Well guys and gals looks like I may be moving on. Put a deposit on a 2014 Road King today. It's been a great ride here seeing all the great bikes. But getting older and need to stretch out more. Wish me luck and I'll still visit to see how some of these bikes turn out.

 

Congrats! Please post your impressions when you get some miles on it.

 

Welcome to the club.

 

Hey, I'm glad you posted this, and please allow me to piggyback on your post. Like you, I am getting older (almost 65), and I am currently riding a Sportster. There's nothing wrong with my current bike, except I seem to feel every bump in the small of my back. I am a big guy (265 lbs.), and I am pondering moving to a larger bike. I test drove a Switchback a couple of days ago, and I really liked it. It pretty much handled like my Sportster, but offered a MUCH smoother ride. I purposely hit every manhole cover i could to see how it felt. Also, the footboards were very comfortable to me, and particularly comfortable on my (sometimes) gimpy right knee. My current bike has a windshield and saddlebags, and I really want those on my next bike.

Here's the question: Because the Switchback was first released in 2012, the price of used models are still fairly high. That's fair, because they have the latest technology and most have very few miles on them. I have found that if I am willing to look at a Road King that is a few years older, I can get a Road King at about the same price point. I have not ridden a Road King yet, so I was wondering about the perceived ride difference between the Switchback and the Road King. I can look up all of the specifications, but what I can't get from specification sheets is folk's perception between the two bikes. Can anyone help with this?

Also, what year did the Road King move to fuel injection and the 103 engine?

 

I believe the first EFI RK was mine, the 2001 Classic. The 103 is much more recent.

The way I ride, 88ci with Stage 1 is plenty. Where I ride, at high altitudes, the EFI is a boon.

 

Stay with a post 2009 year model on the RK so you get the improved frame.

 

The Road King is going to offer an even better ride and handling is on par in the 09 and newer models. I haven't been on an older model touring so can't compare them. The 103 started in 2012 not sure on the efi.

 

Harley marketing has to be some of the most effective in our time...

 

definitely a decision to move up in the Harley family! Good choice

 

Wish you luck with the RK.

Biggest mistake I ever made, was thinking the RK was a better bike for me, than my Superglide. Luckily, I still have my SG after all these years.