The Road King's Future?

[Ratfade]

Lately I've kind of gotten the bug for a Road King---can't say why for sure. I've ridden some, but I've always owned Electra Glides. When I go to various dealer websites, most have one or two RK's and about a million Street Glides and Electra Glides. I know the SG is the most popular model, but it seems that the RK is really getting pushed to the side. I know no one here has any special inside info about this, but what are the general thoughts?

[jmorton10]

The RK has been my favorite model for years.



I love being able to install/remove a windshield in 30 seconds.  I had a RK with stereo etc. but decided a good set of sound blocking earbuds from my phone with Sirius radio etc. made way more sense than a 1000 watt stereo at hearing damaging volume.....

~John

[Deye76]

I think it would be a mistake if they remove them from the line-up. I enjoy mine.

[fleetmechanic]

Speaking only of the Police model market, I had our dealer ask the factory last year what the ratio of fairing models to Road King police models sold in the US was.   They told him it's about 75% fairings.

[james r]

    2010 then 2015 FLHR
Black Road Kings !!!!
    The Absolute BEST Harley !!!!,   For ME !!!!!!

[JW113]

Wow John Morton, we're twinsies. Sort of...

What year? Mine's 2004.

[attach=0]

Never cared for faired bikes, 'shield, T, frame mounted, none of them. Just a wind in the face kind of guy. And also can't stand the buffeting of a fairing. Never been on a bike that didn't buffet, takes the fun out of riding. At least for me....

-JW

[calif phil]

I remember sitting on a then brand new 1994 Road King in Pomona valley Harley.   I told my wife Harley just came out with the perfect motorcycle.   


Harleypartscheap.com

[Bikerscum]

They need a bigger headlight housing 

JK... I think the RK and the Heritage are the two best looking bikes in the lineup. Hope neither of them go away.

[jmorton10]

Wow John Morton, we're twinsies. Sort of...

What year? Mine's 2004.

[attach=0]

Mine is a 2007 with an S&S motor I installed last Summer. The leather bags are from an 04 RK Custom.

~John

[jmorton10]

I think the RK and the Heritage are the two best looking bikes in the lineup. Hope neither of them go away.

Yeah, I liked my Heritage also:

http://www.pbase.com/jmorton10/image/34274206

~John

[lickidysplit]

I love my 1999 roadking I cant imagine life with out it. I have a 2012 cvo roadglide but my roadking is my go to bike.I  also have an 05 springer classic that I also like and they have done away with them.But if I could only have one modern bike it would be a roadking.I hope like hell they don't do away with them

[speed limit]

I have a 1998 Road King and a 2015 Road Glide, as far as fun factor its the RK hands down its light and nimble with power train mods that make it a hoot to ride I have 3 options tall windshield shorty or no wind shield at all, hard or soft bags so it always fits my mood. I think Harley will continue with the FLHR because it doesn't cost them any special tooling or production line to build, the tank console is probably the biggest cost for them

[SixShooter14]

Yeah, I like the RKs too...I'll hopefully step up to a Heritage or RK when I start doing more road trips.

[Tommy D]

Wow John Morton, we're twinsies. Sort of...

What year? Mine's 2004.

[attach=0]

Never cared for faired bikes, 'shield, T, frame mounted, none of them. Just a wind in the face kind of guy. And also can't stand the buffeting of a fairing. Never been on a bike that didn't buffet, takes the fun out of riding. At least for me....

-JW

I'm Diggin the Shotgun exhaust 

Python or Cycleshack?

[JW113]

Cycle Shack PHD-226. Good luck finding them, I think they are discontinued.

cheers,
JW

[JW113]

Jeez John, are we like half brothers or something?

[attach=0]

Yes, softail heritages were rockin' awesome. At least, after the owner/rider/wrench de-WillieG'd them!

-JW

[Jim Bronson]

Never cared for faired bikes, 'shield, T, frame mounted, none of them. Just a wind in the face kind of guy. And also can't stand the buffeting of a fairing. Never been on a bike that didn't buffet, takes the fun out of riding. At least for me....

-JW

I'm not a fairing guy either. I like to see the fender and the road, but I'm sure faired bikes are much more protective in bad weather. The stock windsheld caused lots of buffeting on my '15 RK, but the new Windsplitter windshield with the slot reduces the buffeting to virtually nothing. HD finally did some wind tunnel testing and got it right. It looks nice too.

[RKRuss]

I have a 2000 Road King as well as seven other bikes, some of which are much newer.

If my shed caught fire and I only had sufficient time to run in and rescue one bike, guess which one it would be?

Yep - love that machine!

Russ. 

[rkrcpa]

I remember sitting on a then brand new 1994 Road King in Pomona valley Harley.   I told my wife Harley just came out with the perfect motorcycle.   


Harleypartscheap.com

My first Harley was a 1973 "Road King".

[sandrooney]

My 2015 Road King is great.

[tomcat64]

we sell plenty of roadkings,, I don't think they are going anywhere..

[Hossamania]

Still really like my RoadKing. The classic Harley look. Handles great. Easily set up for bar hopping or long distance touring. When it came out, I was totally drawn to it, styled after the classic original FLH. The sales may not be quite as strong as the StreetGlide right now, but it is not going away. I like my Ultra, but it is not quite as versatile as the RK.
Maybe there weren't any at the dealer because they were all sold.

[lickidysplit]

  they have to keep a non fairing bike in the touring lineup for police depts., and people who just don't like fairings. I don't think they will go away just make changes within the model like the classic or the custom .

[Eglider05]

I'm curious how much weight the fairing, Kenwood radio, BT amp and speakers add to a Eglide. Any guesses?

It seems like every year it gets a little more top heavy. I had an RK, loved it and many times have thought about going back but I have too much sunk into the 05 Glide. I've considered converting this to an RK. The one thing I clearly remember is there was less buffeting with the RK but my arms were more exposed to the weather. It also handled better.

Rick

[Y2KRKNG]

I'm curious how much weight the fairing, Kenwood radio, BT amp and speakers add to a Eglide. Any guesses?

It seems like every year it gets a little more top heavy. I had an RK, loved it and many times have thought about going back but I have too much sunk into the 05 Glide. I've considered converting this to an RK. The one thing I clearly remember is there was less buffeting with the RK but my arms were more exposed to the weather. It also handled better.

Rick

Not exactly the weight comparison your asking , But I have this one. There's 80lbs of supports and gaurds including empty hard bags on most RKs with the docking hardware and Hwy pegs and all. Basically stripping it down to a SFT Heritage look pulls 80lbs.