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Help needed - major HD road king - hankering

11K views 67 replies 37 participants last post by  blsi 
#1 ·
I have a new 2012 vstrom 650 that I love in both a practical and emotional way. However, I recently started to get a huge hankering for a Harley Road King. I have owned a dyna low rider 88 TC about 10 years ago that was okay but I test rode a new Road King 103TC the other day and I had to force myself to turn around and head back to the shop. I just felt like riding off into the sun set.

I don't know if it is my age (coming up to 50) or the fact that the kind of riding I am doing nowadays is pretty much exclusively road. Commuting during the week and Long rides when ever I get the oportunity about 15,000 miles worth a year.

Anyhow, it makes no financial sense for me to own a FLHR, I have no garage and no space to put two bikes (so the strom will have to go). But I can't seem to help myself. The only benefit of this situation is that they are so expensive that it will take me until next year to save up for one so that gives me a year+ to get this harley hankering out of my system. So please help, however, I am not into harley bashing, They are great bikes and very well made, although a little dated in the technology dept. The new ones are actually very reliable. And man are they great for eating up the miles.

cheers
spong
 
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#3 · (Edited)
They're fine a twisty road if you ride them right.:fineprint: I had one and traded it in on a Road Glide last year they're great bikes and the cruise works great so if you can get one with it do. The 09 and later frames are much better than the old ones too. I've had 4 Harley's now and never had a problem with any of them mechanically which I can't say about my Strom. I'm lucky enough to have both my Strom and the Road Glide but if I had to get rid of one of them it would be the Strom.:argue: By the way I'm 42 so it's not a old age thing either.
 
#4 ·
I have both a 2012 Wee and an 04 Road King Custom. They are both great bikes, in totally different ways. I will tell you though that unless you do your own wrenching, the RK is going to cost you a LOT in terms of service and parts (the average service for an HD Big Twin runs about $200.00). Your insurance on a new RK is going to be pricey too. I'll be honest, unless I had a garage to keep it in, I wouldn't be springing for almost 20 grand worth of motorcycle just to let it sit along the street. Your mileage may vary, of course.
 
#5 ·
I made the mistake of switching to a cruiser twice in my riding career. Never again! (unless I get room for 2 bikes :) ) Great bikes for easing down the road in comfort, and cruise control is very nice, but I just like to get my lean on too much. I will take this opportunity to add that my Nomad is for sale (see sig) if you're looking for a less expensive option. :)
 
#6 ·
I just sold my 09 Heritage Soft Tail that had 7200 miles on it and about 5 grand in HD add ons.I could not ride it without polishing it before I rode it and God forbid let there be a scratch appear.Just got tired of all the pampering so I sold it and got a 2012 DL and ride the hell out of it.Great every day bike and looks good dirty.
 
#7 ·
I love the Road King. The cost of ownership was equal between my HD and Vee.
I put way more miles on my Vee than the HD. I guess my tastes changed and I treat the Vee more like a car than a bike. By that last comment I mean I never put the Harley away dirty...there were times I did not ride it due to weather.

With the strom, even though I despise rain, I will ride it with threatening sky and definitely put it away wet.

I love both bikes equally, but find I spend more quality time on my Vee.
 
#8 ·
Don't try to straighten the Dragon with it.
 
#9 ·
No doubt there will be some RK riders who will say that they can run rings around a sport bike on the twisties; who knows, maybe they can. I know I can't on mine, and that photo shows one of the big drawbacks of the big RK on the curves; it doesn't take much hard cornering to start dragging those floorboards. I'm not a super aggressive rider and I've done it myself. I've never even taken my RK on the Dragon even though I live in NC, simply because I didn't want to get run over by the sport bikes LOL! Now that I have the Wee I'd like to go check it out....I'll still get run over by the sport bikes, but it won't be quite as embarrassing.....
 
#10 ·
Had to fight the same urge on a '99 Road King 2 weeks ago. After a Sporty & a Wide Glide, a bagger has to be it if I get another one....just for the comfort.

