About
In searching all over the web for reviews on the 2010 Harley-Davidson Road King Classic, I found nothing but web pages asking for any review, any thoughts, and any recommendations. As of autumn 2009, there seems not to be much market saturation for the 2010 bikes (though there are reviews for the CVO and other novel HD bikes). And so, I’ve decided to detail my own purchase and experiences with the 2010 FLHRC.
My other blog, Fazamonster’s Photos, is suspended.
Yes, it is frustrating to find there is VERY little in the way of reviews on the web for the Road Kings. Same is true, really for all the new HD tourers even including the 2009′s, actually. Maybe Harley invested so much into reworking the bikes for the 2009 model year and the timing happened of their coming out managing to hit in the midst of a bad recession SOOOO…they’re not (able to?) invest(ing) as much as usual (or that they SHOULD!) in press and media relations to let everyone know.
Anyway, it is a shame; no question that when you start comparing available touring bikes especially with ABS and good range, the list gets REALLY short quickly. When you also eliminate the carb’ed bikes (I was a bit shocked to find that Honda and Yamaha among others still had carb’ed bikes especially in the touring category; that should be interesting on cold days especially at altitude – I remember having to wait for the sun to warm up a reasonably tuned not very high mileage Goldwing in Grand Tetons in September back in 1979 and we STILL had to use a hill!), the list gets even shorter.
Bottomline? Harley is missing a HUGE opportunity to make some VERY serious hay in being the only “other” bike maker of a solid touring line, that enables ALL of them to include ABS. This won’t be true much longer! I know the sport-oriented riders looking for sport touring bikes are still playing the “I’m faster and better than ABS” crap, in many cases…but studies are starting to come out to prove otherwise (hopefully soon all the insurance companies will catch up like they did for cars with ABS). Besides these points, it is entirely logical that the typical demographic who can afford to do a bike anywhere north of $10K and certainly around $20K and especially more, especially with the insurance costs nowadays, is certainly going to (most of the time) want ABS regardless of the crotch-rocketeers segment, who are so wildly-confident in their abilities. ABS has come so far it is entirely absurd for there to be any further objections from anyone.
Meanwhile, Kawasaki is one of the pioneering bike makers to add traction control to their options list for their Connie. So the safety aspects of biking even before you look at Honda doing the airbag thing, should start getting VERY interesting in the next several years. But no question ABS is a game changer.
Anyway, a bit of a rant there, which I’d not intended when I started; these pesky fingers sometimes seem to have a mind of their own; I was just going to let you know your taking the time to share your experiences with your new bike and do all those stunning pictures…is definitely appreciated. I’ll even wager, from knowing a bit about too many things from too many experts, that if someone as crazy busy as myself takes the time to say so, there are surely a WHOLE lot of other folks who appreciate it but might be “Comments-Entering” Shy on blogs.
Do you know anyone with some basic SEO (web search engine optimization) skills? Knowing enough to be terribly dangerous here (among other areas), it seems it wouldn’t take much to get your blog ranking higher on searches. I’ve launched a fair number of companies including even after the Internet got going (I’ve been building companies for quite a while) and as a consequence have learned more than arguably one person should know (my brain is getting quite clogged so I need another bike to unclog) about too many things around building companies and also tech ones around pioneering internet plays. So easy SEO opportunity here, I’m pretty sure; really.
Thanks Again! For taking the time to do the blog. Oh and it looks like, from scanning your Flickrs’, that CONGRATS might be in order for pending nuptials. So
CONGRATULATIONS to both of you!
Cheers.
Steve
SRMarzocco
November 19, 2009 at 12:25 am
Well, Steve! Thanks for your kind words and your keen attention. Would be happy to reach more people but I assume those who know what they’re looking for will be able to find this blog well enough.
And it’s always nice to hear someone likes the photos.
Hope to see you around!
=)
MacDuff
November 19, 2009 at 10:40 am
MacDuff~ Is there anyway to subscribe to your blog? I just bought a 2009 RK Classic (traded my Wide Glide)
and am loving it! I still miss the wide glide. Being 6ft tall I really miss the streching out on my WG.
I am now in the process of figuring out what to do with slip ons. If I go with a new exhaust it waill be 1 costly and 2 it will mes sup my 02 sensors right?
Trish
Trish
June 29, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Subscribe? I’m flattered. I have no idea, but I won’t be updating much for the next 5-6 weeks if it makes you feel any better (you have time to figure it out).
