Harley-Davidson Road King Classic

The Harley-Davidson Road King Classic is a true symbol of Harley-Davidson's brand identity, combining tradition and innovation. The 2013 version of this legend builds on decades of development and remains one of Harley-Davidson's best-known cruisers. It combines classic elements of the American motorcycle with modern technology and comfort.

First introduced in 1993, the Road King was designed from the outset as a cruiser built for longer rides and touring. It combined the FL model frame, already used in earlier Harley-Davidson touring models, with the modern Big Twin engine and advanced suspension and comfort technology. The aim was to create a bike that would further strengthen the „touring“ character of the Harley-Davidson brand without sacrificing the classic cruiser style.

In 1998, the Road King Classic was introduced, a variant that combined the classic elements of the original model with chrome details and a wide range of accessories. This focus on classic style, together with modern features such as the removable panniers and comfortable seat geometry, helped the Road King to appeal to an even wider target group - from die-hard Harley fans to new motorcyclists.

In 2012, the new Twin Cam 103 engine with electric injection completely replaced the Twin Cam 88 from 1998 and the Twin Cam 96 from 2007. Improved performance and more torque at lower revs were now the standard. The Road King Classic remained true to the proven concept, but received some technical improvements and updates that made the riding experience even more enjoyable. In addition to the new power source, the chassis was also optimized to increase comfort on long journeys without sacrificing aesthetics. The Tourer was also equipped with ABS to improve safety.

The development of the Harley-Davidson Road King was the result of close collaboration between engineers and designers at Harley-Davidson. Harley-Davidson's design team, led by Brad Richards, Vice President of Styling and Design, played a key role in maintaining the Road King's classic look and modern upgrade. Richards and his team kept the Road King's recognizable features, such as the chrome front fender, sissy bar and removable panniers, while introducing modern features and technologies that made the Road King an all-around improved cruiser.