2023 Harley-Davidson Road King Special | A Pointless Motorcycle?

Is the Harley Davidson Road King Special a pointless motorcycle? A large cruising styled Harley, with big hard panniers on the rear ready for long trips on the road. However no fairing or wind protection up front, what is this bike really meant for.
With Harley's 114 Wilwaukee 8 engine, it has plenty of power and character. Lets find out what the Road King Special is all about.

#harleydavidson #roadkingspecial #roadking

FILMING EQUIPMENT:

0:00 Intro
1:36 First Impressions
3:24 Engine
5:05 Riding Position
6:00 Handling
7:42 Specifications
11:05 Unique Feature
13:20 Conclusion

CODE
78ZCJ14L7FO8J2I0
ZLVJNM9RQFPQXKFM

[nickw]

Most RoadKing owners, including myself remove the windshield as soon as it gets home. Some put it back on for long trips but better without it.

[KevInTheAlps]

This bike is sits at the convergence that tickles your soul: the elements, a machine that you can feel and hear, and the feeling it gives you from riding it, exposed, feeling is power. And the great thing, is you can do this at low speeds. It’s perfect for those countryside tours to have a weekend away. You don’t need the overkill of all the equipment and peripherals. This is about going back to basics. And that really appeals to. A bit of old school charm. And that does wonders for my mental health. It’s not pointless too it’s target market. It’s a thing of awe and beauty. And you felt a touch of that. 👍🏻😎

[nunyabusness]

I have a black 2023 Road King Special. I traded up from my Softail custom because the club I ride with do long trips (across the United Statesl. After a couple of such trips on my Softail I decided I needed something bigger. Problem is, I hate fairings. So the Road King was perfect for me. I bought a quick release wind splitter windshield that I leave off most of the time and only put on for the long trips. I have a Bluetooth helmet for music. I'm set.

[SuperGrahame]

I have been riding Harleys for 30 years and Japanese bikes before that. My current bike is a Road King Classic. It is enormously practical, comfortable, reliable and very low maintenance. Sure they're expensive but the resale price more than makes up for that. The RK Special can have a quick connect windscreen fitted no worries. Mine has 140, 000km on it and I love it. Best damn motosickle ever made!

[jeffmarsden]

Pointless!! Bullshit. I’ve been riding for over 30 years owed over 30 motorcycles triumph, kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, BMW, Buell, Suzuki, sports bikes muscle bikes and the Road King Special is by far my favourite. It’s an amazing motorcycle. I don’t like screens or fairings tho. Just naked bikes and a pure ride.. great review of a great bike.

[Motorcyclewindtherapy]

Out of over 2 dozen motorcycles over 45 years of riding... the Road King is my absolute favorite. I never plan to sell my current 2007 RK Custom. 16" apes and Rhineharts, no windshield...I can travel anywhere across the country or the other side of town just as easily. It's the perfect bike to me.

[Peter-mcmcmc]

I own a 2023 RKS and agree with all that fellow RK and RKS owners have said - it's the ideal touring platform precisely BECAUSE it's so stripped down. It's raw, it's real; it's the "KING." Not all of us feel the need to fork over an additional $5K+ for a fairing that blocks our view and adds unnecessary weight. Many of us use comms systems through our helmets. The RK and RKS are the blank canvases of the H-D Touring line, and you can customize to no end. It's often [affectionately] dubbed "the Swiss Army Knife of H-D."

[Pilgrim-py]

You nailed it Red. I’ve been tempted many times to sell my 2003 Road King but it’s still puts a smile on my face every time.

[High_Desert_Tanner]

You're missing the point. The best apart about the Road King is that it doesn't have any electronics to look dated in a few years, it's simple and clean, and it's CONVERTIBLE. You can get a one of a million different arrangement windshields or fairings for it and put that on our take it off as wanted. It's the best of both worlds. Hot summer day in town? Get all that wind and air... Packing up and taking a long trip? Put that fairing on. Set up camp for the day and want to run into town for dinner or just to do some stuff seeing? Take it off and toss it in the tent (or room).

[Bostonharborwater]

It never goes out of style. It’s timeless. Beautiful bike.

[murdocampbell]

Sunshine, Lands End to John O’ Groats using B roads, and this behemoth. That’s not pointless, that’s awesome! Great review.

[srhintz]

Pointless? It is the most versatile bike they make; a true touring bike that you can customize easily by popping on whatever windscreen you want or take it off and commute. The average rider can change the bars himself or if you have it done it doesn't cost a thousand dollars. Unburdened by stereos, nav, CBs, and too much instrumentation it is a true riders bike. Not everyone likes 50 pounds of black plastic blocking the view of the road. It handles so much better at any speed than the other tourers that they have crowned it KIng.

[stevemontross]

Adding the fork mounted wind deflectors makes the lack of a windshield pretty much unnecessary unless you are exceeding legal highway speeds. Also a seat with a lumbar rest takes away the need to death grip the bars. I bought a windshield and hung it on the wall after doing those two things. Plus I like the open view.

[Freedomridingcompany]

Yeah, the blacked out version doesn't have a windshield but one can be added. I have a 2019 Road King Police Special. I have to se that the bike absolutely handles very well and can get around tight corners really well. The suspension does suck on most of the Harley bikes.

[JJohnson]

Love your channel and watched many of your videos, but gotta say … some people don’t like wind protection. It’s that simple, I have this bike and me and the mrs just done a three week trip riding uk to Sicily 4500 mile trip, I never once wanted wind protection, far from it, it’s so hot I like the wind to cool down . We carried all our camping gear, stayed at hotels too . But with a rack on the back and the panniers carried all our gear no sweat . I did however change the seat and the handle bars both not at all to my liking . But it’s a great tourer . But saying that, any we’ll maintained bike is a great tourer as long as you like it . ❤

[MrDarcy-OlMan]

First class machine and first class review!
I think it’s a stunning looking bike, but had to chuckle at the comment here saying the opposite. (Some people have no taste haha 😉).
Interesting point, however, as you review pretty much all types of bike, do you find, as we did, that you lose a lot of subscribers when they subscribe for say a sports bike, then they unsubscribe when they see a Harley (or vice versa)? Good angle mate 👍🏼

[paulbutler]

I have a Road King Standard. Absolutely my favorite Motorcycle. I was looking at a newer one a couple years ago. The salesman was trying to put me on the Special. I asked what the difference was. It does have the 114 engine but I found the 107 to be plenty powerful. I noticed the special had no windshield, no rear crash bars, no passenger floor boards, no passing lights, a less comfortable saddle, and less than comfortable bars. I then asked how much and as it turned out it was several thousand more than the standard. I told him that was a lot of extra cash for a bike that has less features than the one that I really like in the first place. Sadly, Harley removed the Standard from the lineup this year.

[GBMatthew]

So tired of people moaning about bikes with no fairings or screens toughen up. I've ridden bikes without for years and they are easy to live with once you get used to it. Besides I detest screens on bikes they are so ugly and often ruin the look of many bikes. If people are that desperate for protection stick with a car.

[ian]

The RKS gives you a unique feeling of joy.. it grew on you and made you fall in love with it. Sounds like hit the nail on the head with this model..

[robertprosser]

117 is the biggest standard engine FYI.