Congrats on the RKC! The WG is a great ride, I’ve always been a fan. Get some highway pegs in the right spot, at the right camber, and you’ll be golden.
No slip-ons will require you to swap your 02 sensors. In 09/10 bikes, the 02 sensors are in the header. If you have an 09, just keep the stock header and save the $350. No cat, no problem! Leave well enough alone.
What kind of slip-ons did you have in mind? You can get pretty much anything for $400. Shop around and you can get some for around $300. Go used and you can get down to about $150. You have all the options in the world: loud, super loud, performance, quiet, stylized and plain jane. Best bet is to find shop in the flesh, locate the sound/look/performance you want, and then buy those after having sampled. Just mind the other differences between the sample bike and your own.
Best luck!
MacDuff
June 29, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Merry christmas! Was wondering what other bikes you considered before getting the Road King Classic? Im between the Deluxe and the Road King classic, what are your thoughts? Thanks, Gerson
Gerson
December 24, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Hey, you know what? It’s quite slow, I’ll write up an entry with all the info that I found. Long story short: ABS. That’s why my bike beats the Deluxe in my book.
MacDuff
December 30, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Like I said above, but perhaps “too buried” due these pesky fast fingers (mostly on) keyboards (hey, I’m half Italian, too!)…
ABS – game changer and first of more to come like Traction Control, etc.
SRMarzocco
December 30, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Oh and shoulda’ asked; what’s everyone think about the new, 2010 Triumph Thunderbird? The writeups thus far look promising, at minimum. At least one reviewer calls it a potential game changer in the Cruiser/Tourer segment, currently “owned by” the V-Twins and, naturally; Harley.
Like SO many things; never been a better time to buy (insert your word(s) here, like: “bike,” etc.)!
SRMarzocco
December 30, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I stumbled across your videos on YouTube which in turn led me here. I took delivery of my 2010 Road King (Standard – Vivid Black) the day before Thanksgiving 2009. I’ve been searching for folks’ experiences with pipes, etc. I had not been on a bike for about 10 years and my last three were Hondas. My first was a Yamaha Virago. I wish I still had it so I could bob it out.
I’ve enjoyed your blog and will keep a check on you. I live in NC so I’m trying my best to catch some sun in between the rainy days this winter. I’m looking forward to hitting the mountains as soon as Spring arrives.
Happy New Year!
D'Artagnan
December 31, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Hey! I never sent you a big fat GRATS on the new scoot. How’s it going? How’s the ride? What goodies did you customize with, or are you too busy riding?
Happy (belated) new year to you as well.
MacDuff
March 31, 2010 at 9:04 am
Thanks for the great blog. I have been considering a Road King Classic since last year. As this would be my first bike, I wasn’t quite prepared for the sticker shock. I found little useful info on pricing and dealerships in my area. Your blog has provided a lot of useful info on local dealerships, local rides, pricing, add-ons, and general experience. I am one step closer to pulling the trigger on a purchase and feeling more confident about it.
WhiskyDevil
March 29, 2010 at 11:46 pm
While I must commend your excellent taste, I would be out of line not to at least tell you that an 800-lb motorcycle is not the best starting bike.
I think if you want to do your homework, look up the cost of replacement parts for a typical drop and then look up the cost of a cheap, 5-year-old motorcycle you could train on for a few months. You’ll see it’s cheaper to own two motorcycles than to have to repair a Road King Classic as you experience them learning pains.
Alternatively, go find an old (mid/late 90′s) Road King that’s already beaten up and learn to ride – never minding the damage you cause – on the cheap while still having the essence of the bike. I think this might be the half-assed approach, but at least it’s in print so we can all point and laugh.
I highly recommend getting a starter’s bike for $1500 (max) before grabbing the FLHRC You have to walk before you can run.
MacDuff
March 30, 2010 at 10:56 am
Excellent advice. My MSF instructors recommended the same thing. My original intent was to get a used starter bike. I have been in/out of the local HD dealership so many times the sales rep knows me. He keeps showing me the Road Kings (and I don’t protest as I’ve been enamored of them for a long time, but from afar). I shared concerns that maybe the FLHRC might be too much bike for me at this time. He says that while I need more experience, I should be OK as I am a big guy (6’1″, 240lb). Now I know that he is trying to maximize his profit, but he is the only SME I can talk to.
It would be great to find a reliable starter bike for $1500. But where are they? If I found one in that price range my guess is it is likely to be in need of serious service. Something I really can’t judge myself as my mechanical skills don’t go much beyond changing the oil on my car.
