Thinking about slapping a road glide fairing on a road king is one of those projects that either sounds like pure genius or a total headache, depending on who you ask at the local bike night. It's a conversion that has been gaining a lot of traction lately, mostly because riders love the classic, stripped-down vibe of the Road King but crave that legendary wind protection and "sharknose" look that only a Road Glide can offer.
Let's be real for a second: the Road King is probably the most versatile bike Harley-Davidson ever built. You can strip it down for a clean, cruiser look or throw on a windshield and bags for a cross-country haul. But even with a big detachable windshield, you're still dealing with the wind hitting the forks, which can get a bit twitchy at high speeds. That's where the "Road King Glide" or "King Glide" conversion comes in. By mounting a fixed fairing to the frame, you're essentially changing the entire DNA of how the bike handles.
The Appeal of the Sharknose Conversion
Why would someone go through the trouble of putting a road glide fairing on a road king instead of just buying a Road Glide? Well, for starters, maybe you've already put ten years of work and thousands of dollars into your King. You know the engine, you love the seat, and the bike is paid off. Replacing the whole machine just for a fairing seems like overkill.
Then there's the handling. The Road Glide fairing is frame-mounted. This means the wind hits the fairing, and that pressure goes straight into the frame of the bike, not your handlebars. On a standard Road King with a windshield, the wind is pushing against your forks. On a windy day on the interstate, you can really feel the difference. A frame-mounted fairing stays rock solid while you move the bars freely behind it. It's a much more stable ride at 80 mph.
Plus, let's not ignore the "cool" factor. A Road King with a sharknose fairing looks aggressive. It has a custom, heavy-duty aesthetic that stands out in a sea of stock touring bikes. It's for the rider who wants the best of both worlds: the low-profile look of the King and the touring capability of the Glide.
What You're Actually Getting Into
Before you go out and buy a used fairing off eBay, you need to know that this isn't exactly a "bolt-on and go" type of Saturday afternoon project. It's doable, sure, but it requires some patience and the right parts. You aren't just moving plastic; you're dealing with brackets, lighting, and a whole lot of wiring.
The biggest hurdle is the mounting hardware. Since the Road King wasn't designed to have a fixed fairing, you'll need a specific conversion bracket. These brackets bolt onto the neck of the frame to provide a stable platform for the inner and outer fairing. If your bracket isn't perfectly aligned, your fairing is going to sit crooked, and trust me, you'll notice that every single time you sit in the saddle.
You also have to think about the "inner" fairing. The Road Glide fairing consists of two main pieces: the outer shell that the world sees and the inner part that faces you. The inner fairing is designed to hold gauges, a radio, and speakers. On a Road King, your speedometer is already on the tank. This leaves you with some choices. Do you leave the fairing holes empty? Do you buy block-off plates? Or do you go all-in and wire up a full sound system? Most people go for the sound system because, honestly, if you're going to have a giant fairing, you might as well have some tunes.
The Parts List
If you're serious about putting a road glide fairing on a road king, you're going to need a solid shopping list. Here's the "big picture" of what you'll likely need to track down:
- The Fairing Shells: You need both the outer and inner fairing. Buying them as a set is usually easier so you know the tabs line up.
- The Main Mounting Bracket: This is the heart of the conversion. It connects the fairing to the bike's frame.
- Fairing Supports: These are smaller brackets that usually attach to the engine guards (crash bars) to keep the bottom of the fairing from vibrating.
- Headlight Assembly: The Road Glide uses a very specific dual-bulb or LED assembly that is completely different from the Road King's single bucket.
- A New Windshield: Since you're changing the fairing, you'll need a Road Glide-style screen.
- Wiring Harnesses: This is where things get "fun." You'll need to bridge the gap between your Road King's existing wiring and the new headlight and potential audio system.
Dealing with the Wiring Headache
I won't sugarcoat it—the wiring is usually the part where people start questioning their life choices. The Road King has a fairly simple wiring setup up front. When you move to a Road Glide setup, you're introducing a lot of new electronics.
The headlight is the first priority. You'll likely need a plug-and-play adapter to convert your single H4 or LED plug into the dual setup required for the sharknose. Then, there's the turn signals. Many people choose to integrate the turn signals into the fairing itself, which means cutting, soldering, and shrinking wires.
If you decide to add a radio, things get even more complex. You'll need to run power from the battery, install an antenna, and mount speakers. It's a lot of work, but having a 4-speaker setup blasting your favorite playlist while you're eating up miles on the highway makes it all worth it. Just make sure you use high-quality connectors. The last thing you want is a short circuit while you're 200 miles from home.
How It Changes the Ride
Once you finally get that road glide fairing on a road king, the first ride is going to feel weird. It's the only way to describe it. For years, you've been used to seeing the headlight and the windshield move when you turn the bars. Now, you turn the bars and the fairing stays perfectly still.
It takes about twenty minutes for your brain to adjust, but once it does, you'll probably never want to go back. The bike feels "planted." When you're passing a semi-truck and that wall of air hits you, the bike doesn't shimmy. The fairing cuts through the air, and because it's attached to the frame, it actually adds a bit of downforce to the front end, making the ride feel incredibly stable.
However, there is a trade-off. The bike will feel a bit heavier at low speeds. You're adding roughly 30 to 50 pounds of plastic, metal, and electronics to the front of the bike. It's not a dealbreaker, but you'll notice it when you're pulling into a tight parking spot or doing U-turns in a driveway.
Is It Worth the Hassle?
So, should you actually put a road glide fairing on a road king? If you love the Road King platform but want to turn it into a serious long-distance touring machine without trading it in, then absolutely. It's a rewarding project that results in a unique bike that Harley never officially put into production.
It's not the cheapest modification, especially if you buy high-quality painted parts to match your existing color scheme. But compared to the cost of a new bike, it's a bargain. You get the wind protection, the audio options, and that killer sharknose profile, all while keeping the Road King soul that made you fall in love with the bike in the first place.
Just take your time, do your research on the brackets, and maybe keep a few extra fuses handy for the wiring phase. Once it's done, you'll have a "King Glide" that's ready to cross state lines in total comfort.