5 Things I HATE About My Harley Davidson Road King Special! 

That surprises me that there's no USB port on the Road King. My 2019 Street Bob even has one and that is definitely NOT a long distance touring bike!

I am 60 years old and have considered buying a Harley, but at this point don`t think I ever will. Love my Kawasaki Voyager that is similar to a Road Glide. HD is just a crazy amount of money for what you get. Nice Video!

solid points and great vid man. I came off a 2018 heritage to my 21 RKS, and I do miss that integrated USB. I have added the Lexin Q3 speakers to the bars, and its got a USB. My first upgrades were LED signals, Cobra pipe, FOX 13" shocks, LRS windshield, KST 12" double trouble and Mustang low touring solo. love my RKS. shiny side up!

Awesome video - I have a Road Glide and am thinking about adding a RK to the portfolio - your real-world owner POV is super helpful...super thanks man. Many of the same gripes with the RGS. Everything is expensive and a flipping upgrade. I'm actually Ok with expensive - but then don't make me upgrade things like LED's, seat, suspension, etc.

Juicy loosey!!! I had to hit the bell!!!

Mate I am about to make a video myself about my 2020 model RKS with same issues , 1. suspension 2. seat 3 . handlebars 4. globe lighting 5 .the extras cost to make it a tourer

I’m with you! You pay that kind of many for a king then it should be a king not a joker! Harley needs to do better most definitely! I had a Harley softtail bought new and The chrome was falling off with in a week of riding it, but it did have a USB port. Bought it new 2019.

Just run a USB cable along the backbone of your frame and plug it into the USB plug that comes with your Battery Tender. That worked great for me on my old Road King Classic.

Hey nick ! Thanks for sharing ! I just bought a roadking special last week, i did the 1000miles in a day with the stock bike ! Coming from an upgraded dyna, the roadking is the supreme touring. However, the handlebar suck big time, what are your handlebar they seems perfect?

The route you're hitting is dope love the woods everywhere...fire

Good points but for me, the upgrading is part of the fun with having a Harley. I guess it depends your comfort level with wrenching and funds. Great video...

171 Archer ave thought the landscape looked familiar. Looking at the same bike now

Great video. I have had several Harleys, just bought a RKS and agree totally.

That's why many of us ride the regular Road King. The Special is meant to be a slammed, cut down version of the regular Road King.

Some softails such as the breakout and fatboy have the USB port because they are at the top end in their field, or high point in the softail range. The RK is harley entry touring bike so sits at the lowest in the touring range. Perhaps thats why no usb

You right! My breakout is cheaper and has the USB ! The same thing I hate !

yea I am currently in the market for this bike almost bought a 2024 wednesday but want to wait and look at other bikes. I already know I am going to want to do stage 1 probably stage2 eventually seat seemed ok to me but again need to ride it for some time to tell and def want different bars probably 14" meat hooks. the lack of leds lighting factory is just irritating in 2024 at tat price point. I am currently also looking at the Indian springfield and sport chief or going back to a moto guzzi california.

Getthisnick 🔥🔥🔥

Dont hate. Appreciate

It's a nice bike you got there young man. Enjoy It.

It seems you are a new rider. With the exception of the usb all are subjective and personal. Yes the suspension could be better, but it’s so good compared to the past. If there wasn’t a huge aftermarket no one would complain.

My 21 FLHRXS didn't even leave the dealership until the handlebars were changed. Those stock bars suuuuuuucked!

My bike was a 1990 tourer with the single shield and not the full fairing, and I agree with all your bad points except the seat which was good for trips of 350 miles and once for 600 miles in the day/night

I appreciate you’re honesty. I currently have a 17 Road Glide Special. When I get rid of this bike in 2-3 months I’m getting a Indian Challenger - Pursuit or Elite. Tired of HD nickel and diming me and every other HD owner out here. Good video!

Love your video! What handlebars are those on your RKS in this video? Looks like the perfect height for me, too. I like their pullback style vs. the squared off "Monkey-bar" style. Thanks for your feedback!

Most of the parts on Harleys are made in foreign countries ,they are then assembled at one of three plants in the USA in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin

yeah that price gets ya, 30 grand for a bike you put another 5-10 G's into, then when you go to sell or upgrade, you gonna maybe get 15-18 out of if you're lucky....thats crazy lol

Lots of older dudes out there rode miles and miles and miles, without those "UPGRADES". I get it, we're soft, tame, inside cats. Not outside dogs, braving the elements and predators. At the end of the day it's a Harley, welcome to the wonderful world of....They should've and I'm gonna.

You definitely have no idea about what HD is about and I don’t really understand why you bought one

What gas caps are those?

