Harley Davidson Road King vs Electra Glide Comparison

Harley Davidson Road King vs. Electra Glide Comparison

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In my 20+ years as a motorcycle enthusiast, I’ve learned that every vehicle type—whether cruiser, touring, Sportster, or moped—has its strengths and weaknesses. It all depends on what you want from your motorcycle.

Here, I compare two popular Harley Davidson models: the Road King vs Electra Glide.

The Road King originally came with a 1,340cc Evolution V-Twin engine and now features the Milwaukee-Eight 107. This motorcycle offers detachable saddlebags, stock fairing components, and taller gear ratios, making it a versatile cruiser and touring bike.

With a standard windshield, the Road King has a sleek, classic look and minimal fairing, weighing 814 pounds in running order. It lacks an audio system but offers air-adjustable forks, a removable passenger seat, and dual front discs. Available in Vivid Black, Black Denim, chrome, and other color finishes, it gives riders a custom touch without losing that iconic Harley Davidson appeal.

road king vs electra glide

Popular for its air-adjustable forks, removable passenger seat, and dual front discs, it works well as both a cruiser and touring bike. The fit and finish make it attractive to long-distance riders, and with proper installation instructions, owners can easily add aftermarket upgrades. These include hardware such as color matched inner fairing kits, outer fairing replacements, or even 2017 Road Glide fairing conversions for enhanced wind protection and style. Many of these parts come pre drilled with holes for easy fitment, allowing riders to install and save time.

Introduction to Harley Davidson

Harley-Davidson stands as a legendary name in the world of motorcycles, crafting iconic bikes since 1903. Known for their unmistakable style and powerful performance, Harley-Davidson motorcycles have become a symbol of freedom on the open road. Among their celebrated lineup, the Harley Davidson Road Glide is a standout touring motorcycle, instantly recognizable by its distinctive outer fairing design. The Sharknose fairing is mounted directly to the frame, offering a stable platform and less perceived flex during turns or at high speeds. The Road Glide FLTRX and FLTRXSTSE models feature a bold front fairing that provides excellent wind protection while showing off that unmistakable Harley road presence.

For riders seeking a truly personalized experience, Harley-Davidson offers color matched inner fairing options that add a custom touch to the motorcycle’s cockpit. These products, often made from injection-molded ABS plastic color packages, are designed to fit perfectly with OEM parts and stock components. The fairing air duct is another thoughtful feature, channeling airflow for enhanced comfort during long rides. A triple splitstream vent system creates a vacuum behind the fairing, reducing head buffeting and improving rider comfort. Whether you’re drawn to the classic lines of the Road Glide, the Electra Glide’s touring strength, or the Road King’s open-road feel, Harley-Davidson continues to set the standard for custom bikes that blend form, function, and unmistakable style.

Overview of Road King vs Electra Glide

The Harley-Davidson Road King and Electra Glide are two of the brand’s most beloved touring motorcycles, each offering a unique blend of style, comfort, and performance. The Road King is a classic in the Harley-Davidson lineup, known for its timeless design, robust engine, and smooth ride. Its outer fairing is minimal, giving the bike a clean, open-road look while still providing essential wind protection for long journeys.

On the other hand, the Electra Glide takes luxury touring to the next level. This model is equipped with advanced features and amenities designed for riders who demand comfort on every mile. The Electra Glide’s signature batwing fairing is both functional and iconic, offering excellent wind deflection and a distinctive silhouette that’s instantly recognizable. Both the Road King and Electra Glide are engineered for the open road, making them ideal choices for riders who value both performance and the unmistakable style that only Harley-Davidson can deliver.

FEATURES

  • Smooth-running Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine
  • Perfect as a cruiser and touring
  • Removable passenger seat
  • Air-adjustable forks
  • HR3 offers a range of accessories for the Road Glide, including extended saddlebags and inner fairings.
  • Each product is designed for quality and compatibility with Harley Davidson touring models.

