| Author |
Message |
    
Mikexlr650
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 11:49 pm: | 
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99fxd |
Jackbequick
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 06:47 am: |
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"..the suspension and brake shortcomings are inexcusable in a machine this expensive..."
That's a sobering input. I'm thinking that I would really enjoy something with footboards and more long distant comfort. But to have to accept that as an essential part of the package is a little sobering.
Maybe that explains why an old friend of mine, a long time H-D owner/rider uses a Honda Valkyrie Interstate if he's going any distance. His hot rod lowboy, which crossed the country numerous times in years past, is now parked covered in the back of the garage and only used occasionally for local area cheap thrills.
I wonder if Erik will ever be given the latitude and get the time to fix the brakes and suspension on the classics H-Ds? Or do they have to leave them like that to keep the old schools buyers in their camp?
Jack |
Dano_12s
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 07:11 am: |
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Cajun,the FLHXI street glide is worth a look.Wife loves it,good 2-up touring,easy for her to ride while i'm on the 12X.Time for test rides... |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 07:22 am: |
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Jack, the brakes are coming around on my Road King, at least the fronts. i've worn thru most of the chrome plating on the brake swept area on the front rotors, and can actually haul the bike down with one finger now, altho the response is still not up to the level of, say, my former VFR or FJR.
in short order i will replace the front pads with new sintered HH's (per Pammy's suggestion), as i suspect the stock pads are at least a little glazed with chrome particulate.
at this point i think i will have front brakes that i am satisfied with. the touchiness of the rear brake is not all that uncommon on other bikes i've owned, and i'm getting more and more used to it as the miles roll by (and as the front brakes come into their own). i use the fronts HEAVILY when i ride, perhaps in a ratio of 95% to 5% versus the rear, and if i can get the fronts to where i'm happy (it's getting close), then all will be good in the braking department.
as far as the suspension on the RK, it's the fact that there's virtually no provision for adjustment that bothers me. the forks are not adjustable at all, and the shocks are adjustable for preload only, via air pressure. the acceptable PSI range is 0 to 50, and i'm finding that about 15 to 20 PSI solo, and up to 50 PSI two-up, gives a decent ride, but it's irritating that i can't also adjust compression and/or rebound damping, as well.
i will say that as i get more and more used to the bike, the suspension is becoming less and less of an issue. Denise and i did some fairly spirited two-up riding yesterday afternoon on a lunch run to Glennville, CA up Highway 155 (which we affectionately call The Bostrom).
the bike did quite well, actually. we left with 49 PSI in the back, with no weight to speak of in the saddlebags, and i was able to maintain a pace that would leave *some* sport bikes gasping for air.
to be totally fair, however, i know this road very, very well.
all this said, i would still quite gladly buy the Road King again, even knowing what i know now about the brakes and suspension. the brakes have more or less "fixed themselves" now that the plating is almost gone in the friction zone, and the suspension is probably adequate for the majority of Harley riders out there.
i've ridden for 41 years, and am pretty demanding when it comes to my expectations of how a machine should perform. for such a big, heavy motorcycle, the Road King does quite well. i've owned several bikes over the years that by a thousand miles i knew it wasn't a keeper.
my Road King, on the other hand, has already won a long-term place in my heart.
best regards and ride to lean,
Ferris |
New12r
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 07:29 am: |
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73 FLH,
before the accident, still putting it back together.
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Bigdaddy
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 08:29 am: |
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Jerry, Pammy's suggestion is spot on. I put 20K miles on a 2005 FLHRS (sold it last month.) I was replacing the tires at 4K miles and I used shining compound,,,a bit less destructive than rubbing compound,,to 'scrub-up' the front rotors. Made a world of difference in the land barge's ability to stop .
I, naturally, had the worlds ugliest front rotors on a FLHRS, but it'd almost stop when I wanted it to.
G2 |
Buelluk
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 09:04 am: |
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1974 XLCH 1000 in Hi-Fi purple, not currently on the road though. |
Scooterroid
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 10:08 am: |
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1995 Heritage - gone
1997 Road King - stolen and crashed
2000 Road King - gone
2006 Street Glide - current
I like the Road Kings best. They have a better ride than the Street Glide because the suspension on the Street Glide is lowered and the wind deflector provides little or no wind protection. (Bought a taller screen but it doesn't look as cool as the stock deflector.) I do love the stereo on the Street Glide, though. Never knew how much I needed one.
