from a soft tail to a road king
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2006
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from a soft tail to a road king
excuse any ignorance i may have, i have only owned ricers. which of course weigh half as much as the harleys im interested in. i plan on buying my first harley this time next year. i have always liked the fatboy. however, when i get this harley i want to be my last. two friends with road kings both are betting i'll end up wanting a road king in a matter of time if i get a fatboy. they mention comfort and ride. heres my delima and question. when i sit and ride fat boys i really feel comfortable all around. however on road kings classics or custom i dont feel right at all. im a short guy 5'7" with short lineman legs. my heels are about an inch or two from the ground when holding the bike up espcially on the left side i think due to the gear box. i simply dont feel as good on the bigger bike when riding either. is it a matter of just needed to get used to. i like the looks of both and will be able to afford either. anyone with the same or any advice.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 568
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From: Yuba City, CA
RE: from a soft tail to a road king
Your comfort is #1. Are going to be riding 2 up. I am a big guy. My gf is average. When we loaded the bike down for 3-4 days, the ride was not the best. I LOVE my fatboy. I have solo'd it and plan on keeping it. But for the 2 of us and to get her to go cross country which we are this year, we bought an Ultra for the long trips and all of our 2 up riding. A far superior suspension. I'm not downing the fatboy. I have friends have rode the whole country on softails. This is just what we decided to do. If I had hindsight. I may have bought a RK first to kill 2 birds if I wasn't able to have both. You can lower the RK and get a slimmer seat. Hope this helps.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 415
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From: St. Louis
RE: from a soft tail to a road king
Could always change out the bars to have an easier reach as well...but common sense is common sense.
If you like the fat boy and feel more comfortable, do the fat boy.
If you like the fat boy and feel more comfortable, do the fat boy.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
RE: from a soft tail to a road king
I am only 5'9" and have short arms, so the beach bars are what I liked most about the RK Custom. The bars come back to me, so I don't have to learn forward to reach them.
The seat js at 26" an inch lower that other RK, amking it easy for me to get my legs over. I just put a Mustang solo with backrest on it, which pushed me forward a couple of inches.
I love the ride and feel.
The seat js at 26" an inch lower that other RK, amking it easy for me to get my legs over. I just put a Mustang solo with backrest on it, which pushed me forward a couple of inches.
I love the ride and feel.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Winchester, VA
RE: from a soft tail to a road king
The big difference between metric and a Harley is a Harley is completly customizable (I think thats how it's spelled). My opion the bike is made for the average person. That said pick the bike you like and want and then make it yours to fit you. Slam it down to the ground put a low profile seat on it. Different handle bars. Every single piece of metal can be changed to fit your taste, style and height. By the way I happen to be 5'6" with a 29" inseam. I lowered my softail with the factory kits ft/rear, droped it down a inch (made a big difference for me) stock seat now fits me perfect. On my Street glide it came lowered in the rear and I put lowering kit to drop it down a few more inches. I still need a little more gonna get a corbin seat and she should fit me like a glove. I now have both bikes so get your self a fatboy pay it off and get another if it floats you boat. My point beign get the bike you want now and deal with later, later.
Sorry so long sittin here sippin a rum and coke and I tend to ramble on.[8D]
Sorry so long sittin here sippin a rum and coke and I tend to ramble on.[8D]
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
RE: from a soft tail to a road king
Hey guy I'am 5'6" with an inseam so short you can't buyum. I ride a RG with a reach seat and HD short shocks in the rear. I sold my 05 softail to get the ride of a touring bike. To me it was the best move I could ever have made. I live where 99% of my riding is out of the city, When I 'am in the city the weight isn't any big thing because I've shorten the bike. Now I have riden an RKC and found it to be a little more nimble in the city but when I hit I-75 you can't beat a RG. If you get a RKC and adjust it alittle to fit you, youll never regret it. And if you get a softail you can bet that you will be doing things to it to change it anyways.[sm=groupwave.gif]
anyway you look at it your going to want a different seat maybe bars and shocks I mean HD makes them that way. Rickm
anyway you look at it your going to want a different seat maybe bars and shocks I mean HD makes them that way. Rickm
Supporter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 11
From: Ozark, AL
RE: from a soft tail to a road king
WHAT are you going to do with it? Are you going to be two up? How much C**P are you going to be packing? I really like the looks of the Fatty but, for me, it just wasn't practical. I had to have a bagger, windshield and it had to be comfortable. For me, that spelled touring. I bought my RK and have been very happy with it. I don't have to worry about out growing it. If you even think that you might want bags, windshield, fairing, more luggage, tunes, buy it the first time. Unless you can do both, go Bagger. my .02 cents.[8D]
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 3
From: TX
RE: from a soft tail to a road king
Having had both a Heritage Softail & several touring bikes, I'd pick the RK without a second thought . One other thing that has not been mentioned yet is that even though the Softails have the "balanced" motor, on prolonged highway runs, the high frequency vibration that comes through the rigid mounted engine to the floorboards and handlebars can be very annoying for someone used to the smooth ride of the touring models.
It's been said many times, they make a bunch of models for a bunch of different tastes.
Sounds like you have plenty of time, so rent one of each for a day or two, log some miles and make yourself an informed decision.
It's been said many times, they make a bunch of models for a bunch of different tastes.
Sounds like you have plenty of time, so rent one of each for a day or two, log some miles and make yourself an informed decision.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 637
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From:
RE: from a soft tail to a road king
Defintiley go with a bagger for the comfort and ride. I am only 5'5" and am perfectly comfortable on my RK Custom. The custom is 1" lower in the rear then the other 2 RK's. I ride 2 up about 50% of the time and my girlfriend loves it also.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
RE: from a soft tail to a road king
Phil you have a good point!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I forgot about the vibration, boy I don't miss that stuff. You hit the highway at about 75 and my hands were numb. I had changed to ISO grips and even pulled rubber gas hose though my bars and it still was there. Great point Phil. Rick