Harley-Davidson Road King (2009-2017) - Review & Buying Guide

In 2009, the Harley-Davidson Road King came with all the right ingredients – pedigree, laid back style, pomp, and a comprehensive spec – expected for a Milwaukee tourer, but with the added advantage of bigger, torquier, thoroughly reworked motor, and a chassis finally fit for the 21st century. Even now the Road King still oozes charm and capability. But now it’s affordable too.

The Road King is exactly what it purports to be – a king-sized tourer dripping with retro style but, when launched back in 2009, the RK was also a big step forward for the brand. And for that, you have to look beneath the curvaceous bodywork.

The Road King’s thumping V-twin engine was all but new – only a handful of components remained from the old 88 Twin Cam unit. Boasting a longer stroke, taking overall capacity to 1584cc (96 cubic inches, hence the unit’s name). An all-new, stiffer, robot welded frame took the RK’s handling’s out of the stone age – a major boon, even for a nostalgia driven brand like Harley.

Most important, however, was – and still is – the Road King’s ability to effortlessly waft rider and pillion along in complete comfort for mile after mile. Sure these mid-noughties tourers lack the electronics and up-to-the-minute sophistication of contemporary mile-munchers and cruisers, but buying one bags you the all-important badge on the tank, and everything that entails, on a still hugely capable machine that’s now more affordable than ever. An all but full dress Harley for under 10 grand. Fit for a king, we’d say…

Pros & Cons

2009-2017 Harley-Davidson Road King - Prices

2009-2011 FLHR Road King: Touring Harley, heavily updated model with new, lighter, stiffer frame. Other updates include 28-spoke alloy wheels, new 2-1-2 exhaust system, repositioned numberplate holder with LED illumination, colour-matched saddle bags and new Dunlop tyres. Six-spoke wheels and ape bars available from 2014. 64bhp, 90.7 lb.ft, 355kg. Colours: burgundy, red, blue, gun metal, black, brown, blue/black, red/black.

2012-2017 FLHR Road King: Engine updated and enlarged to 1688cc Twin Cam 103 motor, increasing torque from 90.7 lb.ft to 101.7lb.ft. Road King Classic got the same update.

2009-2010 FLHRC Road King Classic: The same FL Touring chassis as the Road King, sprinkled with extra chrome, spoked wheels, removable screen, slash-cut silencers, chromed tank and fender emblems, footboards, white wall tyres, leather wrapped saddle bags and electronic cruise control. 64bhp, 90.7 lb.ft, 351kg. Colours: blue, brown, red, black/white, black.

Other variants: Road King Shrine (2012-2013) in artic white with specific badges; Road King Firefighter (2012-2013) in red with Fire Dept badges; Road King Police (2013-2014) in white, with top box, and police style spec; Road King Peace Officer (2012-2013) in honour of police service employees, black finish

 Harley Road King values 2019-2011: Rough* £7000-£8000; Tidy £9000-£9650; Mint £10,200-£11,500

 Harley Road King values 2012-2017: Rough* £8000-£10,000; Tidy £12,200-£13,500; Mint £14,000-£15,500

 *In the case of these Harleys, ‘rough’ designates lack of servicing records, in need of a big service, high mileage, and rough around the edges, rather than project material

2009-2017 Harley-Davidson Road King - Engine & Performance

The arrival of the Road King coincided with Harley’s extensive revision of its old Twin Cam 88 motor into the Twin Cam 96. Capacity was increased from 88 cubic inches (1450cc) to 96 cubic inches (1584cc), hence the 96 moniker, by increasing the unit’s stroke by 9.5mm – bore size remained the same at 65.5mm. More than 700 components were changed or redesigned within the engine. In fact, the only parts retained or untouched were the cylinders, rocker arms and rocker boxes.

The 96 engine’s increased stroke and therefore capacity yielded a 10.3 lb.ft boost in torque from 80.4 to 90.7 lb.ft, delivered at a leisurely 3400rpm – perfect for roll-on acceleration, brisk overtakes, and romping along two-up. Along with the extensive rework of the engine, or ‘powertrain’ as the Americans like to call them, Harley also tweaked the six-speed transmission, lowering top gear a touch and lightening the clutch for greater feel and control. There’s even an early ride-by-wire throttle – H-D named it Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) to iron out slack in the connection between twist grip and throttle bodies.

In order to meet stricter emissions regulations, H-D also equipped the airbox with a flapper system and the exhaust with similar tech to regulate the flow of harmful gases. Some service intervals were also doubled in the transition from 88 to 96, with gearbox and primary chain oil changes lengthened from 10,000 to 20,000 miles. There are also two specs of 96 Twin Cam motor – A and B, in both 88 and 96. B denotes the fitment of an extra balancer shaft that, Harley claim, cuts 90% of engine vibes, allowing it to be fitted into rigid chassis.

Capacity was boosted again for 2012, this time to 1688cc (103 cubic inches) taking peak torque to 101.7lb.ft. An official Harley big-bore kit was also introduced for owners wanting to retro fit the bigger cylinders to the 96 motor.

In terms of riding the Road King is true to its roots. The big-pistoned motor makes all moves at low to mid-rpm, making the King a brilliant pillion machine as well as for distance. Delivery bursts with typical Harley charm and character – the distinctive potato-potato sound underpins the whole experience. Freer breathing pipes help turn the mechanical symphony up a notch or two.

2009-2017 Harley-Davidson Road King- Handling & Suspension

Not only did the Road King represent a turning point for Harley in terms of its Twin Cam engine, it also represented a new path for the firm in terms of chassis design and production. Prior to the Road King’s arrival big H-Ds were rarely praised for their handling or agility, usually because the way the chassis were produced opened the door to flex, wallowy antics and sometimes inaccurate production.