I usually go ride my Wee when these things come over me and remember how much I like it. I'd have to sell it to get another bike and know I'd regret it.
 
#11 ·
The road king is a great bike. I intend to get one myself at some point in the near future. As for lack of tech meh, cartridge forks, fly by wire throttle, cruise, abs fi. How much more tech is needed? In a right place and time it absolutely can be the right bike.
 
#14 ·
I turn 50 in about 2 months. I'm not old enough to be riding a HD yet.

My sister in law asks my why I don't buy a big chromey Harley. Because at 6-4, they're too small for me. The chrome needs to be washed and polished more frequenty than I wash the Vee (it rained last month, it's good for a while), and while I'm FAR from the fastest in the group I ride with, even I have to slow down and wait for the fast guys when they're on their Road Kings. Then we both have to wait for the really slow guys.

I've ridden a couple of Harleys. I don't get the appeal. The closest I came was a Buell Ulysses which I really liked.
 
#15 ·
I have a Wee and can't say enough good about it. I also have a Harley which I've owned for 23 years and have 168,000 miles on. Sometimes I think of selling the HD, but when I take it for a ride I realize why I love it. As great as the Wee is, the HD has a soul to it, I know it sounds cliche, but it's such a satisfying ride in a way the Wee can't match. They're a perfect compliment to one another.

I like Road Kings, and Road Glides even more. After taking a Road Glide for a test ride I also thought about getting one. Riding home from the test ride on my Wee I realized it does everything as well, many things better, and it didn't but me in debt. Also, riding the Wee in rain and getting it dirty doesn't bother me at all like it it does on the HD. Plus everyone has a Harley.
 
#17 ·
Some of these replies are really not helping me LOL!!!

I think you hit the nail on the head as when I am on my wee(glee) life is good and I am not really thinking about a road king. I will probably try to keep it if I do end up going over to the chrome side.

I am definately not one for washing bikes (or my jeep for that matter). I have never washed my wee in almost a year and my jeep was last washed in 2004. I ride all year round and in almost any weather so I find riding in a good down pour is all the washing my wee needs. I have no issues in leaving a HD out side and dirty as long as the thing doesn't start rusting on me.

BTW I am aiming for a 2009 or later to get the new frame and I also want the cruise, security & ABS package. A 2011 would be even better with the 103 engine which apparantly suits the 6 speed trans much better as the 96 was apparantly a bit underpowered for it.

I have actually seen 2010's for less than $13K so I am guessing by next year I could probably pick up a 2011 for about the same price. I have no interest in the cosmetic appearance so I might get a deal on an untidy one with a few miles on it as people around here in N.VA only ride low milage mint condition HD's. plus I'll be paying cash which gets you into the really good deals if you are not in a hurry.

cheers guys
 
#18 ·
This was/is my answer to my urge to buy a Harley. It has a boat load of soul.
I still love to take it out now and then. I think having both bikes are a good compliment to each other. I like what each bike has to offer with my riding experience.

 
#30 ·
That Suzuki cruiser will blow the doors off the HD and out handle it as well. However, the mpg is not too thrilling. If I had to have a HD, it would be a RK. I owned a 2001 RK as well as a Dyna Super Glide several yrs ago. I have no interest is going back to a 800 lb bike at my age (66). My V-strom does absolutely everything the HD can do and it is easier to do it and faster to boot. Not to mention the twisties. Its tough when the bug bites though as you think the HD will be the answer to all your problems. You"ll only be substituting one set of problems for another. Good luck whatever you do.
 
#20 ·
Last fall I came to my 05 wee from an 83 Venture. Half the weight & CC's now. It's an adjustment, and I do love my wee. Not missing the extra weight. My venture engine crapped out on me & I didn't want to do another engine swap.

