Though I don't have any pix avail at the moment, I had an evo Road King. I kept the highway bar and floorboards and went with 18 in apes. I also gave it a different look, ditching the normal exhaust and went with the long shots to the same side, like a softail. Some fat spokes and whitewalls and I had that Socal look. I lost the bike in a divorce, but, no matter what you do, the Road King is a great platform to customize.

 

Here's my '96 FLHR. Love the bike itself (carb evo), got it with the paint, apes, etc. on a trade deal. I'm thinking I"d like to trade this for another '96 that is a little more conservative or a classic/custom. This thing is a hoot to ride, but I prefer the more old-school look. This is a little too "art deco" for me.

 

Plus one, the RK is a beautiful bike as is...

 

The same RK can carry several different identity's, rich-cadillac, solo'd out and some throttle to run with the boys, solo'd for shows, tourpak-windshield for getaways with the wife.
My current vision is building another RK with the same paint scheme except in satin, a mix of blacked out items and little chrome. A John Sachs prepped 127" under the tank and the bike just screams "getcha some of this" it may or maynot happen but as long as my little brain keeps twirling, the vision will be alive.

 

I have my Wideglide and a 2005 Electra. After some back surgery I might trade the Wideglide in for a Road King Evo-yeah,I know...two Baggers-But I LOVE the Evo. I have owned a RK in the past as well as an FXR. Two totaly different animals! Your RK will NEVER handle like an FXR-and the FXR couldn't handle the kind of saddle time that a RK can. Like you said before; Ride it,then decide for yourself. You might just fall in love with her the way she is.....

 

well... road kings are beautiful bikes, that said.. I know where ur treading...
My dad owns a 2005 RK and has asked me several times how would it look without the bags... well... it could look great... but the way I'm going needs a lot of modding and wouldn't be an RK anymore... I would turn the bike into an early shovel electra glide style... but u have to reposition the rear shocks and remove the struts... removing the struts implies that u have to create a bracket for the exhasut AND NO MORE BAGS... still haven't found how to modify the side covers because I find them a bit hideaus without the bags IMO
So later I so a retro styled RK with the bags in place, front fork and crashbars painted black, a cherry dark red paint scheme... really liked the look of it...
two different directions to go with...
just, one thing... IMO RKs without bag look awkward without some serious tinkering... plus the side covers and the seat don't go so well with baggless lines..
but hey... if u got the budget, u can come out with a slick bagless RK

 

Here is a pic of a bagless Road King and a link to the kit used.

 

When I look at these pictures all I can think is..... damn, that looks comfortable!