Motorcycle specifications Harley-Davidson1450 ROAD KING FLHR 2005 The heart of the states

During the first few kilometers on this Harley, it's not the song sung by Brigitte Bardot that lulls me to sleep, but rather the theme tune from the 70s motorcycle soap opera "CHIPS"!

The original

Don't look now, our friends Ponch and Baker don't ride a Road King, but rather a Japanese inline-four (the last straw for an American soap opera!), so it's more the double-spoke gear selector that reminds me of the credits ...

Although I'm not a great connoisseur of Milwaukee customs, I had reviewed my notes (apprehensions) written when the new line of V-roads with their very "energetic" engine came out. But now I'm chattering my teeth at red lights, thanks to the muted but ever-present vibrations of the big 1450 cm³ V2.
This Road King has all the "police" elements: windscreen, big plate, footrests, dual-branch shifter and, of course, the famous deceptively soft cases for stowing bic, ticket book and other handcuffs. Why deceptively soft? They look like leather saddlebags, but they're actually quite practical rigid cases with a good capacity.
Other advantages not to be overlooked are the various reinforcements to prevent the saddle from lying flat, and the cruise control, a detail that reveals the road-going ambitions of "La reine de la route".
And yes, Harley is in the midst of its "Back to the future" period: after fuel injection, a 6-speed gearbox and an alarm box that lets you start without using a key, it's now equipped with cruise control!
Very practical, especially as the 10.9 mkg of torque at a blistering 3,400 rpm allows you to "pop" the 6 from 90 km/h and then switch to cruise.

The only historical detail is the whitewall tires.

But what does all this equipment have to offer in motion?

Once you've cracked the starter (you need power to fire up 2 x 725 cc cylinders!), you'll need to put your back into it to get the stand up. What's more, the stand isn't particularly stable or easy to deploy, as it's well hidden under the bike.

On the other hand, the 280 kg of torque makes for a smooth start, and the bike's stability is such that I've had fun several times treading on the fire without putting my foot down! Speaking of fire, the bike cooks your legs when you're standing still, to the point where I felt like my jeans were about to burst into flames!

OK, a Harley is made for riding, and it's just as true that the very cool but not too custom position makes you want to cruise endlessly. All the more so since the fuel tank capacity, reasonable fuel consumption and good-sized windscreen (rear windshield from 130 km/h) make it possible to cover distances of over 220 km.
Small-road rides are punctuated by the clunk of the gearbox and the crunch of the kickstand on asphalt.

Conclusion:

Why the original?
Well, because I personally feel that the Road King is the real "Custom": a devilishly beautiful, imposing yet rideable machine, a concept often overlooked by choppers.

A+

Oli the Belgian

( manufacturer's photos)