Road King or Road Glide?

[TwoWhldTerror]

So I have a dilemma. I am planning a trip out to the NW in August which is posted in this section. The thing is the reason for this trip is to see my birth father whom I have not seen in over 20 years. While there I am adding in a motorcycle trip. So I have had myself flying into Salt Lake City or Spokane and getting a bike a doing 4.5 days of riding and then spending the rest of the time with my pops. I have even considered flying into Seattle and renting a bike. I would do this so I can rent a BMW (either GS or RT).

With that said, it would mean a heavy day's riding that final Saturday (Sep 1) to get back to the airport in time. Which happens to be my birthday and thus cutting into "dad" time. I am now thinking of flying into Boise, ID which is about an hour from my dad's place and renting from there. The only thing is the ONLY bike rental place is Harley. I could get a Road King or Road Glide. I have never ridden either, and of course my routes are all twisty mountain roads and byways (where I can get them!   ).

Visiting my dad is the number one thing...so I am considering it. The only thing I do not know is how these bikes ride? I have owned multiple bikes, from sportbikes to a metric cruiser to my current FJR. I LOVE my FJR and know the HD's are not that, but can I enjoy the ride? See the sites and have fun on one of these? I know this sounds stupid but I am truly clueless on Harley's.

If you have experience with these bikes, which one would you choose?

Thanks.

[Cablebandit]

You could always head to your local Harley dealer and test ride both.  Harley is pretty good about test rides in most areas.

[rgbeard]

There are a few on here that will have some genuinely knowledgeable input that can make this decision easier for you.

I can't.  But I can say that since you have a few months, just find a Harley dealership in the next few weeks and find out yourself.

[Carbonero]

The Road King would be my choice. The aerodynamics on the Road Glide fairing are not "all that", believe me. The batwing fairings on the Street Glide and Ultra are better, aerodynamically, but add a marginal bit of steering weight.

The Road King is better in that regard as it's just a (removable) plexi windshield.

The problem with all the models is that unless you get the lowers from the Ultra, You're still going to have air coming up your legs and torso and creating turbulence behind any of the windshield/fairings.

My choice would be to get the Road King with the shortest (or no!) windshield available, then get the part-time, clip-on lowers, or spring for the Ultra lowers.

[TwoWhldTerror]

Thanks Carbonero. I am not sure how much customizing I can do on a rental...but good info nonetheless.

I also found out it is a Street Glide, not Road Glide, which I think does make a difference.

[Dan K]

I've ridden both, rented both.  Given that your current bike is an FJR, I'd go for the Road King.  Little bit lighter, still will have a windscreen, plenty of storage.  They ride better than you'd expect, but lean angle is very limited - you'll likely be grinding the floor boards in any spirited riding.  It's still a bike, and you'll still be pleased. Might bounce the revs off the limiter a few times - I did.

If the glide has all the bells and whistles, like CD player and MP3 player and cruise control and what not, they're fun but don't make the bike worth it (feels like a heavier bike - not sure if it is, I thnk the frames are the same...)

You'll be happy either way. They're fine bikes, just heavy and ponderous in twisties.  Excellent for easy cruising.

- Dan

[Carbonero]

Thanks Carbonero. I am not sure how much customizing I can do on a rental...but good info nonetheless.

I also found out it is a Street Glide, not Road Glide, which I think does make a difference.

I missed the rental part, sorry.

Yeah, go for the Road King. Try to get the classic/regular one and not the "custom". The custom is 2" lower in the rear and is more prone to scraping. You can rail these bikes pretty well when they're not lowered. They all have air shocks; pump them up to 35-50 lbs, depending on load, and enjoy them. The engine loves ~3000 RPM for the fun stuff.

[atadaskew]

I also found out it is a Street Glide, not Road Glide, which I think does make a difference.

Don't get the Street Glide.  It has really short/stiff shocks and bad turbulence from the fairing.  I know this from riding them.
Get the Road King.  It's a bit lighter than the Road Glide, and a little easier to handle.  Every bit counts on a bike that you are unfamiliar with.

