- Table of Contents
- 1. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC
- 2. SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC
- 3. DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON BETWEEN HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC
- 4. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC: Design
- 5. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC: Engine & Performance
- 5.1 Harley Davidson Road King: Engine & Performance
- 5.2 Harley Davidson Softail Heritage Classic: Engine & Performance
- 6. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC: Comfort & Ergonomics
- 6.1 Harley Davidson Road King: Comfort & Ergonomics
- 6.2 Harley Davidson Softail Heritage Classic: Comfort & Ergonomics
- 7. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC: Technology & Features
- 8. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC: PROS & CONS
- 8.1 Harley Davidson Road King: Pros & Cons
- 8.2 Harley Davidson Softail Heritage Classic: Pros & Cons
- 9. FAQ
- 9.1 How many gallons of fuel does a Harley Davidson Road King take?
- 9.2 Why does a Harley Davidson Road King cost so much more than other Harley Davidson bikes?
- 9.3 How many kilometers do you need to change the Harley Davidson Heritage Classic’s engine oil?
- 9.4 How long does the Harley Davidson Softail Heritage Classic last?
- 10. Takeaway
1. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC
HARLEY DAVIDSON was founded in 1903, making it one of the oldest American motorcycle companies. The company has faced many ups and downs in the past but it continues to make some of the best motorcycles in the world. The HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING is a touring motorcycle that is reminiscent of the 1940s and 1950s Harley models. The HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING was first introduced in 1994. Over the years, many changes were made to Harley Davidson’s touring models, including the Road King. In 2008, an ABS and cruise control were installed on all the Harley Davidson touring models. In 2012, the Road King’s engine was upgraded to 103 cu (1690 cc) in 2012. In 2018, the Road King’s engine was increased to 107 cu (1,753 cc).
The HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE was first introduced in 1984, looking similar to the 1950s Hydra-Glide. Over time, many significant changes were made to the SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC, including its belt drive train being replaced with a chain drive train, being fitted with larger tires, and having a smooth-running Twin Cam engine. The SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC saw significant changes in 2018, with its chassis being completely refitted and the engine being upgraded to 114 cu (1,868 cc).
Related: WHY HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE IS A POPULAR TOURING BIKE AND CAN IT BE YOUR NEXT MOTORCYCLE?
2. SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC
| Key Similarities | Key Differences |
|---|---|
| Same four-stroke V-twin engine, but with different sizes. Both have a detachable windshield. Both have a speedometer on the fuel tank. Both have the same headlight and handlebar styles. Both have floorboards for the rider. Both front tires have the same width. Both have the same tail light style of the backlight. Both have a six-speed transmission system and belt drive train. Both have two seats, one for the rider and the passenger. |
The Road King has hard saddlebags, while the Softail Heritage has soft saddlebags. The Road King’s non-colored parts are covered in a chrome finish, while the Heritage Classic has both chrome and matte finishes. The Road King’s tires have less profile and larger rim size, while the Heritage Classic has high profile tires with smaller rim size. The Road King has two caps on the fuel tank, while the Heritage Classic has only one cap on the fuel tank. The Road King has a dual exhaust on either side of the motorcycle, while the HERITAGE CLASSIC has a dual exhaust on only one side of the motorcycle. The Road King has floorboards for the passenger, while the Heritage Classic has traditional footrests for the passenger. The Road King has crash bars at the front and alongside the saddlebags, while the Heritage Classic does not. The Road King has dual disc brakes at the front, while the Heritage Classic only has a single disc brake at the front. The Road King has its license plate below the tail light, while the Heritage Classic has its license plate above the tail light. |
3. DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON BETWEEN HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC
| Harley Davidson | Harley Davidson | |
|---|---|---|
| BASIC INFORMATION | ||
| Year | 2022 | 2022 |
| Model | Road King | Softail Heritage Classic |
| Motorcycle Type | Touring | Cruiser |
| Base Price | $19,110 | $20,799 |
| Colors | Vivid Black, Midnight Crimson, and Gauntlet Gray Metallic/ Vivid Black | Vivid Black, Midnight Crimson, Reef Blue/Vivid Black, White Sand Pearl, and Redline Red/Vivid Black |
| ENGINE & SYSTEMS | ||
| Displacement | 107 cu in (1,753 cc) | 114 cu in (1,868 cc) |
| Engine Type | Four Stroke, V-Twin | Four Stroke, V-Twin |
| Cooling System | Air-Cooled | Air-Cooled |
| Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 10.5:1 |
| Stroke | 111 mm (4.374 in) | 114.3 mm (4.5 in) |
| Bore | 99.9 mm (3.937 in) | 102 mm (4.016 in) |
| Cylinders | Two | Two |
