Is the Harley Davidson Road King Classic a good 2up touring bike?

Yeah, if you need the Harley for the sound, the "friends", and the looks, the King is probably their best touring platform. But that's like Fred Flintstone touring on Dino.

Modern up to the K series Beemer's or the Gold Wing for endless touring on the mostly flat land and long highways here in the USA. The RT Beemer is the preferred tourer in Europe, and they know a few things about touring hills and valley's and those little scenic roads off the main drags. Triumph Sprint GT, Yamaha FJR, and the Zuke V-strom are great tourers also.

But the Kawi Concours hasn't been named Touring Bike of the Year several times for nothing! It's got all the poop you'll need, reliability, and room to pack it in. It just does it all quietly and efficiently, like a Japanese version of a German bike without the high cost.

But it doesn't go "potato potato potato"...

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RE:

Is the Harley Davidson Road King Classic a good 2up touring bike?

I want to purchase a 2up touring bike and my wife and I love the Harley Davidson Road King Classic. Many experienced bike riders say that the Harley has no power to overtake on the high way riding 2up. I amtold that the Harley is good for taking a ride to the cafe on Sauturday and Sunday and...

As BikinKawaboy says. It's horses for courses. I have a Honda Pan that will do the performance part pretty well, and on Thruxton race track (UK based), the race reps had problems sticking in the conrners. OK on the straights 150+bhp kicks in and off they go, but when do/can you use that on the road.

I also own an 05 1200 Sporty which will keep up with most of my mates on the twisties around kent. It all comes down to rider skill at the end of the day, and you can bet I have far more fun getting closer to the limits on the sporty then the GSXR, ZZRs do.

Also being a member of y local HOG, I have heard nothing but praise for the road king, being seen as a great tourer, but also capable of being stripped down easily for a sunday solo cruise. I am planning a test ride some day soon, as I'm planning a trip to Croatia next year, and the sporty would be just too uncomfortable. Why not take the pan you ask... Because I'll be riding with my missus who has a softail slim, and I'd be constantly holding the pan back, and I plan to have a relaxing tour.

I have an 08 Triumph Bonneville. Last year I rode it to Colorado, 1800 miles 600 miles a day and had a great ride. I rode 2 up the week that I was there. My girl said the bike was comfortable. We rode thru the mountains and a lot of twistys, the bike handled suprisingly well. Sometimes we put 100 miles a day on it. Like was said Harleys are some great bikes, but they ain't the only bike that can handle 2 up. I'ld check out Triumph if you want a big bike the Thunderbird has a touring model.

1995 Harley Davidson Road King

First off, I ride Kawasaki's, so don't think anyone has rubbed my fur the wrong way. I have an older 6 cylinder Kaw Voyager, a bike that's a good sight heavier than any of the HDs. It's also supposed to be rated at 117 hp...at 7,500 rpm. How often do I rev it that high? Never. Having 117 hp on tap and actually using using 117 hp are two different things. Heck, I've never had the throttle wide open.

My long haul biking buddies all ride Glides, Classics and Ultras. Every summer we take a long trip, the shortest being 2,500 miles (4,000 kms), with most 3500+. That's over 11,000 foot mountain passes, across deserts at 110F (43C), in rain and so on. And you know what? They have never once had a problem keeping up with me. If I really crank it open, my bike will scat and leave the HDs, but again, that's not how I ride. Or we ride. That 60 hp (actually 62-67 hp on the dyno) everyone talks about comes at around 4,000-4,250 rpm, which is definitely in a usable rpm range unlike my 7,500 rpm. It's doubtful I ever use more than around 60 hp on my bike. In short, those big hp numbers mean absolutely nothing if you never reach the rpm it comes on at. Just like that 117 hp on my bike means nothing. Other than bragging rights, that's it.

