3 hour test ride on a 2009 Road King

[Urrell]

I really thought I would like this going by recent reviews but I came away disappointed, Where do I start?

Brakes and handling were excelent both getting better the harder they were pushed.

Noise from the engine and transmission surprised me probably due to quiet pipes & screen and it had only done about 150 miles.

The whine from lower gears may die down with use but was annoying on a £15,000 bike. Vibration from the foot boards especially the left would leave me with a numb foot after a hundred miles or so.

The fly by wire throttle seems to have a pause making smooth progress difficult. And it stalled on a couple of occasions when the engine decided to slow down instead of responding to the throttle.

The screen is good up to about 55. Over this my helmet was buffeted about like a vibration that made visibility of road conditions very hard.

It was fitted with the standard seat and no cissy bar. I would have thought a touring bike would have been designed for touring 2 up but it seems the rear seat is for looks. My other half was complaining after a couple of miles and wanted to get off after about 20 and asked me to go and get the Sporty to take her home. The rear seat slopes backwards so any acceleration makes it difficult to stay on if a vice like grip round the driver is relaxed (On the sporty with a Sundowner seat and medium cissy bar I never feel her holding on).

Lots of heat from the engine and pipes. Also my left leg came into contact with the primary cover when foot down at a standstill and thats a bit hot!

The bike was not set up fur us at all. The rear suspension bottomed out a lot but could have been good if pumped up a bit (checked and no pump in bags). The rear crash bar dug into the wife’s legs. The clutch needed adjusting, neutral was very hard to find and the bike crept as soon as it was released from the bars. The handlebars were canted back to an uncomfortable position.

Most of these could have been dialled out with a little adjustment. Apart from the noise and notchyness the transmission was very smooth at all revs.

But they did have a VERY NICE 3 year old CVO Custard Glide in.

[BigKev]

Nice report mate...........

Good to hear from someone who was not completely blown away by the new model.

Not sure about the colour of that Glide though

[DeuceBG]

Where did you take the test ride Nick?
That backdrop doesn't look like Lincoln HD but the Custard Glide looks like the one in their showroom as we speak.

[SJC69]

Sounds like you got a duff one regards the throttle, no problems with the one I had.

The foot boards should not vibrate that much either, as for the clutch that's down to the dealer, piss poor letting it go out like that!
It does make you wonder how well it had been set up and PDI'd before being sent out!

Have to agree with you on the seats fitted to the Road Kings, a lot of other people agree too.
I don't think they are up to much at all, I just could not believe how uncomfortable the one on my Classic was and that was the rider, the passenger was, well as bad as you said....

[Urrell]

Originally Posted by DeuceBG

Where did you take the test ride Nick?
That backdrop doesn't look like Lincoln HD but the Custard Glide looks like the one in their showroom as we speak.

Went from Lincoln to Methringham - Billinghay - Conningsby - Horncastle - Wragby - Bardney - Branston & back to Lincoln.

You are right. The pictures of the Custard Glide are at Chesterfield but it's now in the Lincoln showroom. It came up beside me in town last week making the most glorious noise a bike can make.

[Charlieharley]

Hi Got a test ride booked for Thursday PM will post my thoughts.

[Icarus]

I don't know anything about the Road King, except it's a bike for the future.(my future) Reading your honest report was very surprising; How long has the Road King had a fly by wire throttle? That's a breakdown waiting to happen imho. Give me a simple cable operated one any day.

[HairyMark]

I took a 2009 Road King out about three months ago and i have to agree about the seat and pillion position, my better half didn't like it at all and the engine does seem to run very hot. But it is alot better once the bike is stage one tuned.
But the bike rode really well and I love the fly by wire, very smooth.

[Tony Cross]

Sounds very badly set up. Not done much on it yet ( 3400 ) so early days. Seat seems fine and no complaints from passengers but I have a back rest. Longest non stop ride is 200 miles between fuel stops. Very smooth from day one and at a steady 80 it is like a magic carpet ride. Getting sweeter with the miles.

[Brigg]

Tried a 2000 Road King back in 07, this was bike I really wanted, never ridden one.

This was a second hand machine at the Foundary, Canterbury.

Had it out for about 2 hours, just could not get on with it.

Never felt in control of the bike and felt just cumbersome.

It was dissappointing inasmuch a this was my dream to own an RK

When I returned from the run, a new 1200C was being unpacked, decided on the spot to buy it... no dissapontment other than a couple of niggling breakdowns....