Considering an Ultra Classic
Here's what I went to. Love everything but the weight.
The bike is priced at $8,995. I would be trading my Fatboy in and hopefully coming out on top. But I have yet to even talk to the dealer to see what kind of deal I could make. I would love to have a 103 (what my Fatboy has) but I don't think my budget will allow that. In the end I might end up keeping the Fatboy a little while longer until I can afford something newer with less miles and a 103 if possible.
As for the mileage, I was kind of thinking what was said above, if it has had any issues I would think they have already been addressed. And if I would get it and end up needing major work down the road it would be the perfect time to step it up to a 103. But right now it's just an idea for me. I'll decide once I see it in person and see how it runs.
I just picked up a 09 UC two weeks ago at a Honda dealer. 18K on the clock, all the service receipts and add-on receipts. Paid $9250 all in. Bike has true duels, PCV tuner, slip-ons and several add-on goodies. Clean as a pin and runs great.
Last edited by LA=lower arkansas; Jun 13, 2018 at 06:59 PM.
I'm looking at a 2009 Ultra Classic with 76,000 miles (haven't seen it in person yet). I was told not to worry about the mileage but I'm still unsure.. I'm sure that if it was taken care of and properly maintained it should be fine, but you just never know when buying used bikes. I know it has a 96ci but what transmission will it have? Also, is 09 the year they got the bigger back tire? What other goodies will it have?? This would be a big step up for me so I'm curious what all I'd be gaining.
Open to all comments and info. Only way I can make the trade is if it's in my favor, so I'm not 100% on the deal yet .Plus I still need to go look at it actually.
If you are looking at getting into an Ultra Classic, coming from a 2012 Fatboy w/103, I'd look at a 2014 with the 103. Also, the 2014 had CB as standard too, plus the Boom Box radio Navigation system.
Going from a 2012 Fatboy to a 2009 Ultra Classic is stepping backwards in time. You're spending your money foolishly, in my opinion.
As far as the mileage goes, older bikes with low mileage scare me more than the one's with what other people say is high mileage. An 09 with less than 20,000 miles on it means it has spent a long time in the garage and short bar hopping. Some of those bikes still have the original tires which at 9 years old are a ticking time bomb. The seals are probably dry and waiting for leaks. "Higher mileage" bikes are used regularly and are usually maintained well. The 96 in the 09 is exactly the same as my 08 RK. The engine is good for over 100,000 miles easy. Mine was still running fine at 112,000 miles when I got the itch and the money to upgrade it. Based on the mileage you are putting on your fat boy and expect to put on an Ultra, how long will it take you to get to over 100,000 miles. You have that much time to save for the upgrade. My guess the original owner took good care of it and got the itch for a new bike with the M8 engine and traded up before the mileage got what everyone would consider high.
Your *** can't handle it because your a big guy on a softail. When you get on a touring bike with a fairing, smooth ride, tunes, and hopefully anything but a stock seat, you will be amazed how far you can go between stops. Especially with some foot pegs on the engine guards so you can move your feet around. It's going to be heavier which adds to the smooth ride on the highway. The fairing makes the steering heavier and it will have a higher center of gravity than you are used too but you will get used to all of it fairly quickly. I miss my softail but once I got on a touring model, I'll never look back. You're going to loose some power going from a fatboy with a 103 to an Ultra with a 96 but it will have plenty to go down the highway without a problem.
Good luck on finding a bike that speaks to you.
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