2012 roadking vs 2014 road king
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
14 Road King will also have the better free floating front brakes, and the front wheel looks bigger and more custom as the fender is cut down just a bit and the spokes of the brake rotor integrated into the spokes of the cast wheel.
14 comes with the more powerful 103 Hi Output engine and intake.
If money is tight, that sounds like a nice discount on the 12, but the 14 is a better bike. Comes with fresh warranty too.
14 comes with the more powerful 103 Hi Output engine and intake.
If money is tight, that sounds like a nice discount on the 12, but the 14 is a better bike. Comes with fresh warranty too.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 493
Likes: 6
From: Colorado
I would also say go with the 2014. I love the way mine handles in the mountains and love the new anti lock system.
As far as the easy open bags... they are really nice when you are riding in a 65 degrees and rain and you come out of a canyon and its 90 degrees again. In less than the time it takes for the light to change, you can pull your jacket and heavy gloves off and toss them in the bag. Not as easy on the older bikes when you have to get off the bike to open the bag.
As far as the easy open bags... they are really nice when you are riding in a 65 degrees and rain and you come out of a canyon and its 90 degrees again. In less than the time it takes for the light to change, you can pull your jacket and heavy gloves off and toss them in the bag. Not as easy on the older bikes when you have to get off the bike to open the bag.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 42
From: AZ
How much do you actually ride? Are you just looking to putt around town and cruise nites than save the money and buy the 12. If you ride alot 15, 000 miles a year than get the 14. You will definately appreciate the upgrades over the 12. I won't own a bike without ABS.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 9
From: Washington
Hi! where would be the abs unit located at on the bike?
Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 117
Likes: 6
From: Issaquah
Doesn't the 2012 King Classic have the leather bags?, white walls/spokes standard? The 2014 will be hard bags and white walls optional. For 2014 the Classic wasn't available in the US. The 2014 also has a slightly different frame..I think or at least the backend is different enough to use different docking hardware. Go with the 2014. Talk them down a bit as the 2015 models are not far off.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: atlanta
Visibly, it's not much to see (with the bike in riding condition anyway). I was told other than seeing it indicated on the display, you have to look for a black collar looking thing at the joint of the axle and the brake disc.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: New Mexico
To visibly check for ABS, look for an extra wire lead running down with the brake line. Dead giveaway for ABS. Another way is to turn on the ignition and see if the light flashes.
Linked brakes are very nice. Having only ridden with ABS Harley's I can say that they are very nice with helping apply the right amount of braking. Especially with my wife on board. Being a newbie, I can say that the ABS has spared my butt when cut-off and "brake checked"...(must be a NM driver thing) on more than one occasion. It allowed me to get on the brakes and focus on keeping the bike in control, without skidding.
As others have stated the 2014 still uses a cable clutch. Security is a nice feature and can be added later as the bikes are already prepped for them. ABS is a factory only option.
Linked brakes are very nice. Having only ridden with ABS Harley's I can say that they are very nice with helping apply the right amount of braking. Especially with my wife on board. Being a newbie, I can say that the ABS has spared my butt when cut-off and "brake checked"...(must be a NM driver thing) on more than one occasion. It allowed me to get on the brakes and focus on keeping the bike in control, without skidding.
As others have stated the 2014 still uses a cable clutch. Security is a nice feature and can be added later as the bikes are already prepped for them. ABS is a factory only option.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: New Mexico
I dunno why all of my posts are doubled up...
Last edited by Six7One; Jul 13, 2014 at 10:26 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 9
From: Washington
Good enough. Just look for abs light indicator on display when starting the bike. Members says abs light indicator goes off after 20mph hits on speedometer.
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