I have recently gotten a new to me RKC and I'm still getting used to it. This is not my first bike but it is my first Harley. I was having some issues related to handling the bike and getting my feet down and it seems like it is related to where I sit on the seat. I am not short or small, I am about 6'1 and never experienced this on my VStar 1100. Is your riding experience different based on where you sit in the seat? How much attention do you pay to where you sit? Should I expect the seat to break in and become more like a glove type fit?
Any help is appreciated.

 

many dealerships have a "fit shop" - a dummy bike where you can swap seats, bars etc to find the combination that feels right for you.

I'm luckiest guy in the world- i like and prefer the stock riding position. seated up right with my hands down
6'2"

mike

 

I'm 5'9" and my road king is stock height with a Sundowner seat which is taller and wider than stock. If I'm sitting down I can't flat foot, but other than that there shouldn't be an issue. I've always slid foreword some to be able to touch.

'Flat footing' on a bike is over-rated anyways IMO. On my FJR I can't even touch the ground while seated, and if I slide all of the way foreword and stand I'm almost on the ***** of my feet. Another inch or so would get me there. 26,000 miles like that with no issue so far. One parking lot drop that wasn't my fault.

 

Got a RK back in April and am still learning to ride it since it is so different than my Super Glide, which has forwards. The RK has a higher center of gravity, has foot boards and is much heavier than the SG. I am 5-10 so replaced the stock seat with the H-D Low Profile Solo Touring Seat and it moved me down and back a bit, which is a better riding position for me.

I still may do something different with handlebars but everyone tells me "seat time" is the best solution. Good luck with yours!

 

If you change your mind, I am only a short ride away...I do TONS of bar swaps...

 

I assume you bought the bike used. Did the former owner change the seat and/or handle bars? Nice thing about Road Kings is you can get them to fit you. I have always changed the seat and added a backrest. I am also partial to apes on a road king.

 

I have been riding short rides since I posted this and it seems some of it is me getting used to it. The seat is stock but it has the heritage bars. I love the look of apes but I've never ridden with them and I haven't been able to try a bike with them. I'd hate to buy cables, apes and labor to realize they don't work. That said the heritage bars to me feel like mini apes and I might like some real ones.
The mean city cycles thing where they narrow the nose of the seat seems like it would help too.
I do see why it's called the Road King!

 

I came from a smaller metric as well. Road King is a big fella compared to your vstar. I think the 1100 was around 625 lbs. Rk is 810 or so. Takes a bit of getting used to. My 12 rkc seat fit me pretty good at 5-9. Ditched it because it was useless for 2 up. 9" wide passenger area. Feet down issues are pretty common. It takes time.

 

Harley has used the tag 'King of the Road' since long before the RK was introduced, so it could be said that all dressers are 'road kings'!

As a suggestion, your handlebars are adjustable, which will enable you to move them up or down a little. I was extremely uncomfortable on my Glide when I first bought it and eventually plucked up courage to take a few tools to it (I bought it new and didn't want to risk wrecking anything!). After a few small changes, hey presto, we clicked! Been fine ever since.

 

the seat and the bar adjustment can be a night and day difference in the ride. for me at 6'2", i purchased the mustang wide touring seat with backrest. love the seats first off (had one on my street bob), and the seat moved the driver back almost 2", that made it much better on the leg position. then the bar was a bit of a stretch for my arms. i was at full extension of my arms with the stock bars at about any angle. i upgraded to some 12" yaffe classic bagger apes which allowed for a better hand position and more room to roll the bars back to me...

BIG time better position and riding.