RK Questions

2246 Views 25 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Chief Illiniwek, Aug 29, 2014

BG_Pete

Discussion Starter · Aug 28, 2014

I finally got out to test ride a RK last night. Pretty amazing ride. 2 things I did not care for:

1. Windshield was too tall. I prefer to look over it and not through it. But that can be corrected for $$$

2. Handle bars did not feel right. That can either be just and adjustment, or again for $$$ changed out.

But I did have 2 questions:

1. Regarding the handle bars, can you get risers that will pull them back a bit.

2. On the light bar, why is it that when you put on the hi beam, the driving lights turn off. I would think that you would want them on all the time regardless as to whether you are using hi or low beams.

Thanks for the info.

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

Thunder~Struck

· #2 · Aug 28, 2014

With a little care you can trim the height of the windshield yourself.
Several Members here have done it with great success.

On an RK I believe the handlebar clamps can be loosened and bars pulled back slightly. Will change the grip angles so may or may not work for you.

The lights are wired like that from the factory. Think DOT mandates it. Do`t know why. :dunno

peanut

· #3 · Aug 28, 2014

Thunder~Struck said:
With a little care you can trim the height of the windshield yourself.
Several Members here have done it with great success.

On an RK I believe the handlebar clamps can be loosened and bars pulled back slightly. Will change the grip angles so may or may not work for you.

The lights are wired like that from the factory. Think DOT mandates it. Do`t know why. :dunno

On the lights, there is a way to change the wires so they stay. I know a few members have done this. I am sure they will chime in soon. But yes it is a DOT thing.

webco2

· #4 · Aug 28, 2014

The MoCo even sells a kit to do that .

bavery

· #5 · Aug 28, 2014

I bought the kit (small harness that installs quickly) but there is a manual way to do it - posted on this site in the past.

kcdcltd

· #6 · Aug 28, 2014

When I bought a new 2003 Road King the parts manager (great guy who has since passed on due to cancer) said all of the Police bikes use bars from the Heritage. They did the swap before taking delivery for the Lubbock Police Dept. Sure enough, after a couple of weeks of pain between my shoulder blades, I had them put on the Heritage bars......very sweet after that. Don't know if that would work on current RK's

Mister B

· #7 · Aug 28, 2014

It's called an, "Independent Control Auxiliary Lamp Wire Harness Kit". Make sure you check the fitment! There are different kits for bikes with vs without a fairing, and different kits for some different years. It can get confusing, just make sure it's the right one for your bike.

kcdcltd said:
When I bought a new 2003 Road King the parts manager (great guy who has since passed on due to cancer) said all of the Police bikes use bars from the Heritage. They did the swap before taking delivery for the Lubbock Police Dept. Sure enough, after a couple of weeks of pain between my shoulder blades, I had them put on the Heritage bars......very sweet after that. Don't know if that would work on current RK's

Heritage bars are now standard on Road Kings, starting with 2014.

Jake

· #8 · Aug 28, 2014

Put some Heritage bars on my 2012 RKC and am real happy with them. Didn't have to extend any wires or cables. Brought them up and back about 2 inches if I remember correctly.

Silverback

· #9 · Aug 28, 2014

Heritage bars fixes the problem, and that's considered a first step by many, because they can be fitted without having to change cables or brake lines. Taller bars (Apes, if you will) of varying heights, depending on rider anatomy and personal taste for looks, are a very popular next step, though not absolutely needed to relieve the shoulder pain.

Your other issues are common and easily remedied. The Road King has an enthusiastically loyal following in the Harley hierarchy, for good reason.

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Diezel

· #10 · Aug 28, 2014

Road Kings are the best.

I put the auxiliary lighting kit on mine. Took longer to get the headlight out than it did to plug the harness in.

Silverback

· #11 · Aug 28, 2014

I did my own hookup. Easy Peasy. Schmidty has a sticky.

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Hurricane19

· #12 · Aug 28, 2014

BG_Pete said:
I finally got out to test ride a RK last night. Pretty amazing ride. 2 things I did not care for:

1. Windshield was too tall. I prefer to look over it and not through it. But that can be corrected for $$$

2. Handle bars did not feel right. That can either be just and adjustment, or again for $$$ changed out.

But I did have 2 questions:

1. Regarding the handle bars, can you get risers that will pull them back a bit.

2. On the light bar, why is it that when you put on the hi beam, the driving lights turn off. I would think that you would want them on all the time regardless as to whether you are using hi or low beams.

Thanks for the info.

As other's stated the heritage bars will fit without lengthening your wires. I have 3 1/2" tall risers on my bike with apes, great ride. When shopping for my RK the only thing I didn't like were the stock bars, they really have you hunched over towards the front of the bike.
As for the lights I believe as others noted it is a DOT thing, my wife's mini van does the same thing.

Hurricane19

· #13 · Aug 28, 2014

Silverback said:
I did my own hookup. Easy Peasy. Schmidty has a sticky.

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Can you direct me to the sticky please?

kcdcltd

· #14 · Aug 28, 2014

I would love to know if the Heritage bars would fit a 2014 Ultra? The notches in the batwing may limit my options.

Rohan

· #15 · Aug 28, 2014

kcdcltd said:
I would love to know if the Heritage bars would fit a 2014 Ultra? The notches in the batwing may limit my options.

Yeah you have to get bagger bars. There is an obvious offset to them when you look compared to regular bars. Heritage bars wouldn't fit inside the notches.

-Rohan

kcdcltd

· #16 · Aug 28, 2014

Rats...

Silverback

· #17 · Aug 28, 2014

Hurricane19 said:
Can you direct me to the sticky please?

No problem

http://www.harley-davidsonforums.com/forums/electrical/22028-passing-lamp-conversion.html

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Hurricane19

· #18 · Aug 29, 2014

Silverback said:
No problem

http://www.harley-davidsonforums.com/forums/electrical/22028-passing-lamp-conversion.html

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Thank you sir. I may give this a try soon.

Chief Illiniwek

· #19 · Aug 29, 2014

Silverback said:
Taller bars (Apes, if you will)

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Oh, I will.

redcad

· #20 · Aug 29, 2014

The 14 bars are nice; I just rolled them back for reach. And I found the part to keep the driving lights on, but the NY dealer would not install.

Good luck; it is the most versatile bike out there.

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

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