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Nov 26, 2023

10 Things We Like About The Harley

The Harley-Davidson Road King Special is everything that a modern-day cruiser should be and more Found in 1903, Harley-Davidson was one of the few motorcycle brands that successfully survived the

The Harley-Davidson Road King Special is everything that a modern-day cruiser should be and more

Found in 1903, Harley-Davidson was one of the few motorcycle brands that successfully survived the Great Depression and has ever since been setting benchmarks in the motorcycling world. Being a more popular motorcycle because of its affordable price tag and adaptable riding style, the Road King lineage resonates with most modern-day riders looking to get the most out of their rides. It is a simple and powerful bike that will comfortably take you to your destination without breaking the bank.

Renowned for their superior fit and finish, Harley's Road King Special is no exception. The Road King Special is an upgraded version of the Road King featuring the more powerful flagship engine, the Milwaukee-Eight 114 instead of the standard 107. It is muscular and bold, which when paired with the bike's solid framework, slick controlling and attention to detail makes this machine an all-rounder. So, gear up as we tell you everything you need to know about the 2023 Harley Road King special to decide if this bike is meant for you.

Related: Road King vs Road Glide vs Street Glide: Which Touring Harley-Davidson Is The Best?

The Road King Special is a simple bike with basic features to keep the ride smooth but misses out on modern touches like Bluetooth, turn-by-turn navigation, FM radio, etc. This bagger features a solid frame and a reliable engine to keep the miles rolling. The Road King easily attracts attention, demands respect, and asserts its proper position on the highway, as one would hope from a Harley tourer. While the Road King Special may not be perfect for longer trips due to its minimalist design, riders can always install an after-market windshield should they desire additional protection.

Despite the availability of bigger Milwaukee-Eight, the Road King Special uses the 114, which still offers more than enough power on tap. The linear power delivery offers plenty of real-world torque on the road. While this might seem similar to the 107 engine, the 1868cc, the 114 is only reserved for "Special" models or as an option for other touring models. Harley has also fine-tuned their transmission, making finding neutral easier and gearshifts that much smoother.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The Harley-Davidson Road King Is The Perfect Touring Bike

Harley is synonymous with comfort, and the Road King Special is no exception. The touring seat ensures comfortable and even weight distribution, translating to more comfortable rides. The Road King Special features wider floorboards instead of foot pegs, enabling riders to reduce lower-body fatigue by letting them rest their feet.

The mini-ape handlebars on this bike are also a thoughtful addition to the rider's comfort as they keep the shoulders relaxed and the riding position more upright. Although the handlebars are meant more for show than practicality they do the job while being a tad bit more stylish than your average cruiser.

Despite having bigger forks at 6.9 inches set at a 25-degree angle, the Road King Special does not appear bulky because of the precise weight distribution. The bike's cruising-oriented riding position, 27.4-inch seat height, and upright nature would mean that most bikers will be confident while coming to a halt and getting both feet down.

The front suspension features a 49mm Showa Twin Bending Valve fork with 4.6 inches of travel. The rear wheel has only 2.1 inches of travel, but the 18-inch wheel combined with the Dunlop tires effectively dampen unexpected shocks and bumps.

Harley has ensured that riders are able to take advantage of the Milwaukee Eight 114 owing to the confidence inducing Reflex Defensive Rider System (RDRS) which works exceptionally well. The RDRS, was first featured in the Tri-Glide Ultra and freewheeler series, adding better riding aids to Harley's newest premium tourers. The technology, is available across all touring versions and comes coupled with options to add on lean-sensitive connected braking, ABS, corner sensing traction control, standard and rain riding modes, and the Drag-Torque slide Control technology (DTSCS), which prevents rear-wheel slide during quick downshifting or braking.

It is important to note that the RDRS does not come as a standard with the Road King Special and will set you back an extra $1100 on top of the actual base price of the bike.

The Road King Special is based on an all-black theme starting from the exhaust and carrying over to other components like the handlebar, headlights, mirrors, and air cleaner. While the engine features similar design language as seen on the cooling fins it does have a few noticeable chrome accents, making the design even more unique and eye-catching. Harley keeps an open option of customizable colors for those who want to add their personal touch to their bike. It has a couple of options, like the Mineral Green Denim and the Midnight Crimson and classic yellow. For those who want to unleash their inner speedster, there is an Apex variant, too. The Apex variant comes in a bit costlier than the base model and brings a bold racing theme. Riders who want to go on longer tours on will have the option to add-on sleek-shaped hard shell bags that can carry more luggage.

Harley does not explicitly discuss this particular addition but the Road King Special includes a bonus feature in the form of combined braking. This feature electronically engages the rear and front brakes when applying the rear or the front brakes. The breaking force correlates to the rider's applied pressure and intensifies as you keep increasing the force on the brake levers. It is worth noting that the dual floating rotors (front) and fixed rotor (rear) have great initial bite and stopping power.

The dual-channel ABS on this bike is calibrated really well and does not intrude unnecessarily. It also has options to include more safety features like cornering enhanced electronic linked braking, tire pressure monitoring system and Vehicle Hold Control for better rider safety.

Related: Is ABS On Your Motorcycle A Boon Or A Bane?

Harley feature's their flagship Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin engine, on the newest Road King Special. This engine has a capacity of 114 cu in, or 1,868 cc, and produces a 118 pound feet of torque at 3250 RPM. With features like four-valve heads and dual spark plugs, it's engineered to optimize fuel combustion efficiently while giving you enough power to pull away from other vehicles on the highways It is also worth noting that Harley has upgraded the engine's air filtration mechanism for greater functionality, refinement and efficiency.

Engine

Milwaukee-Eight 114

Power

100 Horsepower

Torque

118 Foot pounds

Transmission

6-speed

Harley-Davidson is one of the few motorcycle manufacturers that allow its riders to upgrade their engine's power output in four different stages. The first stage enhances the bike's air and fuel intake owing to the addition of performance air filters, custom exhaust for better airflow, and tuning of the fuel injector for better fuel delivery resulting in a net increase of 10% horsepower. Stage two upgrades include camshaft change and adjustment of the valve timings for more air intake, boosting initial horsepower and torque by 30% and 10%, respectively. Stage three upgrades include a bigger cylinder, high-compression forged aluminum pistons and a cam change increasing torque and power by 24% and 39% over the stock specification. Stage four comes with the highest-lift cam, performance cam bearings, enhanced valve lifters, and clutch parts, boosting the bike's net power by a whopping 50%.

The Harley-Davidson Road King Special is an all-around package for touring and short-distance cruising. It comes with the option of adding safety measures like the RDRS, lean sensitive ABS, traction control and switchable riding modes on top of the standard dual channel ABS setup. It has ample power, and additionally, the option to tune the bike to your desired specification. Although priced at a premium of $23,429 over the Road King, which retails for $19,929, these advancements justify the price bump.

Source: Harley-Davidson

Swapneel is a motorcycle writer at Topspeed.com. Driven by an authentic passion for two-wheelers and meticulous research, his articles are informative and engaging. But there's more than just bikes to him! Off the clock, he's strumming melodies on his guitar or penning catchy rap lyrics. So, while you can bank on his expertise for the latest in motorcycles, don't be surprised if he throws in a musical recommendation here and there. Dive into his writings and experience the world of motorcycles with a side of rhythm! 🏍️🎶🎸