Harley-Davidson FLHR Road King 2007 — Specifications

Do you remember the first time you saw a Road King? Not this one specifically, but its ancestor, the 1998 or even the 1997 Harley Davidson FLHR Road King? It was a statement. Not just a vehicle, but a block of American presence on two wheels. Getting on this 2007 model is reconnecting with that essence, but with the conveniences of the new century grafted onto it. It's far from impractical choppers; here, it's a custom that has devoured miles of Route 66.

With its 368 kilograms all fueled up, the beast commands respect before even turning the key. Raising the center stand requires a good push of the hips; it’s well hidden, and its screech on the pavement will become your soundtrack in the city. But start the Twin Cam 96 1584 cm³ engine, and the symphony begins. The vibrations are there, an indelible signature, but they have been refined compared to older models. They rock more than they shake, except when completely stopped where the thermometer quickly rises around the legs. This large V2 is not a bolt of lightning with its 71 horsepower, but its torque of 130 Nm available from 3500 rpm, that's the whole philosophy. You release the clutch and the 355 kilograms dry seem to evaporate, propelled by a wave of massive traction. You can almost start in third gear without flinching.

And that's where the magic happens. The position is royal, between a custom and a touring bike, with this effective windscreen and these rigid suitcases disguised as soft bags. They are vast, solid, and embody the "police baggage" spirit with class. Harley even slipped in a cruise control, a detail that says a lot about the touring ambitions of this queen. The 22-liter tank and reasonable fuel consumption allow for real stages. On the highway, you settle in at 130 km/h, the engine rumbles peacefully, and with the cruise control engaged, you traverse the departments with absolute serenity. Don't expect to exceed 160 km/h top speed, that's not its universe.

Yet, it's not numb. In corners, its weight is mastered, the 41 mm fork and the two shock absorbers do an honest job. The belt drive is silent, but the 5-speed gearbox, it, clicks its gears with a very satisfying mechanical "clonk." You can feel the blood of the Harley Davidson FLHR Road King 2000, reliable and robust, flowing through its veins. It’s a motorcycle that requires participation, from the body, from anticipation. It does not forgive haste, but rewards placidity.

So, who is it for? For the globetrotter who wants to devour pavement in a rolling armchair à la Americana, for those for whom the journey is a ritual and not a race. For those who seek the authenticity of a custom without the drawbacks of a chopper, and who appreciate the palpable heritage of a machine like the FLHR Road King 1997. At 20695 euros new, it was a significant investment for a motorcycle that was slow on paper. But it wasn't sold with numbers. It was sold with a feeling, that of piloting a piece of legend, comfortable and capable. An original, in short, that has known how to age without denying its own history.