Opps!

 

I had some of the same feelings when I bought my first Harley ( '94 Ultra) in the fall of '93. I traded in a Suzuki Cavalcade that was incredible on trips. The Harley vibrated and had all kinds of mechanical noises. The Ultra quickly grew on me. Since then I have had an EG Standard, another Ultra, and now an EG Classic. My wife rides a Heritage Classic so I don't need the Ultra extras. I love the sound and feel of a V twin and nothing has the looks of the EG's and Road Kings. Give the bike time to grow on you. Good luck on whatever you decide. The main thing is to keep on riding.
Ray

 

Well said. I also think you are comparing apples to oranges. I would try test riding the EG or RG or maybe even the new SG

 

That ain't no "Oops", it's called keyboard flexing.

Mr. Herrin, I went and read your first post. Not much of an intro, except to gripe about not having enough power, saying your average freeway speed is ~100mph, and wondering why your gas mileage is only 30 mpg. Good grief; slow down, enjoy the scenery, and watch your mileage climb a bit.

No reason to waltz in here and slam somebody for something they post. If the dude is slingin' a tale, it'll come out on its own. If not, then the idea is to help, not beat yer chest and puff yourself up. Try offering a few constructive bits of info. If the feller don't take 'em, you done the right thing, and it's back on him.

Name callin' is best left to elementary minds in elementary school.

RKC, you've been given plenty of advice to work with. Coming from a Wing, the RK is an elemental bike. It ain't an all-out tourer, and if you expect it to be you will always be disappointed. It'd be the same if you came from a crotch rocket and went to a Wing, expecting to still do wheelies, stoppies, run to 165 mph and back down to a stop in 7 seconds, and lay over in a hairpin with your leathers the only thing keeping you from scraping the paint off the fairing. The Wing wouldn't cut it, would it?

Lower the windshield so you're looking over it; nose height like you said. Put the stock pipes back on if the SEs are too loud. Get some lowers to help with the wind coming from below the windshield. Or try the flap-vest; it works. Or go back and try an Ultra or Road Glide. Or go back to a Wing; ain't no shame in making yourself happy!

In the end only you can make the decision for you. Rest of us got no say-so.

 

Thanks everyone! Great input except for the neandertal (you know who you are. Have the person reading this to you explain what "neandertal" means.). I think destiny played it's hand today. I went to the local Harley Dealer to get parts/tools. I am going to do my own inspections. Walked in and there was a beautiful used Road King with a quick-relaease FAIRING on it. Spoke with the parts guys and they showed me the infinite ways to windscreen/fairing the Road King. I sat on a RK with a Sundowner touring seat. BIG difference. After buying parts I walked outside and there was a guy starting his Ultra Classic. Looked like he had stock pipes and they were almost inaudible. Not good at "bike night" but must be awesome on the road. Didn't get a chance to chat with the guy but he looked like a hardcore tourer (he had soft packs strapped to ALL THREE of his hard bags).

Cleaned the bike today and put it on a stand to work on it. It is awesome looking and I DO love the sound of the SEIIs around town. Right combination of seat, screen and pipes (and helmet?) and I'm sticking with Harley. I am retracing the N. Michigan trip at the end of the month with new seat, windscreen and stock pipes. Thanks again everyone. Big help. Love the Forum, too. Bike pics are forthcoming.

 

Gotta love it!

 

oops! lookin forward to the pics!! your butt gets used to it!

 

I'm riding a EG and started off with a shoei RF-1000 full face,the buffeting was so bad at highway speeds,it felt like my head was in a blender,so much it would shake my sunglasses so my vision was blured. i started wondering about changing my helmet and high of the windsheild,I ended up with a decent half helmet and changing the stock 12" windsheild down to a 9 1/2" ,added lower fairing air deflectors,and the air foil under the fairing between the forks,seemed to reduce alot of the buffeting,still get some when conditions are right,but 90% of it is gone. I'm 5'10" can now see over the top of the windsheild,which i like better in the rain,yet most of the air is deflected up over my head,the half helmet is alot more comfortable in the hot weather as well. this is my first harley,and i've found what works for one,might not work for another,thus so many variations of personal customizing making it what you enjoy,not what works for others,or a standard look.

mike

 

MxRider4:

Easy on the name calling [sm=forgetit.gif]...opinions are wanted, but flaming a guy ain't what we're about.

Speak your peace, but do it in a way that doesn't involve slamming another rider.

Mac

 

Harley Davidson makes a set of chrome wind deflectors that go on the front forks, one on each side. These will take away about 90% of the buffeting that you are feeling. Cut your windshield a little so you don't look through it.

If you have stock handlebars on the Roadking, you will probably never be able to make it comfortable for long trips. I had to go with 2" pullbacks on mine.

The Roadking is a pretty Spartan tourer, and can't be compared to a full dresser. That is why, after 10 years of riding a Roadking I went to an EG Classic.

Good luck in getting what you want the way you want it.

Regards,

Bill