The Road King’s frame changed all that. Its construction used 50% less separate components than before, and the length of the welds used to tie it all together were also reduced by half. Not only that, the welding was no computer assisted for greater accuracy, and the frame’s old T-stud joins were replaced with more robust cast and forged node-tube joints. Doing so increased the frame’s stiffness by 20%.

The Milwaukee firm didn’t stop there, however. Fitting a 60% stiffer swingarm, a removable subframe, plus stiffer and lighter case wheels helped increased the chassis overall stiffness by an incredible 67%. Twin air-assisted shocks and 41.3mm forks provided the damping required; while the shocks are air-adjustable, the forks are non-adjustable. Handling accuracy, stability, and steering control were all massively improved as a result.

There’s plenty of room on a Road King to relax back into the well padded seat and comforting ergonomics, making it an ideal old-school tourer. Handling is indeed more accurate than earlier models. Braking isn’t perhaps as punchy as it the system suggests – twin 292mm discs all round, grabbed upfront by four-pot calipers and a single-pot unit at the rear, all ABS controlled – but it’s enough to match the way the Road King rides.

2009-2017 Harley-Davidson Road King - What to look for

Signs of corrosion: A good Harley is a cherished Harley, so if the chrome work shows signs of rust it’s a sign that previous owners may not have cared for the bike in the way they should. Furthermore, getting corroded metal surfaces back to intended finish can be, a) hard work, and b) expensive.

Shocks: The shocks can end up blowing their seals if owners add too much air to the system – zero damping is a tell-tale sign. Saggy shocks can also be the result of them not being topped up. Ask the seller if they’ve topped them up. If not, they may simply require pumping up again. Check that they still offer support.

Spoked wheels: These Harleys are big, heavy motorcycles, so the condition of spoked wheels, if fitted, really matter. Look for rust and corrosion around the spoke holes – water can build up on the spoke wells after washing. If ignored, rust can eat through the rim and risk the integrity of the wheel around that area.

Service history: Usually part and parcel of any used Harley tourer. Although relatively simple to service, they’re a big and cumbersome bike to work on, especially when bodywork removal is required, and not all owners have the workspace to do this. The big service is 50K – head bearings need regreasing, forks servicing etc – which will be a big bill from a dealer. Drive belts usually require a change around 50,000 miles, adding to that service bill. Brake fluid replacement is recommended every two years; an easy job and not one worth skipping given the size and weight of the bike. Minor services are every 5000 miles, major every 10K.

 Extras: Can be worth a lot of money. Open pipes, freer breathing air filters and big-bore kits are common. Flashy paint is a matter of taste. The value of what’s added will come down to what you require from the bike, but the right parts can help residual value when you come to sell.

 Transmission: False neutrals are a common complaint. Positive up and down shifts are key to avoiding missed gears. Harley gearboxes can feel clunky and noisy too; it’s just the way they are rather than a sign that something’s wrong.

Electrical issues: Stators can fail. Signs that it’s on the way out range from battery drainage and starting issues. Replacement stators cost around £100.

2009-2017 Harley-Davidson Road King - Rivals

Indian Springfield - Funky all-American V-twin that makes no secret of its desire to go head-to-head with Harley’s Road King. With Indian’s long history the Springfield boasts a similar heritage to the Harley, albeit broken on production years. Plenty of grunt from the 1811cc air-cooled V-twin motor, and this model came with a decent array of toys and electronics as standard – ABS, cruise control, tyre pressure sensors, adjustable pillion footboards, and even centrally locked panniers – to justify its hefty price. Not as easy to find as the Harley, but definitely worth hunting down.

Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 - Big motored Japanese custom that, through squinted eyes at 20 paces following 8 pints of strong lager, can just about pass as an American style cruiser. While the Kawasaki comes with the wrong badges and heritage, it does offer excellent value for money for the class. At between £4400-£5400 for a tidy example the Vulcan offers 80 per cent of the Harley’s riding experience – with a far better gearbox – for a fraction of the Road King’s price. And at 307kg it’s considerably lighter than its American rival as well.

Triumph Thunderbird 1700 LT - Stylish, big-bore (1700cc) parallel twin dripping in Americana style. Long wheelbase, high bars and a raked front end give this British brute the ride and character of an American cruiser. Beats the Harley on performance, pumping out 92bhp and 111.4 lb.ft, but at 349 kilos dry the T’Bird weighs as much as a combine harvester. Great bike and better value for money compared year-to-year to the H-D, but ultimately, it’s a British bike dressed up as a Yank, whereas the Road King is the real deal.

Indian Springfield, 2016 | Approx Price: £7800-£8500

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Power/Torque

76bhp / 102.4lb-ft

Weight

327kg

Kawasaki Vulcan 1600, 2009 | Approx Price: £4400-£5400

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Power/Torque

65.7bhp / 93.7lb-ft

Weight

307kg

Triumph Thunderbird 1700 LT, 2014 | Approx Price: £6500-£8200

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Power/Torque

92bhp / 111.4lb-ft

Weight

349kg

2009-2017 Harley-Davidson Road King- Verdict

A Road King of this era may lack the electronic sophistication of most modern tourers, but the basic package – the engine, its character, style and reformed (from the bad old days) handling make these H-Ds a smart buy if you’re after comfy American metal. Post 2012 bikes are best – you get the bigger, even fruitier engine – while the Classic models offer than extra sprinkling of old school style and charm. Best of all though, buying an older Harley is an investment. And that’s one smart move.

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2009-2017 Harley-Davidson Road King - Technical Specification

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