| Drive Train | Belt | Belt |
| Transmission | Six-Speed | Six-Speed |
| Clutch | Hydraulically actuated nine-Plate wet | Mechanical, 10-Plate wet |
| Starter | Electric | Electric |
| Exhaust | Two-One-Two Dual Exhaust | Two-into-Two |
| Fuel Delivery System | Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) | Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) |
| PERFORMANCE & CAPACITY | ||
| Horsepower | 92.5 hp | 94 hp |
| Torque | 111 ft-lbs (150 Nm) @ 3,34% rpm | 119 ft-lbs (161.3 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | Six gal (22.7 L) | Five gal (18.9 L) |
| Mileage | 43 MPG (18.2 km/l) | 47 MPG (19.9 km/l) |
| Oil Capacity | 5.2 quarts (4.9 L) | 5 quarts (4.7 L) |
| DIMENSIONS | ||
| Trail | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 139.7 mm (5.5 in) |
| Rake | 26o | 30o |
| Seat Height | 668 mm (26.3 in) | 668 mm (26.3 in) |
| Wheelbase | 1,625 mm (64 in) | 1,630.6 mm (64.2 in) |
| Weight | 828 lbs (375.5 kg) | 728 lbs (330.2 kg) |
| Ground Clearance | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Length | 2,451 mm (96.5 in) | 2,415 mm (95.1 in) |
| Width | 949.9 mm (37.4 in) | 930 mm (36.6 in) |
4. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC: Design
4.1 Harley Davidson Road King: Design
The Harley Davidson Road King is a traditional-style touring motorcycle. It is also considered one of the best classic-looking touring motorcycles by Harley Davidson. It has a windshield, three headlights at the front, and traditional wide handlebars. The Harley Road King has an analog speedometer mounted to the fuel tank and a smaller LCD display. The fuel tank, fenders, HARD SADDLEBAGS, and side panels are the only colored parts of the motorcycle. The remaining parts are covered in chrome. The Harley Road King has CRASH BARS attached at the front and additional protection attached at the rear.
It has comfortable matte black rider and passenger seats. To ensure a more comfortable position, the Harley Road King has floorboards installed for the rider and the passenger. At the front, it has a 49 mm fork with a wheel travel of 4.6 in and a tire size of 130/80B17 65H. It also has dual floating 300 mm disc brakes at the front. At the rear, it has dual hand-adjustable shocks hidden behind SADDLEBAGS with a wheel travel of 2.15 in and a tire size of 180/65B16 81H. It also has a single 300 mm disc brake at the rear. It has hard saddlebags attached that increase its carrying capacity, making it better suited for longer rides. The Harley Road King does not come with a sissy bar or backrest but EXTRA PARTS can be bought from AFTERMARKET STORES.
Related: HARLEY DAVIDSON TOURING ROAD KING: IS IT REALLY WORTH ITS NAME?
4.2 Harley Davidson Softail Heritage Classic: Design
The Harley Davidson Softail Heritage Classic is a traditional-style cruiser. This motorcycle comes with different color combinations, chrome or matte finish, and laced or cast wheels. It has a removable windshield at the front and three headlights, one large one in the center and two smaller ones at the sides. The Harley Softail Heritage Classic has an analog speedometer mounted on the fuel tank and a small LCD display. The fuel tank and fenders are the only colored parts, while the rest is covered in a chrome or matte black finish. The Harley Softail Heritage Classic has soft black SADDLEBAGS at the rear and matte black rider and passenger SEATS. For the rider, the floorboards are positioned towards the front. For the passenger, standard footrests are positioned below.
At the front, it has a 49 mm telescopic fork with a wheel travel of 5.1 in. It also has a single 300 mm disc brake at the front with a tire size of 130/90B16 73H. At the rear, it has a preload-adjustable dual shock with a wheel travel of 4.4 in. It also has a single 292 mm disc brake at the rear with a tire size of 150/80B16 77H. It has SOFT LEATHER SADDLEBAGS to provide the rider extra storage capacity to carry luggage over long distances. It does not come with a sissy bar but can be easily bought from the aftermarket market.
5. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC: Engine & Performance
5.1 Harley Davidson Road King: Engine & Performance
The HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING has a four-stroke V-Twin engine with a displacement size of 107 cu (1,753 cc). This powerful engine can deliver a maximum torque of 111 ft-lbs (150 Nm) @ 3,250 rpm. Because of its larger engine displacement size, it has larger stroke and bore sizes of 111 mm (4.37 in) and 99.9 mm (3.93 in) respectively. It has a six-speed transmission system that operates on a belt drive train. The belt drive train is more reliable than the chain drive train as it requires less maintenance and does not need to be lubricated as often. The Harley Road King can attain a top speed of 115 MPG (185 km/h).
5.2 Harley Davidson Softail Heritage Classic: Engine & Performance
The HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC has a four-stroke V-Twin engine with a displacement size of 114 cu (1,868 cc). This engine can produce a maximum torque of 119 ft-lb (161 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm, it can produce larger torque at lower rpm because of its larger stroke and bore sizes of 114.3 mm (4.5 in) and 102 mm (4.0 in) respectively. It has a six-speed transmission system that operates on a belt drive train. The Harley Softail Heritage Classic can attain a top speed of 96.3 MPH (155 km/h).
6. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC: Comfort & Ergonomics
6.1 Harley Davidson Road King: Comfort & Ergonomics
Photo Credit: @laidlawsharley
The HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING has a seat height of 668 mm (26.3 in) and a length of 2,451 mm (96.5 in) that ensures it has a comfortable riding position. To ensure better comfort over long distances, the Harley Road King has floorboards for the rider and the passenger. It has a rake angle of and a trail length of 170 mm (6.7 in), giving it good ergonomics to reduce air drag and providing a comfortable riding experience. With a ground clearance of 134 mm (5.3 in) and an overall weight of 828 lb (375.5 kg), the HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING is a heavyweight touring motorcycle.
6.2 Harley Davidson Softail Heritage Classic: Comfort & Ergonomics
Photo Credit: @rideapart
With a seat height of 668 mm (26.3 in) and a length of 2,415 mm (95.1 in), the HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC offers a comfortable riding position. The rider has floorboards, while the passenger has traditional footrests. With a rake angle of and a trail size of 139.7 mm (5.5 in), the Harley Softail Heritage Classic has a good aerodynamic design that ensures good acceleration. With an overall weight of 728 lb (330.2 kg), the Harley Softail Heritage Classic is a heavyweight CRUISER with easy handling across long distances and remains stable at higher rpms and speeds.
7. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC: Technology & Features
| FEATURES | HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING | HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | ✔ | ✔ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital | Digital |
| Clock | ✔ | ✔ |
| Engine Kill Switch | ✔ | ✔ |
| Speedometer | ✔ | ✔ |
| Odometer | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tachometer | ✔ | ✔ |
| Gear Indicator | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fuel Gauge | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fuel Warning Indicator | ✔ | ✔ |
| Low Battery Indicator | X | X |
| Low Oil Indicator | ✔ | ✔ |
| Slip & Assist Clutch | ✔ | ✔ |
8. HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC: PROS & CONS
8.1 Harley Davidson Road King: Pros & Cons
| HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING PROS | HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CONS |
|---|---|
| Comfortable on longer trips Old school design with modern equipment ABS is included Cruise control is included Easy to handle for all riders Good sound Less maintenance is required Good suspension Responsive throttle |
Smaller display Bluetooth not available Stereo speakers not available Not recommended to beginners More expensive |
8.2 Harley Davidson Softail Heritage Classic: Pros & Cons
| HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC PROS | HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC CONS |
|---|---|
| Comfortable on longer trips Good top speed Better fuel mileage Lightweight ABS is included Cruiser control is included Good torque at lower rpm Require less maintenance |
Not recommended for city travel Engine vibration increases at 4,000 rpm and higher Stiff gear shifts Unreliable front brakes More expensive |
9. FAQ
9.1 How many gallons of fuel does a Harley Davidson Road King take?
The HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING’S fuel economy depends on the skill of individual riders. Most riders ride at higher rpms and speeds which causes the motorcycle to produce lower fuel mileage, at least 30 MPG. However, if the motorcycle is driven at or below the speed limit, it can deliver fuel economy of around 40 MPG or above.
9.2 Why does a Harley Davidson Road King cost so much more than other Harley Davidson bikes?
The HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING is one of Harley Davidson’s most reliable motorcycles. It is a more traditional-style touring motorcycle with plenty of advanced features that enhance the riding experience without weighing down the motorcycle. Most importantly, it is still in production which results in the Harley Road King having a good resale value.
9.3 How many kilometers do you need to change the Harley Davidson Heritage Classic’s engine oil?
Harley Davidson recommends that the HARLEY DAVIDSON HERITAGE CLASSIC have it engine oil changed every 5,000 to 6,000 miles (8,046 to 9,656 km). It is better to not wait until after 6,000 miles to change the engine oil because used oil tends to become thin and loses its viscosity. Thin oil does not keep the engine parts lubricated nor absorbs enough heat generated by the friction between the engine parts. This results in the pistons being ruined, the interior of the engine burning, and dark smoke emitting from the exhaust.
9.4 How long does the Harley Davidson Softail Heritage Classic last?
The Harley Softail Heritage Classic's longevity depends on how well the owner takes care of the motorcycle and regularly conducts maintenance. If the motorcycle is maintained properly, it can potentially last over 100,000 miles.
10. Takeaway
The HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING and the HERITAGE SOFTAIL CLASSIC are Harley models that are more expensive than other motorcycles of the same categories from other brands. However, based on the specs of both motorcycles, the Softail Heritage Classic has a bigger engine and can deliver more torque and horsepower than the Road King. Both motorcycles are not entry-level motorcycles. Both motorcycles perform very well across long distances but not as well when riding through the city. Both motorcycles are considerably the BEST MOTORCYCLES FOR TALL RIDERS and the BEST MOTORCYCLES FOR HEAVYWEIGHT RIDERS.
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