I am going to buy a bike within the next two weeks. It appears I have settled on a 05 Road King, but just to confuse things a little the dealer has received a group of Road King police trades from Florida for an attractive price. My brain warns me to be cautious but the price difference will make me ask the question.

Does anyone have any experience with police trade ins? This is an 03 with 4700 miles. How badly could it be hurt? Right? Anyone out there bought a used police bike?

Corky

 

Sorry I can't help with your question, but let me be the first one to welcome you here.

Cheers!
[sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]

 

Corky,

As a general rule police bikes are dealer maintained to exacting standards and with only 4,700 miles, it probably hasn't been ridden hard and put up wet. One of the hardest things on an air cooled police bike is the idling at accidents, traffic stops etc., but Harley has been doing this reliably since before all other bikes were even made.

I have two friends that ride police bikes, one the electra glide classic and one the roadking, and they have had no problems with them.

If the bike is a real bargain, and hasn't been down, I would not be afraid of it at all. I would think you could do something similar to car fax to look up the bike's history.

regards,

Bill

 

What are the "rules" on police editions, anyway. I believe you have to be a law enforcement officer to buy one new from HD. But what about secondhand, is it kosher to buy one then??? Just curious....

 

Ditto what Corky said. Dealer maintained bikes are generally in good shape. The only thing I'd do is sitdown and right out the addon's you will need for the police bike ie. tour pak, seat, bars... You may be up to the price of a new stock RK as those things add up fast. Here, police additions are around 14k.

 

unclestoolie,

I think the rules you are thinking of apply to the Peace Officer's Special Edition(What I have). You have to be a peace officer or retired to buy one of these, and I signed an agreement not to sell for a least a year. These, however are not police bikes. They are regular models with special paint and markings. Kinda like Shriner bikes. They are available in EG Classic, EG Ultra Classic, and Roadking.

As far as real police bikes go, I think they are only available used, as they have to be sold to a law enforcement agency first. I'm not sure about this however.

Regards,

Bill

 

I would have to agree with slade in that there is prob nothing to worry about with the running condition. I would seriously look at what it would take in money to make it a bike that you would enjoy and be proud of. Your opening comment on settling for a Roadking might not be the best answer also. Never settle, it only cost you more money in the long run. I would say to buy the bike that appeals the most to you. If you plan on doing some serious alterations to a stock roadking then you might be better served with a cheaper police edition. Youll prob want to change the seat, controls (dont need the siren buttons any more), saddlebag covers(unless you like those big ***** on top), air cleaner cover, etc. to make it look not so much a used police bike. If your going to get the stock RK home and start stripping it down also, then I would weigh out the two. Bottom line, you have to pay to play.

 

Settling, was a poor choice of words on my part. I have made a concious decision based upon research and experience with other bikes. (All that as opposed to an unconcious decision?)

I had a 94 Wide Glide with T bars that I loved. But there were improvements to be made. While I liked the riding position, I didn't like the jolt up the spine from some freeway expansion strips. Several times I rode for more than one tank of gas at a time, the comfort on longer trips left something to be desired. And I liked the look but realized on more than one occasion that bags would be more logical than awkwardly strapping items on the seat, or even more uncomfortably, sitting on them.

I really don;t think a soft tail will work for my needs because of not being adjustable, so the touring bikes come in to play. The Road King seems to be the best of both worlds, acceptable for cruising and comptetent for touring.

All that being said, I am still on the fence a little, but I can get a much better interest rate now than I will be able to get in the spring. I can probably save well over $1200 by buying now. Test rides in Ohio in the winter tend to make you tihnk about other things than the bike.

Corky

 

Corky, I just heard they expect interest rates to make a quick climb.
So if financing, now's a buyers market. As long as a sluggish economy doesn't cost us jobs.

Good luck with your decission.

 

It only cost 90% more to do it right and get what you want. Go for it, it's a Harley.