Steve-O |
Bomber
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 10:17 am: |
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HD doesn't need Erik to cure the RK's brake and suspension shortcomings -- their own engineers know perfectly well how to fix em --
no need to, though, as they ain't broke, according to the vast majority of their customers -- Mr. H, as he posted, has diferent ecpectations and desires from his bike than the mean RK rider
you can accuse HD of many things, but not understanding their customer base is not one of them ;-} |
Jackbequick
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 10:36 am: |
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Thanks guys, for giving me a clearer impression on the brakes and suspension. I wasn't trying the hammer the MoCo, just discussing the details.
I've never spent any time in a H-D cruiser, have been contemplating them, and think I could accept them as they are. For a lot of us, some of the joy is in making it be what you want it to be.
There is probably an aftermarket rotor out there somewhere that is not chromed, will work, and won't rust. I see one every time I ride my Buell.
Jack |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 11:05 am: |
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Mr. H, as he posted, has diferent ecpectations and desires from his bike than the mean RK rider...
hey, i'm a mean RK rider. too! er, i mean BAD mean RK rider!! er, i mean GOOD bad mean RK rider!!!
know what i, er, mean?
FB  |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 11:08 am: |
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Jerry, Pammy's suggestion is spot on.
cool G2, good to hear, will be fun to put new pads in and see (feel) the difference.
FB |
Road_thing
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 11:15 am: |
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'96 Road King (72,000 miles)
'73 Electraglide (unknown mileage)
I'm with Ferris on this one. Road Kings rock!
rt |
Mikej
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 11:57 am: |
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RT,
Should you ever decide to part ways with the '73 I'm certain I could find room for it in my garage should we be able to come to terms on said transfer. |
Bomber
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:22 pm: |
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Jerry -- sadly, I think I DO know what you mean --
;-} |
Bigdaddy
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:55 pm: |
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I believe the RK is the ultimate two-up HoneyCarrier,,,that being said my lovely wife always preferred back seating on the FLSTF. We've two-up'd plenty of 600 miles days on both.
I'd also like to add that Mr. Buell has already done some pretty major work on the touring models -- at least on the Road Glide -- and IIRC he redesigned/re-engineered the whole geometry and TT location on that bike.
Is my memory failing me? Am I wrong? FB? RT? One of ya'll will know what it is that I speak of.
G2 |
Fly
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 02:07 pm: |
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1977 XLCR
1988 FLHTC
1999 Buell S3T (your opinion may vary)
Note the curious 11 year trend...... |
Bomber
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 02:13 pm: |
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sunspots? |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 02:20 pm: |
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One of ya'll will know what it is that I speak of.
sheesh, most of the time i barely know what I speak of!
i DO know, however, that i'm a mean RK rider...
FB |
Skeeter_xb
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 09:21 pm: |
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the engine between my frame spars...
just sold my 01 XL 1200 Sport in Dec |
M1combat
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 09:55 pm: |
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"i DO know, however, that i'm a mean RK rider... "
Even two up I'd bet . |
Leftcoastal
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 10:54 pm: |
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For all you Road King owners -
When you wear out your Dunlops, switch to Metzler ME 880's -You will be amazed at how much better that bike handles! I went to a 140 on the back over the 130 with no changes of spacing or anything. I don't get quite as much mileage out of the Metzlers, but the trade-off in 'stick' is well worth it.
AL |
Buellgirlie
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 12:48 am: |
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XL1200C
XB9R
XB9SL
FXDBI
D |
Gjwinaus
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 06:50 am: |
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77 XLCR
03 XB9R |
Jerseybuell
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 08:43 am: |
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'91 XLH 1200 in Candy Blue. Gotta git me one of them thar digital camera contraptions. Bring myself into the '80's |
Stingaroo
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 10:02 pm: |
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My Dad ( a maintenance machinist at HD Final Assembly Plant, York, PA) has a 2006 Road Glide, (handles alot better then his old 1991 Electra Glide), a 1942WLA, and of course I have my 2001 M-2. I do alot of work on our WLA, and put the miles on it. Dad enjoys a short trip, but with a bad back, the hardtail is rough for more then 30 miles. |
Road_thing
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 09:21 pm: |
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Mikej: You do me honor, sir. If I ever decide to let it go, I'll let you know!
rt |
Buellmeister57
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 09:53 am: |
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1995 ElectaGlide standard-48,000 miles.
Gets the job done.
1999 Cyclone-32,000 miles.
Lots more fun. |
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