Bike Review: Harley-Davidson Road King

The first thing I thought when I approached this bike was, “Wow. That’s pretty big.” I had ridden, to date: dirt bikes, my Sportster, another loaner Sportster while mine was in the shop, a Dyna Street Bob, and the Buell Blast I used for my training class. I wanted to ride something with bags, as I haven’t buckled and installed saddlebags on my own bike yet, and I needed something that would be able to carry all of my work stuff.

The gleaming white-and-black machine crouched there, full tank of gas, freshly cleaned, and ready to go. Just my luck, the local HOG chapter was meeting that night as well, so I was trying my first large bike out with tons of people standing around to watch if I happened to tank it.

The first issue I ran into was simply unfamiliarity with the layout of the bike. In all the bikes I’d ridden before, you put the key in, turn it, and leave it there. With this 2007 Road King, you actually just use the key to lock and unlock the forks and ignition. Then you take the key out of the slot, and stick it in your pocket – otherwise you run the risk of having it rattle off and get lost on the road while you’re riding.

When I sat on the bike, I noticed immediately that my feet didn’t reach the ground as easily as they did on my Sportster. It takes a little shuffling to figure out how to put your foot down comfortably, though after a few tries, it’s actually pretty easy to reach the ground. I’m about 5’9” and could flat-foot with little trouble.

A small tip for shorter, less muscular people when lifting the bike from its lean on the kickstand: turn the front wheel all the way to the right while it’s leaning, then nudge the bike up with your legs instead of just trying to muscle it up from its resting position. This uses the natural leverage of the bike to put it into a position where it has a shorter distance to travel to get upright.

Those used to the top-heavy Sportster will find this bike shockingly easy to handle. The lower center of gravity makes the bike more agile when negotiating curves and turns, and the fat front tire makes for an exceedingly smooth ride. I was shocked as I pulled out of the parking lot – I literally felt like I was riding air. The intimidation I felt at riding something I thought was so huge melted away, and I was able to smile and enjoy the ride.

The icing on the cake was the looks I got as I passed others on the road – both fellow riders and those in cars. Men on smaller bikes would look at my bike, then down at their own, then back at mine, obviously having a slight existential crisis. Guys in cars craned their heads around their lady passengers to double-check and see if I actually was a woman. If I get looks when I’m on my Sportster, I get gapers when I’m on a Road King.

I was very thankful for the large, bright headlamp when I got stuck out after dark from getting lost on my way home (I went to an unfamiliar area to go out to eat with a friend, and we got a little turned around). The seat was a little wider than I liked, adding to the whole foot placement issue, but Harley has several options available in both solo and two-up seats to alleviate that problem.

All-in-all, I really enjoyed my experience on the 2007 Road King and would suggest it to anyone with a little experience looking for a nice, smooth ride.

Why Women Ride

Why Women Ride

More than a decade ago, only about 3% of the motorcycles owned in the US were owned by women. That number has since changed drastically to as much as 12% in 2004! Women are no longer content to cling onto the back anymore and are finding their own enjoyment in being in the driver’s seat. There’s also been a huge increase in the number of women enrolling in motorcycle training classes, such as Rider’s Edge or those sponsored by the MSF(Motorcycle Safety Foundation). So who are these motorcycle women, and why are they riding?

Speaking as one of the many in this emerging trend, I can only guess at all the reasons a woman might have to get in the saddle, but I’m willing to bet I’m not alone in a few of mine!

When I’m on the road, and I pull up next to a car at a stoplight and sit there, nonchalant and unassuming, it is extremely amusing to notice the reactions of the men around me, often looking on with envy and a little bit of disbelief. If they are with their wives, I often see them look over, gesture, and make a comment, probably something along the lines of “if SHE has a motorcycle, why can’t I have one?” or “see, you’d look good on one of those too, honey.” It makes me a little proud, really – here I am, doing something that most other women don’t really do.

I love doing “the wave!” Call me nerdy, geeky, or a bit of a dork, I don’t care – when I see another biker put their hand out in a gesture of acknowledgement, it just makes me grin. Most of them probably don’t have time to notice that I’m female, and that’s OK. We’re out on the road together, we’re riding, and therefore we’re family.

Aside from the acknowledgement and shock effect, I find it extremely valuable to have time that is, in essence, mine. Even when I’m riding with other people, I am an island on the road. I can acknowledge who I want, when I want. I can take my time. I can pick where I want to go, and how I want to get there. As women of the 21st century, we tend to have a lot of expectation put upon us – we are supposed to juggle being both a career woman and a homemaker, and do both without flaw or complaint. On the road, the only expectation is that you should ride safely.

I also love how riding makes me feel. Every day out on the road is an adventure, because you aren’t blocked by windows or a steel cage. You are interacting with your surroundings and the road. You’re putting your foot down where most people only put their tires. You’re feeling the wind where most people just see the sky through their windshields. You’re noticing the deer frolicking through the field next to you where most people just idle past and see nothing.

I’d love to hear other reasons why you ride – feel free to post a comment and let everyone know what’s important to you about being a motorcycle woman!