The key to enjoying yourself is to not ride it like you would your FJR or a sport touring bike.  Instead of grabbing handfuls of throttle and brake, realise that it is meant for a more mellow riding style.  Intentionally.  So kick back, relax, short shift and enjoy the sensation of just rumbling down the road and taking in the sights.

[Powder Addict]

Answer:

Rent a car

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I can't believe it took this many posts!

[TwoWhldTerror]

Thanks everyone! Powder Addict...I enjoy riding, no matter the bike (well mostly) and actually have nothing against a Harley, just not real familiar with them. I would rather ride the RK all day and night, in a snowstorm, than cage it in such an amazing location.  

[1000lbs]

+1 on the Road King.

I run into the same H-D limited rental senario every summer in PA.  I've rented most of the line over the years, minus the V-rod and have found the Road King to be the most enjoyable overall.  Better suspension then the dynas or soft tails and not as combersome as the glides.  The glides are pretty nice if riding two up for the passanger.  Otherwise the Road King is more fun to ride and still has locking bags for your stuff.

As said, ridden within reason, they are really enjoyable BIG bikes.

[Dan K]

You can push it a little on the RK, you'll just send showers of sparks at whoever is behind you.  Limited lean angle, but still fun to ride.

[Hardware]

Another vote for the Road King.  It should be the more nimble of the two choices and the styling isn't too obnoxious.

I'm a certified Harley basher, but I've ridden nearly every model they build and I wouldn't hesitate to rent a Hardley for a short jaunt like you're describing.

[falconati]

Like everyone else said - try to adjust your expectations of riding and you'll have a lot of fun.

[DeansZG]

 I, on the other hand prefer the batwing fairing of the traditional "glides" to the rk. Kick up the stereo, engage the cruise & away you go!!!  
Even two-up, they can do the twisties a lot better than I thought they would & don't upset the frame if you decide to do a little floor board grinding while you're at it!   Great platform for sightseeing also...
Don't expect a lot of acceleration after 90, like you're used to on your FJR though....

[three west]

another vote for the Road King.  I rented one and did 1000 miles around the Grand Canyon.  It was a great bike;  easiest starting bike I've ever ridden.  My only two issues were no lockable storage (doing touristy stuff I'd get the Ultra for lockable storage), and the clip-on windshield would blow half off in the 40mph wind gusts we saw in the mountains!

[SVTNate]

+1 on the Road King, with a caution...

Please try and test ride one locally first.  Ride it as long as possible.  Doesn't matter where.  The point is to see how the stock bars affect your body.

I rented a Road King a few years back for a week.  The stock bars put a nasty pinch in my right shoulder blade area that was difficult to deal with.  Luckily, the bike had cruise control, so I could stretch out the right arm.  It was painful.  I have no existing problems with my back or shoulders, and never had that happen on any other motorcycle.  The left side was fine the entire trip, and the pain went away immediately upon getting off the bike.

IIRC it would take about 30 minutes of riding to feel the pain, and then it would not go away unless I stopped riding (and didn't get back on the bike until the next day, even then it only bought me another 30 minutes of pain-free riding)

I used to own a V Star 1300 and never had an issue there, so it's not the cruiser riding position.  Those Road King bars just didn't fit me at all.

IIRC that was a 2008 standard model that I rented, with the hard bags.  It was 100% stock.

[Cablebandit]

 easiest starting bike I've ever ridden.  

Care to elaborate on that.  Do you mean leaving a stop light or actually starting the bike?

[three west]

Care to elaborate on that.  Do you mean leaving a stop light or actually starting the bike?

actual starting.  
I know its a funny thing to mention, but I was actually struck by the fact that it barely turned over once upon starting.  Warm or cold I just barely hit that starter button and it was running.

[Carbonero]

actual starting.  
I know its a funny thing to mention, but I was actually struck by the fact that it barely turned over once upon starting.  Warm or cold I just barely hit that starter button and it was running.

Very true. Half a crank and blammo, it's running. If it doesn't start in a few revs, there's something wrong.

They do fuel injection and ignition very, very well.