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When Innovators Come Together
and Comparison with the Ultra Classic Electra Glide
by D-Lee's David McWhorter
I’ll spare you the stats, dimensions and hard facts so often associated with such reviews. For those you can go to
any number of respected sites including The Motor Company’s web site (www.harleydavidson.com). I sure didn’t
purchase that hulk of gleaming chrome, paint and leather sitting in my garage because of hard facts. If I wanted
performance I would have visited my local Honda dealer and purchased a Valkyrie or any number of faster,
quicker machines on the floor there. That same dealer could have supplied me, had I been so inclined, with the
smoothest and most comfortable machine on two wheels…the venerable Gold Wing. If I were on a budget I could
have…well you get the idea.
In the interest of full disclosure my first four two-wheelers were a collection of imports including the ground
breaking 1983 Honda Interceptor and the one time “Bike of the Year” Kawasaki Concours sport tourer. While I still
get a tear in my eye when I think of that ol’ Interceptor I can’t say I lose too much sleep over selling the Kaw and
upgrading to my 2003 Road King Classic. Prior to the RKC motorcycles were always about power, acceleration
and handling to me. Ok, mainly acceleration – roll on acceleration, baby! – something the Interceptor had in
abundance.
Even while straddling the Interceptor I was dreaming of the freedom only a touring machine could ever give me. A
coast to coast machine that wouldn’t turn any trip requiring two gas stops into an endurance contest. A series of
trips form Texas to the West coast on the Honda gave me some understanding of what Joe Nameth’s knees must
have felt like at the end of the season…this in my early twenties! Rapidly approaching forty I knew the bikes of my
youth could not carry me into mid-life. Enter the Harley Davidson Road King Classic (FLHRCI).
The RKC made the short list along with the standard Road King, Heritage Classic Softail, Ultra Classic Electra
Glide and a couple of imports I won’t mention here (what was I thinking!!!). In the end, the RKC won out on the
strength of its versatility, features and sex appeal. To be specific:
Road King Classic Versatility:
Removable Wind Screen - Highway cruiser or beach comber…you decide before you leave the house.
Removal takes about five seconds and it goes back on in about 15 seconds. The Road King and Heritage both
share this feature.
Flexible Leg Position – Ride it like a CHiPs officer with back ram rod straight and feet squarely on the foot
boards OR install a set of highway pegs on the engine guards and switch at will to a more stretched out position.
Set the highway pegs low on the engine guard and closely replicate the leg position of the Heritage by placing
your heels on the foot boards and toes on the highway pegs (my favorite). The Road King shares in this
versatility…the Ultra’s lower fairings would somewhat limit the ability to replicate the Heritage’s leg position.
Cargo Capacity – The RKC, along with the Road King, comes stock with decently sized saddle bags. I can’t see
a need for much more except for the longest of trips and then only if riding two up. There are aftermarket
solutions to enhance carrying capacity to more closely emulate the Ultra Classic in this regard (exit sex appeal!).
The Heritage pulls up the rear in this category, but is still probably acceptable. Heritage fans will point out that
they can remove their bags for an even sexier look; something not possible with the Road King or RKC (note: RK
and RKC bags can be removed, to the hotel room for example, but the bike is not intended to be ridden absent
the bags.).
Road King Classic Features:
Cruise Control – That’s right, cruise control! Don’t laugh, without it you will be installing an aftermarket throttle
clip or some other gadget in short order to give your right wrist some relief. Standard on the RKC and Ultra
Classic, but only an expensive add on for the standard Road King and not even an option on the Heritage. Works
just like the one in Grandma’s Cadillac.
Dual Disc Front Brakes – Standard on the Harley touring family bikes, but oddly missing from the Softail
line…one strike for the Heritage.
Customization – There is no shortage of aftermarket and add-on products to improve performance, looks and
comfort. If you can imagine it, it is out there. This goes for all HDs.
Community – Lots of folks out there with similar interests. Check out these Yahoo! user groups;
“americanroadking” and “roadkingcafe”, both are good sources of good info and are generally pleasant to
participate in. On the more technical side MSN has a Harley Tech Talk group that you might find a valuable
resource.
Note: Cruise control and dual disk brakes are important to me while the myriad of additional gadgets the Ultra
Classic brings to bear are not. A radio, cigarette lighter and hermetically sealed rider envelope (more on that
later) are not my idea of “the motorcycle experience”, but that is just my own personal taste…others will disagree
and I respect that. Maybe I’ll change my tune in ten years.
Road King Sex Appeal:
My God, just look at it! Nearly 800 lbs of throbbing iron and pulsing chrome with just the right amount of
nostalgic leather, whitewalls and wire spokes. If you ever time warp back to 1955 you’ll be right at home.
Elvis rides a RKC in heaven. It’s true! Colonel Parker rides an Ultra Classic by the way; that’s all I have to say
about that.
Road King Shortcomings (in the order of irritation):
Stock Pipes – Thanks to the EPA they have no character or VOLUME! Unacceptable. Don’t leave the
dealership without an aftermarket set of slip-on mufflers. Mine are the Vance & Hines slash cuts and cost about
$400.
