Rode an '07 RK today
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
Rode an '07 RK today
Rode an '07 RK demo bike today, and here are some impressions comparing it to my '96 RK. Okay, apples and oranges, but that's the only bike I'm intimate enough with to compare it to. It's been a while since I rode a TC88 FLH.
Engine feel: Rough at idle, very bouncy and seemed to be idled too high--but once underway very smooth with no rough spots at all. My Evo shakes a bit between 55 and 65, but smooths out at 70+. This new bike is smooth throughout the RPM range, except idle. This engine had an annoying rattle when under even light load at low RPM's, like around 2k, which didn't sound normal to me.
Sound: Nice, deep rumble, the best sound since the Evo. New muffler design on FLH's, and I might consider leaving this one stock if I owned one. Valve-train noise is very low, which reportedly led the way to tweaking the exhaust note. Compared to my Evo's level of mechanical noises, this bike is dead silent.
Power: About what I expected. Very good low-end, generally good performance, but the bike only had 28 miles on it, thus was obviously tight. I'd like to try it again at 500.
Tranny: To my surprise, very clunky, though I presume this would smooth out with break-in. Wish this bike had a tach so I could see the RPM differences compared to the 5-speed, but 6th gear seemed very tall. I would say 55mph would be the minimum for cruising in 6th, maybe even 60.
Handling/ride: No change that I could tell. Feels like an RK, which is good. If it ain't broke....
Brakes: Awful, but pads/rotors were not broken in.
Overall, I was impressed. I don't think anyone who buys one will be disappointed, though EPA gas mileage is down from 39 (TC88) to 32 in town, not something I could check on a 10-mile ride, which to me is unacceptable if accurate. Usually, EPA runs below what I actually get, but for me 32 would have to be way below reality to be palatable. Gas mileage is important to me and I would hope the real gas mileage is better, much better. My Evo gets 47-50 in town, higher on highway, and moving into the 30's would be a pill I wouldn't want to swallow.
Engine feel: Rough at idle, very bouncy and seemed to be idled too high--but once underway very smooth with no rough spots at all. My Evo shakes a bit between 55 and 65, but smooths out at 70+. This new bike is smooth throughout the RPM range, except idle. This engine had an annoying rattle when under even light load at low RPM's, like around 2k, which didn't sound normal to me.
Sound: Nice, deep rumble, the best sound since the Evo. New muffler design on FLH's, and I might consider leaving this one stock if I owned one. Valve-train noise is very low, which reportedly led the way to tweaking the exhaust note. Compared to my Evo's level of mechanical noises, this bike is dead silent.
Power: About what I expected. Very good low-end, generally good performance, but the bike only had 28 miles on it, thus was obviously tight. I'd like to try it again at 500.
Tranny: To my surprise, very clunky, though I presume this would smooth out with break-in. Wish this bike had a tach so I could see the RPM differences compared to the 5-speed, but 6th gear seemed very tall. I would say 55mph would be the minimum for cruising in 6th, maybe even 60.
Handling/ride: No change that I could tell. Feels like an RK, which is good. If it ain't broke....
Brakes: Awful, but pads/rotors were not broken in.
Overall, I was impressed. I don't think anyone who buys one will be disappointed, though EPA gas mileage is down from 39 (TC88) to 32 in town, not something I could check on a 10-mile ride, which to me is unacceptable if accurate. Usually, EPA runs below what I actually get, but for me 32 would have to be way below reality to be palatable. Gas mileage is important to me and I would hope the real gas mileage is better, much better. My Evo gets 47-50 in town, higher on highway, and moving into the 30's would be a pill I wouldn't want to swallow.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
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RE: Rode an '07 RK today
ORIGINAL: iclick
Rode an '07 RK demo bike today, and here are some impressions comparing it to my '96 RK. Okay, apples and oranges, but that's the only bike I'm intimate enough with to compare it to. It's been a while since I rode a TC88 FLH.
