Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Recommendations on Road King

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 19, 2013 | 08:36 AM
  #1  
MAD King's Avatar
MAD King
Thread Starter
|
Stage IV
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Default Recommendations on Road King

Hello fellow riders,

I am wondering from what year up you would recommend the Road King.
I remeber they came out with the first one in the early 90s, but they were not pretty reliable.
From you own experience, from which year on would you buy a Road King?
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2013 | 08:47 AM
  #2  
Road Ranger's Avatar
Road Ranger
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 4
From: Northern Illinois
Default

01 and up...Some will say 09 and up due to the frame change.
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2013 | 08:56 AM
  #3  
aclass's Avatar
aclass
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 627
Likes: 2
From: Blue Ridge Mtns
Default

I think you should buy this one Mad King, https://www.hdforums.com/forum/motor...int-clean.html
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2013 | 09:01 AM
  #4  
MAD King's Avatar
MAD King
Thread Starter
|
Stage IV
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Default

Originally Posted by aclass
I think you should buy this one Mad King, https://www.hdforums.com/forum/motor...int-clean.html
That is indeed a nice bike and you are not so far away from me, but I need to save still a little bit money. I am on the market for the next season in around March. If you still have it by then I might consider it.
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2013 | 09:05 AM
  #5  
MAD King's Avatar
MAD King
Thread Starter
|
Stage IV
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Default

Originally Posted by Road Ranger
01 and up...Some will say 09 and up due to the frame change.
Thank you. I don't see that much change anyway. What are the changes in the frame?
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2013 | 09:46 AM
  #6  
OldPhat's Avatar
OldPhat
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,617
Likes: 165
From: Sparks Nevada
Default

2009 and up, 2007 and up, 2004 and up. The 09's has new frame. The 07 has 96 engine & 6speed
transmission. The 04 has better heads and good dependable engine with fuel injection. IMO
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2013 | 10:20 AM
  #7  
tccraiger's Avatar
tccraiger
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 1
From: Trabuco Canyon, CA
Default

buy the newest you can afford
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2013 | 10:37 AM
  #8  
austinslider's Avatar
austinslider
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 11
From: Colorado
Default

I have an 09 RK and it's been fantastic!!!!
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 19, 2013 | 10:58 AM
  #9  
0ldhippie's Avatar
0ldhippie
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 143
From: Santa Cruz
Default

If ya can't swing a '09 up get an '02. Do not get '05-'08. Or buy mine!!!!
 
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2013 | 11:37 AM
  #10  
Florida Swamp Yankee's Avatar
Florida Swamp Yankee
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 594
Likes: 10
From: Seminole County, FL
Default

I don't understand not wanting '05-'08; I have an '07 and haven't had any more or less problems with before '05 or after '08. Every range of years has its particular problems; look at all the posts about the new water buffalos, thŕts why we use this forum. If I was going to buy another King, I would go '09 or later just for the exhaust passing under the frame instead of under your leg.

I wouldn't trade my '07 for anything now, I've had it for 5 years have over 50K on it with only minor repairs. More money has gone to mods than tires, repairs and regular maintenance.

LONG LIVE THE KING!
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:19 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE