Hi Alarmguy,
I'm fortunate to live in Southern California, at least for weather purposes, pretty much can ride all year long - but the traffic is a real bummer.
My dealer was trying to tempt me to trade it in for the new M8 engine in a Road King, but I have only a handful of payments left on it, then I am debt free on my bike. The best bikes are the ones full paid for.
I test road the new softails with the M8 engine, and they are nice, a ton of power. But, if I was so motivated I could change out my 103 engine for Harley's 120, and still save a ton of money. The truth is, my 103 really does a great job in the power department, I can ride two up with my wife, be in 6th gear on the highway, and without downshifting, pass just about any car or truck on the road.
By the way, when I changed the oil filter, I put on the HiFlo Filtro, and what a treat with the install, that nut on the end of the filter makes it a breeze to install. I don't think I will go back to the HD filter, although I am sure it's a good one, I don't think it's filtering ability is better than HiFlo's and HiFlo is less messy.
Back to oil, Valvoline makes a GREAT PRODUCT, I am going to stick with the synthetic version of it. I am no chemist, but I do think there is more to making a great oil than just saying one oil has more zinc, or calcium, or phosphorus.
My niece and her family just recently moved to Southern CA from CT.
My sister visited a month or so ago think the daytime highs were 80s ? Cool nights, good riding weather for sure.
Our winters are short here normally I get out for some short runs here and there, I just did Sunday for the first time in a while this year, temps hit 70 and once Spring comes, well, not much of a spring, lasts a few weeks and temps shoot up. I like heat, had enough cold in NY.
Traffic where we live, well except rush hour if your in the city area its like anyplace else but man, one thing I love about here is the interstates. We ride them and enjoy them, one way its to the mountains, the other to the beach and normal speeds are 75 to 80. I could never go back to NY just for that reason alone!
As far as the rest of your post, I could have almost copied and pasted it and used it for my own.
My bike is paid for by this spring, less then a handful of payments left and thought about paying it off last year but just let it ride. When I bought this bike, we truly bought it on the fly, even though I knew all about the new Rushmores and why I was interested, we were on vacation in the Smoky Mountains, POURING rain outside with our Yamaha Vstar 1300, Road out on a new Road King.
I told my wife, this is it, the Road King is truly the ultimate bike for me and going to keep it forever, she laughed, I was serious. *L*
Fast forward, she REALLY loves the Road King as well, loves riding with me and enjoy our trips together, so I have to keep that in mind, her comfort. ANYWAY ... then they came out with the new 2018 Heritage!!
Darn, what a great write up I saw in one or two magazines a couple months back, posted one on the links in here at the time, even a magazine from the rider/reviewer who admitted being biased against Harley. They loved it!
I tend to get A.D.D. with bikes over time, though the ride this Sunday reminded me how much I love the Road King, I tend to want to try others. If I did, I would seriously look at the new Heritage for a change, just look, havent been to the showrooms yet. New lockable leather saddle bags, etc,etc The one thing I do not like are spoke wheels and white walls, they would have to be changed out, dont get me wrong, the look is great, just not for me, keeping tires clean is not my thing and spoke wheels, besides cleaning them, we do far to many 100+ mile trips, never had a flat yet, but I am prepared to fix a flat on the road with mag wheels, almost impossible with spokes.
As far as oil filters, all good, Im sure you are fine, Hi-Flo is a huge company and in reality that most likely is the same filter that K & N paints orange and puts their name on.
I continue to use the HD filters as long as the price stays reasonable I dont feel the need to switch, I change oil in all my vehicles, I find it easier and faster then getting in the vehicle and taking it someplace, for the Road King oil filter I bought the HD oil filter wrench, piece of cake removing it using the HD special wrench, has a slot in it to avoid that sensor.
You got that right on oil, less zinc in engines then ever and they last longer then ever.
Im looking forward to looking at this bike in the showroom, click
Also find some BMWs interesting and Kawi and Yami and, and, and ... *L*
But since this Harley, wifes favorite of all time, mine too so I do have to keep that in mind. She does not want to be crunched up on a sport bike and think I do way to many longer trips for one anyway. Which brings us back to that Heritage ... if I was going to seriously consider a new bike it would be one to check out, as far as another Road King, that would be possible but not because of the new M8 engine, also with the Road King, I think 2019 or 2020 might be the year they rework the frame?
Which ... brings us back to the Heritage ... *L*
I do know, Aluminum frames have to be the future, If ever a new bike, it better not weigh more then the current Road King, wont settle for that. I like riding, do not like all this stuff that they pack on some of these bikes and why I also like the RK and Hertage, options for other cruisers are just nuts for me personally, I like to escape all the electronics by riding my bike, my occupation is electronics, I enjoy them but when I want an escape, start up the RK.
