| Author | Message | ||
     Kilroy |
Thinking about buying a Road King for longer trips and taking the wifey along. Of course I will be keeping the Buell for real riding. Anybody on Badweb who has one - I would love to hear your opinion of them. Please lets not turn this thread into a harley bash- Thanks Kilroy | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I had one. Its what I traded for my Uly. Of all the H-D Bikes I would like to have again the Roadking Police (FLHPI) or Electraglide Police (FLHTPI) are the only ones on the list. I did a Iron Butt on my Roadking and still felt like I could ride more when I was done.... if that means anything to ya Its a good bike and the only reason I don't have one now is how H-D put the screws to Buell. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
King is nice, but take a demo on the new Switchback as well A little lighter, and I like the ergs better (me being SHORT : 5-6) and at a significant savings bike to bike - if you are doing new. Happy Riding Anything on two is better than on the couch. | ||
| Ftd |
I have a ULY and a 2000 RK. I am the orig. owner of both. RK has ~73000 miles, BBkit (95"), mild cam, tour pack, etc. Great bike for riding 2 up with my wife. Only non routine maintenance has been 1 stator and replcing the cam tensioners (now condiered reg. maintenance). I believe my profile pic shows it. Frank | ||
| Crusty |
I had an '88 FLHS that I bought new, and put 125,000 miles on. It was easily the most comfortable Touring bike I've owned. It didn't handle anything like a Buell, but it handled much better than most magazines would have you think. I would regularly ride 16 hour days on it, and I didn't feel completely beaten at the end of the day. I'm kind of like Wolfridgerider; I won't buy another Harley while Keith Wandell is CEO. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I used to have a 96 FLHP and rode the wheels off it. Got my Uly...it sat...and I sold it. Haven't looked back. It wasn't a bad bike, but the uly does everything it did...and better...and then some. Only thing I miss is the rear-view-mirror effect of a white police bike with blue stripes and a black radio box. People DOVE out of my way lol. | ||
| Kilroy |
If I buy it will be used from an individual, with cash, so I won't be giving Wandell any support. Can you get a tour-pak for the road king, or would I have to go to a 'glide? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
My friend bought a used R.K. that used to be a cop bike. He loved the pneumatic saddle so much he basically stopped riding his Buell. Its cam bearing fried at about 80,000 miles though. I'm not a big fan of twinkie engines because of this inherent weakness. | ||
| 86129squids |
IIRC v 2009 bikes and newer have the new frame which markedly improved the handling... take a look at the Road Glides too. I dig them because of the fixed fairing... | ||
| Dwardo |
I have a 2002 that I bought for the express purpose of going to Sturgis. I kind of thought I would sell it after the trip. Somewhere along the line it grew on me to the extent that it is (I am ashamed) my go-to bike. It is easy to handle once you get used to the weight. It likes to cruise at high speed with (just) enough in reserve for adequate passing performance. Very reliable. The saddle bags work fantastically well, as does the windshield. I put the elephant ears on the crash bar and electric gear and I can ride in any weather. So, I think it's great. Having said that, if I had to do it over I think I would buy an Electra Glide because I like the batwing fairing and in practice I hardly ever remove the windshield. | ||
| Brumbear |
I just wouldn't want one. If I had to get a big bike I'd go Victory I just like em better. | ||
| Anonymous |
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| Ftd |
Easy to add a tour pak to aRK. Get quick disconnect hardware and in can take it on/off easily. | ||
| Strokizator |
I bought a Road King in '95, the second year they were out and did about 70,000 miles on it. Traded it for a Road Glide in 2008 which has some nice features over the RK. You can even get a sliver of a windscreen for the wind in your face affect. For some reason HD decided they needed to take their best touring bike and lower it (yeah, a new approach). Whichever you get, go for a 2009 or newer. A 103 cu.in coupled with a 6-speed and a nice set-up. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Love the touring bikes Put many many miles on Electra Glides, and as stated, the new frame helps with heat and handling wuite a bit just be ready for the fifth gear whine | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I test rode a road king a couple of years ago and when I got off of it, I was glad! Totally unimpressed! My Ulysses was far superior in every way. Actually glad I got that out of my system. I was wanting one prior to the test ride. | ||
| Ljm |
I have ridden a R.K., but I have an Electraglide. I wanted the fairing. It is an 08, and my second one. Loved the first one, and like this one too. I have ridden just under 900 miles with only stops for gas and could still get off and walk away. If you want speed or handling, this is not the bike for you. If you want to ride all day like sitting on the couch, hauling a ton of crap, and another person you will like it. Larry | ||