I can't afford 2 bikes & my wife wouldn't go along with it. That's one huge reason I don't look at or test ride other bikes. If I look, I'll end up buying, totally torturing myself, & end up totally pissing my wife off. Done it too many times & it's not worth it. (I turned 50 last August). I absolutely love riding, but I also love my wife & being married.
Doug
 
#21 ·
I recently started to get a huge hankering for a Harley Road King. I test rode a new Road King 103TC the other day and I had to force myself to turn around and head back to the shop. I just felt like riding off into the sun set.The kind of riding I am doing nowadays is pretty much exclusively road. The only benefit of this situation is that they are so expensive that it will take me until next year to save up for one so that gives me a year+ to get this harley hankering out of my system.
Seems to me that you have pretty well answered your question. Pinch your pennies for the next year and if you feel the same go for it. Only one way to find out if it is the one for you. :beatnik:
 
#22 ·
I got back into motorcycles in 2005 at age 62. Now on my 3rd Harley ( a bagger) and have over 100,000 Harley miles. They are very dependable and great for putting a lot of miles behind you. I am not a big guy and the 950 pound bike is a bear at slow spends and parking lots. Wanted something lighter so I got a vee last Fall. It's nimble, light, quick, and fun to ride. If I just want to go for a ride I get on the vee. If I am going a long distance, the Harley is still the most comfortable bike.
 
#23 ·
I've actually been thinking about a big v-twin cruiser which I can rig up with a tour pack and comfortable pillion seat to get my wife to ride along like she used to when we had a Goldwing 1500. But I can't see why anyone would choose a H-D over one of the many Japanese clones which are cheaper, more reliable, usually faster, liquid cooled, and offer (in some models) shaft drive rather than belt.

But then I have never understood the Harley thing and probably never will.
 
#24 ·
Yea another reason for the big tour bike is that my wife (and son) find the pillion seat too uncomfortable for long distance stuff on the vstrom. I guess they don't ride enough to get used to the seat. I think Harley seats are comfortable right off the bat even if you don't ride that often.

As far as compairing to big Japanese touring bike, I kinda get your POV although there is just something about a harley. My wife collects hand bags and you can really tell the expensive designer bags as all the clasps and fittings are uncompromisingly top notch quality. I think Harleys are kind of like that, everything is quaility graded material and there is just something about that engine that is meditative and makes driving on or around the speed limit deeply satisfying.

I think you will find the new Harleys to be very reliable and the belt is actually more maintenance free than a shaft. I.e. no oil to change and will probably never need adjustment in between rear tire changes. I also think they are good for about 100,000 miles.

Anyhow I understand you POV as the Japanese bikes certainly have a lot going for them as do the big BMW's etc. Although once you consider resale value, a Harley is probably cheaper to run especially if you do your own maintenance as those engines are very simple to work on.
 
#25 ·
A lot of the larger Japanese cruisers and baggers are creeping closer to the price of a Harley. May as well buy the Harley I think too.

I understand why people want the "original" if you are going for this type of bike. I think in some measure, it is marketing and also a little bit of pressure from the riding community. I know if I were buying this type of bike, it would largely be influenced by the feeling of wanting to belong to the club, and therefore, it would naturally have to be a Harley. That is a very strong motivator for quite a few people. I also think Harley banks on that culture. Nothing wrong with that as even the owners are pretty aware of it.
 
#27 ·
I don't think you can even use cheaper as a reason any more to choose a Japanese cruiser over a Harley. I just checked the MSRP on two comparable bikes: a new Road Star was about $16,000 and a Harley Road King was $18,000 (obviously that is a stripped down, non-farkelized version). Harleys have a phenomenal nationwide dealer system, and they do tend to hold their value better than the Japanese cruisers (my 04 Road King still blue books at around $10,000). Japanese bikes are more advanced technologically, but in the 10 years I've been riding my RK all over the country, it has never failed me once. If you're looking for a big, heavy, v-twin interstate cruiser, I'd probably still choose the HD over a Nomad or a Road Star or whatever. The Japanese bikes just don't offer the economical alternative that they once did. Oddly enough, as I approach 50, I've become less interested in tooling around on a big chrome Barca-lounger, and more into smaller more agile bikes like the Wee.
 
