The first 5
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From: Wyo/braska
The first 5
just turned 5K miles on my 09 Road King since purchasing it the end of March. Just some thoughts and comparison to my first bike (05 Suzuki S83 boulevard)
Bought the zuke from my son in law 5/09. He had bought a Harley and wasn't riding this one and trying to sell it since the fall before. I hadn't even really considered getting a bike prior to this. Got a learners permit for a month and passed the test on a Friday morning and put 1300 miles on it that weekend. Hurt like hell for a week after that. Anyway I put 8000 miles total on that bike and it wasn't designed to fit anybody. they'd have needed to be 6'6" to flat foot at a stop and 5'4" to sit comfortable on the pegs. Accessories or aftermarket was practically non-existent.
Bought the King and it had the 4 point dock kit, passenger back rest, luggage rack and the handlebars had been changed to a mini-ape. No other mods to the bike. It had security, ABS and cruise on it which were on my “needs” list. My test ride was the first time I'd rode a Harley other than duck walking my son in laws fat boy about a 100 ft at Sturgis to move it away from a fire hydrant we hadn't seen buried in the weeds when we parked originally.
The Road King was just so much better balanced and easier to handle even though it out weighed the zuke by 300 pounds. Almost learned the hard way about NOT using the front brake at slow speed, coming out of the alley after getting it home, luckily the front was on gravel, slid and I was able to keep it upright rather than getting slapped down. I'd gotten in the habit of front braking at the end of that alley on the old bike it there was traffic on the street and that broke me of that real quick. Watched a ton of the ride like a pro clips on you-tube and practiced in empty mall parking lots. Invaluable for these heavy bikes!
On the highway there’s no comparison, this bike is so much more comfortable and stable, but to be fair the zuke was more of a bar hopper. No doubt in stock form it was a lot quicker up to probably 60 mph but once you got to 70 or so it was just winding too tight for my taste. Now 65-80 depending on road, just set the cruise and ENJOY the ride. Almost tracks the road without input and cross winds that would have shut me down before are now do-able, but still not fun.
I've put a new battery, rear brake pads and a new front tire (should have looked closer prior to purchase) still had tread, but was getting some cracking in the bottom of the tread, replaced at 20K. Better safe than sorry.
If you've read this far you've probably figured out that I'm still happy with the King. Yesterday on the 4th I rode to Hot Springs, SD, west to mule creek junction and finished through Torrington, WY. for a 328 mile loop. Back to the garage and checked the second trip meter which was cleared at purchase and it showed 5000.0 miles exactly.
Bought the zuke from my son in law 5/09. He had bought a Harley and wasn't riding this one and trying to sell it since the fall before. I hadn't even really considered getting a bike prior to this. Got a learners permit for a month and passed the test on a Friday morning and put 1300 miles on it that weekend. Hurt like hell for a week after that. Anyway I put 8000 miles total on that bike and it wasn't designed to fit anybody. they'd have needed to be 6'6" to flat foot at a stop and 5'4" to sit comfortable on the pegs. Accessories or aftermarket was practically non-existent.
Bought the King and it had the 4 point dock kit, passenger back rest, luggage rack and the handlebars had been changed to a mini-ape. No other mods to the bike. It had security, ABS and cruise on it which were on my “needs” list. My test ride was the first time I'd rode a Harley other than duck walking my son in laws fat boy about a 100 ft at Sturgis to move it away from a fire hydrant we hadn't seen buried in the weeds when we parked originally.
The Road King was just so much better balanced and easier to handle even though it out weighed the zuke by 300 pounds. Almost learned the hard way about NOT using the front brake at slow speed, coming out of the alley after getting it home, luckily the front was on gravel, slid and I was able to keep it upright rather than getting slapped down. I'd gotten in the habit of front braking at the end of that alley on the old bike it there was traffic on the street and that broke me of that real quick. Watched a ton of the ride like a pro clips on you-tube and practiced in empty mall parking lots. Invaluable for these heavy bikes!
On the highway there’s no comparison, this bike is so much more comfortable and stable, but to be fair the zuke was more of a bar hopper. No doubt in stock form it was a lot quicker up to probably 60 mph but once you got to 70 or so it was just winding too tight for my taste. Now 65-80 depending on road, just set the cruise and ENJOY the ride. Almost tracks the road without input and cross winds that would have shut me down before are now do-able, but still not fun.
I've put a new battery, rear brake pads and a new front tire (should have looked closer prior to purchase) still had tread, but was getting some cracking in the bottom of the tread, replaced at 20K. Better safe than sorry.
If you've read this far you've probably figured out that I'm still happy with the King. Yesterday on the 4th I rode to Hot Springs, SD, west to mule creek junction and finished through Torrington, WY. for a 328 mile loop. Back to the garage and checked the second trip meter which was cleared at purchase and it showed 5000.0 miles exactly.
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