| Kenm123t |
Look up Ferris Jerry has enjoyed his RK and he is a hard rider. Its a matter of the right tool for the Job Sometimes a Road Sofa is the right tool | ||
| Cyclonedon |
When I'm ready for a recliner, I'll just purchase a real recliner and just forget about a Harley Davidson. I still enjoy riding a real motorcycle. | ||
| Twig |
Buy the bike. nuff said...  | ||
| Hr_puffinstuff |
Rode a couple RKs, very nice riding bike. guessed it would take 4 years and $10,000 to get all that chrome off of it. The Fat Boy Low was easier for Mrs. HR to climb on to and off of. much less chrome to polish. It's "her" bike, even though she only rides pillion. put over 10,000 miles on it last summer, still lovin' it. buy it, put someone on the back, ride the wheels off it! | ||
| Daddio |
I had an '02 E-glide, after 40K miles, put a police air-ride seat on it, rode another 70K, sold it in the fall, bought a Victory Cross Country this winter. Really loved the E-glide, put in several 1K straight thrus, on 2K in 45 hrs. Weather has prevented racking up the miles on the Vic, yet. Still love my Uly, but mama wasn't happy on the back. Buy what you like, ride the pi$$ outta it. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
I bought a slightly used 94 RK in late 1994. Still have it and it's the everyday rider. Penny rides it too, but I just picked up a 97 police FLHT for her, so maybe I'll get the Road King back. The thing's dependable as a hammer but with less maintenance. DO NOT keep the Dunlops on it if you get one, especially if you intend to ride it even slightly 'spirited'. Get some Metzler ME880's. You'll think you got a different bike. Test drive a Road King and the FLHT's with the fairing and see which works best for you. If you are concerned about the weight and handling of the heavy bike, buy the "Ride like a Pro" DVD from Jerry Paladino and practice his techniques. Bike loses about 300 pounds! Works for Buells, too! Look into used Police Road Kings and FLHTP (police 'dresser') bikes - they are usually sans all the silly and often hideous Ben-Hur crap most Harley Riders attach to their bikes, and want to charge you retail value for it on top of the price of the bike. (Do ya really need a couple dozen chromed accessories that ALL say "Harley-Davidson" on them?) The cop bikes are well maintained and often can be found with low miles. | ||
| Kilroy |
Thanks to all for your input. Leftcoastal - the Buell is the smallest bike I have owned in the last 20 years - I've ridden them all and chosen the RK as my target. Thanks for the tip on the Police bikes - never really considered those. FLHT -Almost too hot in the summer with a batwing in front of you, at least I can take the windshield off with the RK. Nice to know I can get a tour-pak that is detachable as well - love the road-glide but those seem to run 2-3K more for the same year/mileage/condition as the RK. | ||
| Hammer71 |
The cop bikes are well maintained and often can be found with low miles Depends, if you get one that was used in training it will have been laid down more than it was upright. All in all its a good choice but I'm partial to the Electra Glide for the Batwing as well as ability to remove tour pack until needed. Big thing with all of these choices is to upgrade suspension and get rid of the Dunlops. | ||
| Fb1 |
Of course I will be keeping the Buell for real riding. Of course.  Since this thread is quickly heading for the basement I thought I'd offer up some commentary, and maybe a few pix in the coming days. I've got an '06 Road King, last year for the 88-inch, that's been as solid and dependable as an 800-pound anvil for nearly 70,000 smiles (and counting). I've owned motors that go better, stop better, and handle better, yet......... .......as I approach the half-century mark of being in the wind, I can't imagine NOT owning and riding this motorcycle. A lot of bikes have slipped through my fingers over the decades, including several Buells, but this one? This one is going with me. Real riding? I prefer my riding to be unreal, thank you. Good luck and have fun, whichever way you roll. Ferris  April 13, 2006: Out with the old, in with the new/transfer of the karma   April 14, 2006: Glam shots, Kern River Valley, California | ||
| Kilroy |
Nice example Ferris - I haven't pulled the trigger yet but hope to shortly- In the meantime its the M2T to Daytona - | ||
| Fb1 |
Thanks. What year, etc? Daytona sounds good; it's presently snowing here in the mountains of southwest Virginia... | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Hey Ferris, you still running stock pipes? | ||
| Fb1 |
No, I'm running Rush slip-ons with the stock headpipes, a K&N filter (inside the stock ham can), and custom-mapped Power Commander. This was/is a complete package from FuelMoto USA. The Rush cans are internally modded by them, and they build the map specifically for this engine, exhaust and air filter combo. The bike sounds like a big V-twin should but not "too" loud, the engine runs nice and cool, and knocking down 45 mpg is pretty easy, with 50+ mpg not uncommon. Even on the whip the mileage never drops below 40, which IMO is pretty incredible considering how heavy this bike is. |