Engine feel: Rough at idle, very bouncy and seemed to be idled too high--but once underway very smooth with no rough spots at all. My Evo shakes a bit between 55 and 65, but smooths out at 70+. This new bike is smooth throughout the RPM range, except idle. This engine had an annoying rattle when under even light load at low RPM's, like around 2k, which didn't sound normal to me.
Sound: Nice, deep rumble, the best sound since the Evo. New muffler design on FLH's, and I might consider leaving this one stock if I owned one. Valve-train noise is very low, which reportedly led the way to tweaking the exhaust note. Compared to my Evo's level of mechanical noises, this bike is dead silent.
Power: About what I expected. Very good low-end, generally good performance, but the bike only had 28 miles on it, thus was obviously tight. I'd like to try it again at 500.
Tranny: To my surprise, very clunky, though I presume this would smooth out with break-in. Wish this bike had a tach so I could see the RPM differences compared to the 5-speed, but 6th gear seemed very tall. I would say 55mph would be the minimum for cruising in 6th, maybe even 60.
Handling/ride: No change that I could tell. Feels like an RK, which is good. If it ain't broke....
Brakes: Awful, but pads/rotors were not broken in.
Overall, I was impressed. I don't think anyone who buys one will be disappointed, though EPA gas mileage is down from 39 (TC88) to 32 in town, not something I could check on a 10-mile ride, which to me is unacceptable if accurate. Usually, EPA runs below what I actually get, but for me 32 would have to be way below reality to be palatable. Gas mileage is important to me and I would hope the real gas mileage is better, much better. My Evo gets 47-50 in town, higher on highway, and moving into the 30's would be a pill I wouldn't want to swallow.
Rode an '07 RK demo bike today, and here are some impressions comparing it to my '96 RK. Okay, apples and oranges, but that's the only bike I'm intimate enough with to compare it to. It's been a while since I rode a TC88 FLH.
Engine feel: Rough at idle, very bouncy and seemed to be idled too high--but once underway very smooth with no rough spots at all. My Evo shakes a bit between 55 and 65, but smooths out at 70+. This new bike is smooth throughout the RPM range, except idle. This engine had an annoying rattle when under even light load at low RPM's, like around 2k, which didn't sound normal to me.
Sound: Nice, deep rumble, the best sound since the Evo. New muffler design on FLH's, and I might consider leaving this one stock if I owned one. Valve-train noise is very low, which reportedly led the way to tweaking the exhaust note. Compared to my Evo's level of mechanical noises, this bike is dead silent.
Power: About what I expected. Very good low-end, generally good performance, but the bike only had 28 miles on it, thus was obviously tight. I'd like to try it again at 500.
Tranny: To my surprise, very clunky, though I presume this would smooth out with break-in. Wish this bike had a tach so I could see the RPM differences compared to the 5-speed, but 6th gear seemed very tall. I would say 55mph would be the minimum for cruising in 6th, maybe even 60.
Handling/ride: No change that I could tell. Feels like an RK, which is good. If it ain't broke....
Brakes: Awful, but pads/rotors were not broken in.
Overall, I was impressed. I don't think anyone who buys one will be disappointed, though EPA gas mileage is down from 39 (TC88) to 32 in town, not something I could check on a 10-mile ride, which to me is unacceptable if accurate. Usually, EPA runs below what I actually get, but for me 32 would have to be way below reality to be palatable. Gas mileage is important to me and I would hope the real gas mileage is better, much better. My Evo gets 47-50 in town, higher on highway, and moving into the 30's would be a pill I wouldn't want to swallow.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: Rode an '07 RK today
Original: Wldhogn
Thanks for the ride info .. BTW, nice '96 RK
Thanks for the ride info .. BTW, nice '96 RK
ORIGINAL: Motor Squad
I also miss the tach not for purposes of needing it, but just out of curiosity for the new set up.
I also miss the tach not for purposes of needing it, but just out of curiosity for the new set up.
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