Road King for Daily Driver?
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
From: Near Raleigh N.C.
Nah...but get the Classic instead. You will be glad you have the trunk, esp. if you drive to work like I do. Holds your helmet, jacket, lunch etc...plus the wife will love the backrest and the tunes!!
Last edited by tmblweed; Aug 23, 2008 at 04:24 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lickerder, Florida
Its been beat to death, but they are right. You have misinterpreted the size of the RK as bulky. She's what I like to call a cross breed, Nimble enough for town and comfy enough for the highway. Love it!
Stage I
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I ride my E-Glide (it's a Road King with a fairing and stereo) daily to/from work 135 miles a day round trip and everywhere else i go literally all year around and I couldn't be more pleased or content. It handles great and is very comfortable. The saddle bags on the touring bikes are huge, look great and are very sturdy - hold lots of stuff for shopping, road trips, etc.
i am a dualsport rider klr 650 & 990 adventure. im looking at the roadking for a daily driver 160 miles round trip daily. i am not one for polish and shine though it is nice..bugs are heavy in the deserts of socal on hwy 78 from julian to calipatria. being an adventure rider weather is fun daily riding is awesome. looking at 3000 miles per month avg spd 75-85 mph normal constant
1.) i would like to know if the rkc gonna be high to maintain on such a high mileage demand much like yours.
2.) im really looking to condense to one bike instead of 3.
3.) If the RKC 2011 is for more show than duty then that's ok and i will ride the two i have. However; since the police use them daily even more miles the RK & RKC should hold up fine. 12m riding perhaps 40-45k a year.
4.) i'm just an avg joe like many so payments are 72 months.
5.)In 3 years @120k will it be wore out with the 103 engine and 6spd tranny?
do think will i be stuck with a bike worn out from daily riding with 3yrs still left to pay?
after seeing you post i think you would have a good insight to this.
thanks
bc
Last edited by bc_ca; Dec 2, 2010 at 12:16 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 507
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR
Perfect question, since I am in the same situation. I purchased my first Harley in 2005, an 883 Custom. My wife and I rode two up on this little bike for a lot of miles and we upgraded this June to a Road King. I drive both to and from work daily, but it's only about a 2 mile ride and it's all city driving. On days when there is a 30% or more chance of rain, I'll take the Sporty. It's a good bike and it still needs to be ridden, so I ride both. My personal opinion is that the RK is an easier bike to drive. Now, when I get on the Sporty, I almost dump it every time!! Still lots of fun, plus it's the louder of the two, with it's V&H Shortshot Staggered exhaust...really rips!
I refused to teach her to ride - she had to take a class. After 20+ years, I'm smart enough to know I can't teach her anything!
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Hi...
i am a dualsport rider klr 650 & 990 adventure. im looking at the roadking for a daily driver 160 miles round trip daily. i am not one for polish and shine though it is nice..bugs are heavy in the deserts of socal on hwy 78 from julian to calipatria. being an adventure rider weather is fun daily riding is awesome. looking at 3000 miles per month avg spd 75-85 mph normal constant
1.) i would like to know if the rkc gonna be high to maintain on such a high mileage demand much like yours.
2.) im really looking to condense to one bike instead of 3.
3.) If the RKC 2011 is for more show than duty then that's ok and i will ride the two i have. However; since the police use them daily even more miles the RK & RKC should hold up fine. 12m riding perhaps 40-45k a year.
4.) i'm just an avg joe like many so payments are 72 months.
5.)In 3 years @120k will it be wore out with the 103 engine and 6spd tranny?
do think will i be stuck with a bike worn out from daily riding with 3yrs still left to pay?
after seeing you post i think you would have a good insight to this.
thanks
bc
i am a dualsport rider klr 650 & 990 adventure. im looking at the roadking for a daily driver 160 miles round trip daily. i am not one for polish and shine though it is nice..bugs are heavy in the deserts of socal on hwy 78 from julian to calipatria. being an adventure rider weather is fun daily riding is awesome. looking at 3000 miles per month avg spd 75-85 mph normal constant
1.) i would like to know if the rkc gonna be high to maintain on such a high mileage demand much like yours.
2.) im really looking to condense to one bike instead of 3.
3.) If the RKC 2011 is for more show than duty then that's ok and i will ride the two i have. However; since the police use them daily even more miles the RK & RKC should hold up fine. 12m riding perhaps 40-45k a year.
4.) i'm just an avg joe like many so payments are 72 months.
5.)In 3 years @120k will it be wore out with the 103 engine and 6spd tranny?
do think will i be stuck with a bike worn out from daily riding with 3yrs still left to pay?
after seeing you post i think you would have a good insight to this.
thanks
bc
Did you find the KTM was a good fit for you? I love the Road King, but it's a radically different bike than you're riding.
I don't think you'll wear out the bike in three years, even at 120K miles. Harleys are easily rebuilt, look at all the 40, 50, even 60 year old Harleys still on the road. There's quite a few forum members with high mileage bikes. Keep it maintained, and you could probably put 200K on the bike before it needed a teardown.
All the Harley touring bikes make great commuters. Don't rule out the Electra Glide or Road Glide. The fairing and radio are pretty nice features to have when you're piling on the highway miles.