By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Cruiser vs Tourer
Harley-Davidson Touring Road King Special FLHRXS (MY2017) vs Indian Chieftain (MY2014)
Swing the Harley-Davidson Touring Road King Special FLHRXS across a lane and it's quick to change direction. The Indian Chieftain holds steady at speed.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the Touring Road King Special FLHRXS if…
Keeping running costs low
Runaway pick: Touring Road King Special FLHRXS
The Touring Road King Special FLHRXS suits a tight running budget much better. The savings add up year after year.
The Chieftain has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
By a nose: Chieftain
Long days lean slightly toward the Chieftain. That comes from better wind protection. Your own body is the better judge of a gap this small.
Which one's the smarter buy
Different bikes, different deals
The Chieftain costs less, but the Road King Special sits in a different class. Neither is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Touring Road King Special FLHRXS
There's no fairing ahead of the Road King Special's mini-ape bars, and the big bagger leans into corners eagerly. A bump doesn't catch the Showa fork asleep. It reacts right away. Smooth torque shoves those stretched saddlebags down the road.
Chieftain
Torque does the passing on the Chieftain, and the Thunder Stroke V-twin doesn't shake while it works. The bars ask for real effort at walking pace with 847 lb (384 kg) behind them. Corner entry doesn't ruffle the chassis. The big fairing shoulders the wind all day.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Chieftain has the lower seat: 26.0 in (660 mm) vs 27.4 in (696 mm).
- The Touring Road King Special FLHRXS has the lower wet weight: 820 lb (372 kg) vs 847 lb (384 kg).
- The Touring Road King Special FLHRXS makes more peak power: 89 hp (66 kW) vs 73 hp (54 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Daily commuting & city riding
Neither one fits
Daily traffic duty isn't a fit for these two. Keep them for the weekend and commute on something easier.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Neither is a natural fit
Learning on either of these is the hard way. A gentler bike will make you a better rider sooner.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Both miss here
Neither of these lives for a twisty road. If that's your thing, there are better tools for it.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Touring Road King Special FLHRXS
What owners say
Strengths
- Nimble handling for a big bagger
- Stripped-down, classic hot-rod aesthetics
Chieftain
What owners say
Strengths
- Composed handling and stability
- Strong, smooth V-twin engine
- Excellent wind protection and rider comfort
- Feature-rich technology package
- Premium fit and finish
Known problems to check before you buy
Touring Road King Special FLHRXS
- Oil cooler line detachment (Recall 17V-333) Recall 17V333000 The oil cooler line may detach, causing an oil leak that could lead to loss of traction or control. This recall affects 2017 Road King Special models.
Chieftain
- Gear position switch defect The gear position sensor can fail, causing intermittent starting issues and dashboard warnings.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 9-year-old Touring Road King Special FLHRXS with a 9-year-old Chieftain.
- Touring Road King Special FLHRXS
- $15,000
- Chieftain
- $13,200
At nine years old, the Harley-Davidson Touring Road King Special FLHRXS sits around $15,000 while the Indian Chieftain lands near $13,200. That's an $1,800 gap in the Chieftain's favor. These are recorded US market figures, not live listings.
What they share
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Belt
- Fork
- Telescopic
- Front brake
- 300 mm
Where the spec sheets split
| Touring Road King Special FLHRXS | Chieftain | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 27.4 in (696 mm) | 26.0 in (660 mm) |
| Wet weight | 820 lb (372 kg) | 847 lb (384 kg) |
| Touring Road King Special FLHRXS | Chieftain | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1745 cc | 1811 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin | 49° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air/oil-cooled | Air-cooled |
| Power | 89 hp (66 kW) | 73 hp (54 kW) |
| Torque | 111 lb-ft (150 Nm) | 119 lb-ft (162 Nm) |
| Touring Road King Special FLHRXS | Chieftain | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 US gal (22.7 L) | 5.5 US gal (20.8 L) |
| Touring Road King Special FLHRXS | Chieftain | |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | 130/60-19 | 130/90-16 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-18 | 180/65-16 |
| Wheelbase | 64.0 in (1625 mm) | 65.7 in (1669 mm) |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
