Sportster to Road King Classic??
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 302
Likes: 4
From: next door
Started with an 05 Sportster then bought a 99 Road King. Thought I would sell the sporty but when I got back on it I was amazed at how different they are from each other. So I kept them both. Sportster is now in the process of becoming a rigid frame bobber that will be ridden and will go to bike shows and have a real chance of winning ( in my humble opinion ). Keep them both if you can swing it at all.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From:
TKDKurt -
I had an 883C that I purchased new in 06. Like you, I had no complaints and could ride it all day long without feeling any worse for wear. Even though I had bags for my sporty, I started to look for a bagger. I thought long and hard about the soft tails, but after you factor in adding bags a windshield, etc... I figured I'd just get a touring bike that had all of that. I too was hot to trot for the Road King Classic, but after thinking and looking, I started to like the idea of the batwing fairing, the full gauges, and the hard (and lockable) bags, and the trunk (which I swore Id take off as soon as I got home and its been on there ever since yep its that handy). I also decided to go used. I picked up an 06 Electra Glide Classic with low mileage for a super price.
Im 58 and a skinny guy at that, only weighing 150 soaking wet. Jumping to the Electra Glide was an easy adjustment. I feel that it is a very well balanced bike and I have no problem what so ever with slow speed maneuvers or going through the twisties. The ride quality is amazing to boot. Like you I also pretty much did day trips on the sporty and had no intention of much more, but this summer I took a 4000+ mile ride so be forewarned, you may get bit by the touring bug.
I will have to disagree with those that said to keep the sporty. I did just that for a year or so, but I found that I never picked it over the EG, even for short rides. So, in the end, while I didnt have to sell it for financial reasons, I decided to because I just was not using it.
Depending on how much time you have to look/think, you may want to rent RKC and some others to see which one talks to you.
I had an 883C that I purchased new in 06. Like you, I had no complaints and could ride it all day long without feeling any worse for wear. Even though I had bags for my sporty, I started to look for a bagger. I thought long and hard about the soft tails, but after you factor in adding bags a windshield, etc... I figured I'd just get a touring bike that had all of that. I too was hot to trot for the Road King Classic, but after thinking and looking, I started to like the idea of the batwing fairing, the full gauges, and the hard (and lockable) bags, and the trunk (which I swore Id take off as soon as I got home and its been on there ever since yep its that handy). I also decided to go used. I picked up an 06 Electra Glide Classic with low mileage for a super price.
Im 58 and a skinny guy at that, only weighing 150 soaking wet. Jumping to the Electra Glide was an easy adjustment. I feel that it is a very well balanced bike and I have no problem what so ever with slow speed maneuvers or going through the twisties. The ride quality is amazing to boot. Like you I also pretty much did day trips on the sporty and had no intention of much more, but this summer I took a 4000+ mile ride so be forewarned, you may get bit by the touring bug.
I will have to disagree with those that said to keep the sporty. I did just that for a year or so, but I found that I never picked it over the EG, even for short rides. So, in the end, while I didnt have to sell it for financial reasons, I decided to because I just was not using it.
Depending on how much time you have to look/think, you may want to rent RKC and some others to see which one talks to you.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: E Washington
Have had a '03 Sporty for a few years, and a'77 ironhead chopper project bike I've been working on. Loved the 03 and made several 3-400 mile day trips with it. But started thinking about some longer week long road trips that would require more luggage and stuff so I started watching CL and other adds just in case somebody needed to unload a touring Harley of some type. After looking at several big twin electra's, and soft tail classics, I ran into an '02 RK Police special that had never been in police service, had hi miles but was in great cosmetic condition, and had great service records and the owner had put all the miles on it. Price was right and it followed me home. Definetly heavier and doesn't ride like my sporty, but I can load it up for a week with room to spare and not hardly know it's there. I'll keep them all, when the blonde wants to go it even has room for her purse.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 479
Likes: 2
From: IL
I just made a similar jump...only bigger lol. I went from a 06 sporty and bought a 2012 Ultra today. I figured adding 300lbs of bike would be a bitch but surprisingly IMO the ultra is a lot easier to handle and maneuver. And its like riding a damn couch. SO comfortable...even in the 30 degree weather I was riding in. Love it!
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