Road King or Softail..? Your thoughts

saintbubba · 03-24-2006, 07:10 AM

Well all of the Harley haters will love this ...I am going to get either
a Heritage Softail Classic (maybe with spinger) or a Road King Classic.
My wife likes riding 2-up with me and has agreed that the Sportster ain't going to cut it (I knew this but thought I would let her reach her own conclusion). So I want a big comfy bike that I can tour with her on and
have fun when she isn't with me. I want a Harley, I love my Sportster regardless of what people on the site say I think they are great bikes and
suit me just fine. So after looking at both of the bikes I would like to get some impressions before I rent one to try out..
Road King

Softail

Softail Springer

Metal Doc · 03-24-2006, 07:11 AM

If you want to tour Road King.

Softail is for profiling

Bayou Boy · 03-24-2006, 07:14 AM

The touring suspension on the Road King is worlds more comfy than any Soft Tail, especially a springer. Those front ends just bounce all over the place.

RockWells · 03-24-2006, 07:19 AM

Having ridden both, many friends with all three (don't forget the Dyna class), for country road type riding, the Dyna's and Tourer's lean much better than the Softtails. Softtails drag footrests, kickstands, etc. I currently own an '00 Road King, and love it.

Bueller · 03-24-2006, 07:59 AM

How heavy are you and your wife? Two-up touring with luggage on a Heritage is tough if you have a combined weight much over 300 pounds. You can do it, but the heavier the load the more the Softail suspension is going to bottom out. A good set of Softail air-adjustable shocks to deal with the issue will set you back another $800 plus labor to install.

The Road King is a better touring bike regardless.

rider33 · 03-24-2006, 10:36 AM

'nice bikes, all tho if you are serious about touring 2-up go for the king.
As others have pointed out, it's suspention is better suited for the long
haul, particularly 2-up. All of the bikes can do it, the king is just going to
be more comfortable and at ease in the process. You might also want to
look at the removable tour pac that is available for the classic. It gives
you both more luggage room and a back rest for the better half which
means you win on both counts. It also pops off in about 10 sec. when you don't need it.

racer · 03-24-2006, 10:43 AM

It was a piece of shit.

Bueller · 03-24-2006, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer

It was a piece of shit.

Great post

Aurelius · 03-24-2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bueller

The Road King is a better touring bike regardless.

How would the Super Glide do as a touring bike (no passenger)?

I liked the Road King, but I prefer the Super Glide for its superior handling, and it seemed to have a more responsive engine.

Metal Doc · 03-24-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurelius

How would the Super Glide do as a touring bike (no passenger)?

I liked the Road King, but I prefer the Super Glide for its superior handling, and it seemed to have a more responsive engine.

Hell I tour on a Sporty (not the rubber mounted one's). The Super Glide will work great.

rider33 · 03-24-2006, 12:45 PM

you can tour on anything, from a Vespa to a Wing, bikes built for it tho are going to make it a lot more comfortable. In the case of the super glide, it
has the same engine as a king so what makes it more responsive is the frame/suspention and lighter weight. Then again, those same factors that make it more fun in the curves limit it somewhat when the distances start to be measured in number of states vs. miles. The touring line is built for long distances, thus everything on it is optimized for that purpose. They
are not as much fun in the city or on short hops in my option but at the end of an 800 mile day you'll be glad your on one.

Dixter · 03-24-2006, 02:24 PM

Over a Softy I'd take a Road King any day of the week. For starters the motor's smoother - the solid-mounted 88B in the Softail is smooth lower down the rev range but gets buzzier higher up. The RK's rubber mounted engine gets smoother (like a Dyna's) the harder you run it. A Dyna, with a Sundowner seat etc, will also tour perfectly well - they handle well too.

If I had the money I'd have a RK Custom

1sicmofo · 03-24-2006, 02:41 PM

02 Softail Duece for Cruising
96 Buell S-1 Lightning Hot Rod
06 Husky 610 SM New Toyz

Love the Duece For Sweet Long Rides,Stage One Cleaner,Thunderslide and
Thunder Header Provides the Sweet Sounds.

Aurelius · 03-24-2006, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1sicmofo

02 Softail Duece for Cruising
96 Buell S-1 Lightning Hot Rod
06 Husky 610 SM New Toyz

Love the Duece For Sweet Long Rides,Stage One Cleaner,Thunderslide and
Thunder Header Provides the Sweet Sounds.

The Duece is another Harley I've been dying to ride. I remember that it got glowing reviews when it came out, even in moto mags dedicated to hard core sport bikes. I may just head to the nearest HD dealer this weekend and see if I can get a test ride on one.

Spat · 03-24-2006, 05:06 PM

Touring two up, Keep Mama happy go for the comfort maybe even the dresser. At least get hard bags and the option for a tour pac.You can still have excitment on those Solo. Scrapping your floor boards on a Harley

will make it seem like you are having fun.

