2008 model year.

[Fathertork]

ABS brakes will be great, but I don't like the idea of loosing half the room in my right saddle bag were the unit is.
Could they not of put it somewhere else?

I'm wondering if that is how they're still doing it. I know that was a common complaint on earlier Police models that had ABS, but I haven't been able to find any info or pics about this on the '08 civilian models.

BTW, did you catch that there are no more throttle cables? It is a fly-by-wire system now... I am very curious to see this up close. I will be at the next demo ride, you can bet on that!

Your right Mike, This is from my observations from an 06 Road King. Hopefully it has been redesigned, but I doubt it.

[OhioHarleyGuy]

I just got back from one of the dealerships nearby. They had a 2008 RoadKing in the showroom.

It did not have ABS, but I talked to the guy and he said the control unit is a new one that does not take up nearly the space of the old one on police bikes.

I also checked out the fly-by-wire. It is a nice clean setup. All the wires are in the handlebar. The only downside I saw was the Kuryakin will have to design a new iso grip for it. I am not sure if any of the metric bikes have this type of throttle, but I am sure that the aftermarket folks will figure it out.

Had a near miss with a cage on the way home. Some dumb b!tch went left of center to try to pass coming the other way. In the panic stop/slow down the rear brake locked up a couple times and I had to get into the berm to keep from having a head-on with her. It would have been a good test of the ABS if I had it.

After I got the bike squared up and back on the road I showed her that she was #1.

JR

[slimcolo]

WELL WELL Harley finally gets ABS. Didn't BMW offer this like 15 years ago?

And now it is getting to require more electronics than mechanics to work on bikes. What do you do if that thing fries on you on say some Nevada state hiway in the desert at midnight? There you go 5 hours without a car passing in the day and no cell coverage. Nearest house may be 30 or 40 miles. And didn't Harley have internal throttles until 1974. A lot better than the Honda style that the Federal gov. made them put on after.

BEWARE that HD usually puts new tech. on the market before they get all the bugs out. Like disc brakes, electric start, and electronic ignition. In two to three years they will be tried and tested, get one then, or after they have a fix.

[OhioHarleyGuy]

I guess everyone is allowed to have their own opinion. Mine is that they have tested ABS for several years and now it is ready for the general public. Kind of like testing the 6 speed on one model before putting it on all the big bikes.

I hope you understand that Harley does not make all of these parts and that they are developed by promitnent companies that do what they do very well.

Like I said, everyone is allowed to have their view. Mine is pretty positive.

The MOCO is coming of age!

JR

[Gummiente]

And didn't Harley have internal throttles until 1974.

Yes, but this is "fly by wire" technology, not internal throttle cables, that are on the '08 lineup.

[KingRobb]

Its not just Harley that takes new products to market without all the bugs worked out. But I would go as far as to say their track record the last few years has been pretty solid.

If I wasnt so in love with my 04 king I would be strongly considering a trade in on that SoftTail Rocker...hell I might still be considering it if they did it in a nice dragonfly green. The Fatbobglide thingy is pretty sharp too...

things do seem to be changing in milwaukee....whats next overhead cam?

[Gummiente]

The MOCO is coming of age!

And it's about friggin' time, IMO.

[OhioHarleyGuy]

I am delighted that the MOCO is getting their "poo poo" together. Oh yes there will some miss steps along the way, but from the 2008 lineup, it looks like they are on the right track.

I talked to the dealer today and have a new bike in my near future. 1 month out.

Maybe I am an idot, but I am liking the progress and like what it see.
JR

[Gummiente]

I talked to the dealer today and have a new bike in my near future. 1 month out.

Whatcha gonna get?

[OhioHarleyGuy]

Hey Gummie,

I agree, it IS about time. I love the MOCO! I have their tat on my shoulder! And the new bikes makes me a little more proud!

Good to see the "catch up" happening.

Happy camper here!
JR