tdeboeser
that's not me!
My Friend just picked up a pretty well cared for '03/04 ( I don't remember the date) RoadKing Police. Of Harley's I've always liked the RoadKing, something about the style.
Of course at idle the thing shakes like an old washing machine. But I don't mind because I understand what I'm riding. I know it's not gonna be a silky smooth motor, but I kinda like the rumbling of a V-twin.
Getting going the throttle response and clutch are "normal". Meaning, the clutch pull wasn't difficult and the engagement was fine. The responded the way I thought it would for the type of bike.
I'm not sure if all Harleys are setup the same as far as controls, but I found them to be somewhat odd. Odd in that I didn't find them to be "natural", that I would be able to use them "second nature". I'll admit this could be because I don't ride that setup all the time. And the quality is very good, but I really not sure I'd get used to using the controls "second nature".
Stopping at my first stop sign, I thought maybe the brakes were cold and after using them a few times they'ed warm up. That didn't happen. After my ride I thought the brakes might not be hydraulic, while riding I didn't notice the "teenie tiny" brake reservoir. So, just bad brakes.
I didn't get to highway, just tooled around some back roads. I've always figured this is what a bike of this type is for; Just moseying around the countryside taking in the surroundings. This isn't a knock against Harleys or Cruisers, but it's a different experience.
Handling seemed to be what I expected from this style of bike. Not quick and agile, but the handling was good. I never felt the bike's handling was a problem, it's handling seem to fit the bike. Even with the low center of gravity you can really feel the weight at speed. This didn't really effect the handling, it would be a problem if the bike was more "sporty".
I never felt like I wanted to "go" and tear through some twisties, or drag a knee. It's just not that kinda of bike. With that in mind, for the most part, I'll avoid comparing the ST1300 to the RoadKing. Execept , I can do "toolin'" around on the ST, but I can also enjoy "tearin' up some twisties". I don't have that choice on the RK. Could one fix up a RK with more power and better suspension, of course, but I don't think it would match the ST - and again the RK is just a different kind of bike.
So, for me, the only problem with the RK were the brakes. In retrospect, the brakes are bad, really bad. The pads looked fine, and the fluid was supposedly flushed last November. Maybe a bigger reseviour with better hoses to allow for more fluid. The master looked big enough, but maybe it's design is an issue. This would be a deal breaker if I was looking at buying a RK. A big heavy bike should have better brakes.
EDIT: I did have fun riding it...
If only I could own more than one bike. A RoadKing would be there, among a bunch of other bikes ( maybe even a Beemer - maybe ).
Tom de
Of course at idle the thing shakes like an old washing machine. But I don't mind because I understand what I'm riding. I know it's not gonna be a silky smooth motor, but I kinda like the rumbling of a V-twin.
Getting going the throttle response and clutch are "normal". Meaning, the clutch pull wasn't difficult and the engagement was fine. The responded the way I thought it would for the type of bike.
I'm not sure if all Harleys are setup the same as far as controls, but I found them to be somewhat odd. Odd in that I didn't find them to be "natural", that I would be able to use them "second nature". I'll admit this could be because I don't ride that setup all the time. And the quality is very good, but I really not sure I'd get used to using the controls "second nature".
Stopping at my first stop sign, I thought maybe the brakes were cold and after using them a few times they'ed warm up. That didn't happen. After my ride I thought the brakes might not be hydraulic, while riding I didn't notice the "teenie tiny" brake reservoir. So, just bad brakes.
I didn't get to highway, just tooled around some back roads. I've always figured this is what a bike of this type is for; Just moseying around the countryside taking in the surroundings. This isn't a knock against Harleys or Cruisers, but it's a different experience.
Handling seemed to be what I expected from this style of bike. Not quick and agile, but the handling was good. I never felt the bike's handling was a problem, it's handling seem to fit the bike. Even with the low center of gravity you can really feel the weight at speed. This didn't really effect the handling, it would be a problem if the bike was more "sporty".
I never felt like I wanted to "go" and tear through some twisties, or drag a knee. It's just not that kinda of bike. With that in mind, for the most part, I'll avoid comparing the ST1300 to the RoadKing. Execept , I can do "toolin'" around on the ST, but I can also enjoy "tearin' up some twisties". I don't have that choice on the RK. Could one fix up a RK with more power and better suspension, of course, but I don't think it would match the ST - and again the RK is just a different kind of bike.
So, for me, the only problem with the RK were the brakes. In retrospect, the brakes are bad, really bad. The pads looked fine, and the fluid was supposedly flushed last November. Maybe a bigger reseviour with better hoses to allow for more fluid. The master looked big enough, but maybe it's design is an issue. This would be a deal breaker if I was looking at buying a RK. A big heavy bike should have better brakes.
EDIT: I did have fun riding it...
If only I could own more than one bike. A RoadKing would be there, among a bunch of other bikes ( maybe even a Beemer - maybe ).
Tom de