Turn a Classic into a classic
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,611
Likes: 104
From: Southern Colorado
I've been riding H-D's for over 10 years and have had Ultra's and Road Glides. I currently have an '08 Road Glide, but have always loved the old school look of the Road King Classic. Now with the 103" standard I think it's time to give it a go. I was just wondering if others have gone from Ultra's and/or Road Glides to the Road King Classic and what your thoughts are (pros/cons)...Thanks!!
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 188
Likes: 3
From: Phoenix, AZ
See if you can't find a good, used 2002 (w/Delphi FI) and build up to a 95" or 103". In the end it might be less expensive and you could still keep the Ultra. Here at home we've been thinking of buying an Ultra, and I've got standing orders from the OL to NOT sell the RKC.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,611
Likes: 104
From: Southern Colorado
Wildcat...there's one for sale on Ebay right now:
Type: Harley Rear Fender Guard Rail...no bids yet @$29
Type: Harley Rear Fender Guard Rail...no bids yet @$29
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 188
Likes: 3
From: Phoenix, AZ
I finally got the bags. Ended up finding a real nice second set for $125 (now I have five bags total). My bike has the RKC saddle bag rails and the V-Logo bags won't fit behind them. Can someone tell me if the hard bag side rails rails are wider than the RKC side rails and if these bags will fit with them?
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 188
Likes: 3
From: Phoenix, AZ
I finally got the bags. Ended up finding a real nice second set for $125 (now I have five bags total). My bike has the RKC saddle bag rails and the V-Logo bags won't fit behind them. Can someone tell me if the hard bag side rails rails are wider than the RKC side rails and if these bags will fit with them?
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 527
Likes: 25
the hard bag rails will fit around these. but, they come back kinda far leaving a gap behind. i had a set but took them off of mine. just didnt look right. but then again, you wouldnt normally have bag rails so to speak with leather bags. are you gonna sell a set of these? if so, please shoot me a private message. thanks...
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 447
Likes: 2
From: Sooner Central
I finally got the bags. Ended up finding a real nice second set for $125 (now I have five bags total). My bike has the RKC saddle bag rails and the V-Logo bags won't fit behind them. Can someone tell me if the hard bag side rails rails are wider than the RKC side rails and if these bags will fit with them?
Regarding care of the bags: My bags were NOS and I'd estimate that they're 15 years old right now. For cleaning, I use good-quality saddle soap (for horse saddles, not the Wal-Mart stuff). The heavy leather has started to curl a bit, so I promise to be more intense with the saddle soap. Like you, my bags are a mixed set and there are differences in the fading of the dye. After cleaning, I use the H-D equivalent of Doc Bailey's Back-to-Black to even the color. (Kiwi black shoe polish also brought back the color, but I didn't like the waxy feel)
If the curling or fading ever get worse, I'll consult a local saddle shop to get the bags back in shape.
Saddlebag rails: These bags are too wide for the Ultra-style hard bag rails that came with my cop bike. I doubt the nostalgic hard bag rails have any more room.
Mounting: For my bike, the front mounting hole of the left bag is drilled about 3/8" too far back to line up properly no matter how much the bracket was adjusted. For the left front only, I drilled a new mounting hole in the plastic backer plate just forward of the original.
1/16" to 1/8" thick rubber fender washers, inside the bag and between the bracket and the bag, make the DZUS fasteners hold tight since the backer plate of the V-logo bags is thinner than the hard bag grommets.
Because the fender stripe really made bag alignment noticeable, I made back mounting brackets 1/2" less deep so the back of the bags wouldn't be canted away from the fender. I still have, just barely, clearance for the detachable's docking points.
PS: I have a spare left bag in my attic if you want to round out your collection to six
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 188
Likes: 3
From: Phoenix, AZ
wildcat465, thanks for the reference in your earlier post (been a while since I checked in).
Regarding care of the bags: My bags were NOS and I'd estimate that they're 15 years old right now. For cleaning, I use good-quality saddle soap (for horse saddles, not the Wal-Mart stuff). The heavy leather has started to curl a bit, so I promise to be more intense with the saddle soap. Like you, my bags are a mixed set and there are differences in the fading of the dye. After cleaning, I use the H-D equivalent of Doc Bailey's Back-to-Black to even the color. (Kiwi black shoe polish also brought back the color, but I didn't like the waxy feel)
If the curling or fading ever get worse, I'll consult a local saddle shop to get the bags back in shape.
Saddlebag rails: These bags are too wide for the Ultra-style hard bag rails that came with my cop bike. I doubt the nostalgic hard bag rails have any more room.
Mounting: For my bike, the front mounting hole of the left bag is drilled about 3/8" too far back to line up properly no matter how much the bracket was adjusted. For the left front only, I drilled a new mounting hole in the plastic backer plate just forward of the original.
1/16" to 1/8" thick rubber fender washers, inside the bag and between the bracket and the bag, make the DZUS fasteners hold tight since the backer plate of the V-logo bags is thinner than the hard bag grommets.
Because the fender stripe really made bag alignment noticeable, I made back mounting brackets 1/2" less deep so the back of the bags wouldn't be canted away from the fender. I still have, just barely, clearance for the detachable's docking points.
PS: I have a spare left bag in my attic if you want to round out your collection to six
Regarding care of the bags: My bags were NOS and I'd estimate that they're 15 years old right now. For cleaning, I use good-quality saddle soap (for horse saddles, not the Wal-Mart stuff). The heavy leather has started to curl a bit, so I promise to be more intense with the saddle soap. Like you, my bags are a mixed set and there are differences in the fading of the dye. After cleaning, I use the H-D equivalent of Doc Bailey's Back-to-Black to even the color. (Kiwi black shoe polish also brought back the color, but I didn't like the waxy feel)
If the curling or fading ever get worse, I'll consult a local saddle shop to get the bags back in shape.
Saddlebag rails: These bags are too wide for the Ultra-style hard bag rails that came with my cop bike. I doubt the nostalgic hard bag rails have any more room.
Mounting: For my bike, the front mounting hole of the left bag is drilled about 3/8" too far back to line up properly no matter how much the bracket was adjusted. For the left front only, I drilled a new mounting hole in the plastic backer plate just forward of the original.
1/16" to 1/8" thick rubber fender washers, inside the bag and between the bracket and the bag, make the DZUS fasteners hold tight since the backer plate of the V-logo bags is thinner than the hard bag grommets.
Because the fender stripe really made bag alignment noticeable, I made back mounting brackets 1/2" less deep so the back of the bags wouldn't be canted away from the fender. I still have, just barely, clearance for the detachable's docking points.
PS: I have a spare left bag in my attic if you want to round out your collection to six
My bike is one color. So, I hope that the bags' alignment relative to the the fender is something I can live with
I'd really like to use the nostalgic bag guard rails. Im going to get measurements from nostalgic hard bag rails to see if theyll work. They appear to be wider than those for the RKC bags. For me, having the rails is more important than the bags. I just hope theres a way for me to make this work where I can have both the V-logo bags and nostalgic rails.