I like what you can do to a Road King Classic
You can build a Road King Custom bar hopper
to a full dresser. Congratulations John welcome
to the forum keep us posted on your new scoot
and how you are likeing it.

 

Congratulations John. I bought a new RKC six months ago and I love it! I would marry it if that was legal.

 

good choice on the KING. and save some $$$ for UPGRADES

and you're right brother you only live once, so consider this a new chapter in your life. you're making your wife happy by you being happy on a new RK!

 

Any dealer worth their salt will demo any model you want to try. If they wont find another who will.

Ride and decide.

 

you should be fine. THe hardest thing will be handling at low speeds. Sure the Road King is heavy, but not as heavy as an Untra and all Harley's carry their weight pretty low. You're tall enough and heavy enough that you're unlikely to drop the bike standing still. Go for it.

 

I completed the course a couple of years ago. After renting several Harleys I recently bought a Road King. Two weeks into it and still feel like it was the right decision and couldn't be happier. I agree with the advise to ease into it, as it's a lot of bike.

 

My first Harley is pictured in my signature. Yes, it's a Road King and I do not regret the decision to buy this bike at all. No, it's not my first bike (I rode a 1000cc Ninja for awhile/several years). I'm 61, weigh too much (~240lbs), but am in reasonably good health for someone who has lived life to its fullest. So your questions are valid and the answers are, yes, buy the Road King and never look back. Service by any dealer is expensive, parts/bling is expensive, living life is expensive, the bikes are expensive, insurance isn't too bad (we're old, so that makes a difference). You can rent one if that's your preference, but it will only make you think you could have put that money towards the bike.

Touring bikes are heavy, but they are extremely well balanced. Make sure you have crash bars as you are likely to lay it down in the driveway just moving it around. If you do it right, it won't really damage too much. It happened to me and only the crash bar was scraped. Don't expect to be lucky. I find that the Road King is an exceptionally nimble motorcycle for its size. I rode the Tail of the Dragon this past week and had no trouble driving the bike through those challenging turns. Like someone else pointed out, don't put all your money into the down payment unless you have to. It's better to get a good monthly that you can handle and use the other money for things you will want such as fingerless gloves, assless chaps, Stage 1 upgrade, GPS/Ipod/MP3 player, chrome cup holder, new seat (all stock seats seem to suck), several different helmets (full-face, half-, 3/4, modular, DOT, non-DOT), and tires (you'll need tires in about 10K to 15K miles). Obviously, the list of things you'll want to go along with your bike is endless and completely up to you. I already have my fingerless gloves/assless chaps/leather jacket/mesh jacket. Oh yeah, you'll need the latest in boots, too. I have the cheap Wal Mart steel toe boots in basic black, but I'm jonesing for some Chippwas/Westcos/etc. Don't be afraid of the bike. Be afraid of those cagers that are out to get you. Watch out for them and you should be fine.

You make a 1000 decisions in a day, and as the squirrel that was crossing the road in front of me on the Dragon found out, you make one wrong decision and you get run over by an 800 lb. Harley.

Live to ride, Ride to live.

 

Hi I have been riding for over 20yrs and I just bought my first Harley it is a 98 Road King and I love it.
My Wife is a new rider 3yrs she started on an 1100 Yamaha Virago and she just bought a 01 Heritage Softail and she can't believe the differance.
I think you will have no problem with a Road King, you may want to look in to buying used first save money there are a lot of great used bike out there

 

My first Harley is a Road King. Thought I would get a Sporty, but the dealer advised me to "buy my 2nd bike first." Ended up being very good advise. I too was inexperienced--rode small bikes as a teenager. 5K miles letter and I am completely in love with the bike and riding. Take it easy, lots of practicing. But as has been said the early jitters dissapear quickly. BTW--you can negotiate a little with the dealers. Also, go ahead and find a dealer that let's you test ride some bikes. I rode everything I could for a few months.

Hope you pull the trigger and enjoy the freedom.

 

Congrats! I really believe you won't regret it!! A day late but I wouldn't worry about the size, take it at your own pace. I have a 07 RK CVO and I'm 5'7 and 140!
Have fun and ride safe!