Electra Glide Road King

1998 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Road King Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Engineered by Harley-Davidson for the touring motorcycle segment, the 1998 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Road King pairs a 1338 cc (81.6 cu in) air-cooled v2, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 60 HP (43.8 kW) at 5,000 rpm while maximum torque reaches 104 Nm (76.7 lb-ft) at 3,000 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and belt final drive. With a specific output of 44.8 HP per liter and a 2,000 rpm working window between peak torque (3,000 rpm) and peak power (5,000 rpm), the engine character is prioritizing low-RPM tractability, mechanical longevity and relaxed throttle response over peak redline numbers.

On the scales, the Electra Glide Road King measures 321 kg (708 lbs) dry, translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.19 HP/kg (5.35 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 692 mm (27.2 in) seat height — giving shorter riders and urban commuters confident flat-foot reach at traffic stops.

Within MotoLibrary's Harley-Davidson archive, this model family spans 2 indexed model years from 1997 to 1998, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.