This is true - they're the choice of many police departments and have been for years (or at least FLs have). I remember watching a lot of CHiPs when I was a kid. Maybe that's why an FL has always been the Harley-in-my-Head...

The ride quality os so important, what with my lady's back and knees. I think that will ultimately be the factor that seals it one way or the other, unless the difference in price is too large to overcome.

 

I imagine Ultras are more top-heavy?

 

Every Monday to Friday, I can't help thinking that riding a Harley to work would be a fabulous start to the day. A majestic commute!

 

AHA!! Jackpot - actual London experience! Thank you.

And you're echoing my biggest concern about Kinghood. It has occurred to me that US streets are so much wider. I mean, it's a terrible cliche to say that "everything's bigger in America", but well, they are! And I'm way ahead of you with the joys of scootering in and out of town, my current ride is a maxi-scooter and while not exactly vespa-like in its agility it could EASILY outpace a Road King through the gaps. I have wondered if not being able to do that is going to vastly reduce my ability to get across town. Plus parking! As mundane as it is to talk about parking - there's plenty of bike-only spaces around, but fitting a Road King into them could be tricky.

However...

My commuter route is blessed with rideable bus lanes almost all the way, except for a bit out in Tottenham after I've dropped my lady off at work. So I don't have to do a whole lot of serious filtering, and when I do it's in the sort of conditions that wouldn't stop you doing it on a bike the size of a King - believe me, it's on my mind every time I ride into town. The bike section I park in is even in a small Mews that always has plenty of space and would be easy to manoeuvre an RK in, although in the rain the cobbles might be a worry.

I've also thought about keeping the scooter, both instead of- and as well as. Ultimately we're taking daily transportation here, and sometimes the best option is the bike you already own. And for daily life in a city my boring, appliance-like scooter is damn near perfect. But that's all it's good for - we're trapped inside the M25! It has no long-distance ability whatsoever and we want to be able to get out of the city when we can. And as it will form some (or all) of the deposit on the new bike we can't really keep it. Traffic-dartiness is something I'm willing to trade for long-hauliness.

In an ideal world, I would keep my scooter for commuting and perhaps getting another one might be an option in time to come (although not another Piaggio). And I must say that after I find myself worrying about dragging a Road King around London, the thought occurs to me that not buying a bike as wondrous as a Road King because parking it might be tricky just seems a bit daft. Not all my riding is done in the bowels of Westminster, and there's a strong possibility that we're going to move just out of London into Hertfordshire within the next year, so how much of my commute will actually be in serious traffic?

I was in Warrs today and sat on the silver Road King they have in at the moment. It's about a third again as long as my scooter and about 500 times heavier, so manoeuvrability is definitely a question. But then it would be even with a Dyna. It might just be a compromise I'd have to (willingly) make...

 

I used to live in New York (for about a year and a half). New York traffic is actually not that dis-similar to London's in terms of street size and traffic volume. I don't tend to filter that much - I try not to be in so much of a hurry that I need to. Besides, it frightens the cagers and that's never a good thing. Over here, we can ride in bus lanes at certain times of the day and I've found that's the best way way to make real progress without risking life or limb playing tag with the traffic. And that means that the size of the bike becomes less relevant too.

 

I see you're based in London - if that's THE London (in UK) I live just east of you in Essex. So I know that the roads in London are sometimes "interesting". I also have both a Dyna ('99 FXDX) and a King ('08 RKC) so may be able to offer some insight.

I use both bikes in London but you do need to be a bit more laidback on the King - it's just a lot bigger (wider mainly) and the slow manoevering handling is something to get used to but it does behave. The Dyna can do the cut and thrust better tho'.

But you don't buy a Harley just for the City right....

On the open road and doing the miles the King wins hands down if you have a pillion (until you get to Wales or Scotland when the turns are tighter and you'll miss the Dyna for a while if you want to attack a mountain route). The King produces a lot less ear-ache for the rider because the pillion is happier (but you might still want a Sundowner or similar for real long days).

You say you aren't aggressive and you want the pillion to be happy so it sound like the King to me. However if you don't want to do distance rides and 'cos you're in London then you should consider the Dyna. Depends on where you intend to ride most. Resale values are better on a King.

 

More thoughts from the Essex boy.

Heated gloves are better than heated grips if you ride (as I 'm sure you do in town) with 2 fingers on the clutch and front brake levers. That's my set up. I also have heard that HD heated grips are unreliable but have no evidence.

Warrs I had a very bad experience with. There are out of town dealers in Guildford and Lakeside (the Guildford guys are on the rich side of town so it's quite bagger oriented). Buy where you want but for servicing find someone who sees you as a person not just a wallet.

 

Yes indeed, THE London (accept no imitations). The place America used to be ruled from.


Fascinating that you have both and thank you for your advice. You're right - not all my riding will be in the city. Cutting-and-Thrusting isn't really my thing, although I'll happily slide through a gap if I can. I just don't want to be at work and off my bike that quickly.

My lady has never had personal transportation of her own and has always relied on public transport before and is already asking if so-and-so in Europe is reachable by bike (to which my answer is always "yes") although the only thing we actually have planned is a trip to Derbyshire next summer for a friend's wedding. I suspect that when she can travel in comfort (and style) the frequency and distance of trips will only get larger. That's not to say that we'll be riding over the Alps any time soon, but you never know...

 

If you want to do Europe 2-up take the King - solo trips - take the Dyna. I think the King will work better for the lady. And a happy wife is a happy life. Done lots of 2 up Euro touring (Italy, Austria, Spain etc) including many 500 mile days - comfort is really important then.

 

I've heard the same thing about their heated grips, but also have no real evidence. For every person who gripes about them on here, there must be a fair few who have no problem with them, right? Besides, who else's will fit seamlessly?

Guildford is way out on the other side of town to me (I'm in North London), and I hear that Lakeside is tiny. I plan on visiting both when a little nearer the time, but Warr's are really the most ideal as they're closest. But if Guildford is more "bagger-oriented" then perhaps I should drag my scooter out there. I must say that apart from a couple of CVO baggers, Warrs seem to be short on touring bikes.

Ideally, I'd do my own servicing. Hopefully a move out of town will provide a garage...