King in the City
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 6
From: North London, UK
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 think you've probably hit the nail on the head - if it was just me, then a Dyna would be perfect. But I'm not, so...
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Daytona, Fla.
Bridgewater is w-a-a-a-y out to the west of here and beyond the sane range of my current bike. The west country is lovely though and I have rides planned out that way, so I'll be sure to drop by Riders.
Heated gear has also seemed kinda "mad professor" to me, dunno why. Everyone who has heated gloves raves about them, bon't they leave a dangling wire on the bike when not in use? And don't the elements wear out being constantly flexed?
Heated gear has also seemed kinda "mad professor" to me, dunno why. Everyone who has heated gloves raves about them, bon't they leave a dangling wire on the bike when not in use? And don't the elements wear out being constantly flexed?
No, the elements don't wear out, but if they do Gerbing has a lifetime guarantee that they really do stand behind. I've known a few people that have had the odd piece repaired, & several that have lately traded older gear in on new gear at a very reasonable trade.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
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From: Daytona, Fla.
Our American friends here refer to riding big Harleys in their cities which many of them say is no problem. But their city streets are generally totally different to London so their experiences are not necessarily similar. London streets are typically far narrower than US city streets and and massively more congested as a result. Some of the boulevards in Los Angeles CA for example are so wide that each side is in a different time zone.
At a stoplight in Rapid City, when he finally pulled up beside me, I asked, "Why are you hanging so far back?". His reply................ "Your roads are so BLOODY wide I don't know where to be!"
As soon as I could regain a straight face a little discussion about "right is still right, & left is still left, & there's usually an arrow some place" got him on the right track. No more problems!
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: North London, UK
Yeah, I can kiss traffic slicing goodbye on a Road King.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 350
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From: TN
If you are concerned about heavy traffic and lane splitting rent one or both first. A buddy of mine rented a Ultra for a week end get away. He was not shopping for a bike but after riding it he decided he wanted one they took his rental fee and applied it towards the purchase of his new bike. Alot of dealers have this policy in the States, not sure about England. Might be something to look into.
Also my wife hardly rode with me on my Victory Softail (1k total in three years). She never complained about that bike until I sold it. She was not comfortable but didn't want to say anything. She fell in love the Heritage we test rode and flat out told me that was the bike she wanted me to get (nice bike but no radio). Last minute I grew a set and told her I was buying the SG and she would like it with a different seat and a backrest. (She almost fell off the stock seat when we test rode the SG cant blame her for not wanting it LOL). Now she is always saying "hey can you turn the radio up?" I know she is alot happier, she has done 10k in the past two years and always wanting to go on a road trip. I know you are looking at a King not a SG, my point is if she is happy you will be riding more than you think.
P.S. Sundowner on the SG too.
Also my wife hardly rode with me on my Victory Softail (1k total in three years). She never complained about that bike until I sold it. She was not comfortable but didn't want to say anything. She fell in love the Heritage we test rode and flat out told me that was the bike she wanted me to get (nice bike but no radio). Last minute I grew a set and told her I was buying the SG and she would like it with a different seat and a backrest. (She almost fell off the stock seat when we test rode the SG cant blame her for not wanting it LOL). Now she is always saying "hey can you turn the radio up?" I know she is alot happier, she has done 10k in the past two years and always wanting to go on a road trip. I know you are looking at a King not a SG, my point is if she is happy you will be riding more than you think.
P.S. Sundowner on the SG too.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,052
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From: North London, UK
Just coil the wire in the split in the seat. I have two of 'em in there.
No, the elements don't wear out, but if they do Gerbing has a lifetime guarantee that they really do stand behind. I've known a few people that have had the odd piece repaired, & several that have lately traded older gear in on new gear at a very reasonable trade.
No, the elements don't wear out, but if they do Gerbing has a lifetime guarantee that they really do stand behind. I've known a few people that have had the odd piece repaired, & several that have lately traded older gear in on new gear at a very reasonable trade.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,052
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From: North London, UK
Also I just can't have a radio on when I drive, let alone ride. I find it really distracting. Even on motorways, it just annoys me.
On the other hand, I reckon that if I lived in one of the rectangular states on the Plains, where you can ride in a straight line for days I might think differently. And why have a radio, when you had those pipes fitted?...
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 505
Likes: 2
Gerbings go up the back and down each sleeve. The connection runs out the left side just underneath the left front side of the saddle. I'd recommend the thermostat thing too. Reckoned to be pretty durable - not heard any negative stuff about them (in contrast to the heated grips). Only issue is making sure there's not lots of "spare" cable dangling around.