I had a 97 RK with the locking bags, kept it for 10 years and got an 07 Ultra. I just made a deal to trade it in for an 09 RKC. I like the style of the leather bags, but you can't go wrong with either RK. I'm going back.

 

I have an RK Custom and was checking into buying the hard bags from HD and getting them painted to match (yikes, that's expensive.) I do like the looks of the painted hard bags, but the leather covered hard bags are definitely growing on me. I don't find the leather covered bags hard to take care of at all. I wash my bike every-so-often and apply this 'Back to Black' stuff on the bags. Keeps them looking great. I mean, they scuff and stuff, but the color is still nice.

I found this strange, but the parts guy at the dealer told me more than once that he hears more positive comments about the hard leather bags than the painted hard plastic bags. That surprises me, but he swears it's true?

 

Sounds like you have a solid strategy.

From my point of view I just prefer the look of the RKC. Yes the tires take a little extra time but if you have a jack (and you should) I would think no more than 10 minutes each washing. The leather bags would be nice if they locked and you can go after-market to get that. I just think they look better than the hard bags but as many have stated before, that is simply a matter of your preference.

 

I like my weatherproof lockable hard bags which is why I chose the FLHRI RK and I don't care for laced wheels because of the upkeep and not being able to use tubeless tire along with having to tighten the spokes. I really like the looks of the new wheels on the '09 touring models.

 

I've had all 3 versions of the Road King - a 2000 Classic, a 2004 Custom, a 2006 Standard, and now I'm back to a 2004 Classic. Here's my .02.

Saddlebags - Classic is definitely the biggest, then the hard bags on the standard, then the custom bags are the smallest of the bunch. As for locking, there are several aftermarket options for the leather bags. I have Aeromach locks on my classic bags, and they have been keyed to match the ignition. The leather bags are EASY to clean. Get a sponge and wipe them off. They are every bit as easy to clean as the hard bags. Leather dressing only needs to be applied twice a year - more often if you ride in rain.

Wheels - the spokes on the Classic are gorgeous, and they are also a pain to clean. Same with the whitewalls. I do a lot of long distance touring so this is especially hard for me. However, I kept the whitewalls and spokes just because they are so beautiful. I had Thunderstar rims on my 2000 Classic and may well put them on my '04 in the future. Another consideration about the spokes is the tube. If you get a flat in the middle of nowhere you're stuck, whereas tubeless tires can usually be plugged on the spot. Spokes with whitewalls sure do look classy though.

Styling - only you can answer this. Do YOU prefer the styling of the Classic or Standard? Don't worry about what others think. Personally, I think that the Classic is the most beautiful bike HD has ever made, but that is just my opinion. You may prefer the standard.

Tour Pack - If you ever decide to put on one of these, the leather tour pack for the Classic is a LOT smaller than the painted Tour Packs. Capacities are: king (painted) 3850 cubic inches, chopped (painted) 2800, leather classic 2500. Also, the hard saddlebags of the standard can open fully with any of the tour packs mounted, whereas my classic saddlebags can only open about 80% before hitting the tour pack. They still open far enough for easy access, but not far enough to stay open on their own. Just something else to consider in your decision-making process.

Handlebars - they SUCK on all 3 bikes. Classic and standard don't have near enough pullback. The custom has great pullback but a terrible wrist angle. In all likelihood, you will want to swap out the bars in short order. Not to worry though. Changing bars on a Road King is quite easy. I had a Street Glide that I changed the bars on - and that was a pain with the batwing.

You can't go wrong with any of the Road Kings. Good luck with your choice. Any of them will put a smile on your face. After trying all 3 iterations I returned to my personal favorite - the classic.

Doug

 

What type of handlebars did you put on your RK?

 

I had a set of Flanders on my '00, I had a set of Chubby's on my '04 Custom and my '06, and on my present '04 Classic I have a set of the RK high bars straight out of the HD catalog. To be honest with you, I like the RK high bar better than any of the others, and they only cost $50. I did 3 rides this month over 600 miles per day, and I was very comfortable. Of course which bar works best for you may vary due to the fact that we are all built different.

 

Not overly related to this thread, but I have a Roadking Custom, and I constantly read about them not being lockable? I had the H-D lock set from the catalog install upon purchase. The locking mechanism clearly reduces the space in the custom bags over the classic.

 

KBrown: I bought a RK Std. because of the hard bags for more secure watertight storage and cast wheels for ease of flat fixing on the road...but again, to each their own.

Tom

 

Hey tell me, why did Harley decide to nix the RK Custom? I just noticed this and was surprised.........Might have something to do with the CVO King maybe? Rich