Who has an opinion on a 2007 RK police without ABS, 1000 miles vs. a 2009 RK civilian with ABS, 3000 miles. Price is about the same when I add rear seat, etc. for the police. I really like the idea of a 103 but I also like the idea of ABS.
Right now I have a very nice 1988 FXR. So either one is a big jump up.
I could hold out for a police RK with ABS but I am impatient.
So is the new frame that great?
Do I have to change the police tires for 2 up riding?
Does the 09 cylinder cutout take care of the heat problems? There seem to be easy mods to take care of it on the 07.
I think the 07 looks better. I guess it should only matter to me but what does the rest of the world think?
All of the bad things that are written about the 6 speed make it sound like chinese farmers are making them in their back yards. Are they really that bad?
Can the power commander and or others handle the 09 electronics?
Can I get close to the 103 torque with pipes, AC on the 96 or do I need a cam? Assuming I can get acess to the FI programming.
Thanks for any input.

 

There is no way the 07 Police should be the same price as the 09 Civi, police bikes have crappy resale/trade in value, which makes them a great value. JMHO

But you should do whats feels right for you, if it were me and both were 15k I'd go with the 09, with color the same on each.

 

There is little difference in the stock 103 motor as used in the police RK, and the 96 used in the civilian bikes. Both motors need a good stage I treatment to wake them up a little. In your scenario, I'd go with the 09 civilian bike, hands down. With the police bike (and I ride one, btw), there's some other considerations you will probably want to address, all of which take a little $$.

Saddlebags: cop bags are easier to use, but the black hockey puck is fugly, and a dead giveaway. The push button latches available on the aftermarket look better than the hockey puck, but are not durable, and most of them leak a little. I don't want water in my saddlebags. I found a set of used civilian bags I'm gonna use on my bike when I get around to repainting it.

Cop seat: comfy, but sits you up and forward. Also fugly. You'll want to go to an aftermarket seat, but since the stock civilian RK seat is one of the lousiest HD makes, it's kind of a wash. With either bike, you can figure you'll need to buy a new seat.

You'll need to re-wire the cop lighting. I've got my passing lights wired into my right handgrip, which is kind of cool. Adding cruise control can be done with the cop bikes, but is more complicated.

ABS: on the 07 and earlier cop bikes, the ABS was a Nissin system, and the control module is located behind the right saddlebag, taking up about 1/3 of the usable space from that bag. The 08 and later bikes all have Brembo ABS, much more desirable.

The six speed trans is not a problem at all. Some riders complain of the 5th gear whine, but it diminishes a lot with a few miles, and some of us don't consider the little bit of noise it makes to be worth even mentioning.

You'll have to change out the police tires for 2 up riding, yes.

The pre-09 bikes have a mild rear-steer issue at speed. It feels a little like you're riding on a tire going flat. There are lots of fixes, all inexpensive (bagger brace, ride str8, etc)

For me, the decision to buy a retired cop bike was that it got me into the 103 motor for less than I would have paid for a civilian RK with the 96. An 07 cop RK should cost less than an 07 civilian RK, and should cost quite a bit less than an 09 civilian RK.

 

thanks for the input so far.
The price is about the same factoring in the new seat, foot pegs, etc for the police bike and shipping. So the actual sales price is less. Since the police bike has only 1000 miles, I didn't subtract any value for condition.

 

I just bought a 2009 Road King Police, with 7 miles, for much less than a 2009 Road King MSRP. The bike has the 103, tach, oil cooler and mid-frame heat deflectors. The bike came with the same wheels as the street glide, a black nacelle and a street glide seat.

I bought the bike at Ft. Lauderdale Harley, and my salesman said they have access to more 2009 police bikes. If you're interested, give Sean Philips a call there, tell him Eric sent you.

I agree with most of what boogaloodude said, except about the bags. I actually think the cop bags give the bike some character, and the hockey pucks are much easier to use than the civilian latches.

 

The new frame (and new swingarm) really are that great, head and shoulders above the old for high speed cornering.

The 09 cutout helps with heat, but the wilder you take the motor the more likely you are gonna have to turn it off. Lumpy cam motors dont like idling on 1 cyl.

The 6 speed transmission is a great box, i smash it daily with all the tq of the 124" and it just soaks it up. Shift quality and speed are top notch. 5th gear whines on some bikes more than others, with the right pipes you wont even hear it.

As previously said both 103 and 96 motors will need serious work to wake them up.

Go the 09. Or find an 09 police.

 

I'd go with the 09,the new frames are great and the 09's might be a sought after year,new frame without the cat.converter.

 

That is what I thought about the 2007 (new motor and trans with classic tank, frame, tires etc.) but nobody else seems to think so.
Anyway, I went with the 2009. Now I have to save up for a cop motor, cop oil cooler, cop tach, cop bag latches, etc so I can be like Elwood.
Plus the cop bike had a heavy breather, deluxe seat, and Rineheart slip-ons.
But, I do have that phat 180 tire and the lay down license plate, so I've got that going for me. Not to mention cruise and ABS. Man, am I old.
Thanks to the previous poster (Eric) that mentioned Sean at Ft Lauderdale HD. He might still have the 2007 black RK Police, less than 2000 miles, beautiful. Tires and seat are changed. It has the Rinehearts and heavy breather also.

 

Were did you see the 2007? Im looking at one now @ Rosmyers in Ft Lauerdale it only has 1750 miles.Im almost sure the miles are not correct.THe bike has to much weathered bolts/Rust and wear on grips and levers for it to have that low of miles.It has no abs .they told me $13,900 on the phone .When I got in the price went up tp $15,900.I am also tossing it between a police bike and a 2009,2010 RK or RK classic

 

I believe I was working with Rossmyer HD, in Ft Lauderdale. I only saw pictures so I could have missed the wear you mentioned.The bike I saw had a heavy breather intake. It was 07, black with a civilian seat. If they said $13,900 then it should be $13,900. I was told $14,000 for the bike I looked at. It makes sense that there were some imperfections since low mile 07s are usually closer to $15k at dealers.
There was one in Michigan also with low miles, dark blue, no civilian conversion done. $14,700 I think.
I decided to go with 09 civilian for a little more money but I don't have to spend $1000 for, tires, back seat, backrest etc. Of course I don't have a 103, tach, oil cooler either. Tough decision.

The 09 feels great to me. I rode my nephew's 06 RK a little. The 09 seems better but i don't push them very hard. ABS was a big factor for me. I must be getting old.
Most people say 09 is much better bike. 07 looks better to me. Can't see the 09 when I am on it.

Harley website has a used bike listing. Search police and you will see several.