Road King Special Online

Harley-Davidson Road King Special – With a custom bagger style and touring comfort and capability, the 2025 Road King Special is drenched in black from headlamps to exhaust tips. You will get the most out of every ride thanks to its Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-twin engine, small “ape hanger” handlebars, fairing-free design, and discreetly integrated technology.

Harley-Davidson Road King Special

1. Origins of the Road King Series

• The Road King debuted in 1994 as part of Harley-Davidson’s touring lineup.
• Designed to combine classic Harley styling with touring comfort, featuring a detachable windshield, hard saddlebags, and a traditional headlamp nacelle.
• Its styling was inspired by Harley police bikes and classic FL models from the 1960s.

2. Introduction of the Road King Special

• The Road King Special was first introduced in 2017.
• It took the standard Road King’s touring platform and added a more aggressive, custom-inspired look with:
  • Blacked-out finishes instead of chrome
  • Lowered stance for a sleeker profile
  • Larger front wheel (19” Prodigy front wheel)
  • No windshield (unlike the standard Road King) for a clean, stripped-down bagger style

3. Engine Evolution

• 2017 Road King Special: Launched with the Milwaukee-Eight 107 ci engine, delivering smoother and stronger performance than the outgoing Twin Cam.
• 2021 onwards: The Road King Special is offered with the Milwaukee-Eight 114 ci engine as standard, producing approximately 119 ft-lbs of torque, giving it impressive power for touring and urban cruising.

4. Key Features

Blacked-out engine, exhaust, and trim
Mini-ape handlebars for a taller, commanding rider position
Stretched saddlebags for a custom stretched look
Linked Brembo brakes with ABS
Cruise control standard
Classic large headlamp with nacelle (iconic Road King design)

5. Design Philosophy

The Road King Special was created to target riders wanting the touring capability of a Road King but with a factory-custom, dark, and modern bagger style without the bulk of fairings like Street Glide or Road Glide.

6. Road King Special vs. Standard Road King

Feature	Road King	Road King Special
Engine	Milwaukee-Eight 107	Milwaukee-Eight 114
Finish	Chrome	Blacked-out
Handlebars	Traditional touring bars	Mini-ape bars
Bags	Standard hard bags	Stretched saddlebags
Windshield	Quick-detach windshield	No windshield

7. Current Status

• The Road King Special continues in Harley’s touring lineup as a top choice for riders wanting stripped-down bagger looks with powerful performance.
• Often praised for its balance of heritage styling, touring comfort, and custom appeal.

If you want:

• Specs for a specific model year
• Price ranges (new vs used)
• Comparison with Street Glide or Road Glide Special
• Maintenance and ownership considerations