Stock Seat – Pretty, but an instrument of torture after about 30 minutes. Iraqi insurgents can be completely
broken after two hours on the stock “seat”. I bought the Mustang one piece touring seat (p/n 75464) and added
the backrest (p/n 79067) and could not be more pleased. Compared to stock I now sit about one inch higher.
See www.mustangmc.com.
Stock Handle Bars – Unless you're 6’+ you will want to consider the HD high bars (HD# 55954-00) to bring the
grips closer to you. Otherwise, you’ll be stooping to reach the bars and end up with numb arms and a sore back.
The difference was dramatic.
Rusty Bolts and Brackets Under Right Side Exhaust Pipe – Unless you have a $1000 set of aftermarket
headers you will have to live with a very unsightly assortment of rusty hardware under the right side exhaust pipes
(this is true of all the HD touring bikes). It doesn’t look so bad in the showroom (uh, yeah it does!), but with time it
turns into a rusty mess. Ask anyone who has one or check one out at the local tavern some Saturday afternoon.
It is at its worst when leaned onto the kickstand…just sort of jumps out at you. Unacceptable given the price tag of
these machines. The D-Lee Exhaust Valance (D-Lee # HD-1001) will fix this right up for just a fraction of the cost
of new pipes. Shameless plug I know! Check us out anyway at www.dlee-engineering.com/valence03.html.
Power and Acceleration- Not the type of bike you buy for stomach dropping performance, I know, but still I have
to mention it. Any teenager with $2000 is going to have a bike that can toast you in any performance category
you can think of…below a distance of 100 miles that is. Stop light to stop light, roll-on acceleration and top end
(about 105 mph…so I’ve been told, hee-hee) have all been a slight disappointment to me given my rice burner
background. There are multi-thousand dollar solutions to these shortcomings, of course, but most riders will be
completely satisfied with all the stock performance curves. For those who require just a little more than stock I
highly recommend the basic stage I upgrade. With the requisite slip-on mufflers you can escape for under $1000
and achieve a noticeable improvement over stock. This bike is in its element on the open road, not drag racing,
and still has ample power to get you out of any jam in which you might find yourself. If horse power is your most
important feature in a stock bike see Honda or Kawasaki. HD will still be here when you come to your senses.
Comparison with the Ultra Classic Electra Glide (FLHTCUI)
I’ll admit it, I was curious about the Ultra. After nearly 5000 miles on the RKC I began to wonder what all the full
dresser fuss was all about. I secured a rental for a day and put the completely stock 2004 Ultra through its
paces. My first impression was how comfortable the Ultra was in its stock condition. It wasn’t as comfortable as my
RKC, I’ve invested much time and money in customizing the rider positioning on my bike, but it was close.
Second, I was struck with how lame the stereo, stock pipes and trunk were. I mean, was this a motorcycle or a
Buick? To convince myself how lame these features really were I kept using them; trying them out so I could write
about how stupid they are. Rock music on the stereo, jackrabbit starts (so I could laugh at the anemic exhaust
notes) and a full load of stuff in the trunk and saddle bags. A funny thing happened about the time the local DJ
decided to play Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird – I started to see the appeal. I mean, I was lovin’ this stuff. Sure the
radio sounded like a Dixie cup on a string through my full face HJC, but I was jammin’…on a motorcycle! I would
still replace the stock mufflers with something with a little more soul, but they were not that bad once you got used
to them. I always had someplace for my briefcase and helmet! My riding buddy, upon hearing of my new found
respect for the Ultra, threatened to shank me if I ever showed up for a ride on anything with two whip antennas
and a “dog kennel” sized trunk. What does he know…has he ever listened to Skynyrd while downshifting to pass
a dump truck on a super highway?
In the end, my biggest disappointment with the Ultra was what many consider to be its greatest strength. The
windshield/fairing combination work to virtually eliminate all wind and turbulence from the rider. I’d estimate 95%,
or better, of the wind is deflected from the rider. This veritable vacuum eliminated some of the exhilaration I’ve
always associated with motorcycles. Not even a whiff of breeze on my hands, legs, head, body or feet. The
temperature on this day was low 80’s and partly cloudy and I thought I was going to fry! I can’t imagine what a
typical August day in Texas would be like. I’ll admit I was dressed for safety; full face helmet, long sleeve jacket
and boots, but it was stifling. Would be nice in January though, but most of my riding is during the summer.
Unlike the Road Kings there is no flexibility with the windshield configuration on the Ultra. Even with the
windscreen installed on my RKC I estimate only about 80% of the wind is effectively deflected from the rider.
Hands, feet and legs are pretty much in the full wind stream and at 5’9” I look just over the top of the windshield
which is just how I like it. On hot days or for short trips off comes the windshield. The Ultra forced me to look thru
the Plexiglas windshield and gave me that “in a car” type feeling.
As far as sex appeal goes the Ultra doesn’t hold a candle to the Road Kings in my humble opinion. Family
Truckster vs ’57 Chevy if you know what I mean.
If I didn’t own a car the Ultra would definitely be my pick. As it is, I won’t be trading the RKC for an Ultra anytime
soon.
FLHRCI
(valance) installed on 2003 RKC.
Click photo to enlarge. LOOK MA,
NO RUSTY BOLTS OR BRACKETS!
FLHTCUI