Jamie
Living Legend
French weekly Moto-Revue, Jan. 11, 2007 issue, features a quantified comparo between the Rocket Classic and the 2007 Road King Classic 1600.
Results (please keep in mind that in France motorycles cannot legally exceed 100 rear-wheel HP):
Measured crankshaft BHP:
Rocket: 110.0 @ 4'380 rpm's, HD 76.2 @ 4'740 rpm's
Measured crankshaft torque in mkg's:
Rocket 21.9 @ 3'050 rpm's, HD 14.3 @ 2'940 rpm's
1/4 mile in secs:
Rocket 12.08, HD 14.20
Average test mileage in liters per 100 kilometers:
Rocket 7.45, HD 8.00
Overall Rating in Points (including such other attributes as comfort, fit and finish, etc.):
Rocket 1st @ 351, HD 2nd @ 337 points
Mag's Comments:
"The Rocket has a fantastic engine (in spite of the French power limit)" ..." The Rocket allows for dynamic riding and leaves the poor (sic) Harley behind"... " Praiseworthy Rocket brakes, while those of the Road King invite prudent riding"...
Note: With the optional windscreen and leather bags, the Rocket is 5% less expensive than the --bone stock-- Road King in France
HD owners' initial reactions (Jamie's sources):
Outrage: " Harley is a myth (sic) and myths should not exposed to comparisons"... "a most unfair comparison: the HD is a true cruiser and the Rocket is something else" (sic)..."the Rocket has a huge displacement advantage"... " With non-standard pipes and other mods, the Road King would easily gain 20 ponies"... "that mag is worth sh**"..."when HD comes up with its own 'monster motor', the Rocket will eat its dust" ...etc.
Jamie
Results (please keep in mind that in France motorycles cannot legally exceed 100 rear-wheel HP):
Measured crankshaft BHP:
Rocket: 110.0 @ 4'380 rpm's, HD 76.2 @ 4'740 rpm's
Measured crankshaft torque in mkg's:
Rocket 21.9 @ 3'050 rpm's, HD 14.3 @ 2'940 rpm's
1/4 mile in secs:
Rocket 12.08, HD 14.20
Average test mileage in liters per 100 kilometers:
Rocket 7.45, HD 8.00
Overall Rating in Points (including such other attributes as comfort, fit and finish, etc.):
Rocket 1st @ 351, HD 2nd @ 337 points
Mag's Comments:
"The Rocket has a fantastic engine (in spite of the French power limit)" ..." The Rocket allows for dynamic riding and leaves the poor (sic) Harley behind"... " Praiseworthy Rocket brakes, while those of the Road King invite prudent riding"...
Note: With the optional windscreen and leather bags, the Rocket is 5% less expensive than the --bone stock-- Road King in France
HD owners' initial reactions (Jamie's sources):
Outrage: " Harley is a myth (sic) and myths should not exposed to comparisons"... "a most unfair comparison: the HD is a true cruiser and the Rocket is something else" (sic)..."the Rocket has a huge displacement advantage"... " With non-standard pipes and other mods, the Road King would easily gain 20 ponies"... "that mag is worth sh**"..."when HD comes up with its own 'monster motor', the Rocket will eat its dust" ...etc.
Jamie