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Ever since coming back from Barber's three weeks ago, I've had a fascination with H-D Road Kings. I've ridden a couple and on Saturday came really close to pulling the trigger on a clean, low-mileage 2002 model with fuel injection and twin-cam 88 engine. This seems totally out of character for me. My BMW friends and even my wife think I've lost my mind somewhere. However, on some level, one cannot deny the tradition, the basic styling that has stayed the same since the R-K was introduced in 1995, and the respectable road manners. More respectable than I had suspected, actually. Without a doubt, their forte is the open road and I have no illusions that they are competent or fun in the twisty bits. That said, on the road and in the sweepers, they're in their element - - steady, torquey, and really nice to ride in my opinion. Did I mention torquey? They're also heavy - - about 710 pounds dry. A lot to maneuver around in the garage, get off the sidestand, etc. But I'm reading that the K1600GTL comes in at 736 pounds dry and I'm not hearing too much negativity about maneuvering them around in close quarters. Of course, the K1600 has double the horsepower, a lot more torque, and gobs more technology than the Road King so the weight "disappears" on the open road or so I'm told. Does anyone have any opinion of the Road King based on experience? I'm not talking about the Harley "culture", Sturgis, black leather bustiers, or the time you got trapped behind some rolling roadblock of Harleys in the mountains. I'm talking aboout the Road King as a riding and touring machine.

CVA-42 wrote:However, on some level, one cannot deny the tradition, the basic styling that has stayed the same since the R-K was introduced in 1995

Hell, I think the styling goes back to the Electra Glide

2002 Road King


1965 Electra Glide



The Road King would be my choice.
I've already owned a XLCR. Don't need to own another museum piece.

It goes back a little further. 1958 DuoGlide (I think DuoGlide is the right modle name)....first year with rear suspension....twin shocks

Sometimes I'm attracted to pretty, chubby chicks. But I shake my head and realize, it's just because there are so many fat chicks, and it has become a societal norm. I really don't want a fat chick.

Zombie Master wrote:Sometime I'm attracted to pretty, chubby chicks. But I shake my head and realize, it's just because there are so many fat chicks, and it has becomes a societal norm. I really don't want a fat chick.

But think of the soft cushy ride.

I guess those big fat Harleys have something akin to 'booty', if I've got my terminology right.

Yeah, I know the general "look" of the Harley big twin has stayed pretty much the same for decades but what I meant was that if you stood a 1995 Road King alongside a 2011 model, they're really close in appearance. Not identical but extremely close. Kind of like comparing, say, a 1960 R60 and a 1969 R60/2. Not identical but really close. In fact, one might argue that there have been more internal changes in the Road King over its sixteen year existence than there were in BMWs from 1960 - 1969.

I think one of the best changes Harley made to the touring bikes was to move the fork tubes behind the steering stem. It allows a steep fork for low speed handling and a long trail for high speed stability.

A stock black Road King is the best looking Harley and you could even be a rebel and use the stock mufflers. They must be OK on the open road because there are surely a lot of them out there.

I know a guy who had a Sportster and he got tired of other HD owners telling him he "needed" some "pipes".

Chuey

Chuey wrote:A stock black Road King is the best looking Harley and you could even be a rebel and use the stock mufflers. They must be OK on the open road because there are surely a lot of them out there.

I know a guy who had a Sportster and he got tired of other HD owners telling him he "needed" some "pipes".

Chuey

Ah - stock mufflers on a H-D.
A rebel with a cause!