10 Cheaper Alternatives To The 2024 Harley-Davidson Road King

The Harley-Davidson Road King is a legendary motorcycle, known for its iconic style, powerful engine, and touring capabilities. It is powered by a Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine, producing 95 horsepower and 122 pound-feet of torque. The bold and muscular appearance of this machine is accompanied by standard hard saddlebags for touring convenience. Although the design language follows a traditional approach, Harley has equipped the Road King with a few modern tidbits (such as cruise control) to save the rider from fatigue during long journeys.

But, legendary status often comes with a legendary price tag. And in this case, it is a sizable $24,999. So it’s safe to say this isn’t a heavyweight suited for everyone. But if you dream of cruising the open road on a bike like the Road King with a more down-to-earth budget, this list is for you! You’ll be happy to know there are brilliant alternatives to the H-D that offer superb performance and comfort at a more affordable price. We’ll explore some of the best options for riders who want the Harley experience without the Harley price tag. Let’s jump in.

Looking at the data from OEM websites, authoritative websites like cycleworld.com and motorcycle.com, we have created this list with the most authentic information. Motorcycles on this list are arranged in ascending order of price.

10 Suzuki Boulevard C50T

Base MSRP: $10,359

Boulevard C50T is Suzuki’s only offering in the touring category. It is a great option for riders looking for an American-styled cruiser but at a budget much lower than the Road King. Featured with Buckhorn-style handlebars, kicked-out fork, and chrome dual exhaust, the C50T makes a strong conventional style statement. The hidden link-type rear suspension mimics the look of classic hardtail Harleys while offering seven-way preload adjustability for exceptional handling characteristics. This stylish machine is equally brilliant in terms of rider comfort, thanks to the wide and thickly cushioned seat and tall windscreen. Powering the C50T is an 805cc V-twin engine. Certainly, not as big as the one on the Road King, but it has enough power and torque for a fun touring experience.

Engine Specification

(Sourced from Suzuki)

9 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT

Base MSRP: $10,399

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT prioritizes both comfort and style for laid-back touring adventures. Featured with only 26.8 inches of seat height and comfortable ergonomics, this bike is approachable for a wide range of riders. The sculpted seat with a standard passenger backrest ensures a comfortable journey for both riders. Concurrently, the bike comes equipped with a tall windshield, deflecting wind and creating a calm riding experience on highway stretches. Premium quality leather saddlebags provide ample storage space to pack your essentials, too. A powerful 903cc V-twin engine sits at the heart of the Classic LT and delivers enough muscle for confident cruising on highways.

Engine Specification

(Sourced from Kawasaki)

8 Honda Rebel 1100T DCT

Base MSRP: $10,699

The Honda Rebel 1100T DCT is not only a cheaper alternative to the Road King, but also a more loaded one. And cruise control is not the only reason behind that. Embracing the spirit of modern Japanese engineering, the Rebel 1100T boasts an impressive array of electronic rider aids designed to reduce fatigue on long journeys. Standard cruise control lets you lock at your desired speed and relax, while the innovative DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) technology seamlessly handles gear changes for you in automatic mode. Throttle-by-wire technology with four selectable torque control levels and four engine power modes puts you in complete control of your riding experience, meanwhile. Powering this feature-packed machine is a proven twin-cylinder engine with biaxial counterbalances, which translates into a range-wide torque delivery without unpleasant vibration.

Engine Specification

(Sourced from Honda)

7 BMW R18 Classic

Base MSRP: $17,995

The R18 Classic is the touring variant of the base cruiser model with a few functional add-ons. This includes a large windshield, auxiliary LED lights, a two-up seat, and soft saddlebags. The rest of the motorcycle is pretty much similar to the cruiser variant, boasting the signature low and elongated bodyline of the R18 series. On the tech side, the R18 maintains a classical attitude with minimal tech interference. The most notable one is the standard Automatic Stability Control, which functions as traction control by eliminating rear wheel spin in critical riding conditions, such as rain. Other than this, there are three riding modes to adjust power delivery as per the riding condition.

In the meantime, the unique part of this bike is its Boxer engine. The cylinders are placed in a horizontally opposed position, which means the cylinder heads are placed right before your legs while riding. As per BMW, this is the largest displacement and torquiest Boxer they have ever produced.

