I Almost Didn't Buy It. Here's Why I'm Glad I Did.

Let me be upfront about something: I almost talked myself out of this purchase four separate times.

The price. The brand I'd never heard of. The fact that it ships from overseas. The forum post I found where someone said it "felt cheap." Every time I got close to clicking buy, something made me hesitate.

I'm writing this six months after I finally did click buy, because I think there are a lot of riders out there sitting exactly where I was sitting — interested, but not quite convinced. And I want to tell you what I wish someone had told me.

Why I Was Looking in the First Place

I've been riding for 14 years. I know my way around a heavy bike. But my 2020 Ultra Limited weighs 898 pounds fully loaded, and I keep it in a garage with a slight downward slope toward the street. Getting it in and out has always required my husband's help — not because I can't ride, but because backing 900 pounds uphill on a slick garage floor is genuinely risky for anyone.

When my husband had knee surgery last year, that dynamic changed fast. I either figured out a solution or the bike sat in the garage. I started looking at reverse kits.

Every Reason I Had Not to Buy

I'm not someone who makes big purchases without research. I spent weeks on this. And I found plenty of reasons to be skeptical of the Eagle King kit specifically.

The price. $1,799 is a lot of money. I found mechanical kits for $300 less. That gap bothered me for a long time.

The brand. Eagle King is not a name I recognized. When I Googled the company, the results were thin. No decades of history, no industry awards, no celebrity endorsements.

The origin. I saw mentions that the kit is manufactured in China. I'll be honest — that gave me pause. I've bought Chinese aftermarket parts before that did not hold up.

The forum post. Someone on an HDForum thread said their kit "felt cheap" and had an issue with the connector. That stuck with me longer than it probably should have.

What Changed My Mind

Two things.

First, I found the reviews on their website. Not the star ratings — I know those can be managed. The written reviews, with photos of actual installations on actual bikes. Real names, real models, real garages. A guy named Flint with bad knees who keeps his bike in the grass. A woman named Nicky who said it made her "confident to ride and park anywhere." An older gentleman in the Netherlands who installed it himself with YouTube videos.

These didn't read like manufactured testimonials. They read like people who'd bought something and felt compelled to say so.

Second, I called the number on their website on a Tuesday afternoon. I expected voicemail. Someone answered. I asked every skeptical question I had — about the manufacturing quality, about the connector issue I'd read about, about what happens if something goes wrong two years from now. The person I spoke with knew the product cold. He addressed the forum post directly — said that particular issue was from an early batch and had been resolved in the current version.

That conversation lasted 25 minutes. By the end of it, I'd already decided.

My Objections — Before and After

Six Months Later

I get the bike in and out of the garage by myself every time now. My husband's knee has recovered, but I stopped needing his help months ago.

The kit is quiet, smooth, and invisible — most people who see the bike don't notice anything different until they see me reverse out of a parking spot. Then they ask questions.

I've had zero issues. The connector that worried me works perfectly. The motor runs cool. Nothing has loosened, nothing has worn.

If you're where I was six months ago — interested but not quite convinced — I'll tell you what I wish I'd known then: the skepticism is reasonable, but in this case it's wrong. This is a well-engineered product backed by people who actually answer the phone.

Stop waiting. You'll regret the months you didn't have it more than you'll ever regret the $1,799.