Old School sounds Cool, but have you ridden the 09 and newer touring bikes with Brembo ABS brakes and electronic cruise control? I suggest you take one for a ride and try out the cruise control and while your out on it, stomp on the brakes.
Personally, their's no way I'd go back to a bike without ABS brakes and electronic cruise control.

 

It depends on what your doing. If your doing alot of highway miles, you want a 6 speed. If your doing alot of 2 lane under 60 rides, then its a wash. the 09 touring frake is good, but, theres only so much youll do on a harley, my old frame bike will drag the boards no problem. Your more limited by lean angle than the chassis. i want a newer bike myself and the frame is at the middle of my list of reasons to go to a newer ultra, nowhere near the top. Ive been on several so its not an ignorance is bliss thing

 

I had a 2003 Road King for many years and traded it for a 2012 Ultra Limited. Hated that bike, nothing but an anemic gas sucking "pig". Sold it and bought a 2002 CVO Road King.


Sure the "upgrades" on the 2007 and newer models are OK, but absolutely NOTHING at all wrong with the early twin cam bikes once you get past the MM fuel injection era. Carbureted are also fine, and once you get one of those dialed in correctly the only difference between that and a FI bike is that you have to pull the enrichener for cold starts.


If you go pre 2007 the 34 tooth front sprocket upgrade puts those on par in high gear with the later 6 speed bikes, if you want to slow them down a little on the highway and enjoy a tad better fuel economy.......FWIW.....Cliff

 

Who made your decision for you to get out of bed yesterday?

 

there's always gotta be at least one. I'd say keep shopping and be ready to buy when a good deal comes up,like you said it's coming to the end of the riding season so you'll get guys looking to dump their bikes to get snowmobiles they'll never ride lol.

 

Personally I'd look for a good deal on a garage queen and they're out there but I don't need to ask for anyone to help me make up my mind, do you?

 

I have had 3 touring HD's, a 99 RK (put 55k on it), a 06 RK, and now a 2012 EGC. On both of the 88ci bikes I did cams (95 kit on one)
The ride of the touring frame bikes is ALOT better than that of any of the softail's or dyna's that I have had, especially for 2 up riding.
My 2012 with the newer style frame rides and handles way way way better than my earlier RK's did.
The 6 spd is very nice, but not really much of a advantage unless you do much interstate riding.
Having a fairing will greatly improve the comfort on cooler riding day by a BUNCH. Add a set of leather crash bar covers (or hard lowers) and you will about double your riding season compared to the fatboy. Of course you could always add a detachable fairing.
The 03 Rk, while having a little more room and a more comfortable ride, would still have the same power problems that you have with your current bike. Unless of course you do some motor upgrades.
If you really like the bike you have, and are comfortable two-up on it, another option would be to put some hard bags or roadking classic bags on it, and upgrade the motor some. Cam's are the biggest bang for your buck. If you still need more space add a sissy bar (if you don't have one) with a luggage rack on the back. You can put a T-bag on it for trips and fit more into the T-bag than you can into the rear luggage on a touring model.