I've been looking at the RK Special and keep thinking the MoCo will bring back the standard next year but with updates....
-Digital Dash with built in fuel gauge
-Spots and windhshield of course
-Chrome everywhere
-Improved rear lighting
-LED signal lights...LOL

My guesses anyway......yours?

 

They almost killed the police Road King after 2023, but decided to keep it for 2024. They had announced they were done with it, then reversed that decision.

With the Road King standard gone after 2022, and the police Road King nearly gone after 2023, I’d not bet on what the heck they’ll do moving forward.

 

FLHR is a bit of budget bike. I wonder if harley is trying to force more expensive models on us. Same with FLHT, they have taken that away at times too. Basically a FLHX without a radio.

Personaly besides price, I like the simpleness of the FLHR over what harley is doing.

I also wonder if we are the last generation to know chrome. Look at the all painted autos out there, Or atleast last for American chrome. But I think harley took the blacked trend all the way to cut costs, but make you think you are getting something special.

 

I find the black parts chip easily and don’t stand up to road debris and bugs.

 

A true RK Classic with leather bags, a gas tank speedo, and a 114, would be nice. Something I would be interested in.

But, the MOCO, and I don’t seem to have the same thoughts about it.

 

I like the standard RK. I'm 65. Therein lies the problem for H-D. I don't think it's coming back.

 

My wife and I have noticed after many years together, that anything we like, will no longer be available after a period of time. Which is why I bought the police Road King. I figured it was going to go away forever.

As much as I am shocked that they dumped the Road King standard, I think you are exactly right.

 

The Road King does offer digital markups/add ons. It does lend itself to “digital features”. Think add on margins. Chrome left because it’s tough to find decent chrome plating shops. The EPA pretty much took care of that and foreign chrome, especially China was marginal to terrible.

If you are run by an accountant whose primary focus is making their bonus and keeping the shareholders at bay, you focus on margins and cost cutting. Nothing else matters.

Add to this designs now are worked on remotely. No walking down the corridor to see what other departments are doing and how that interfaces with your project.

On top of this, design is graphic program driven. No hands on. That’s why the new bikes look….we’ll look so metric. I don’t know how else to put it.

Of course it hurts my perception of Harley, but I’m not their customer any longer. I’m too old, too experienced, and too worldly to accept their new stuff. However, the new stuff appeals to those after the boomers, millennials and gen x rule the market. They grew up with smart phones, computer gaming, while older riders had dial phones and maybe pong, but mostly cards or board games. Their entire life view is different than mine and they are unwilling or unable to understand our experience, Vietnam, Kennedy, Kent state, and burn your bra! (Free love as well.)

For these reasons and a few others, I doubt the Road King Std or Classic will return.

I could be wrong, I hope I am but if I were a betting man, I’d bet against it. Same for the specials. No gizmo add ons. Riding is now sold as an onboard experience, not just riding on good equipment.

 

 

When I purchased my RK I wanted the biggest motor available at the time, that happen to be a 114.

It meant I was pushed into the RKS , I like the chrome , but the black has certainly grew on me , now I like it a lot .

The black still seems to be quite popular with the younger crowd .

It is a PIA to keep shiny , and swirl marks free , unlike a chrome version .

I do not want ANY digital info on the RK , I believe it is the closest ( chrome version ) to the "old" school look for this type of ride .

The simple joy of riding without the electronic wizardry of a fairing bike .

I agree with above statements, basically I feel the young generation want all the bells and whistles available to them , and you just don't get that on a RK .