Heritage Softail vs Road King

[DanDolfn]

I ride a Kawasaki Nomad. Have had a conversion kit on order from Hannigan since February but since their fire, they've not made the new mold yet and apparently my model is at the bottom of their priority list.<br />
<br />
I'm thinking now that instead of converting my own bike (and Hannigan was apparently the only company that could convert a Nomad), I may have to buy a Harley for conversion.<br />
<br />
No offense to those who like them, but I don't like fairings and I don't like music when I ride, so Gold Wings and Harleys with fairings are out of consideration for me.<br />
<br />
I want a trike with only a windshield and a passenger backrest. I would like cruise control and maybe a reverse gear. With a conversion, the bags on a Road King don't make any difference.<br />
<br />
What differences are there in the ride of a Heritage Softail and a Road King that would make one of them preferable to the other as a trike?<br />
<br />
I know the Heritage Softail is usually a little cheaper, so that would be one consideration. <br />
<br />
I've never riden or even sat on either one. I'm 6' and, uh, robust.<br />
<br />
Any thoughts that might help me in my quest?

 

[Pittsburgh Biker]

I'm 6' and uh robust myself. My road king with roadsmith rides and fits me great. I had<br />
a mechanical reverse installed and the front end raked to make it steer easier. 5 speed<br />
tranny as a 2005. Runs great and rides the same way. The Heritage has a bit higher<br />
handlebar set up. Otherwise about the same bike. If we were closer, I'd let you ride it

 

[10rhrk]

I'm partial to Road King's myself. I think it's the best touring bike Harley makes. Softail is a great bike as well. You see a lot of ladies riding softails and Street Glides .

That being said, I'm sure you being 6 ft and uh robust, the Road king would be your best option. I just traded my Road king for this 2012 you see in my sig pic. I just bypassed all the stuff you have to do to make a two wheel a nice trike. Good luck in your decision.

 

[DanDolfn]

Thanks for both of your responses. <br />
<br />
I was leaning toward the Road King anyway so that pretty much confirms that this is the direction I'll look in.

 

[DanDolfn]

If we were closer, I'd let you ride it

Well, you could always ride to Florida.

If you wanted to be a really nice guy.

LOL!

But seriously, thanks for even the thought.

 

[1550vt]

Go with the Road King. It's the same frame as the Ultra and Ultra Classic. The softail is in the cruiser/sport-bike family. You would be surprised to discover that you can sometimes pick up a Road King cheaper than you can a Heritage Softail.

If you go with a Hannigan...I believe they are one of the heaviest and biggest kits out there and you will want the larger frame. IMHO.

 

[DanDolfn]

Has anyone had a Road King converted to a trike?

If so, which kit did you use?

 

[Casper]

Road King!
Don't think cruise is available for the soft Tail lineup.
Better frame for the trike conversion in the RK...
As for which kit....that's your choice.

Also, you can find a like new used police RK for a better price...
Watch HDForums.com classified section....saw a 07 a few weeks ago for around 11000.00. Low mileage too.

 

[Gorilla]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>DanDolfn</strong>
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<div class="message">Has anyone had a Road King converted to a trike?<br />
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If so, which kit did you use?</div>

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</div>MY 07 was a Road King now with a Champion conversion. I did all the work. 2.5 years and 20k miles. Love it.

 

[sandrooney]

My wife has an 05 RK Motor Trike conversion and loves it. Be prepared to upgrade the engine and add a rake kit. No way would I go with a softail. Solid mount engine will shake your teeth out.
SR

 

[msocko3]

My wife has an 05 RK Motor Trike conversion and loves it. Be prepared to upgrade the engine and add a rake kit. No way would I go with a softail. Solid mount engine will shake your teeth out.
SR

The Twin Cam B engine is pretty smooth with the internal balancers, my dad had an 05 Heritage which was smooth as glass. I however agree the touring framed Road King would be the way to go, cruise control is a big hitter in my book.

 

[Nana]

I agree with m3 on the softtail engine.... prior to 2000 there was a lot of vibration, but since then the balancers keep it about as smooth as the touring bikes. My Fat Boy is very smooth!

 

[Papa Zook]

+1 what Kentucky Blue said. There are plenty of off lease Police Roadkings to be had at a bargain out there if you look around.These are always well serviced and make a great trike.

 

[flynng]

Californ Sidecar makes a kit for the Nomad, and is one of the best engineered kits around. Here's a link:

California Sidecar - Performance Touring

Nice looking kit as well

 

[sandrooney]

I used to get a loaner bike when I would get mine serviced and they would let me ride it home and bring it back the next day 180 miles round trip. Once I got an 06 Heritage and man my old 54 panhead was smoother, that thing rattled me bad, and I bought an 02 softail (the guy was giving it away) to resale and same thing it viberated BAD. So any way that was just my experience with softtails. They were box stock maybe they needed tuning or something.
SR

 

[msocko3]

I used to get a loaner bike when I would get mine serviced and they would let me ride it home and bring it back the next day 180 miles round trip. Once I got an 06 Heritage and man my old 54 panhead was smoother, that thing rattled me bad, and I bought an 02 softail (the guy was giving it away) to resale and same thing it viberated BAD. So any way that was just my experience with softtails. They were box stock maybe they needed tuning or something.
SR

Maybe you had a couple bummers givent to you. I've ridden both the Heritage and the Softail Deluxe, I put several hundred miles on the Heritage and a couple hundred on the Deluxe. Both were smooth at all speeds, HD did a pretty decent job with the internal balancers of the Twin Cam B engine.

 

[Oldmsocko]

I owned an 05 Heritage and it was very smooth.

 

[jimmy]

i traded my 04 heritage for the triglide i loved the heritage but wouldnot want it has a trike. i think you really need the bigger engine and no cruize on the heritage. also after doing some math decided it was better to bit the bullet and buy the triglide,the 2 year warranty is hard to beat.

 

[sandrooney]

Maybe I should try another one. I love the way the softail's look and always wanted a Heritage or Fatboy but after riding those two I decided not to want one.
SR