Next, we wanted a generalized “bling” package. Covingtons Cycle City in Woodward, Oklahoma, doesn’t just build customized bikes to order, they also offer an extensive line of custom parts for standard Harley-Davidsons. The one we liked most was the finned billet collection, in chrome. We ordered eleven matching pieces from them. The larger items were the dash panel, derby cover, and trick fork bells. The smaller parts were master cylinder covers, axle covers, and saddlebag latches. You can see the complete list in the box with prices. The finished product, in my opinion, is a show stopper. We parked the Road King in the entrance to our parts department and just about everyone who walked by stopped and stared. This was a quick, one-day operation, and all within the capabilities of an enthusiastic garage mechanic. You might let a shop with a good tire machine mount your tires, though, as it would be a shame to scratch those awesome RC rims.

Finally, there was one other part I had been curious about using for a long time, the Legend Air Suspensions system. South Dakota’s Jesse Jurrens has been making air shocks for custom bikes and Harleys for over ten years now. Recently he says that business has really picked up for his air shocks that include an onboard compressor and handlebar-mounted switch to add or release air. The whole system has a limited lifetime warranty and I had been dying to take a bike for a ride with a set fitted, this was my chance. Again, the installation was less than a day and all parts and wires necessary were included in the package. The shocks simply bolt on, the compressor fits under the battery on our Road King, and the handlebar switch replaces a part of the left stock one. Once the saddlebags are fitted, the only visible indication of the modification was on the left handlebar switch that now has a fill button and below it a release button. Extra air can be put in or let out whether the bike’s moving or stopped, a very tempting pastime. For bikes with exposed shocks, Legend makes the shocks in chrome as well as black.

Taking the Bling King out for its first cruise, I was trying to pay attention to the handling, to see if that big 21 made the bike squirrelly in any way. After the first few minutes, some of it stop and go, some on the freeway, and some in quick turns, my only impression was positive. You can feel the bike is lifted slightly in front, it leans a little further over on the kickstand than the standard bike, but the excellent Metzeler ME880s, especially in the 120 width up front, made the bike handle if anything, a little better in my opinion. I didn’t try all road surfaces as it was a brief ride, but I liked it. And for anyone nervous about the tall wheel, RC also makes 16”, 17”, 18”, and 19” front wheels, so you can get the fancy billet-look without the large diameter if you want.

After whisking around corners and getting some freeway miles in, I rode over to my shock-testing stretch of road. This road is so crappy I’ve blown open the saddlebag lids on lowered FLs several times. Jesse’s Legend Air Suspensions did extremely well on this road. I first lowered the air until it was definitely too soft, I could feel the shock bottoming, but not the tire into the fender, the shock prevents that from happening. I hit the top button of the air switch and stiffened them up a little and then went roaring down my test road. Not only did the saddlebag lids stay in place, I didn’t have to lift out of the seat at the worst bump like I’ve always had to do testing either stock or other shocks. The shocks worked very well. One of the best recommendations I could give them was that I didn’t really think about them during the first part of the ride when I was testing the wheels, they quietly did their job. And for those who change their load a lot, riding sometimes with a passenger, sometimes with the bags full, other times with the trunk off; the adjustment is as easy as hitting your blinker. It couldn’t be any easier unless it was voice actuated.

If you go to www.barnettharley.com and look up our Road Kings in inventory, we have four more large shots of this bike.

The People Behind the Companies

Jerry Covington, Covington Cycle City

Jerry began riding bikes at the early age of 14. He started building hot rod cars and bikes shortly thereafter. In 1993, he and his wife Kathleen traveled around the country buying Harley-Davidsons and customizing them. Their first year they sold a hundred bikes. Jerry’s four sons have grown up in the shop and still work side-by-side with him. Their names are PeeWee, Dave, Dusty, and Cameron. Jerry now rides a fully-customized 1995 Road King with a raked frame, stretched bags, and candy paintjob that’s been done over several times. The bike belonged to a close friend who passed away, and Jerry has vowed never to part with it. The Covingtons have entered custom bikes and won awards at the world’s most competitive bike shows, often with bikes very similar to those in their production line.

Visit  www.covingtonscyclecity.com or call 580-256-2939

Jesse Jurrens, Owner, Independent Cycle Inc. & Legend Air Suspensions

Jesse has been building wild custom bikes and totally adjustable air shocks out of Rapid City, South Dakota, for almost ten years now. Custom builders love his shocks because the bike can be slammed to ground for show at the push of a button, then raised quickly to ride home comfortably. His overbuilt, Kevlar-impregnated air sleeve can withstand pressures of 1,100psi. Motorcycles normally run in the range of 150 – 180psi, giving Jesse the confidence to offer a limited lifetime warranty and a “If we can’t fix it, we’ll replace it” strategy in business. The shock has been developed thoroughly and Jesse has reports coming back from customers with 70K, 90K, and over 100,000 miles on their shocks. Jesse has taken to exploring the Black Hills up close and personal on his 990cc KTM dual-purpose bike. He’s planning a Continental Divide run from New Mexico up to Canada soon, mostly on dirt roads. Visit www.independentcycleinc.com or call 605-737-4200.

Rick Ball, President, RC Components

Rick got into this business 7.08 seconds at a time in the high-powered world of motorcycle drag racing. He now makes good time on his customized 2009 Street Glide. He’s produced billet wheels for all kinds of bikes for over twenty years now. At the trade shows, Rick is always one of those folks going around with a big grin, enjoying all the two-wheeled world has to offer. Back in 1989, the late Boyd Coddington built Rick’s first wheel (to Rick’s specs) when Rick couldn’t find a wheel that he wanted for his own drag bike. Now based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Rick and his one hundred employees sell wheels to 6,000 dealers in 26 countries. I have a set of Rick’s three-spoke Imposter wheels on my bike. It’s probably one of his first designs and is the same one used on the front of the V-Rod drag bikes. Visit www.rccomponents.com or call 800-513-6838.