OK, i have been lurking here for several years, learning about my 1999 Road king, riding several recommended trips and enjoying the heck out of the old bike. leanred to work on it myself, replacing the primary chain tensioner and working my way up to cam and tensioner replacement. Loved the old king...then my wife and i rented a new one while on a trip to Arizona a few weekes ago. Rode from Phoenix, thru Prescott to the Grand Canyon, back thru flagstaff, down to Sedona dne eventually back to Phoenix(tempe) to return the bike. I loved the new 103 motor( it was a 2012 RK custom). the 6 speed, the cruise control but mostly the frame geometry and wider rear tire. 2 up, the bike handled like a dream.
Sooo, after hearing my incessant babbling for the last 3 weeks, my wife decided i needed a newer bike So, with the incentives (.99%int. rate)to buy a 2013, she got mepre approved for a loan, called me on my way home from work and let me know we were getting a new RK(black of course). ( My wife loves the old RK and wanted the exact bike, same color or we were not trading! LOL)

So, my experience at the dealership-
since we were early, and i was pre approved, they were ready to value my bike. I got a fair trade in value( 7 grand, no haggling).
but then things start going fast in a hurry. they want to know what goodies i want. i wanted my slip ons off the old bike, my grips, my clock and hiway pegs. Immediately the proce starts climbing( i say who fellas, i already own that stuff, i will swap it...they back down a little but still charge me). i wanted the leather tour pack, mounting hardware and back rest, all quick release. pretty good gouging on that as well but happy it is done.
After that, it was easy. i did use dairyland to insure it( yep, they run you thru there as well before you leave) but the rates were comparable to progressive which i had on the 1999.
While waiting on my bike, we got the grand tour, met everyone, signed the HOG memebership papers, etc, got free shirts( for 20 grand, we each got 1 free shirt, lol). Finally a picture and out the door we go.

No buyers remorse as the bike is exactly what i wanted and I love it. i don't like the express SALE program but once things settled down it was tolerable and fiarly quick.

now the bike. the 103 pulls so much better than the 88 obviously but the 6 speed makes all the difference for cruising. we do along trips and the 88 just was working to hard at speeds over 65. the 103 will run 75 and just be putting along. i don't have a tach( don't need one) but from the feel, you can tell the motor is not working, lugging or over revving at speed. the handling in the wind and around traffic at speeds is much more stable the the old frame.
over all, the aesthetics are the same, the new bike resembles the old bike that from a distance, you cant even tell, but the new frame and motor/tranny combo was enough for me to say I do to a new bike. my old bike will make someone a great bike to start out with but so far, i am a happy camper.
yeah, wheel bearing, not having a forged crank etc all come to mind but I am going to ride this one to death!

 

Very nice. I hope you both enjoy the new ride.

 

Congrats!

I hope she lets you ride it often...

 

Congrats

Enjoy the miles as you rack them up.

 

1360 miles later and ready to perform my 1000 mile service. i am going through the entire check list myself. saw some threads on oil changes( and laughed as my manual is as unclear as mentioned).
Anyone have any idea how much grease is packed into the sterring stem bearings from the factory?
i need to dig out my torque wrench for spokes as well..gonna be a busy evening!

 

Everyone says the steering head will take at least 1 tube of lube as they don't really pack it full at the factory - I'll see for myself this weekend when I do the same maintenance.

 

Hello from Redcar England.
Hope you have fun with the new bike. ( I love road kings and will get one some day.)
fxdxi rider
tbone.

 

Your post ALMOST makes me want to trade newer. The CVO Road King is so cool-looking in red. Anyway, enjoy your new ride, and have fun racking up the miles.

 

Hey, enjoy the new King!



But there is no way I would give up my carb'd '99 RK. Love this bike.

 

OK, went through the entire list. Found 3 loose spokes( 2 on front near valve stem, i random one on back). The shock bolts were a 1/8 turn loose. I took pictures of all the checks, brakes lines, oil lines, battery terminals, etc. One thing I found...the belt is running towards the outside of the rear sprocket enough to leave rubber bits on the pipe(melted one) and on the hub( which brushed right off). I have a wheel alignment tool but haven't dug it out yet to see if the wheel is in line with the swing arm pivot. The belt looked fine but is rubbing the sprocket edge for sure. The oil was clean, very little metal on magnet. the tranny fluid was a light colored fluid. the primary had the most metal but still minute. The brakes look fine but a tremendous amount of dust on the wheels. Bugs everywhere, lol!