Harley Clones its Bestseller
What do you do when your touring lineup is getting a bit gray? If you're Harley-Davidson, you freshen it up-again.
For 2005, Harley's Road King Custom makes its second appearance, and the latest update has done nothing to mellow its get-up-and-go attitude. The minimalist swept-back chrome visor perched atop a dishy headlight and a pullback beach bar make for a sweet initial visual impression, and as your eye travels across the custom bagger's clean lines, it picks up sleek details such as slanted leather bags with hidden supports. The slash-cut mufflers, chromed metal fuel-tank emblems and big, clean front and rear fenders come into view next. Rounding off the impeccable fit and finish are streamlined footboards and passenger pegs, along with a tank-mounted stretch chrome console. The only significant updates for '05 are the new clear-lens, reflector-optic headlight and new laced wheel option. The large headlight adds increased (and welcome) lighting intensity, and its lens features a small bar-and-shield cloisonn on the face.
Our test bike came in a distinctive yellow pearl (a love/hate hue for sure) and sported swish chrome aluminum Profile laced wheels-an original-equipment option now available on all Touring models. The Profile wheel has a smooth, rounded chrome rim Harley says is easier to clean, along with chrome spokes and a brilliant chrome front hub that offers enhanced corrosion resistance.
After the impressive visual tour, a hop aboard the low-profile sporty solo seat proved a little crowded at first (the dish has a short span front to back), but we liked the feel of the lowered, air-adjustable rear suspension and taut, refined chassis, especially on smaller bumps around town. Bringing the smooth Twin Cam 88 engine (available in carb or EFI) to life was a snap, as the fuel injection on our test model thankfully eliminated the need for choke. The King gets its power down low, and while it's never in a hurry to get anywhere, the throttle response is easily accessed and linear.
The beach bars, on the other hand (or both!), may look cool, but took a bit of getting used to ergonomically, as your digits are forced to grip them tightly to avoid losing purchase. Because of this and its hefty weight, the Road King can be a handful on low-speed maneuvers or tight turns, but given the look of the bike, it was almost expected. The short travel springs in back magnified sharper bumps, but the ride was generally smooth and unsullied, with easy changes from the heel-toe shifter and smooth power from the belt drive. The four-piston calipers squeezing the two front rotors slowed down the big King admirably, with easy actuation on the front control, but I still found myself using both brakes for quicker stops. And after 600 miles and three weeks of constant riding, the front brakes on our test unit (shared with sister magazine Motorcyclist) still squealed.
With the Road King Custom, though, it all comes back to that look. While thick and chunky, it's spare, too-no cluttered fenders, saddlebags or pipes here. Low, lean and clean, the '05 Harley-Davidson FLHRS/I Road King Custom strikes an appealing profile for around-town jaunts as well as the open road. The price of admission may be steep, but with the King, at least there are few surprises.-Andy Cherney
Specifications
2005 H-D FLHRS/I Road King Custom
Suggested base price: $17,195-$17,495
Engine type: Air-cooled 45-degree V-twin
Displacement, bore and stroke: 1450cc (88ci), 95.18mm x 101.52mm (3.75 in. x 4.00 in.)
Fuel system: Carburetor or Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
Compression ratio: 8.9:1
Transmission: 5-speed belt
Front Wheels: 16 in. chrome laced wheel/MT90B16 72H tire
Rear Wheels: 16 in. chrome laced wheel/MU85B16 77H tire
Front brake: Four-piston caliper with dual 11.5 in. x 0.20 in. rotors
Rear brake: Four-piston caliper with 11.5 in. x 0.23 in. rotor
Front suspension: 41.3mm telescopic fork
Rear suspension: dual air-adjustable shocks, 2.0 in. travel
Fuel capacity: 5.0 gal.
Not Your Parents' Chopper
This after-school program's a Runner
Let's face it, there's always going to be a generation gap between kids and adults. They just don't appreciate the same things. So you could say it was a smart move for the Global Motorsport Group to contribute a bike to a Michigan middle school's extracurricular program. For one, it'd help the teens understand what makes their old man tick, and-more importantly-teach them the ageless appeal of a sweet scooter while they're at it.
After a semester of hard work in the unique School House Chopper Program last year, the eighth-graders of Western Middle School in Parma, Michigan, came away with a fully assembled Hard-Core II, one of Custom Chrome's (a Global subsidiary) HR3 kit bikes. Students in the Engine Tech class were motivated to learn valuable mechanical and team-building skills as they transformed boxes of parts into a mean machine.
"It quickly became apparent that this would be the best cross-curricular learning tool that we had. Besides...lifelong learning skills, the students also had to [absorb] applied math, science, reading and information-gathering skills," said Ted Densmore, the teacher who headed last year's program. It's a safe bet these youngsters will be the future bike builders of America.
Now that the team has finished the Custom Chrome bike, it will be raffled off to purchase more kits and keep the program alive. Custom Chrome is also working on sponsoring a similar program at local schools near its headquarters in Morgan Hill, California. Look out, Jesse James.