I am going to get a big twin this winter, moving up from a Sportster. I started looking at Dynas. I like some Softails for their looks more than their ride.

I have always loved the look of the Road King. However, I mostly ride 45 minutes or less at at time-just around the town/county. Maybe I would be inspired to do more on the King.

Do y'all think this is too big a bike for what I do? I'm not worried about being physically able to handle the bike. I'm more concerned about it being cumbersome to ride around town. If you have a touring model, is it a drag for going around town or is it okay?

 

I haven't gone on an long distance rides with my King, it is however my daily driver. Love it, the saddle bags come in handy.

 

A Road King is perfect for any type of riding. The only drag is that it doesn't look good without bags, but I don't pull my bags anyway. I always have something with me, whether it's an extra shirt, gloves, water, soda, whatever. I liked my Road King a lot. In fact, if I had been thinking straight, I still would have one instead of my Street Glide...

The rubber mounted motor is smoother in my opinion than the counterbalanced rigid-mounted motors on Softails.

 

Most of my rides are less than two hours. I think the Road King is great around town and on the county highways. If I ever want to do some long distance touring, I may buy myself an Ultra.

 

The King is an Extremely versatile bike and is nible enough to ride around town as well as take on a long tour !! I use mine for both styles of riding all the time with no regrets...

 

Just the ride of the heavier stronger bike is worth using it short, medium or long rides. A little hard to manage in tight lots and some inclines but overall wouldn't trade my King for anything but maybe a Ultra.

 

I did what you are considering, moved to the King after 3 years on the Sportster. I started doing more longer rides with the local HOG chapter and the saddlebags are a plus. What ever you get you will want bags and a windshield. The ride on the King is great, I live in a small town so that is not a problem, I have been on interstate 81 a few times in good and bad weather and never had a problem at 75 or 80. It is heavy at a little over 800lbs. Get what you feel comfortable on, after all you are the only one you have to please. Go for a test ride on a few. It is nice to be the King.

 

I go on one or two trips a year with my Road King otherwise it does short local rides, errands or commutes me to work. Great bike for anything I've needed. I just want to find a way to make it look good without the saddlebags.

 

I couldn't agree more with what others are saying. My first bike was a 05 883C and after 2.5 years I upgraded to the Road King. If I had known how easy it would be to ride, I would have started with the RK rather than the Sporty. It is very easy to ride, both around town and on the highway. Comfort will blow you away. A friend of mine bought his first bike last year, and Ultra and now he wishes he had gotten something a little smaller like a RK or Fat Boy because most of his rides are to work and back and he thinks he has more bike than he needs, but still enjoys it regardless.

 

I've ridden mine all over the desert Southwest from Southern California. Always comfortable, nimble, and fun. Even rode from San Diego to the Utah National Parks on the I-15 slab, eight hours, no problem. No, its not an Ultra, but there is a reason they call it the King! Versatility!