Get the 07 RK

You will want two add-on's......ids and different bars.

 

Have over 10,000 trouble free miles on my '07 RG... Tranny - Not really a problem a bit noisey in 5th gear... Or the need to install the IDS (haven't found the need yet to address that issue)... Little hotter running then on the 88 but that can fixed very easy (Stage 1 - which will improve the performance and address the heat issue)...

Having a '01 RKC that has well over 60K - I lived through there problems also.... Every Bike Every Year seems to have there own set of problems but nothing you can't work out

 

07 RK here with 3,500 miles so far, did a stage 1 and love the bike and the 5 gear whine isn't really that noticable to me anymore. Haven't found the need to intall the IDS either, not sure when people say it running hotter but I don't seem to notice excessive heat unless its a hot summer day and I'm stuck at a stop light for a long time. I'd buy another 07 in a heartbeat..

 

Gents,

This gonna pizz afew here off fersure but.............

Reason being I went with left over new '07 RKC is that the '08's just weren't as "mod-able". Excuse the new word, but that's the best I can come up with......My 07 had the 96 and fuel injection but it lacked the new throttle by wire and ECU found on the 08's.....I knew I could hotrod the 07 easier and cheaper than an 08......Sure nuff, I got what I wanted almost painlessly and rather cheap, and future mods promise same advantage.

ALL RK's handle great.....ALL RK's offer comfort, reliability and general satisfaction.......Make your choice based on price/condition and future plans for the bike......Look far down the road and determine if that particular year lends itself to cheap and easy to mods you might make in the future.

 

'07 RK here and 10K miles.

It's hot here in FL so I overcame EPA induced lean condition with Stage 1. Regarding straight-cut5th gear, mine didn't have a lot of whine but I went to heaver transmission oil anyway since I prefer it (did I say hot in FL).

I did have a minor bit of drive train chatter in 5th and 6th but raised my shift points in 4th and 5th a bit to compensate - no problem. Then added IDS too and it's outstanding.

My personal opinion - thenew 96' strokerintroduced someadditional thump felt in the touring bikes and the moco didn't expect that for some reason. The simple enhancements mentioned above are all that was needed to turn this 1st year puppy into a great machine.

EDIT:+1 on mod-ability. Too tall for stock bars and the stock seat plus too old for that rock-hard spoon for a stock seat too. All I needed to buy to change the bars were new bars - easy - went with Wide-Glide mini-apes and they're great for me. Went to a Mustang solo seat and now this thing fits perfect.

As you already know, if those items are too much for someone to handle then they need to stay with electric seat, tilt wheel, and air conditioning (belch [:'(]). Unfortunately the accessory folks haven't caught up yet with the new "fly-by-wire" bars and new tank shape (differentfront end of the saddle).

 

I got the 08 because I like the challenge of taking something brand new, with hardly any factory produced mod items made for it,then cutting it up,grinding on it and totaly just making a mess out of a beautiful thing!!!
Just kidding, I actualy bought it because it has that "new bike smell"
07, 08, it doesn't matter. They are both outstanding rides in my opinion, so which ever you choose you will not be disapointed.

 

I have an 07 Road King Custom and damn if I can find anything wrong with it. I tried like heck to notice a different sound in fifth gear and I guess it is there but I have to really concentrate on it to notice. As for needing IDS, I think that is only needed by riders whoconsistently lug their engine. I don't think you will have that problem if you are coming off a metric. The revs seem to need to be kept a little higher on the 07 than on older models.

Definitely get an 07 rather than an 06. Better bike, better value IMO.

 

07 18,500 miles no problems at all. The 5th gear isn't all that bad and if you put some nice sounding pipes on the bike you won't notice it anyway. I love my Road King!!!

 

Forget the tranny just go for the bike with the most extras and the lowest miles you can find.

 

You will love the 07 but have them add the IDS. Will make your bike a smoother, quieter ride. You won't notice any 5th gear noise with the IDS. The reason for the noise as mentioned above are the square cut gears with the 6 speed tranny. The 08's would make the same noise but they already come with the IDS installed from the factory.