When you've been at it for as long as the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, you're going to see many models come and go. Improving technology, more powerful engines, and ever-evolving genres mean that most models have a certain amount of time under the sun before being put out to pasture, but some stand the test of time, and this is where we find the Road King.First launched in 1994 as the FLHR, it builds on the success of the FL model family that started way back in 1941 to give it some deep historical roots. It's a singular model due to its build. The FL frame is the wide, heavy touring frame, but without a front fairing, the beefy front end makes it look more like a rather chunky cruiser than the touring platform that it really is. It's still in production today as the Road King Specialfor $24,999.To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Harley-Davidson. The information given is current as of the time of this writing. Harley’s 30-Year Touring Icon Still Packs A Serious Punch In 2025 Delivers 114 cubic inches of V-twin power Harley-Davidson Power comes from a Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-twin engine that's a step up from the M-8 107. It has gobs of torque with a low max-torque RPM that means you have usable torque as soon as you roll on, and the engine has something to give at nearly all points of the throttle range. The exposed-element air cleaner hints at the engine's potential while delivering plenty of air for your interstate and highway adventures.Top speed is “fast enough” at over 100 MPH, and it's quicker than you might expect from a heavy bike, with its 4.1-second 0-to-60 time that is sure to add some spice to your rides. A slick six-speed transmission and belt final drive deliver quiet, reliable performance. The stock '25 Road King Special has no rider-safety electronics on board, but you can get it with the optional Cornering Enhanced Traction Control and Drag-Torque Slip Control equipment if you really want that extra protection. Road King Engine And Performance Specifications Harley’s Longest-Running Bagger Still Rides Like A Dream In 2025 Carried on a touring-grade frame, classic style, and optional cornering ABS Rider and passenger sitting on a 2024 Harley-Davidson Road King SpecialThe frame is the same one that supports the Electra Glides, Street Glides, and Road Glides. So in other words, the heavy touring frame. It's stable and comfortable with solid tracking, so it's a very low-stress bike to ride, even when riding at speed. Fat front forks are made fatter yet by old-school beercan fork skirts with a classic headlight nacelle that completes the front end in style, while out back a full-yoke swingarm has the strength to handle heavy cargo loads and cornering stresses.Dual front brakes give you the stopping power to handle the great running weight that, once a couple of people climb aboard, weighs well over the half-a-ton mark. In addition, it can accommodate up to 1,360 pounds of cargo, pilot, and passenger weight. ABS and Harley's Electronic Linked Braking provide some extra stability right out of the box, but an optional Cornering-Enhanced version is available to complete the electronics suite. Road King Chassis And Suspension Specifications This Harley Legend Blends Classic Muscle With Real-World Versatility It offers touring capability without the fairing, just hard bags, footboards, and old-school cool road-king-specialThe Road King occupies a singular spot in the lineup with its heavy touring underpinnings and beefy build sans fairing, but with molded, hard-side bags out back. It has lots of visual weight down low, and the fat front end balances out nicely against the chunky rear end and headlight nacelle. Seat height is low to give you plenty of leverage when you put your feet down, and the full footboards are rubber-mounted to isolate your piggies from the engine vibrations. The saddlebags provide a combined 2.5 cubic-feet of secure dry storage for some utility as a solo tourer, grocery-getter, and daily commute bike. While the safety electronics come in varying degrees, there's no infotainment equipment on this bike, so you'll have to settle for the song that's stuck in your head. Road King Dimensions And Capacities Want More Than The Road King? The Street Glide Is Harley’s Fairing-Equipped Alternative With a bigger engine, full infotainment, and sleek batwing fairing Rider on a 2025 Harley-Davidson Street GlideThere are only two ways to go from the Road King if you're looking for an alternative out of the lineup. Go down to a proper cruiser with the Heritage Classic, which has also been in production for more than 30 years. Or up to a proper touring bike. I chose to go up the range to the Street Glide. It hasn't quite hit the 30-year mark, but it only has a few features on top of the Road King's tour-tastic foundation, namely the new Batwing fairing and floating windscreen that shelters an infotainment system along with the rider.The engine is a tier-three unit that boasts liquid cooling and a greater displacement than the FLHR. A concurrent boost in output makes it even stronger on acceleration, even with the weight and wind resistance of that big front fairing. The fairing is somewhat smaller than the old Batwings for a sportier look and somewhat less drag. The electronics suite has all the bells and whistles and the infotainment system is top-shelf. The paint selection is broad and attractive, but you'll pay for that extra yummygoodness with a $27,749 MSRP. Road King Vs. Street Glide Engine And Performance Specifications Harley’s Road King Rival: The BMW R 18 Roctane Challenges The Touring King This Bavarian bagger mirrors the Road King’s muscle and attitude 2024 BMW R 18 Roctane static front quarter shotIf the Harley isn't your cup of tea, there are options out there. The Road King is an established model with a worldwide rider base, and it's not without its lookalikes, with one doppelganger coming straight out of Bavaria in the BMW R 18 Roctane. Beemer hits all the pertinent design points with the fat front end, hard rear cases, solid stance, and big twin-cylinder engine. Like our V-twins, the Germans have their iconic boxer-twin engines that have long been a favorite on that side of the world.Power output is respectable, and the base electronics are comparable. BMW even went full home-custom with plenty of blackout paint that plays well with the trio of colorways. Sure, the gauge is buried in the headlight can instead of on the tank, and the cylinders stick out at crazy angles, but for all intents and purposes, it's a German brother-from-another-mother to the Road Thing. Harley-Davidson Road King Vs. BMW R 18 Roctane Engine And Performance Specifications