I dont get why they cant offer 2 different bar set ups and you can order it which ever way you want. Not like the harley dealers keep anything in stock anyway. Theres probably so many harley bars sitting in the dump

They put everything pretty much stock, especially the handlebars and exhaust. They have to make their money on upgrades, I'm sure that's why they come with uncomfortable bars and seats

Great video

Thanks for your video man pretty cool I watched this cuz my friend has a 99 road King I know it's a lot different but he's he got me into the interest of motorcycles again. I started to go blind in the late '80s and by 95 I couldn't ride anymore or drive or do a lot of things that I love and I lived in breathed motorcycles that was anything with a motor since I was a kid my first I guess motorcycle with two wheeled motor vehicle was a rough roadster yeah a mini bike anyway I I will Japanese bikes in the beginning I had some really nice ones in 81 my uncle gifted me with a brand new Sturgis and I went to town with it put on the black chrome drag pipes everything Chrome it was beautiful and that bike road like a Cadillac for its time you know I know things are different now so different that I'm godsmack. The the technology that you know because after I went blind I didn't look at them motorcycle cars or anything like that because it was too painful literally and 2730 years later my friend gets a used bike and I'm starting to go on the internet to find like tips on riding cuz some of the store was he told me he didn't sound too bad the new ride I never rode before and it's first so yeah that got me looking again and then I started like I binge on motorcycle videos and certain times and yeah I love it and I'm learning like so much the technology is just crazy that I would give to be able to ride again guys don't take it for for granted man it's a it's a gift and it's a beautiful gift. Anyway I was going to say you know you know coming off of like a Gold Wing or at its time or any of the big expensive touring bikes or sports bikes the lowrider to me was a cruiser it was the Sturgis there was the first bike that you put double belts on and that by handled pretty good for what it was you know it's not it's not a cafe racer you're not racing around the mountains and stuff like that you're taking it you know taking in the scenery and enjoying yourself and that bike road beautifully you know it was like I was always into Lincoln's and Cadillacs and the road like that compared to like you know a Volvo of its time or whatever and all the Volvo or you know any cheaper part of Vega you remember those yeah dragon balls on my bike and the you know and I had rises on it to pull it back at an angle I like yeah you know so you know I couldn't imagine going cross country well I guess I could if you took it easy I made lots of long trips you know lots of them l but I guess that this is a long blah blah blah about saying you know before it's time the holy at it at it's you know when it was a contemporary it will really really comfortable I put a Corbett seat on it custom Corbin seat you just sink into it and I built the bike that bike was stolen I lived in New York and then 87 I built a bike 79 lowrider frame with a 1972 shovelhead in it and that bike also I mean it was comfortable and it was really plush and it was like really handle bumps in you know rain and rain groves and going over grading over Bridges or hands up right now compared to the box if it's time so I'm surprised that that a Harley wouldn't be today at least as good as that but who knows it's Harley Davidson anyway I'm going to stop probably bore a lot of people I will say that we're getting into these videos is also emotional I shed tears in the beginning listening to the sounds of the motorcycles cuz I really can't see him you know I actually you know pulled up on RU-vid but you know now I'm just learning all I can cuz that's how I am ride safe out there and have fun for me sincerely Bob the blind bedroom guitarist stop

I have the road king special 2021 the bars are not comfortable too wide the seat I really don't see a problem and USB oh yeah I agree with you there this day and age one would think it would have a USB port the suspension I would not say it is horrible but could use some improvements

Nice bike! What handlebars do you have?

In Germany it costs 29.000 Euro ! Euro ! Nice Video, nice bike !

god damn these toys are not cheap!!! they 100% weren’t thinking straight when they decided to not include the USB. love the vid!

I agree you, but regardless what bike you buy handlebars, seat and suspension will need to upgraded. Used bikes are almost the same as buying new it maybe better to buy new. I like your review.

Good points brought up

100 percent agreed

So sorry that you don’t like your Road king, I personally think it’s a great bike, a good all rounder.

Have you done a tank lift?

In Sweden we pay from US$ 28 200 for a stock 2023 Road King Special

well said

If don't normally ride more than 2hrs on average? You are better off with the stock seat. But a great quality touring seat non heated. You are looking at $500-7/800..Without shipping. I have a Mustang Touring Deluxe. 1,000 % over any stock seat. You won't ever want to get off your ride for seat comfort..I rode over 8hrs on my 21 Slim on fastback Mustang seat. Wasn't even close to a touring seat.

What windshield are you running bud?

What are the handle bars u put on there??

Which handlebar and height is this? How long are you?

Yeah Harleys always been like that there the most fix it like you want to motorcycle in the world that's part of the attraction. I dont know to many bikers who dont customize there bikes and everything costs if it's a good product alot of junk out there but it is what it is and there nothin like riden a harley either you luv them or hate them amen.

Listening to your list, my cuestion is why did you buy one. Hup on bmw 1250 or K1600 and you wont like Harley any more...

I’ve owned mine for 2 years and I honestly can’t find any thing I like or love about it..

What kind of windshield you got?

U didn’t test ride it first?

What size bars?