WhiskyDevil
March 30, 2010 at 2:43 pm
WHISKEY DEVIL
Apparently I can’t reply directly to you so I will post this here and hope you see it.
!!Of course!! the Harley salesman is going to tell you that you can handle it. If you’ve sat on it and pulled the bars, I’m sure you realize that you can, in fact, handle it … sitting there!
You are just as likely to drop a $18,000 Harley as you are to drop a $1,500 starter bike. The dropping is less about the weight and more about your skills as a rider. Until you understand – in muscle memory – that you need a certain speed to make a certain angle of turn, or that you need to lean with the bike on this type of curve but you need to counterlean on this other type of curve … you will be doomed to dropping/crashing.
If you hop on craig’s list, you will find plenty of guys looking to part with their starter bike. Hell, if you’ll tell me what city you leave nearest, I will search CL for you and point out a few bikes that are worth checking out. Those beater bikes are out there – more every year – and they need someone to put on a few hours every week. And you need one. Go to it.
That brand new harley will be there waiting for you when you’re set. Trust me. And if you can wait until the season is over, you’ll likely save a ton by buying when it’s cold out. I know that’s not what you want to hear, so let’s close on this note:
A $1,500 beater will still get your ears in the breeze. Curb appeal? Screw that. Go get some miles and you won’t care what you’re on so long as you’re comfortable.
MacDuff
March 31, 2010 at 9:02 am
MacDuff,
Again, excellent advice! I think I just needed to hear it from somone else as the internal voice im my head was being overpowered by my lust for the FLHRC.
You are correct. I need to get some mileage on a starter bike. The Harley will be there. I’ll start checking CL for the Woodbridge/Rahway area.
Again, thanks for steering me straight.
WhiskyDevil
March 31, 2010 at 11:26 am
Hi, very informative blog, helped me to frame my thoughts and decide on a Harley, and now I wait for delivery of a Road King Classic.
I started a similar blog, most similar in name, hopefully complimentary in content, here: http://roadkingclassic2010.wordpress.com/
My goal is to add a European angle to the Harley experience, as I live in the UK, near London.
I took the freedom to add your blog under my Blogroll links, hope you do not mind, happy for an kind of reciprocity. Keep up the interesting reports.
bleiglass
April 1, 2010 at 4:23 am
Haha, trying to steal my gargantuan readership, are ya?!?! If you’re trying to bring the Euro angle to the experience, why not add “UK” etc in your blog name, rather than just the year? Realize the 2010 model year is half over; come August, anyone who buys a new Road King Classic is going to have a 2011. If you’re serious about blogging, you should probably not limit yourself by putting a date on the blog name.
If you’ve just started, you could copy over your format and entries to a new blog and not really confuse anyone.
Anyway, congrats on grabbing your very own FLHRC! Did you go with ABS? What color, and got any pics? Will look out for your entries. I’ll add you to my blog “network” or whatever after you confirm that you’re sticking w/ RKC2010 or if you decide to expand a little or focus on the Euro angle.
Safe rides,
MacDuff
MacDuff
April 1, 2010 at 10:49 am
Have right you are. I am not trying to confuse anybody, but followed your advice asap.
The blog’s name is now
http://roadkinguk.wordpress.com
The RKC2010 will be dead soon. Please use the new URL.
As to your questions: I do not have the bike yet, delivery mid April. In the UK, ABS is not a option, is standard. Color black, and first customizations are all for my passenger: removable sissy bar and a Comfort Profile Rear Saddlebag Guard, the standard one was killing her. When you hear the prices we have to pay in the UK it will bring tears to your eyes… catalogue price for a new FLHRC: 25.000+ US$ at todays exchange rate, on the road, this includes ABS and security. OUTSCH. In Germany you pay even more, 28.000+ US$.
bleiglass
April 1, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Hi MacDuff, can you send me your email address? I will not share it. You find mine on my blog at the end of “ABOUT ME” page. Would have a private question
Thanks Axel
bleiglass
July 6, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Stumbled across your blog while tag searching ‘Volusia’ and I’ve enjoyed reading a number of your posts. Hope all is well with you.
Theresa
February 11, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Found your videos on YouTube. I was wondering what handlebars you put on your bike, are they the Heritage style? Did you have to buy longer cables?
I purchased a 2010 Road King Classic and the stock handle bars are a little short, and was looking for slightly taller ones.
Thanks,
Brian
Brian
March 7, 2011 at 8:37 pm