Engine Specification

(Sourced from BMW)

6 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero

Base MSRP: $19,099

Kawasaki might call it a “bagger-cruiser”, but the Vulcan Vaquero is truly a touring machine. This motorcycle seamlessly blends comfort, luxury, and power, making it your perfect long-distance companion. Vaquero’s fully-faired front cuts through the wind like a champ, keeping you comfortable on extended rides. To enhance the luxurious feel, the fairing houses an audio system with 40-watt speakers and SiriusXM radio compatibility. Also present are side-mounted saddlebags, each offering 10 gallons of storage space.

The heart of the Vaquero is a muscular V-twin engine, transmitting power to the rear wheel via a carbon-fiber reinforced belt drive. This translates to plenty of torque at your disposal, accentuated by the iconic V-twin rumble. Forget about constantly adjusting the throttle or shifting gears because cruise control is a standard feature on this motorcycle.

Engine Specification

(Sourced from Kawasaki)

5 Indian Super Chief Limited

Base MSRP: $21,999

Indian Motorcycle has a few good options to replace the H-D Road King and our first pick is the Super Chief Limited. Yes, we could take in the much cheaper Super Chief, but the Limited variant has nearly similar engine displacement and torque figures to the Road King. So that’s the prime reason for its presence.

You will get standard saddlebags and floorboards, similar to the H-D machine, but what makes Super Chief a better option is its features. Simply put, the Super Chief excels over Road King in terms of tech features. The H-D has only three electronic tech features onboard – cruise control, ABS, and electronically linked braking. Whereas, the Super Chief Limited comes with a buffet of tech features including a four-inch touchscreen powered by Ride Command, ride modes, ABS, and USB charge port.

Engine Specification

(Sourced from Indian)

4 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic 114

Base MSRP: $22,499

Can we have a cheaper Road King alternative from Harley itself? A big yes! Behold the Heritage Classic 114. This motorcycle embodies the essence of Harley-Davidson with its iconic silhouette and gleaming chrome accents. Although categorized as a cruiser by the manufacturer, it offers all the comfort and functionality of being a touring machine. Genuine leather saddlebags offer ample storage space for your essentials, while a detachable windshield provides wind protection on long journeys. The low seat height and floorboards create a relaxed riding position, perfect for cruising down the highway in comfort. Power comes from a Milwaukee-Eight 114, similar to Road King. This V-twin powerhouse delivers ample torque, translating to smooth acceleration and a throaty exhaust note.

Engine Specification

(Sourced from Harley-Davidson)

3 Indian Springfield

Base MSRP: $22,999

Springfield is our second pick from Indian’s inventory, which has all the qualities to make Road King run for its money. Offered at a competitive price point of $2K less than Road King, the Springfield is a piece of visual elegance. The stylish front fender, flowing design, and shiny chrome at the right places make this machine quite a head-turner. Like the Super Chief, the touring capability of this machine is courtesy of remote-locking hard saddlebags. And if your touring plan is longer than usual, you can easily add extra storage space because the frame is trunk-compatible. Powering this machine is Thunderstroke 111 V-twin. Tech features like cruise control and selectable ride modes are also standard.

Engine Specification

(Sourced from Indian)

2 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST

Base MSRP: $23,399

Would you like a sports touring machine with higher power than the Road King? Then, Harley has the Low Rider ST for you. This West Coast-styled machine is powered by a Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine which, till last year, was the biggest displacement engine Harley offered. With the help of a heavy breather intake and free-flowing exhaust, this engine produces enormous power and torque for an exhilarating riding experience. Now let’s take a look at the touring conveniences this bike offers. A frame-mounted FXRT-inspired fairing provides excellent wind protection while the compact removable saddlebags take care of your touring essentials. Electronic conveniences are also there, such as cruise control and an anti-lock brake system.

Engine Specification

(Sourced from Harley-Davidson)

1 Honda Gold Wing

Base MSRP: $24,700

You might have two questions here. How is the six-cylinder Gold Wing even comparable to the two-cylinder Road King? And, how is it $300 less? The answer to the first question is that both motorcycles are placed in the touring category with almost similar prices, hence competition is inevitable. For the second question, if you count the benefits and features you get with the Honda Gold Wing, it offers way more value for the money.

First is the unbeatable reliability and overall build quality, which makes it a gold standard of touring. Second, there are a bunch of electronic rider aids, including ride modes, cruise control, torque control, hill start assist, and low-speed reverse. Third, this has a full-fledged infotainment system including a seven-inch full-color TFT with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Plus, there is a 55-watt speaker system. Now, the last thing you may be worried about is fuel efficiency, since it has a big six-cylinder engine. But allow us to burst the bubble as the Gold Wing’s fuel efficiency is 42 MPG compared to the Road King’s 43 MPG!

Engine Specification

(Sourced from Honda)