Harley-Davidson Road King (2022)

Get ready to hit the open road with the highly anticipated Harley-Davidson Road King (2022). This legendary model has been a staple in the Harley-Davidson lineup for years, and the 2022 edition is no exception. With its sleek design, powerful performance, and unmatched comfort, the Road King is set to make waves in the motorcycle world. In this article, we will delve into all the details that make this model unique, from its design aesthetics to its advanced technology. We’ll also explore the exhilarating ride experience, the bike’s reliability, and everything in between. So buckle up, because the Harley-Davidson Road King (2022) is about to take you on a journey like no other.

Harley-Davidson Road King – A retro-modern bagger for the ages

The Harley-Davidson Road King 2022 is the retro-modern bagger of the 2022 Harley-Davidson lineup. It falls in the Grand American Touring category and its main characteristics include a comfortable, plush, and smooth riding experience.

There are familiar classic fenders and modern Reflex Brembo ABS brakes that help you maintain control of the wheels. Meanwhile, the Hiawatha headlamp and generous use of chrome help maintain the ‘60s vibe.

The smooth and powerful 150.5 Nm of torque generated by the Milwaukee-Eight 107 V-twin engine powers you down the highways and open roads. This way, you can enjoy each mile listening to the classic melody of the Harley-Davidson rumble. A removable fork-mounted fairing will keep the wind off your chest whereas the one-touch opening hard bags will hold plenty of luggage for longer trips.

The Harley-Davidson Road King (2022), as the name suggests, came out in 2022. This is what Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, CEO, and President of Harley-Davidson had to say regarding the bike’s release –

“We are looking forward to introducing the full 2022 motorcycle line-up on January 26th at the ‘Further. Faster.’ World Premiere Event – We hope you join us for the show!”

Jochen Zeitz

2022 Harley-Davidson Road King Review

The Harley-Davidson is undoubtedly one of the most popular and beloved models and the Road King (2022) is no different. It is big, comfortable, muscular, and best of all, affordable. This motorcycle is the ultimate embodiment of a well-rounded bike that can handle almost any type of riding style, and this has helped it become the bike of choice for bikers looking to indulge in light to heavy touring.

The Harley-Davidson Road King (2022) is among the top choices in the cruiser community not just in the United States but around the world. This bike comes powered by a Milwaukee-Eight 107 V-twin engine and this helps the bike get all that is required for a cruiser. The neo-retro chrome styling matches with the modern touring fanatics whereas this bike also comes with a whole host of other riding aids and features.

The in-house Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson is one of the most enticing additions. This kit will help you maintain an intended path through a curve. In the optional package, Harley offers Electronically Linked Brakes, Cornering –Traction control with standard and rain mode, Cornering-ABS, Vehicle Hold Control, Drag Torque Slip, and Tire Pressure Monitoring.

Harley-Davidson uses a 1746 cc Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine in this bike. The performance figure stands at 83 HP and 150.5 Nm. The chassis will have the support of a 49mm Dual Bending Valve at the front alongside Premium standard height hand-adjustable at the rear.

If you are in the market for a new motorcycle and the Harley-Davidson Road King (2022) is one of the options, then you will want to know all about it before making the final decision. In this in-depth review, you will get to learn what Harley-Davidson Road King (2022) is all about.

Engine and handling

As the Harley-Davidson Road King (2022) is a big bike, it makes sense that it comes with a big powertrain. The bike comes equipped with the Milwaukee-Eight 107 cubic-inch engine and it is capable of producing 150.5 Nm and 83 HP. This is more than enough to handle local suburban routes, back roads, and highways.

This will allow you to have more of an immediate takeoff for when you’re taking light turns green and to roll the throttle excessively for when you have the highway and open roads all to yourself. Moreover, it is not overpowering enough to the point where the rider will feel overwhelmed. For the speed demons, it is compatible with all stage upgrades, including a Stage IV, which can crank up the power tremendously.

At the pace it is capable of delivering, it feels relaxed with a muted thump that accompanies it. When you roll on the throttle, it will propel ahead with enough urgency that you’ll seldom have to downshift to execute quick overtakes. Triple-digit speeds will feel like a cakewalk for the engine.

At first glance, the Road King (2022) may appear somewhat awkward. The bike is purposefully designed to be one of the most beautiful and well-rounded models. This means that regardless of the type of roads that lie ahead, the Road King (2022) can do it all. This includes staying quick and nimble on its feet when riding in busy, urban environments. Moreover, the motorcycle can easily weave in and out of traffic, clear the tight turns, and locate on-street parking.

Design

There is absolutely zero fat on this one. If you were to wave a magic wand and conjure up the ideal touring motorcycle with the bare necessities, then the Road King (2022) is what you would get. You have got a massive touring frame capable of handling and transporting large amounts of weight for lengthy amounts of time without any expense to the rider.

