Seeking Advice . . .
Seeking Advice . . .
Greetings!
I've owned my 2011 HD Super Glide Custom since new, and love it dearly. My wife and I love to ride in the Hill Country here in the San Antonio, TX area and wish to start doing some more extensive touring. We've been look at the Ultra, and believe that it would do the trick. There's a couple of questions about the Ultra that I have:
1) Does anyone have pictures showing their ultra with the rear seat/luggage removed? Can it be made to look/setup `StreetGlide'ish` easily? I'd love to ride StreetGlide to work and in the Hill Country and tour on an Ultra . . . but I can only afford one!
2) From what I can tell on the H-D website, there are no true wire spoke wheels available for the Ultra - like on my FXDC. I really like this look, and wonder if anyone knows if there companies that sell spoke wheels for the 2015 Ultra?
Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated - thanks!
Mark
I've owned my 2011 HD Super Glide Custom since new, and love it dearly. My wife and I love to ride in the Hill Country here in the San Antonio, TX area and wish to start doing some more extensive touring. We've been look at the Ultra, and believe that it would do the trick. There's a couple of questions about the Ultra that I have:
1) Does anyone have pictures showing their ultra with the rear seat/luggage removed? Can it be made to look/setup `StreetGlide'ish` easily? I'd love to ride StreetGlide to work and in the Hill Country and tour on an Ultra . . . but I can only afford one!
2) From what I can tell on the H-D website, there are no true wire spoke wheels available for the Ultra - like on my FXDC. I really like this look, and wonder if anyone knows if there companies that sell spoke wheels for the 2015 Ultra?
Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated - thanks!
Mark
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
I would suggest getting the Ultra with a quick disconnect bracket for the tour pack. That way you'll have lowers, and a better suspension for touring with the wife. But when you want, you can remove the tour pack and make it look more like a Street Glide for cruising around town.
Take my advise, stay away from spokes. Sure, they look old school and very nice, but the first time you have a flat out on the road, a hundred miles from anywhere, you'll appreciate the ability to plug a tire and air it back up to continue on. Can't do that with spoke wheels and tubes in the tires.
Take my advise, stay away from spokes. Sure, they look old school and very nice, but the first time you have a flat out on the road, a hundred miles from anywhere, you'll appreciate the ability to plug a tire and air it back up to continue on. Can't do that with spoke wheels and tubes in the tires.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Welcome to the Forums.
Alot of us strip stuff off for around town and put it back on for multi- State trips.
tourpaks, seats, shocks, windscreens etc.
spokes- meh.
more trouble than they are worth ( I have spoke on my old bikes- but no way would I want them on a heavyweight
BTW my bike is a FLHTC- differs from the Ultra- no rear speaker, badges and fairing lowers ( which I have added). The FLHTC model was too much of a value- it's been discontinued.
Mike
Alot of us strip stuff off for around town and put it back on for multi- State trips.
tourpaks, seats, shocks, windscreens etc.
spokes- meh.
more trouble than they are worth ( I have spoke on my old bikes- but no way would I want them on a heavyweight
BTW my bike is a FLHTC- differs from the Ultra- no rear speaker, badges and fairing lowers ( which I have added). The FLHTC model was too much of a value- it's been discontinued.
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Jan 11, 2015 at 02:46 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,341
Likes: 717
I've been on the side of the road 2 times waiting for a tow, both on sundays,because i could not plug and go,spokes look good but aren't for touring. yes u can remove the tour pack,takes about 15 minutes or add the quick detach kit, u will need to relocate antenna.seat can easily swap for solo,but make sure the 2 up seat doesn't rub the paint on the rear fender.
Thanks guys for all the pictures and the welcome . . . My wife wants 'hers' all in red!! She saw these pictures here and really like the Red . . . and It was either that or the dark blue . . . can't remember the actual color name. Ok, I'm sold on the 'no spokes for touring bikes' approach; seems like they'd more trouble than their worth. I just love the look!
I'm assuming that the quick detach kit is similar to the FXDC's in that I can attach a sissy bar or a rear trunk/seat back combo? Also, I've read some horror stories online regarding the Rushmore TwinCool system leaking out most or all of the fluid . . . Is this a rare occurence - or something more involved? My FXDC is my first Harley, first motorcycle in years since I was in college (CB450) and its been 100% reliable. I do my own work, and maintain it myself according to the recommended intervals. So far, I've no problems with it . . . I hope its the same with the touring bikes. The thought of letting my FXDC go in a trade or sale is depressing . . . I might have to keep it!
Mark
I'm assuming that the quick detach kit is similar to the FXDC's in that I can attach a sissy bar or a rear trunk/seat back combo? Also, I've read some horror stories online regarding the Rushmore TwinCool system leaking out most or all of the fluid . . . Is this a rare occurence - or something more involved? My FXDC is my first Harley, first motorcycle in years since I was in college (CB450) and its been 100% reliable. I do my own work, and maintain it myself according to the recommended intervals. So far, I've no problems with it . . . I hope its the same with the touring bikes. The thought of letting my FXDC go in a trade or sale is depressing . . . I might have to keep it!
Mark
Trending Topics
You can get an ultra or limited, and strip it back to streetglide, or build a streetglide up to ultra or limited.
They're the same chasis, with different accoutrements.
Myself, I'm not cool enough to feel the need to take my tourpak off.
I kind of like having it there.
They're the same chasis, with different accoutrements.
Myself, I'm not cool enough to feel the need to take my tourpak off.
I kind of like having it there.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Verdad Gallardo
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 1
From: Front Royal, VA
Forums tend to amplify problems. The 2014 has had a few recalls and each issue has been addressed. I bought mine in August 2014, had one recall, one part I broke, and 5500 miles of bliss. Even the Infotainment system works fine if you don't let the little things annoy you.