I tend to agree that the Road King is a great bike, although I like listening to music so opt for the Road King with the factory-equipped fairing - AKA: Electra Glide Standard (In my case a FLHTP)...
I love my '97 RK. For me, it's a pretty good long distance road bike and a fun town bike, and the side bags make it really useful for everyday tasks. I agree that it carries on the tradition of the earlier bikes. I really appreciate my RK when I look at it next to my FLH Shovelhead, and it seems to me a refined version of that bike. That being said, my RK is a carbureted 5-speed Evo, and while it is a step forward from the 4-speed solid mounted Shovelhead, it does not have the power of most of the RK's highlighted in this great thread. I have not ridden a Twin Cam bike, but I have ridden an M8, and the power and speed of the M8 is many steps ahead of my Evo RK. While not having the torque of the M8, my RK has decent power up to around 85 MPH, and then it is pretty wrung out, particularly if it's loaded down with gear. That's okay. I Love the bike for what it is, and riding on high speed super slabs is a drag and I prefer the scenic highways and roads. I can live out of this bike and I would not hesitate it to ride it anywhere.
How do you like that screen vent?
Do you find its made a difference?
Reason I ask is I just instaleed a Clearview windshield on my 2010 RK without the vent because I wanted the clean vintage look.
But I almost went vented.
Just curious.
I have found that a bit less is MUCH better and takes away all the buffeting.
If you adjust the top of your windshield to be level with bottom of chin, it smoothes out perfect!
I have the factory windshield on a 2019 King and it is smooth as butter (@ all speeds).
I have always made my mark @ bottom of chin and custom cut with a jig saw. Which can very easily be done perfectly!
Did same with my 2018 Heritage and was perfect as well.
Night and day difference as below 2018 Heritage (or as some will point out "Deluxe" loaded as a Heritage as seen handlebar and risers. $500 more for a Heritage minus bags and windshield "stripped" = a Deluxe 😂🤯
Traded for the King very bitter sweet...
Last edited by Bayou FLHR-M8-128"; 02-12-2024 at 07:15 AM.
I love my '97 RK. For me, it's a pretty good long distance road bike and a fun town bike, and the side bags make it really useful for everyday tasks. I agree that it carries on the tradition of the earlier bikes. I really appreciate my RK when I look at it next to my FLH Shovelhead, and it seems to me a refined version of that bike. That being said, my RK is a carbureted 5-speed Evo, and while it is a step forward from the 4-speed solid mounted Shovelhead, it does not have the power of most of the RK's highlighted in this great thread. I have not ridden a Twin Cam bike, but I have ridden an M8, and the power and speed of the M8 is many steps ahead of my Evo RK. While not having the torque of the M8, my RK has decent power up to around 85 MPH, and then it is pretty wrung out, particularly if it's loaded down with gear. That's okay. I Love the bike for what it is, and riding on high speed super slabs is a drag and I prefer the scenic highways and roads. I can live out of this bike and I would not hesitate it to ride it anywhere.
You are spot on!
I have a ‘97 RK and it does everything I need it to do. I have a 1976 ElectraGlide fairing on mine… a lot of parts can be adapted to fit between the older touring models and the evo touring models.
I’m a scenic byway rider and just don’t have a need for more power. I don’t struggle to keep up with newer HD bikes. I just did a top end on mine (108k+ miles) I chose to keep it stock instead of power upgrades.
The big plus on the evo is valve train sound… my EVO’s valve train makes the nicest synchopated Rythmic metronome sound, it’s a real pleasure to ride. My TC88 sounds like a thrashing machine in comparison.
I'd sworn off cruiser bikes after my last V-Star, thinking it would be all upright naked/adventure bikes for the rest of my life.
Now here I am, singing the praises of a Road King Special. Ergonomics, comfort & balance like nothing I expected. Highway limousine one minute, open-air cruiser the next.
I love my '97 RK. For me, it's a pretty good long distance road bike and a fun town bike, and the side bags make it really useful for everyday tasks. I agree that it carries on the tradition of the earlier bikes. I really appreciate my RK when I look at it next to my FLH Shovelhead, and it seems to me a refined version of that bike. That being said, my RK is a carbureted 5-speed Evo, and while it is a step forward from the 4-speed solid mounted Shovelhead, it does not have the power of most of the RK's highlighted in this great thread. I have not ridden a Twin Cam bike, but I have ridden an M8, and the power and speed of the M8 is many steps ahead of my Evo RK. While not having the torque of the M8, my RK has decent power up to around 85 MPH, and then it is pretty wrung out, particularly if it's loaded down with gear. That's okay. I Love the bike for what it is, and riding on high speed super slabs is a drag and I prefer the scenic highways and roads. I can live out of this bike and I would not hesitate it to ride it anywhere.
Iconic, beautiful, simple, reliable and classic! Love it…
My 2010 RK, which I bought just over a year ago, is the only other bike I've owned or ridden other then my 81shovelhead.
And it is simply MAGNIFICENT!!
Q
02-11-2024, 09:00 PM
