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So over my holidays, with the XS in the shop (due to lack of time I either had to pay someone to build my deck or fix my bike, I choose the cheaper option) I rented a 2006 Roadking for 5 days. I've driven almost everything out there BUT an HD so I was looking forward to it. Here's my thoughts.
When I first picked up the bike I was taken aback by how nice-looking it was. You have to give the HD folks credit, they make some sharp looking bikes. I don't care what you say, there is an intangible there that the metric cruisers have tried to copy but can't quite get right. I call it the "power ranger" factor. On the metric cruisers they always do something goofy somewhere that reminds you of where the bike came from. The RK was just clean, visually I loved it.
The bike felt a little heavy and cumbersome at first but at the end of the 5 days I was pretty comfortable with it. I took an open face helmet, something else I never do. Was a little freaked out at first, but got used to it.
As soon as I pulled away from the dealership at the first set of lights I opened it up and well....blah. I was pretty dissapointed with the lack of power. At the dealer's they went on at length about the torque. I didn't get it. Even after 5 days the bike always felt underpowered, if I bought one I'd have to tweak it a lot because the metric cruisers just bring more to the table in the power department.
As the 5 days progressed the bike grew on me, despite the wonky ergos, kickstand too far away, handlebars not quite right, etc. I don't like heel-toe shifters but got used to this one soon enough.
The best part about the bike was the reaction from folks all of who gave the big thumbs up and I waved at everyone on a bike, regardles of what they were driving.
Gas mileage too gets a big thumbs up. I flogged on this thing for 5 days and it used hardly any gas. Maybe two tanks?
On the downside, in addition to the lack of power, was having to talk to idiots who loved Harley's but didn't actually own one. Listening to them you'd think the damn things could fly and wipe your butt for you. I loved the look on their faces when they'd ask me how I liked the bike and I'd say "it's ok, but not something I'd buy new" was classic. Toothless mouths would gape, knuckles dragging on the ground would twitch, you get the idea, I had whizzed in the holy grail.
Again, I have to point out that it wasn't Harley riders who were idiots, it was Harley wannabes who know nothing about motorcycles in general.
Anyway, I brought it back after 5 days what I said, I will probably buy one, an old one, just to tool around on and tell all the wannabes what they don't want to hear. "I have a $1200 Yamaha at home that I like driving more". Owning one gives me the right to say stuff like that. And it's not to say I didn't like the HD, I just wouldn't pay for a new one and wouldn't have one if I could only own 1 bike.
Still, it was cool to ride, cool to talk about, did grow on me, and let's face it, that's EXACTLY what is being sold. How else is a fat old guy like me going to get fresh-faced young girls to talk to him? So yes, I'll get one, but only if I can keep my XS....
Lastly, funny self-deprecating story - Never owned a bike with a windshield before and never had an open face helmet before. I live in the country and decided to take the shield off the rental and go for a tour. I felt sooooo cool till I hit the highway and had to turn around because of the contant pelting of june-bugs and who knows what else on my face. I actually saw one large bug lazily drifting in the air for a few seconds before it hit my right cheek at 60 miles an hour. Now I know.
When I first picked up the bike I was taken aback by how nice-looking it was. You have to give the HD folks credit, they make some sharp looking bikes. I don't care what you say, there is an intangible there that the metric cruisers have tried to copy but can't quite get right. I call it the "power ranger" factor. On the metric cruisers they always do something goofy somewhere that reminds you of where the bike came from. The RK was just clean, visually I loved it.
The bike felt a little heavy and cumbersome at first but at the end of the 5 days I was pretty comfortable with it. I took an open face helmet, something else I never do. Was a little freaked out at first, but got used to it.
As soon as I pulled away from the dealership at the first set of lights I opened it up and well....blah. I was pretty dissapointed with the lack of power. At the dealer's they went on at length about the torque. I didn't get it. Even after 5 days the bike always felt underpowered, if I bought one I'd have to tweak it a lot because the metric cruisers just bring more to the table in the power department.
As the 5 days progressed the bike grew on me, despite the wonky ergos, kickstand too far away, handlebars not quite right, etc. I don't like heel-toe shifters but got used to this one soon enough.
The best part about the bike was the reaction from folks all of who gave the big thumbs up and I waved at everyone on a bike, regardles of what they were driving.
Gas mileage too gets a big thumbs up. I flogged on this thing for 5 days and it used hardly any gas. Maybe two tanks?
On the downside, in addition to the lack of power, was having to talk to idiots who loved Harley's but didn't actually own one. Listening to them you'd think the damn things could fly and wipe your butt for you. I loved the look on their faces when they'd ask me how I liked the bike and I'd say "it's ok, but not something I'd buy new" was classic. Toothless mouths would gape, knuckles dragging on the ground would twitch, you get the idea, I had whizzed in the holy grail.
Again, I have to point out that it wasn't Harley riders who were idiots, it was Harley wannabes who know nothing about motorcycles in general.
Anyway, I brought it back after 5 days what I said, I will probably buy one, an old one, just to tool around on and tell all the wannabes what they don't want to hear. "I have a $1200 Yamaha at home that I like driving more". Owning one gives me the right to say stuff like that. And it's not to say I didn't like the HD, I just wouldn't pay for a new one and wouldn't have one if I could only own 1 bike.
Still, it was cool to ride, cool to talk about, did grow on me, and let's face it, that's EXACTLY what is being sold. How else is a fat old guy like me going to get fresh-faced young girls to talk to him? So yes, I'll get one, but only if I can keep my XS....
Lastly, funny self-deprecating story - Never owned a bike with a windshield before and never had an open face helmet before. I live in the country and decided to take the shield off the rental and go for a tour. I felt sooooo cool till I hit the highway and had to turn around because of the contant pelting of june-bugs and who knows what else on my face. I actually saw one large bug lazily drifting in the air for a few seconds before it hit my right cheek at 60 miles an hour. Now I know.
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