Harley Davidson Electra Glide

Electra Glide is a bare essentials motorbike that features all the modern capabilities which every Touring purist would want to go for. Built for custom use, the Electra Glide is a two-up long-haul bike specifically designed for touring.

Harley Davidson Electra Glide

Made with that classic steel Harley-Davidson appearance and a comfortable seat position for long-distance rides, the Electra Glide comes with a Milwaukee-Eight 107 V-twin engine, known for smooth power and that deep Harley rumble. It’s offered in Vivid Black, polished silver, and other color choices, with some finishes available in high gloss for a premium look, and fitment designed for riders seeking durability and comfort.

The deep bucket seat and narrow neck offer excellent back support, while the passenger benefits from a wide seating area with integrated back and armrests. Riders can further enhance it with color matched parts like inner fairing upgrades, instrument housing replacements, or fairing air duct modifications. Each package—whether an inner fairing, muffler kit, or ABS plastic color accessory—can be purchased as a pair or individually. Many items come pre drilled, designed for easy install, and can be added to your cart for quick checkout.

FEATURES

  • Powerful Milwaukee-eight V-Twin Engine
  • Minimalist technology
  • Iconic Batwing faring and mid-height windshield
  • Long-haul solo touring seats

Storage and Accessories

When it comes to long-distance touring, Harley-Davidson motorcycles are designed with rider convenience in mind. Both the Road King and Electra Glide offer practical storage solutions, including spacious saddlebags and handy glove box doors. These features make it easy to stow away luggage, tools, and personal items, ensuring you’re always prepared for the journey ahead.

Harley-Davidson also provides a wide range of accessories to help riders customize their bikes to suit their style and needs. From windshields and fender trim to instrument housing upgrades, each accessory is designed for easy installation and a seamless fit. The color matched road glide inner fairing is a particularly popular choice, adding a custom touch that highlights the bike’s gauges and chrome accents. Road Glide parts are made from durable ABS plastic material, ensuring long-lasting performance and reliability. Whether you’re looking to enhance your motorcycle’s functionality or add a splash of color, Harley-Davidson’s accessories are engineered to match your bike perfectly and make every ride uniquely yours.

Road King vs. Electra Glide: Base MSRP Comparison 

Harley Davidson Road King’s base price is $18,999 for Vivid Black. Color options range from $19,449 to $21,399 for two-tone and Hard Candy Custom finishes.

The Electra Glide starts at $18,999 for Vivid Black, with the Ultra Classic model priced at $24,999 for upgraded finishes and styles.

Both bikes require extra fees for ABS and security systems but come stock with cruise control. Accessories such as saddlebags, muffler kits, or fairing upgrades are sold separately. With a simple cart add process, customers can choose parts, save their order, and install them easily with included instructions.

Engine Comparison

I first experienced the power of these bikes on the 68-mile Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming. Both share the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, identical in displacement, fuel system, exhaust, compression ratio, and fitment.

Whether you choose the Road King, Electra Glide, or even a Harley Road Glide, you’re getting steel-strong reliability, OEM quality, and a custom-ready platform.

Dimensions Comparison

The Road King measures 96.5” in length, while the Electra Glide is slightly shorter at 94.5”. Seat height and weight vary by model, but both share a six-gallon fuel capacity. The Electra Glide Ultra Classic stretches to 102.4” and weighs 877 lbs dry, with a fit suitable for taller riders.

Performance Comparison

Both motorcycles are well-balanced for their weight, delivering around 45 mpg fuel economy. Road King has a slightly greater lean angle, while Electra Glide excels in touring stability. Both use Impeller Cast Aluminum wheels, with the Electra Glide having 17″ versions.

Finish Comparison

The Road King is available in chrome, Vivid Black, Black Denim, and other color matched paint schemes. Many riders enhance them with color matched Road Glide parts, outer fairing swaps, or custom ABS plastic kits to add a personal style. An outer fairing means improved wind protection and a unique custom look for Harley touring motorcycles. The placement of the fairing at the front of the vehicle ensures optimal wind deflection, protection, and a bold picture on the road.

