HARLEY RELEASE ‘ROAD KING SPECIAL’

Harley-Davidson has released a new model – the Road King Special - which started arriving in local dealerships in February. Based on the Road King, but taking that model in a more stripped-down, styled-up and darker direction, the new-for-2017 Road King Special is lower and slightly lighter, too. Power comes from the Milwaukee-Eight 107ci (1750cc) v-twin, which is also used in the standard MY17 Road King, replacing the Twin Cam 103. On the Special, the air- and oil-cooled twin has been given a full blackout finish.

First in Black

The Road King Special is the first in the Milwaukee Eight-engined family to feature a blackout treatment for that engine, which extends to the mufflers and most of the other components. In fact, the only break from the black on the big twin is with the chrome on the lower rocker boxes, pushrod tubes and tappet blocks, while engine-turned detailing has been added to the tank console, air cleaner cover and timing cover; a nice touch and one that doesn’t look out of place.

Black Feast

Compared to a standard MY17 Road King, virtually everything chrome on that model is black on the Road King Special (look at the two together and you’ll see the difference). That includes the new mini-ape handlebar, crash bars, front forks, levers, mirrors and pegs, headlight surround, turn indicator nacelles and more. In fact, the Road King Special is a bit of a “black” feast. Choose Vivid Black paint if you want to continue the theme on the tank, guards, rear fascia panels and panniers, but there are other paint options, including Olive Gold (pictured), Charcoal Denim and Hot Rod Red Flake from the Hard Candy Custom palette. The Turbine cast-aluminium wheels are finished in gloss black, in a 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel combo that’s exclusive to the Road King Special.

Low Rider

Aside from the paint and wheel treatments, the main difference between the Road King Special and Road King is in the ride height and suspension. While using the same 49mm Showa front forks (with ‘Bending Valve’ technology that’s new for 2017) and adjustable hydraulic rear suspension (with bigger pistons for 2017) as the Road King, the Special sits lower than its sibling, but thanks to revised internals, delivers what Harley says is greater handling control and improved ride comfort. This despite a rear suspension travel of only 55mm compared to the Road King’s 76mm.

Ground clearance is 124mm (9mm lower than the Road King), accentuated by the re-profiled panniers, which sit lower, partly cover the exhaust and are combined with the rear fascia panel from the FLHX Street Glide.

Note also that rear suspension is hydraulically adjustable, rather than the air adjustment from last year’s Road King.

These changes, along with the windscreen delete, means the Road King Special is 280mm lower than the Road King and is fractionally shorter and narrower, too. It’s also lighter than the Road King by 7kg (355kg vs 362kg).

Other Features

Braking (300mm discs at each end with ABS) is as per the Road King, with the 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission, lighting and instrumentation also the same across both models. “The FL series has always reflected the purity of the Harley-Davidson riding experience,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Vice-President of Styling and Design. “By exchanging chrome surfaces for black and lowering the bike’s profile, we’ve moved the traditional Road King into a new space that’s very current in the custom bagger scene. Built to ride, and ride hard, the Road King Special also broods with menace. Just as we designed it to.” Adam Wright, Director Marketing, Australia and New Zealand, added: “The Road King Special is an exciting new chapter for Harley-Davidson riders who demand style and performance.”

The new Road King Special is priced at $34,995 ride away ($37,995 ride away in New Zealand). See your Harley-Davidson dealer for further details.