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eekadog · 03-13-2007, 01:15 AM

I rode one around a parking lot once...and I thought damn, this thing is SLOW!...

xlr8r · 03-13-2007, 02:36 AM

Umm, it's to do with trail and castor angle and stuff. Somebody else will post a better answer than this one and explain it in engineer-speak, but basically it's the same as having trailing-link forks, like a Honda Cub does. Keeps it in line while making the steering lighter.

clively · 03-13-2007, 04:42 AM

This was designed by the Great Eric Buell back in the day. These bikes handle very well low & high speed once you get used to it.

NLJ · 03-13-2007, 04:57 AM

I've never ridden one myself and i would also think that they would be horrible handling bikes. Till i saw a clip from a motorcycle course in my area that uses retired road king police bikes. The students in that class were doing some amazing manuevering on those big hulking hunks of steel.

HelterSkelter · 03-13-2007, 05:23 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't thier low speed handling characteristics one of the main reasons that police depts buy them? Because they handle very well at parking lot speeds

If anything my complaint would be that they tun in TOO quickly at slow speeds.

Buzglyd · 03-13-2007, 06:56 AM

Must have been a mistake made by a scab employee during the Great Strike of 2007.

Or maybe the inverted steering head.

Michaelyak · 03-13-2007, 07:09 AM

I own a 2004 FLFR and I love it. The bike is great at slow and fast speeds. With the Road King you can take a long road trip. The side packs offer ample room and the gas tank will take you a long way before a refuel.

My bike is customized with a Pingel electric shifter. I have a bum leg and can't shift on my own so the size of the King makes my ride confortable and enjoyable.

sarnali2 · 03-13-2007, 07:30 AM

They probably came loose and fell off, only to get caught by the steering head and jammed in that position. Fortunately Harleys are so crappy no one would notice anyway.

allbikesbiker · 03-13-2007, 07:31 AM

I previously owned a 2000 ElectraGlide. same bike, different do-dads.

I liked the low speed handling.

the fork mounted fairing/windshield caused high speed wobble.

decent cruiser/touring bike.

way behind the GoldWing though in every category.

they look cool.

it's "american" (or so they say) and they sound good.

I'll never buy another one unless they fit them with the VRod motor

plus they should sure up the frame/suspension to handle speed touring.

Kenneth_Moore · 03-13-2007, 07:34 AM

Every year a "Police Motorcycle Rodeo" is held in our area. I've been riding a long time, but the things they do with their Road Kings astound me. When you first look at the course they lay out, it's hard to believe you could put a skateboard through the cones, let alone a full size motorbike. There may be more agile bikes, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a bike as versatile as the "King." It's not my choice, but I've ridden a bunch of them and I understand their appeal completely. Is it "strange" that the bike turns with just a little body english, or is it a sign of a well balanced, responsive bike?

03-13-2007, 01:15 AM	#1
eekadog Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 466	Re: Riding with the Road King. I rode one around a parking lot once...and I thought damn, this thing is SLOW!...

03-13-2007, 02:36 AM	#2
xlr8r Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 277	Re: Riding with the Road King. Umm, it's to do with trail and castor angle and stuff. Somebody else will post a better answer than this one and explain it in engineer-speak, but basically it's the same as having trailing-link forks, like a Honda Cub does. Keeps it in line while making the steering lighter.

03-13-2007, 04:42 AM	#3
clively Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 144	Re: Riding with the Road King. This was designed by the Great Eric Buell back in the day. These bikes handle very well low & high speed once you get used to it.

03-13-2007, 04:57 AM	#4
NLJ Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 88	Re: Riding with the Road King. I've never ridden one myself and i would also think that they would be horrible handling bikes. Till i saw a clip from a motorcycle course in my area that uses retired road king police bikes. The students in that class were doing some amazing manuevering on those big hulking hunks of steel.

03-13-2007, 05:23 AM	#5
HelterSkelter Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 320	Re: Riding with the Road King. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't thier low speed handling characteristics one of the main reasons that police depts buy them? Because they handle very well at parking lot speeds If anything my complaint would be that they tun in TOO quickly at slow speeds.

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03-13-2007, 06:56 AM	#6
Buzglyd Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 10,137	Re: Riding with the Road King. Must have been a mistake made by a scab employee during the Great Strike of 2007. Or maybe the inverted steering head. __________________ Jay Leno: "President Obama released his tax returns. It turns out he made $900,000 less in 2011 than he did in 2010. You know what that means? Even Obama is doing worse under President Obama."

03-13-2007, 07:09 AM	#7
Michaelyak Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2	Re: Riding with the Road King. I own a 2004 FLFR and I love it. The bike is great at slow and fast speeds. With the Road King you can take a long road trip. The side packs offer ample room and the gas tank will take you a long way before a refuel. My bike is customized with a Pingel electric shifter. I have a bum leg and can't shift on my own so the size of the King makes my ride confortable and enjoyable.

03-13-2007, 07:30 AM	#8
sarnali2 Aging Cafe` Racer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sittin' down by my window, lookin' at the rain. Posts: 8,132	Re: Riding with the Road King. They probably came loose and fell off, only to get caught by the steering head and jammed in that position. Fortunately Harleys are so crappy no one would notice anyway. __________________ "Carpe` Throttelum -Loud Suits Save Lives" "All the BMW riders in the room, I want you to leave. Now. Out. "

03-13-2007, 07:31 AM	#9
allbikesbiker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 179	Re: Riding with the Road King. I previously owned a 2000 ElectraGlide. same bike, different do-dads. I liked the low speed handling. the fork mounted fairing/windshield caused high speed wobble. decent cruiser/touring bike. way behind the GoldWing though in every category. they look cool. it's "american" (or so they say) and they sound good. I'll never buy another one unless they fit them with the VRod motor plus they should sure up the frame/suspension to handle speed touring.

03-13-2007, 07:34 AM	#10
Kenneth_Moore Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: VIsiting the GIft Shop in the Pit of DIspair Posts: 7,118	Re: Riding with the Road King. Every year a "Police Motorcycle Rodeo" is held in our area. I've been riding a long time, but the things they do with their Road Kings astound me. When you first look at the course they lay out, it's hard to believe you could put a skateboard through the cones, let alone a full size motorbike. There may be more agile bikes, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a bike as versatile as the "King." It's not my choice, but I've ridden a bunch of them and I understand their appeal completely. Is it "strange" that the bike turns with just a little body english, or is it a sign of a well balanced, responsive bike? __________________ www.kennethmoore.org