Trying to decide
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Cruiser
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Trying to decide
I'm trying to decide between a 2007 Softail Heritage Classic and a 2007 Road King Classic. I'm 5'11" and go around 190; My wife is 5'6" and around 140. Most of my riding (75%) will be solo, including some solo touring; the rest will be cruising around town. We want to go on some road trips... she is wanting to ride up to Canada (via Missori, Iowa, andMinnesota)and come back through Wyoming. For the most part I will be avoiding any interstate time...enjoy ridingback roads more. We live around Tulsa so the round trip is around 3600. I figured 300 - 350 miles per day at the most and taking a couple of days off to relax. I know the RKC would probably be the better tourer but I have read so much bad stuff about the '07's and their transmission noise/problems that I am VERY hesitant about getting one of those. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
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RE: Trying to decide
You say you are concerned about the 07's but both bikes you are looking at are 07's!
I don't believe you can compare the two bikes. One is a soft tail and the other is a tourer. Different suspension. I haven't spent that much time on soft tails but others have said it is not the same ride as a tourer. For around town and short trips it probably wouldn't matter. It's the long trips where you might be concerned. I'm sure others who have both will chip in. Best thing would be to rent each for a day and then decide.
I don't believe you can compare the two bikes. One is a soft tail and the other is a tourer. Different suspension. I haven't spent that much time on soft tails but others have said it is not the same ride as a tourer. For around town and short trips it probably wouldn't matter. It's the long trips where you might be concerned. I'm sure others who have both will chip in. Best thing would be to rent each for a day and then decide.
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RE: Trying to decide
I just took delivery of my 2007 RKC on Friday, my decision was based on the versatility of the King, set it up for two up touring or strip it down for in town cruising, as far as the 07 problems are concerned you might want to search again and read that it's only a handful of bikes that are having serious issues, I think with pipes AC and a remap the 07 RK will be set up properly to do away with any lugging.
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Cruiser
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RE: Trying to decide
I don't think they are set up the same. I know they are both '07's, but the motor in the RKC is rubber mounted (the HSC has a solid mounted engine)and I have read a lot about transmission noise in the '07 tourers. I know they take different amounts of oil (HSC - 3 qts and the RKC - 4 qts) so I am guessing there is a difference in the way they are set-up. Both had problems early on with high temperature, both were solved my remapping the EFI. But the noise in the '07 RKC transmission has been referred to as sounding like "a bunch of rocks in a coffee can". Almost everyone who has gone back to Harley has been told that there is a problem with the compensator, but Harley doesn't know how to correct it yet. Some have had their entire transmission switched out and the noise is still there. Not sure I want to deal with that.
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Cruiser
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RE: Trying to decide
Those of you who are interested might try going to this forum for some insight ...
https://www.hdforums.com/m_654370/tm.htm
With over 60,000 hits it seems like a lot of people are interested in the problem and the fix.
The problem seems to be with the primary chain tensioner - what I referred to as the compensator.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_654370/tm.htm
With over 60,000 hits it seems like a lot of people are interested in the problem and the fix.
The problem seems to be with the primary chain tensioner - what I referred to as the compensator.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2006
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RE: Trying to decide
ORIGINAL: 1st Harley
I don't think they are set up the same. I know they are both '07's, but the motor in the RKC is rubber mounted (the HSC has a solid mounted engine)and I have read a lot about transmission noise in the '07 tourers. I know they take different amounts of oil (HSC - 3 qts and the RKC - 4 qts) so I am guessing there is a difference in the way they are set-up. Both had problems early on with high temperature, both were solved my remapping the EFI. But the noise in the '07 RKC transmission has been referred to as sounding like "a bunch of rocks in a coffee can". Almost everyone who has gone back to Harley has been told that there is a problem with the compensator, but Harley doesn't know how to correct it yet. Some have had their entire transmission switched out and the noise is still there. Not sure I want to deal with that.
I don't think they are set up the same. I know they are both '07's, but the motor in the RKC is rubber mounted (the HSC has a solid mounted engine)and I have read a lot about transmission noise in the '07 tourers. I know they take different amounts of oil (HSC - 3 qts and the RKC - 4 qts) so I am guessing there is a difference in the way they are set-up. Both had problems early on with high temperature, both were solved my remapping the EFI. But the noise in the '07 RKC transmission has been referred to as sounding like "a bunch of rocks in a coffee can". Almost everyone who has gone back to Harley has been told that there is a problem with the compensator, but Harley doesn't know how to correct it yet. Some have had their entire transmission switched out and the noise is still there. Not sure I want to deal with that.
My 07 has a June '06 build date and I don't have noise problems (but thenI don't lug the engine either)
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Cruiser
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RE: Trying to decide
Not talking about wanting a quiet bike.... But I don't want a bike that sounds like the transmission is going to drop out of it. Pretty sure you wouldn' want that either;then again,maybe that's your idea of what a Harley should sound like.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
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RE: Trying to decide
Dude, you are asking for advice on purchasing a touring bike on the touring forum then arguing against the touring bike. WTF! To me it sounds like you have already made up your mind. Get the Softtail.
You truly have no clue what you are talking about. Educate yourself a little better if you want to argue the noise issue.
The problem seems to be with the primary chain tensioner - what I referred to as the compensator.