There is simply nothing to complain about in its design. As gigantic and brazen as it looks visually, the build quality will be equally solid and the fit and finish are absolutely top-notch. What is truly worth emphasizing is the visual appeal. Typical of a tourer, Harley-Davidson Road King (2022) commands respect, attention, glaring eyes, and its deserving space on the road.

Its 6-gallon fuel tank, alongside its 45 miles-per-gallon fuel economy will make pit stops for refueling a sparse occurrence. The Road King puts emphasis on the riding experience by keeping the rider focused on the road and the environment, and not coddling them with added creature comforts like turn-by-turn navigation, Bluetooth, touchscreen, AM/FM radio, and more.

The Harley-Davidson Road King (2022), similar to the rest of Harley-Davidson’s touring lineup comes equipped with a pair of hard saddlebags. With 2.5 cubic feet of storage, saddlebags are a necessity for carrying emergency supplies, extra safety gear, souvenirs, snacks, and so on. For riders who have to make long trips on a regular basis, there will be a need for additional storage. For those people, there is the option of an additional third bag that could double down as a backrest.

Performance

With the Harley-Davidson Road King (2022), you are dealing with a Swiss Army Knife of a bike as this bike can handle almost any kind of riding style and environment you are throwing at it. Whether you are riding through the city, cruising down back roads, or activating cruise control when on the highway, the bike performs excellently in all departments.

Embarking on adventures entirely on your own will be loads of fun. Doing so with a passenger along for the ride will make things even better. This means you will be able to make more memories, laughs, and conversations that will make the rides worth it. Designed to easily two on two people for big trips, the Road King 2022’s priority on comfort will be extended to a second rider.

The stock seat already has room for two people but given the aftermarket options in the market, you will be able to make improvements to accommodate the needs of the passengers. All you will require is the right seat, the backrest, and a cup holder for turning the back of this motorcycle into a mini sofa.

Dimensions and comfort

The touring class is like if Harley’s inventory had a big & tall section. As many of the brand’s clientele come in different shapes and sizes, it makes sense that the bigger riders need bigger bikes. Whether they’re taller, heavier, or more muscular than the average biker, a touring bike like the Harley-Davidson Road King (2022) has the appropriate dimensions and size for accommodating them.

The Road King (2022) includes a 26.4-inch seat height, mini-ape handlebars, a large saddle, forward controls, and floorboards, all of which can be customized further for suiting the rider’s specific needs. For riders that are on the taller side of the spectrum (6’3” or above), there are additional upgrades like foot control extenders, floorboards, and taller ape hanger handlebars that allow a more comfortable extension of their arms and legs instead of having them bunched up.

This bike is known for its association with the concept of comfort. With the possibility of many long, cross-country road trips in the future, keeping the rider happy and relaxed for long stretches of time on the highway will be a must. By installing a cushy touring seat on its large frame, the distribution of weight will be more evenly spread out over the motorcycle rather than a smaller and more concentrated area. As the saying goes, “bigger is better” and in the case of riding a bike for hours and hours, this couldn’t be any more true. Not to mention its floorboards will allow you to rest your entire foot rather than just a part of it like most bikes with foot pegs do.

The stock mini-ape handlebars are a nice touch to keep the biker’s shoulders relaxed and posture more upright. This is also the reason why so many police departments prefer using Road Kings and Electra Glides for their officers as they want to be comfortable and relaxed if they’re expected to be riding on a bike all day while out on patrol.

Customization potential

Another enticing prospect about the Road King is the possibility of customization. One of the best things about having a simplified design is that it is the ultimate blank canvas for personal customization. Motorcycles, in general, leave room for riders to put their own creative twist to make it a one-of-a-kind machine. However, the Harley-Davidson Road King (2022) is a seemingly bottomless pit of possibilities to choose from under Harley-Davidson and aftermarket lenders.

You will be able to add different heights and styles of handlebars, swap out the exhaust for louder pipes, upgrade the saddle with different types of cushions and finishes, change the accent theme, and more. Deciding to leave your motorcycle fully stocked will be completely fine. For those who don’t adhere to the norm and like to stand out by getting a bit extra attention, there is always the possibility to turn heads with the Road King.

Price and affordability

As the Harley-Davidson Road King (2022) does not have to go overboard with the extra gadgets and special features, you will not need to shell out the big bucks to ride off into the sunset. A new Road King fresh from the factory will cost you $22,249, which won’t be enough to break the bank on a solid touring motorcycle.

Whether you are paying full cash or financing it, this is the sort of motorcycle that can be paid off in a short amount of time. However, a used Road King will be an even tastier price point. A pre-owned Road King in great condition and decent mileage could land somewhere in the teens, which is an amazing deal for one of Harley-Davidson’s bigger bikes.