#32 ·
In general I think you're right when comparing msrp to msrp. In my area though japanese cruisers usually wont bring msrp or anywhere close to it. I've seen yamaha stratoliners (which I think is a great bike btw) sold at deep discounts and lots of non current inventory sitting.
I might also say, in regards to the m109, its fast but its not a tourer like a rk and it would take a lot to make it one. This is the biggest drawback to the metrics imo, limited and very expensive aftermarkdt parts. Were it not for that I would consider a strat, but I'm tired of reengineering bikes. At least the rk starts with good bags, windscreen, cruise and abs. Cant get cruise and abs on most of the others at any price.
 
#28 ·
We currently own 2 HD baggers (and 2 Stroms and 2 Hondas) and I have owned Harleys on and off since I was 17. We have riden these through Rain, snow, dirt and mud and one is a CVO Ultra Classic (look that up if you want to complain about prices)

Like many of you I have always bought bikes to ride. If they are reliable I don't care too much what they a scratched or dirty. Many do however, no matter what make they own and that's OK too.
It's been said here and on other posts that the big bikes don't do well in slow manuvering. Which is mostly true except for many of the HD's, which is one reason many police motors use them. This is me on the red and my old mentor Mark Paz, owner of Ride Like a Pro West Coast, on the blue putting on a demonstration at Pala Casino several years ago.

I can run my Vee through the course easier and quicker, but a 900lb bike is more rewarding. Here you can see we are turning in the width of 2 parking spaces, about 18'

To the OP, If you really want one you would already have it. Since you are asking you probably are not ready. But that's ok, we have all been there
 
#47 · (Edited)
We currently own 2 HD baggers (and 2 Stroms and 2 Hondas) and I have owned Harleys on and off since I was 17. We have riden these through Rain, snow, dirt and mud and one is a CVO Ultra Classic (look that up if you want to complain about prices)
How do you like the batwing fairing compared to the fixed one on the road glide?

I was also looking at a road glide but the one I test rode had a really small screen and it was was almost like riding a bike with no screen at all. I was expecting far more wind protection, but as it was, I had to have my visor down the whole time as the wind was going right into my face.

I then rode a RK but again the screen was a little short for me (my upper body is really long, but short legs). Just really looking for why you chose the batwing over the other options.

thanks
 
#33 ·
Others have said it. The HD costs more to buy but brings more when sold. They are easy to sell also. They cost no more to maintain and it is far easier to locate quality mechanics. HD uses a very similar drive train across the entire big twin line up. The wrenches get very good at working on it.
 
#34 · (Edited)
I am 52, been riding 30 years, have had many bikes but never a Harley. After a bad experience with a 2006 Ducati Multistrada I bought my 09 Wee which I still enjoy. But I recently joined a group of about 40 guys, mostly Harley riders.

I now have a new appreciation for Harleys. And I have learned to slow down and appreciate simply cruising down the road for an hour or two and stopping to BS and eat, rather than trying to ride 250 miles every time I get on a bike.

I rode my Wee on most of the group rides but after a year or so I started thinking about a Harley. I went to the local dealer and tried several bikes. But at 6'3" and 230 lbs with a 34" inseam I could not get comfortable on any of their models. Honestly they all seemed too small. The rides were nice, but cant say I really liked all the useless shaking at idle. The dealer assured me I could buy stuff to make the fit better for more $$$ but ultimately I decided to pass.

Ironically, than while at my Suzuki dealer I saw a Harley clone, a used Yamaha Royal Star Venture with 6000 miles. Very nice looking bike, I was immediately comfortable on that, took it for a spin, and bought it for $10k.

While I do not have a "real" Harley I am now very pleased to have a larger touring bike to compliment my Wee. My two bikes together cost less than one Harley. And in my small sample group, my two Japanese bikes are both far more reliable than the Harleys in my group . . . but I think part of that is all the constant modding and customizing these guys all do, even to brand new bikes. My bikes are both totally stock and still run perfect and smooth.

So get the Harley if you want . . . I get it, and so do thousands of others as well. The are cool machines for sure. Good luck.
 
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