I agree with your points, I put legend suspension on my RKS and it’s so much better. I would add a couple negatives on the stock…no windshield. The standard road king comes with one so it’s like come on. So another $500 on the windshield if you like being comfortable on long trips. And no LED lighting. Can’t believe they still send bikes out of the factory with halogens. To their credit they do include the daymaker stock. But there’s another couple hundred bucks just to replace turn signals. But overall I love my RKS also, just have 5-10k available for upgrades if you are really going to ride this bike a lot.

All that talk about Handlebars and you never mentioned what bars you have. What brand and size are your bars?

My road king stock bars are the most comfortable ever.

Is this the winer channel, was expecting a real gripe yeah it doesn't come with cup holders eather

USB is a legit gripe but the rest are all general complaints against all Harleys.

check out mustang seats

I did a day trip of 18 hours with only 2 stops from 10 minutes. And I diden't suffer from my handlebars or saddle. I had my steering wheel pointed forward a bit but certainly didn't replace it. I first wanted a higher handlebar just for looks. But from the moment I sat on it in the Harley store I knew that I had better not replace my steering wheel for comfort. And as for the price. You are not obliged to buy something if you think it is too expensive. This is a luxury product. Not a basic product.

Great critique. I bought a 2021 Road King. I looked for the USB port that was’t there. 😡 Those are the little things that really disappoint me in H-D. The Special is now up to 28K out the door. Ridiculous.

Welcome to the HD world!

Yup! The seat bro…

😂 If they included all those things as standard the bike would simply cost more, still wouldn’t suit everyone so people would still find something to complain about and a reason to change and customise. But yeah, a fkn usb on a tourer with no electronics is a no brainer 🤦‍♂️

It was strange listening to your complaints. Probably because I was riding Harleys before you were born. You don't have a clue about back breaking. The bars have a lot of room fir adjustments, it's very simple to wire up a power outlet, and what would the price be if everything was perfect?

I own one and I know everything you say it's the truth. The more I ride the bike, the more I see the potential of the bike and, at the same time, how much Harley Company is a bunch of a..hol.. trying to get more money they can from you. With Harley you pay always tons of pathetic f'AD and you pay always much more than you get but if you like the bike...

Hey! numb butt! all you need is a woven seat pad. For the phone you need a Helmet Sena and a battery tender usb charger. I had a '98 RK and it had air suspension. Do the new ones not?

1 hour is a long ride?!!!! Come on man!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Don't understand . Just got a 2022 Road King Special two weeks ago. In absolute love . OM only 5'7 tall...stock handlebars work fine for me . Did you know you can adjust them? I had mine adjusted at the dealer. The seat beats the hell out of my Sportsters seat I rode for 2 years. .... don't need USB or GPS or any of that crap. Would have bought a bike with a big ugly fairing if I had wanted that and I dont understand how you didn't know that it didn't have a USB plug before you bought it so that's your fault more than Harleys . Suspension... guess don't really care . My backs been fine. You're 25 years old I'm almost 38 so I guess we will have very different opinions. You listed taxes as price of the bike lol. That's price of having an oppressive government. Biggest takeaway from your video... you wanted a completely different motorcycle. Got drunk and bought this one I don't know. If I want a bunch of features that a bike doesn't have I wouldn't have bought it. I dont understand why you bought this motorcycle to begin with. And i somehow missed your intro... you love it? ....k. i dont get it still. Nothing i hate about this motorcycle . Nothing. Mine is stock and perfect .... i wont even put a windshield on her. Too sexy without one.

This cat is no biker. He’ll sell this bike soon and move on to Barbies or some other silly shit. Goofball.

I think it’s poor taste to buy a RK and then start crying about why you foot like it< not only that but t put all over RU-vid. :( I didn’t even watch your video cause I’m tired of people crying just to get attention.

first of all you pay the Name! pretty much every other Bike is better than this. if you buy a Triumph you dont have to rebuilt the whole bike to make it "good" yes a Rocket for example is also not cheap, but you get excelent Brakes , an unbelievable Engine and a built Quality that is outstanding. And the bike is ready, you dont need anything to change like a Handlebar or seat or anything! and it is still ten Grand cheaper than e Harley!....but yes...its not a Harley....

Dude WTF is it about having a damn phone

😢

Don't tell me what you're going to tell me. THE NEWS does that, and I'm sick of it. Just tell me.

These are all Harleys they never give you the best add ons

How does goober even have one subscriber let alone 2K ?

I agree with your points. Handlebar sucks. Seat….mwhoaa?!. Suspension….i only change the rear for Ultra 13”. Then i am fine. 7cm stroke…and no scraping floorboards and side stand anymore. The price….!, in The Netherlands the RKS 114 does $38.000,00😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

Man, you sure are annoying. Nice bike.

Plan on dropping an additional $5K on your stock Harley. Seat, bars, intake, exhaust, shocks, LED's, cam.....easily an additional $5K It's the Harley way!

Talking in circles

What kind of windshield you have