2017 Harley-Davidson Touring Road King

The Harley-Davidson Road King has an impressive lineage. This chrome cruiser can be traced all the way back to Harley’s 1941 FL model, starting with a 1210cc Knucklehead engine. The modern Road King was introduced as the FLHR in 1994, the same year Kurt Cobain died and O.J. Simpson took Los Angeles cops on the slowest pursuit captured on video.

The Milwaukee-Eight engine—introduced in 2017—is just the ninth generation of "big twin" engines developed by H-D, but only its third all-new Big Twin in 80 years. What's the difference? There are four valves per cylinder, totaling eight valves; get it? The change also marked a modern return to the single-camshaft configuration as used on the famous Knucklehead since 1936. To keep your spine intact, the engines all have internal counterbalancers and large-diameter telescopic fork.

The 798-lb. Harley-Davidson Road King is powered by a six-speed, chain-driven, 1750cc 45-degree V-twin with a combination of air-cooled, liquid and oil-cooled eight valves in two cylinders with 111 lb.-ft. of torque.

Additional features include 2.3 cu.-ft. of storage capacity, one-touch saddle bags, a 6.0-gallon fuel tank, 27.8-in seat height, Impeller cast aluminum wheels (17-in. front/16-in. rear), Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), 2-1-2 dual chrome exhaust with tapered mufflers, Hiawatha headlamp and nacelle, cruise control, electronically linked Brembo front and rear brakes, optional security system and optional ABS.

The Harley-Davidson Road King pricing starts at $18,999 for Vivid Black, $19,449 for Twisted Cherry, $19,799 for two-tone Electric Blue/Silver Fortune, Silver Fortune/Sumatra Brown or Olive Gold/Black Tempest, and $21,399 for Hard Candy Shattered Flake.

"The Road King just has an old-school vibe that the Glides don't. It's classic H-D style with all the comfort of a modern bagger."

Morgan Gales - Editor, Street Chopper Magazine