Considering a Trade...Need Input
Novice
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Last year I sold my 01 Roadking and bought an 05 Fatboy. Haven't regretted it yet. Just came back Sunday from a 750 mile trip on the Fatboy and my butt didn't hurt and I wasn't all wore out like I usually was when I had the Roadking. I test rode a sceamin eagle Roadglide last week at Harley Demo Rides and hated it. I forgot how much those A motors vibrate at traffic lights.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 5
Get rid of Ultra for a Softail....Uh uh...nope....no way. Add as a 2nd bike. Yep.
Loved my old Evo Springer. Like my wife's Deluxe. But as a bar hopper only.
Love the touring bikes for, well, touring long distances. Just depends on how YOU ride and what YOU really want.
Loved my old Evo Springer. Like my wife's Deluxe. But as a bar hopper only.
Love the touring bikes for, well, touring long distances. Just depends on how YOU ride and what YOU really want.
I like my big comfy ride. I don't mind the A motor, I kind of like the shaking at stop signs. I had coveted a fat boy for years, but when I finally pulled the trigger on buying another bike this year, it was the RK. Now, there's no way I'd go back to a softail, but again, that's just me. Thankfully the moco makes bikes for almost all of us.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 33
From: So Cal The Golden State
Both great bike but the only thing I did not like on the softail was the counter balance motor. I can not give you any other reason other that I did not like the sound or feel of it.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, VA
In 2007 I sold my 87 Heritage for an 02 Ultra... big mistake
A year later I was fortunate enough to trade the 02 Ultra and get my Heritage back.
My softail is like an old jacket... it just fits, so why would I want anything else.
A year later I was fortunate enough to trade the 02 Ultra and get my Heritage back.
My softail is like an old jacket... it just fits, so why would I want anything else.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
This is the scoop, around town in the city my deuce will ride circles around my ultra, It is light, nimble and quick. Now on the highway, on a long ride, I would not trade my ultra for anything. Nuf said. 
Last edited by TFTCAR; Jul 16, 2009 at 05:04 PM.
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5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
touring to soft tail
I rode a fatboy all over the west coast' it was modified to the hilt to fit me, mustang seat, pullback bars, forward controls, cruise pegs, still beat the hell out of me! Switched to an electra glide classic, what a difference on long rides, the only way to fly.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,272
Likes: 83
From: Southern California
It's a matter of personal preference. I've only owned two Harley's in my 23 years of riding motorcycles, both Ultra's so I can't imagine trading an Ultra for a Softail. Having said that, I do enjoy riding other Harley's and I've been known to rent bikes for specific rides, trips, etc... I've rented a couple Road Kings, Road Glide, Softail Deluxe, Softail Springer, and a Fat Boy. I was impressed with all of the bikes and wouldn't mind having any of them as a second or third bike. While my bike was in for warranty work last week, I decided to take a day off from work and ride down to San Diego on a rented Fat Boy. The bike I rode was a 2009 model which was outfitted with saddlebags, sissy bar and windshield. I was immediately impressed by how well the Fat Boy handled....light and nimble. It felt like it was nailed down to the road and surprisingly stable at speeds of 80mph. After riding a Touring bike for so long, I was not expecting that. I came away with a totally new respect for Softail bikes. Having said that, I noticed that after my trip was completed I felt sore and fatigued (total of 417 miles). Bumps in road, railroad crossings or dips really took a toll on my lower back. Let's face it, anytime you ride 400+ miles in a single day, you're going to experience some of that. By comparision however, I've taken many 500, 600+ mile trips, even 720 miles (in one day) on my Ultra and I wasn't as sore at the end of the day, as I was on the Fat Boy. So it's a trade-off. For around town riding or shorter trips, I like the Softails. For long rides....sustained freeway speeds (70-80mph), I prefer my Ultra.
For you to gain some perspective on what the trade-offs will be for you, I'd recommend that you rent s Softail first, if you haven't already done so.
For you to gain some perspective on what the trade-offs will be for you, I'd recommend that you rent s Softail first, if you haven't already done so.