2025 Harley-Davidson Road King Special: Why You Shouldn’t Buy The Bagger
The Harley-Davidson Road King Special is a popular name in the bagger world. It is arguably the simplest American bagger you can buy today that just wants you to enjoy life without being shielded by large fairings. Given its popularity, the bikemaker has retained it for the 2025 model year, giving it a minor refresh via new colors. However, we believe you should skip buying the 2025 model. Why? Allow GoodbikeBadbike to explain.
The 2025 Harley-Davidson Road King Special Has Gotten Pricier Than Ever In 2025
Over the years, the Road King Special has steadily become pricier and pricier. In its current form, the MSRP stands at a steep $25,749. This is $749 up from the 2024 model, and the new colors can add up to $700 more. While you may think that’s okay, things take a turn when you consider how old the bagger really is. It has had no notable changes in over five years. The last sizable update came in 2019 when the Special bid adieu to its 107ci engine in favor of the 114ci V-twin.
As a result of this, we can’t help but suggest you skip the 2025 model. Instead, you can simply save your hard-earned money and get one of the remaining 2024 bikes at your nearest dealer. An even better option is to find a good, clean, and pre-owned example from two or three years ago. We believe you’ll save a large sum (around $5,000), all of which can go into making the Road King better suited for you. Who doesn’t like modifying their Harleys, after all?
The Road King Special Offers No Extras Over Its Predecessors
The Harley-Davidson Road King is more or less unchanged over its 2024 model. And as much as we love simple bikes, there’s no denying the Special feels ancient by today’s standards. Even basic things like traction control, a digital instrument cluster, and smartphone connectivity are missing here.
The mechanical elements are equally basic. You get a steel double-cradle chassis, suspended onto telescopic forks and dual rear shocks, paired with 19/18-inch wheels. These wheels have a basic braking package, comprising dual front discs and a single rear disc. All that results in a motorcycle that weighs a whopping 807 pounds in running order. Really makes you wonder what your money is getting you, doesn’t it?
