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Was the 1998 Harley Davidson Road King Any Good?

Date:
By Wom Battle

Saturday morning is busy at our place.  It kicks off about 5.25am to get one of the two of the kids to swimming and having the third ready to start at 8am.  The weather during the week was nice, there were a few clouds around at 7, by 9 it was threatening to rain, but hadn't.  I went over to the BMW dealership with my gear ready to borrow a helmet and take the Road King and Royal Star for a ride.

I got inside, signed my life away and the heavens opened up and it poured.  I went home amid quiet but somewhat blasphemous remarks.  Maybe  I was heard, maybe not, but it cleared up a little by 11.30 and I made another run.  This time the weather held.

After the obligatory "this goes with that" the blue and silver 1998 Harley Davidson Road King fired up, loudly but not raucus, and away I went.  This 10yo Harley Davidson didn't have the rubber engine mounts of the new one I rode, I was expecting more vibration, I noticed less.  I sat on the bike and got a strange "I'm at home" feeling.  Away I went.  I didn't have to think about where my feet went, gear changes relatively smooth, I just got on and road it a little like I'd owned it for years.  Up the link road at 90ks, nice. 

I took it home to show my wife and the kids, resounding approvals.  The photo below was taken by my wife with her phone. I rode it back and on the way the decision was made.  I didn't need to review the Royal Star, if the dealer came down to my budget I was going to buy it. I've always believed that you "know" when you sit on or in the right vehicle for you at any point in time.  This old Harley Davidson V-twin was mine.

I went  back to the BMW dealership and was greeted by another of the staff, Kevin was busy.  He asked me how it went and I said straight up I wanted to buy it so I should talk to Kevin.  We went inside and I observed some secret hand signals and coded head shakes and eyebrow raises sent in Kevin's direction to let him know I was on the leash.  I had a bit of a giggle and said to the other salesman "I can see you you know.  I'm happy to wait until Kevin has finished what he's doing."

My initial offer was 20k and they should throw in a helmet.  They came back with 20k and no helmet.  I said 20k and a pair of gloves.  The deal was struck. Twenty minutes later some paperwork was done, $1000 deposit was put donw to secure the purchase of the Harley Road King and arrangements were made to pick it up on 3/11 to give me time to put the money into their account and give them time to put a new white walled front tyre on it.

I went home quite pleased with myself with the obvious "I hope I've done the right thing" clanking around.

I would soon own my very own 1998 Harley-Davidson Road King Classic!

 

Disclaimer: This non commercial website and its content is not affiliated with or associated in any way with the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Harley-Davidson Australia, the Harley-Davidson Owners Group® or any Harley-Davidson® Dealers in Australia.  The use of the terms Harley-Davidson, and Road King® are unavoidable because that's what I own and ride.  This website,  called "My Harley Davidson" , and any opinions or comments expressed herein are purely about my Harley-Davidson Road King ownership experience, a truly great experience at that. I have no intention whatsoever to infringe on any trademarks or copyright ownership of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company or anyone else.


March 2024
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