on a Yammie 1100 Vstar I finally have a Harley
My Road King impressions
Buying experience- It’s a Harley so it was expensive. I had planned on getting rid of my Yammie 1100 VStar in the spring and upgrading to a Harley. On Black Friday 2007 my Father in law called me and asked if I would go to the HD dealer (Danbury Harley) with him. He rides a RK and wanted to pick something up. While he was talking to one of the guys I milled around. Its hard to explain but when owning a metric I just didn’t feel in place at the HD Dealer. I know but that’s me. So I see this RK and thought to myself “That’s an awesome looking bike”. Looked at it for a long time then walked around some more. Finally a salesman approaches me and I ask him about some bikes. Basically getting some info. We got talking price and I said I just cant afford one now. It was holiday season after all. So he says “I do have an 07 RK left over that I can work with the number on”. For sh*ts and giggles I said “ok show me”. Wouldn’t you know it’s the one I was ogling earlier. So he says I can do this one for $18K. If you do it today. I talked it over with my Father in law and he says “offer $17K and see what he says”. So I do and he says “Done”. So he gives me the paperwork and I am expecting to pay $17k plus prep, delivery, 2 tone option, security etc. Nope. $17k plus tax and reg and title. That’s is. The actual price on the invoice was $16k+ the delivery and all that. So I think I got a good deal. Only thing that burns my *** is that I had to Buy a tee shirt. Thought they would throw it in but whatever.
Ride- Coming off a metric “knock off” cruiser, the Road King is like night and day. Its hard to explain but the RK just feels like more bike. The Yammie now seems like I was riding a toy. The RK is just more substantial. Don’t get me wrong I loved my Yammie but the RK is euphoric. Power is much more apparent. Response is much quicker (probably due to the FI). Comfort is similar. The RK is a little more cramped. I am 6’4” and had 5 inch Floor Board extensions on the Yammie with a corbin Seat which made it real comfy. I am also not crazy about the position of the handle Bars on the RK. They seem narrow and not as close as the Yammie was. I will probably change the bars and extend the Floorboards soon. I was also very pleasantly surprised how well the bike handles for a machine of its size. It is so well balanced that the handling is outstanding.
Appearance- What can I say? I love the classic look of the RK. Especially with the Windshield off. I also love the look of the hard bags. My color is great as well. I have Fire red pearl and Pearl Black 2 tone. Shifting is different as well. More solid. Easier to find gears. Clutch a lot easier. Vibrates a lot more than the Yammie. Noisier engine than the Yammie.
[size=3][font="times new roman"]Overall impression of the bike is outstanding. I am completely and totally happy with the decision. I love the look, feel, ride. I am a little concerned about some of the issues I have heard about (Cr
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 388
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From:
RE: My Road King impressions
Congrats on the ride. I went from a BMW (had 7 of em) before I made the switch. I hadn't been on a Harley in over 20 years when I made the move to my 06 Electra Glide. When I first pulled away from the dealership, I hated it. Noisy, shaky, crappy breaks, not at all as comfy as my Beemers. I rode home and called my friend who recommended the switch and let him have it! He did a similar trade as me and is very happy now. He told me to give it some time. Well, I hung in there and took a few trips after making some changes to the bike and now I don't think I could switch back. My bike now runs like I want it, the brakes had to break in(something I wish the dealer had told me before I pulled away, that first stop was a bit of a white knuckler)! And I found a seat that's nice and comfy. I really can't compare the two as they're completely different animals, the Beemers I owned were all great bikes and I loved them, but the Harley in it's own way is a cut above. Enjoy your new ride!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,667
Likes: 1
From:
RE: My Road King impressions
my 1st harley as well have an 2008 road king went from a kawasaki vulcan nomad a great bike in it's own right but like you it doesn't compare to the harley greatride.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,095
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From: clearwater, fl
RE: My Road King impressions
i have an 07 rkc i love my bike. its not the first honda magna 500. this king is a real dream to ride. i never took my honda out of the county. with my king i wantto take it every where
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 274
Likes: 10
From: Danbury CT
RE: My Road King impressions
Cowboy. I honestly think that was more me than anything else. My hang up. I do feel now that I can go anywhere with my bike where before I wouldnt dare go to a "Harley" event like at the Harley Dealer. besides with a metric there really is no reason to go to an HD Dealer and I would have notheing to buy or even talk to them about. So yeah it was more my hang up. Sucks because I am not really like that. I dont give acrap about much.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 417
Likes: 3
From: Myerstown, PA
RE: My Road King impressions
A metric convert here too......Had a V-Star, then a Road Star, now a Road King and a V-Rod. Just can't seem to get away from the Road's & V's I guess.
The Yamaha's are great bikes but nothing like being a part of the "HD mystique". Now you just gotta' watch out on your clothing budget.
The Yamaha's are great bikes but nothing like being a part of the "HD mystique". Now you just gotta' watch out on your clothing budget.