When talking RKs the 02-06 handles better than than the later later ones. They are a few pound lighter and the steering is better once you fixed the suspension.. Both newer and later RKs had crappy suspension.. When it comes to batwings, the 09 up was stabler. 06-12 batwings had better front damping but the springs sucked. Rears still sucked.

IMO I still like the stock 5 speeds better then the 6s. My 02 had cruise but it's not as good as TBW models.

 

OP posted this question two solid months ago and never came back.

 

Yes, but it is still a good discussion. And that is why I like this forum.

I agree the pre 09 RKs are easier to handle because they are lighter.

Beary

 

So then, Bklyn was not supposed to post this yesterday?

 

The weight difference between an 02 and 09 is 22 pounds. To me, that is fairly negligible on a >750# bike, but everybody is different.

 

Where the hell did I say that? Where did I say that after two months the thread has to be closed? Where did I say that nobody can post?

Actually, now that I think about it, the only person who's not allowed to post in this thread, according to the rules, is you.

All I said was that the op never came back. Which he hasn't. To HDF at all.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Another thing that HD did on 09 was was to had 1/2 in trail to the steering neck and go to a fatter rear tire.. While rear tire mile mileage went up, this made the bike a little harder to handle at low speeds on uneven surfaces.. The added trail made the feel heavier overall.. Still added trail made the chassis feel stabler at speeds which where the batwings needed it..

Have a buddy that had an FLHRC 02 for his wife. He got into an accident and totaled the bike.. He was fine.. Bought a new 09, and the wife hated it..

Myself, I still own an 02 flhrc (75000 miles) and a new 17 M8 FLHR.. The 17 feels even more heavy than the later TCs.. The 17 did feel a little tighter than the 02 but now that it has 9500 miles on it, they are about the same.. The suspension on the 02 is way better but then it's not stock.. M8 suspension is a bunch better than the earlier RKs but a little stiff. Rear is definitely better than the early stuff but still a bit behind the good aftermarket stuff.

 

I had an 07, but have never been on an 02. How does the handling compare between an 02 and an 07?

 

I've not ridden a stock 07 RK but I would imagine about the same but probably a little worse in stock form.. Some the weight added to the later bikes was the drivetrain which changed in 07. The 07 RK used the same springs as the 02 and the 02 springs were pretty crappy to start.