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Yeah Brett ... I am off Thurs and Fri this month and will head down to Ray Price in Raleigh and rent one for a day .. think he wants about $130 a day ... this time of year I am usually able to get 200-300, if its all good, miles in on a day. More if Im lucky ... seat height on the Vstar is 28.1 ... just checked on the 08 FLHRC 29.5.
I have ridden one ... but only for about ten minutes ... not much of a test.
Aprreeeesch all the info .. and I mention my stomach muscles because it does factor into ride comfort. Siiggggghhhh .. damn 40 year old pot
I have an 08. It really is great, not had any wobble and the bars are just fine for me (I'm 5'10"). If you do find it a little tall why not look at a Road King Custom or even a Softail Heritage, both of which have lower seat heights.
The only problem I have had was a porous crankcase near the oil filter - HD changed the crankcase under warranty
Oh and the other problem is it keeps needing more chrome bits adding!
Mine is a 01' FLHPI. No wobbles, but ... Has been in for cracked "Y" exhaust, leak in fuel leads at tank, new drive belt at 20k (previous owner insalled 140/90 tire instead of 130/90), new rear tire (correct size), and now I need to replace the front brake pads & calipers. Uncle Harley does not give a family discount, so I don't need to tell you, "Cha Ching"!!! My next course of action is to find a Indy of high caliber or wrench my own chit. I guess I need to start a dialog with Da Gumpmeister.
Ride Safe
had an '02 FLHR and put over 30K miles on it before I sold it.....ZERO problems whatsoever. Just got back on a Harley and went with another RK..an '02 FLHRCI (one owner, over 25K miles, again with ZERO problems.)
I know i've heard the complaints about heat issues with the '07 and '08 models... the cam chain tensioners in the models before '07... The "wobble" in pre-09 models isn't huge but it's a faint wobble you get in tight turns at higher speeds (like a freeway ramp), otherwise you don't generally notice a wobble.
The '09 models have addressed so many of these issues that it's nearing perfection from all i've seen/heard on the site here and in my own more limited experience this '09 is a wonderful machine.
I'm 5' 7" as well. I didn't sit flat footed which made me a little more uncomfortable. Especially coming off a lowrider. Had my seat tweaked by Mean City, which helped out some. Almost flat footed now. Think I'm gonna change out the shocks with Bitchin Baggers shocks ( I think thats who has them).
The bars do make me feel like I lean a little foward. After a long ride you start to feel it in the between the shoulder blades. Gonna change them out to the wild1 14" Apes. Better pullback. BUt a lot of people have raved about the Heritage bars, RK bars by Wild 1 have a little more pullback as well.
I guess thats my only complaints and I guess they aren't really complaints, just me being more on the short side but wanted a nice bagger.
whats up with the bars ... Im 5'7" ... too wide ? too far away ? a little of both ?
I'm 5'7'' as well and have an '09 RK. The bars are far enough forward that I have to lean a little. But I think that position is helpful when riding at higher speeds without the windshield, and it also disperses the shock from bumps over a wider area rather than straight up your spine like a sit 'n' beg position tends to do.
I've got an 07. I put the heritage bars and a comfort stitch two up seat on at delivery. Its my first HD and Im in love. Dont know if its the best thing since sliced bread but its exactly what I wanted. While it does run hot the mobile one in all three holes helped a little. Never noticed any sort of a wobble at all, I had it up to 110 one time on open road with the wife on the back till she started pinching my ribs hard enough to leave bruises and we both weigh a bit. I do think its the perfect combo of an in town and highway bike. It handles like a dream and has everything you would want but a fairing for the highway ( I dont like the weight of a fairing in town).
I bought an 05 Road King in August. I had to play with the bars a bit to get them how I wanted and now they are better.
I haven't had any issues with mine and it has 31,000 miles on it now. Is a little warm but with an engine in between your legs what do you expect.
Handles great, I can whip it around just as easily as I could my sporty. No complaints here.
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