American Muscle. The Harley Davidson 114 Road King Special

Pics by Black Rock Studio

Over the last few months, we’ve sampled many of the choppers and baggers available from brands like Harley Davidson, Indian, Suzuki and BMW. Our team has agreed to disagree on many of the models available, with some riders loving certain models while others… not so much. But that’s the beauty of motorcycles isn’t it? If we all liked the same thing, life would be pretty darn boring.

This one from Harley Davidson Gold Rand elicited much debate between Donovan Fourie, who was on the Motorrad East Rand Mall R18 Trans Continental and Glenn Foley who spent a few hours on this bike.

It was interesting to sit back and watch them bicker about which bike was better, with Fourie loving all the gizmos and gadgets on the big Beemer and Foley banging the “Simplicity is everything on a chopper” drum.

The fact is, that the bikes are polar opposites and they simply could not come to an accord.

Anyway.

Here Glenn shares his thoughts on the 114 Road King special.

Simplicity.

Someone please explain that concept to the Fourie.

Real men don’t need heated grips and a sound system. All we really need is the open road, a powerful engine and the wind in our thinning hair.

We don’t want bikes that weigh as much as a small planet and have seventeen zillion buttons to push before you even open the throttle. Especially when it comes to a chopper. Do you really think that Ghost Rider was interested in what mode he was in?

The song should be in your head, your wrist should dictate the rider mode.

And that’s the beauty of a bike like this Road King.

There is a theme. If I were to list my favourite cruisers right now, they would have to be this bike, Suzuki’s Boulevard and Indians Scout.

Why? Well that’s easy to answer.

Simplicity. Hop on, open up and enjoy the ride.

The aftermarket nods to creature comforts on this Road King include the big screen and panniers from Harleys impressive catalogue so that you can stash your weekends clobber. That’s it.

The very comfortable seat height is low, the ergonomics are perfectly comfortable for hitting that long road through the ET twisties and there’s enough power from the 114 cubic inch (roughly 1900cc) engine to paste a grin firmly on to any chopper riders kisser.

Yes, Harley does have a bigger, more powerful engine in their arsenal, but had nobody told us that, we wouldn’t really want more on a bike like this.

The bike has a mere two levels of ABS, rain or road mode. That’s all.

Simplicity. Love it!

No fancy sound, no sat-nav or TFT screens. Uncluttered switches and acres of black.

It’s so much fun to ride. We took the road out from our offices all the way past Rayton to Cullinan and back again.

Sunshine. Rain. Traffic. Sweeping country roads. Big smiles.

From its cool ape-hanger bars, to the grin-inducing 114-cube V-Twin and its chilled riding position, this bike is a chopper in every sense of the word.

Iconic. Cool. A nod to a far simpler time.

A bike to ride every day.

That’s what Harley Davidsons Road King is all about.

Would I change anything?

Yep!

Maybe a screaming Eagle Pipe to unleash that unique Harley sound.