OK - here it goes - picked up an 09 Road King last year - over the last 5000 miles changed the mufflers to louden it up a bit, swapped out the stock handle bars for the Heritage bars to get rid of the pain in my back (that with the back rest seemed to do the job). I think I want to change the stock seat for the Sundowner- still undecided. I would love to get the ride to "float" along but am unsure which direction to take. Any ideas of how to do this? Any decision would have to be a 2 up.

 

2010 RK here. I am a solo rider and have the Sundowner (streetglide stitch) seat on mine. It is the most comfortable seat that I have ever had - all day and long miles no problem
and no complaints - I also have the back rest.

You will read a lot of positive comments on the Sundowner on this forum. The guys and
ladies really seem to love the seat. It has an oversized passenger cushion.

Mine has the stock shocks and it has an excellent ride to it. I am planning on switching to Heritage bars this winter. And will probably add a tour pack as well. I leave them stock - no problems that way.

BTW welcome to the Forum and to "Kingville"

 

The one thing I really want to change out is the seat. I get monkey butt at just over 100 - 120 miles in a ride with the stock seat. Which means I get monkey butt virtually every time I ride.

I have the heritage handlebars with Avon grips and that combination works well - no back/shoulder pain. My RK has cruise, so that's a good thing - a definite must. Higher on my list than ABS which I don't have.

After the seat will be a Stage 1 set up, but that will be put off for a bit. I am not a "canyon carver" or street racer. I like to cruise, but you do need power at times. Plus, I have a VFR 750 if I need to go really fast which I don't.

Future add-ons will be oriented towards keeping the bike running well, as well as keeping myself running well (I am not a spring chicken anymore). I like the base platform much the way it is and I will likely not do much in the way of customizing. There's some fine looking bikes out there, but my taste is a bit more pedestrian as I want reliability, performance, and functionality over looks. The Road King just fit the type/style of riding I do more than any other bike. Plus, if you want to customize, it's a great platform on which to start.

Of course those Ultra Classics are pretty nice too.

 

Hey jeffrey, I have a Mustang super solo with backrest, and I like it a whole lot. Just waiting on new grips, then I'll be installing Heritage bars too.

 

I had a Sportster with the Sundowner on it before I traded up to the Road King. I really miss the comfort (must be my wide ***) - or mabey just fond memories! What I am probably after is to find out if anyone out there has made any suspension mods to soften the ride to a mushy (Cadillac) type ride. I would guess that a spring seat would allow the bike to bounce below you, leaving you to a "floating" type feeling but have also read about the progressive suspensions out there. I have no problem with change ($) but would also like to avoid change by trial. That could become really costly, really fast!!

 

Wow... your Sporty had a better ride than your King?
I find that with a replacement seat and 15 psi in the rear shocks it's pretty comfy rolling down the highway.

 

I have an 09 RKC with the sundowner seat and both a rider and passenger backrest, 14 in apes, V&H slash cut slipons and a Arlen Ness big sucker air cleaner with the HD stage 1 remap, bike runs and sounds great and the backrest makes riding very comfortable, put feet up on highyway pegs and relax

 

'09 RK...changed bars to reduced reach roadking bars-all wiring is internal. changed rear saddlebag guards to low profile for the wife. ultracool oil cooler and floor board extensions. changed the lens on my rear turn signals to red and used the harley plug in kit to have all 3 rear lights on for safety.

 

Change to the Sundowner and never look back! This seat for being factory is absolutely HEAVEN, no issues whatsoever. Enjoy racking up those miles.

 

and both the wife and I like it better than the stock seat. It does move you about an inch closer to the bars and lowers you almost an inch.

I find that if I keep the air in the shocks at the lowest possible pressure, that keeps the bike from bottoming out, it gives me the smoothest ride.