The Electra Glide comes in silver or polished finishes, with plenty of hardware and kit options that can be purchased aftermarket to match stock Harley Davidson parts and OEM rights.

Infotainment Comparison

Just when you think all about bike is to move from one point on a padded saddle of a bike to another with your earbuds releasing the best of music, Harley Davidson would simply deploy new tech to release a bang.

Although it didn’t come with a Boom and an audio system, the Road King can be upgraded to include a Boom system. In fact, aftermarket inner fairing upgrades like the 2017 Road Glide fairing and injection molded abs plastic parts are now available to enhance aesthetics and performance. These fairings often come guarantee fitment, color matched, and holes pre drilled, making them ready to install with ease. Additionally, the Milwaukee-Eight™ 107 V-Twin engine is standard in the 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide, ensuring smooth and powerful performance. Klock Werks provides a range of Flare™ Windshields and accessories designed to improve wind management and stability for Harley-Davidson® Road Glide motorcycles.

However, the Electra Glide has a greater luggage capacity than the Road King. It has almost five cubic feet of storage space and four audio speakers.

What’s Common?

Both the Electra Glide and Road King offer good fairing protection, with the Electra Glide slightly better. Both motorcycles provide comfortable stock seats and handy travel trunks for storage.

Both models are highly popular among riders and passengers. They share similar Milwaukee-Eight engines, ensuring strong performance and the ability to handle long distances and challenging roads.

While both have identical frames, the Electra Glide’s fairing is mounted to the frame, whereas the Road King has no fairing. Other models, like the Harley Davidson Road Glide and SE FLTRUSE editions, have fairings mounted to the forks. The 2017 Road Glide fairing is compatible with ’15-later Road Glide models, offering riders a range of customization options for enhanced performance and style.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Here are common questions about these two common HD motorcycles.

Is FLHRSHI Harley Davidson Custom Road King?

Absolutely! The model was introduced in 2004 as an upgrade on the original Harley Davidson Road King, which was started in 1999. It has several improved features, including hard leather bags, a wind-swept headlight, lowered rear suspension, and wide handlebars. 

Meanwhile, with the advent of 2007, Harley Davidson came with an engine upgrade, coming up with the Twin Cam 96, identical to the popular Twin Cam 88, but with an improved displacement from 96 cubic inches to 1584cc.

Can I use the Road King for Cruiser and Touring?

Versatility is the second name of the Road King. The motorcycle comes with a high level of versatility, allowing you to turn it into a cruiser from touring even in less than 30 seconds. All you need to do is take off the windshield or clip on a different fairing depending on your order. Road Glide fairings can also be personalized with color-matched options that contrast with gauge faces and accessory chrome instrument bezels.

Electra Glide vs. Road King: Which is better regarding seat position?

Don’t think twice. Considering the seat position, you will like the Electra Glide over the Road King. Why? The Electra Glide’s seat draws you closer to the bike’s bars than the Road King. Some riders, especially the short-hand ones, won’t like being far away from the bars.

Long Distance Ride: Road King or Electra Glide?

If you want to ride from one state to another, Electra Glide is the winner. This is why it is the perfect fit if you’re looking at covering a long-distance trip. However, the Road King is better as a cruiser because it is the perfect bike for riders who want to ride around and have fun.

Conclusion

I have guided you throughout the trip. Though long, it was worth it to cover everything about the Harley Davidson Road King and Electra Glide comparison.

Your choice depends on what you want—touring, cruising, or both. The Road King suits those seeking a versatile cruiser and touring bike, while the Electra Glide excels as a comfortable touring motorcycle, similar to the road glide .

With my practical experience, I can assure you both bikes deliver great performance and complement each other’s features.

Ride safely, follow traffic rules, and respect other road users for a safe journey.

Henry

Hello, my name is Henry. Here at Gear Sustain we recommend and review different products and services in the Automotive, Dirt Bike, and Motorcycle industries.

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