New to H-D and Arizona

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Oct 9, 2010 | 02:03 PM

#11

IndyClassic

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 2,951

Likes: 6

From: Kingman, AZ

Welcome!

Can only help you with a few questions. We moved here 1.5 years ago from Indianapolis and not sure where in AZ you are moving to but pretty certain you will love it here!

Road Kings are our absolute favorites, never owned a Heritage though. We have 07 and 08 RKC's so not sure about carb's here. Both are spoked and not a problem whatsoever so far with the spokes.

We just turned in a black-on-black car which was painful until the AC caught up but never anything other then that. My RKC is black and I have no intent on changing it or buying a different one. All the seats get hot out here no matter what color bike.

Oct 9, 2010 | 07:28 PM

#12

tjvrodrick

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 10,499

Likes: 0

From: San Diego/Tj mexico

Welcome to the forum John. Have fun here,
Always Ride like everyone is trying to KILL you. Why? because they are...

Oct 10, 2010 | 08:42 AM

#13

oct1949

Club Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 145,895

Likes: 821

From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmltinc

Hello to all!

I am seeking advice on which model to choose from those that know best.

I am a tall and reasonably strong man. After sitting on several bikes at the local H-D dealer, it appears the Heritage and Road King fit me the best. Neither is perfect: The Heritage gives me the right riding posture, the RK fits my fanny like a glove, but the bars are a bit low. I can change seats or bars, so I won't worry about the small stuff.

My real issues are:
1) I want a used bike. Evo or TC? I am a mechanic and would love to Stage III the bike.
2) I am moving to Arizona from Chicago. Riding will be a combination of long open desert and mountain curves and switchbacks. Is one bike better suited than the other for such an environment?
3) There are a lot of black bikes out there. How will black paint be in 110 degree heat; or does it matter?
4) How much maintenance can I expect from the spoked wheels? I heard stories ranging form "tightening every couple hundred miles...", to "...never tightened in 6 years".

Thanks for any and all comment and advice.
-John

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
each bike has its own feel, pick the one that U like,, or U may be buying another next yr..

I check my spokes every 5k.
30k on our 96'er TC and nary a problem...

Oct 10, 2010 | 09:14 AM

#14

sh57

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 4,140

Likes: 0

From: north carolina

welcome from north carolina

Oct 11, 2010 | 08:41 AM

#15

cayers

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 13,422

Likes: 2

From: Las Cruces, NM

Good luck with your quest and welcome from New Mexico!

Oct 11, 2010 | 08:50 AM

#16

dmercy

Road Captain

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 709

Likes: 0

From: Levittown, PA

Welcome from Levittown, PA.
My opinion: a newer bike RK will be far superior in terms of smiles per mile going up/down (altitude). You wanna know about a teardown; geez, these bike are capable of really high mileage so the answer really depends on how the bike was maintained (was the oil changed often?). Gee, and I'm telling this to a mechanic? You know more about motors than I'll ever know.
There's some adjustability in the height of the bars... either bike. HD also offers a service they call "Fit Shop"; if you go on the Harley web site, you can check if your local dealer is so equipped or find the one closest to you.

Oct 11, 2010 | 05:00 PM

#17

jmltinc

Thread Starter

Novice

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 17

Likes: 0

Well, your answers have layed to rest any issues I had. I can only be grateful to all for your candor, experience, and outstanding hospitality. Hope to meet on the road!

Thank you.
-John

Oct 11, 2010 | 06:06 PM

#18

Retired_Colonel

Tourer

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 261

Likes: 0

From: Milton Freewater

Welcome to the forum. I am 6'2", about 210lbs and pretty fit. I have two RK's and ride a lot of different type roads without a problem. For my '04 RK, I added the Progressive Suspension monotube front conversion, Progressive 440 shocks in the rear, and a Bagger Brace for good measure...the handling is remarkably good. I would still go with the TC. As to spokes...the '04RK is a Classic and had spoke wheels...after a rear flat in middle of nowhere, I went to the solid wheel so I could run tubeless, and have a chance to temp repair on the road.