View Results: Which Bike For Bubba
Road King- Largeness of bike will make you look thinner	53	70.67%
Softail - This should keep you busy polishing and off the streets	4	5.33%
Softail Spinger - Nothing says cool like ancient suspension technology !	11	14.67%
Gee whiz Bubba, they all look pretty I can't decide	7	9.33%
Voters: 75. You may not vote on this poll

03-24-2006, 07:10 AM	#1
saintbubba ^OP Your Average C Student Joined: Aug 2005 Location: San Diego , California...Rancho Penesquitos Sector Oddometer: 220	Road King or Softail..? Your thoughts Well all of the Harley haters will love this ...I am going to get either a Heritage Softail Classic (maybe with spinger) or a Road King Classic. My wife likes riding 2-up with me and has agreed that the Sportster ain't going to cut it (I knew this but thought I would let her reach her own conclusion). So I want a big comfy bike that I can tour with her on and have fun when she isn't with me. I want a Harley, I love my Sportster regardless of what people on the site say I think they are great bikes and suit me just fine. So after looking at both of the bikes I would like to get some impressions before I rent one to try out.. Road King Softail Softail Springer __________________ "I've been riding since I was five..man I'm getting tired of waving at people" SurfPhoto's take on "The Wave" Overheard at the SCAR 06 campfire

03-24-2006, 07:11 AM	#2
Metal Doc Duc addicted Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Northeastern, TN Oddometer: 1,446	If you want to tour Road King. Softail is for profiling __________________ "A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over. " - Benjamin Franklin

03-24-2006, 07:19 AM	#4
RockWells Saddle Up! Joined: Mar 2006 Location: CowTown, CA Oddometer: 397	Having ridden both, many friends with all three (don't forget the Dyna class), for country road type riding, the Dyna's and Tourer's lean much better than the Softtails. Softtails drag footrests, kickstands, etc. I currently own an '00 Road King, and love it. __________________ "We sleep safe in our beds at 'nite because Rough Men Stand Ready to Visit Violence upon those who would do us harm" Geo. Orwell (complements of PhillyRube)

03-24-2006, 07:59 AM	#5
Bueller Cashin? Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Hide Away Hills, Ohio Oddometer: 16,340	How heavy are you and your wife? Two-up touring with luggage on a Heritage is tough if you have a combined weight much over 300 pounds. You can do it, but the heavier the load the more the Softail suspension is going to bottom out. A good set of Softail air-adjustable shocks to deal with the issue will set you back another $800 plus labor to install. The Road King is a better touring bike regardless. __________________ "Bueller, you're an island of sense in a sea of bullshit" - swimmer

03-24-2006, 07:14 AM	#3
Bayou Boy Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2002 Location: Houma, LA Oddometer: 1,595	The touring suspension on the Road King is worlds more comfy than any Soft Tail, especially a springer. Those front ends just bounce all over the place.

03-24-2006, 10:36 AM	#6
rider33 Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Location: The Wilds of Western Wisconsin Oddometer: 873	'nice bikes, all tho if you are serious about touring 2-up go for the king. As others have pointed out, it's suspention is better suited for the long haul, particularly 2-up. All of the bikes can do it, the king is just going to be more comfortable and at ease in the process. You might also want to look at the removable tour pac that is available for the classic. It gives you both more luggage room and a back rest for the better half which means you win on both counts. It also pops off in about 10 sec. when you don't need it.

03-24-2006, 10:43 AM	#7
racer Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2004 Location: Indiana Oddometer: 1,405	I had a Roadking It was a piece of shit. __________________ Socialism works good until you run out of other people's money to spend.

03-24-2006, 12:45 PM	#11
rider33 Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Location: The Wilds of Western Wisconsin Oddometer: 873	you can tour on anything, from a Vespa to a Wing, bikes built for it tho are going to make it a lot more comfortable. In the case of the super glide, it has the same engine as a king so what makes it more responsive is the frame/suspention and lighter weight. Then again, those same factors that make it more fun in the curves limit it somewhat when the distances start to be measured in number of states vs. miles. The touring line is built for long distances, thus everything on it is optimized for that purpose. They are not as much fun in the city or on short hops in my option but at the end of an 800 mile day you'll be glad your on one.

03-24-2006, 02:24 PM	#12
Dixter Boxertrixter Joined: Feb 2006 Location: London Oddometer: 214	Over a Softy I'd take a Road King any day of the week. For starters the motor's smoother - the solid-mounted 88B in the Softail is smooth lower down the rev range but gets buzzier higher up. The RK's rubber mounted engine gets smoother (like a Dyna's) the harder you run it. A Dyna, with a Sundowner seat etc, will also tour perfectly well - they handle well too. If I had the money I'd have a RK Custom __________________ '00 BMW R1100R '99 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird www.boxertrix.com

03-24-2006, 02:41 PM	#13
1sicmofo n00b Joined: Mar 2006 Oddometer: 2	02 Softail Duece for Cruising 96 Buell S-1 Lightning Hot Rod 06 Husky 610 SM New Toyz Love the Duece For Sweet Long Rides,Stage One Cleaner,Thunderslide and Thunder Header Provides the Sweet Sounds.

03-24-2006, 05:06 PM	#15
Spat Studly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Lakewood, Co Oddometer: 815	Touring two up, Keep Mama happy go for the comfort maybe even the dresser. At least get hard bags and the option for a tour pac.You can still have excitment on those Solo. Scrapping your floor boards on a Harley will make it seem like you are having fun. __________________ Spat FLHGSSXDR.Patrol Red Green: You ever see one of these? It's called a GPS, this thing uses satellites to tell you where you are, which means that every man can have a five-hundred-dollar reason not to ask for directions.

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