I've ridden the HD dressers and are comfortable bikes (highway pegs really help, giving you one more seating position), rubber mounted engines mean no vibration and no parts falling off, they get really good fuel economy (much better than my bike ever does), are very manuverable for a big bike and while you'd think the passenger is cramped setting as close to the rider as they do, actually they're not. My sister and wife have ridden with my buddies and that's what they tell me and they have no reason to lie. They have a good sound system and cruise control and while the bat wing handlebar mounted fairing looks small, it's close to you and therefore gives decent protection. The saddlebags are somewhat small in volume but have great latches and the tour pack is one of the best in the industry.

Regardless of the brand, touring bikes are not meant to be performance machines capable of blinding accelleration. Neither are they supposed to have a seating position that's good for carving corners. Touring bikes are meant to allow you to strech out, lean back against a back rest, listen to the stereo, enjoy the scenery and just relax. And be comfortable enough that after a 500 mile day, you still feel like going out for a steak, dancing, walking around, whatever. Not curled up in a ball nursing your wounds. I bet most HD haters have never been on a really long ride and therefore have no idea of what is needed on the long haul. Because of that, they don't realize the dressers actually do very well what they are designed to do, get you from point A to point B in comfort.

Last year in Cody, Wyoming I met a fellow from Holland. He and his buddies had rented Harleys and were touring the west. He had a BMW back home and when I asked his opinion of the HD, he said his BMW was better suited on the autobahn and the Harley would be hurting. But, he said that for the slower, curvy 2 lane roads in the mountains over here, the HD was much better suited than his BMW would be.

I had one. Mine was an '06. It had plenty of power for 2up cruising. It would do it all day long. It didn't have trouble passing on the highway either. It wasn't like my GSXR, but it did the job without much drama.

As a touring bike, it came up short though. The wind protection was pretty miserable, and it had very little storage when compared to other touring motorcycles. I think it gave up way too much function for style.

Mine was also a constant headache with little problems that shouldn't have been an issue with a new motorcycle with 1,600 miles on it. I kept it for one season, and sold it. The Buell I replaced it with was better in every way.

My riding friend has had great luck with his '05. It has never missed a beat in what's got to be close to 50,000 miles. Mine felt like it was a 20 year old motorcycle when it was nearly brand new.

The road King classic is a very comfortable bike and Harley reliability has come up in the last few years.

That said, it is woefully underpowered for its weight, especially two up, luggage full. (somewhere around 60-70 HP). Yes it has torque, but as a low revving bike, at higher speeds you run out of revs, gears and torque for passing.

So, you go out and spend 30 big on a bike and immediately have to pony up 5 large more for engine modifications. If you have the money, go for it.

If you can stand not riding an 'American Icon', look at the Goldwing or any of several BMW bikes, Yamaha FJR or a Kawasaki Concours. There are liquid cooled metric cruisers out there that have the power too. Or one of the Yamaha air cooled twins? Or maybe a Victory?

There is a difference between a pickup and a sports car.

As long as that is kept in mind... you'll have enough power to overtake.

Motorcycles, like many other vehicles, are built for different purposes.

I've come across a number of Road Kings after deciding it wasn't the bike for me - and heard not one complaint.

My advice would be to rent one for the weekend and see if it's for you.

Addendum: My slightly lighter bike has the previous smaller engine along with the 6 speed.

There is no running out of gears when 6th isn't touched below 60mph.

Depends on your own expectations. Some guy rode a riding lawn mower over 1000 miles cross country and was happy, a person could easily tour two up on a 50 cc scooter. In 1940 there weren't many bikes as powerful as a Harley, a go to touring bike in it's day.

Problem is the harley hasn't changed much since 1940, maybe since 1930, it will easily do the speed limit fully loaded and two up. But it is 1940 horsepower, 1940 handling. And rolls royce pricing. It is a bike for posing, not a bike for someone who is interested in motorcycling. You buy it to join the harley club, but it is an antique reproduction, new bikes have alot more to offer for alot less money. The harley is a riding lawn mower compared to a modern sport touring bike, it is a two wheeled tractor compared to a modern heavy touring bike like a gold wing or the new BMW.

Bottom line, if you are interested in the best touring bike the harley should be last on your list. If you wanna join the harley club and pal around with harley types as you tour then this is about your only choice.