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Jul 26, 2023 | 12:15 PM

#21

RKZen

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 6,080

Likes: 1,957

From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail

OP what are the model years of your Ultra vs the SG? If the SG is significantly newer, then it might be the better option.

Jul 26, 2023 | 12:24 PM

#22

ozzy49938

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Jun 2015

Posts: 152

Likes: 33

From: Mich.

My ultra was a 2010. The SG I am considering is a 2019.

Jul 26, 2023 | 03:12 PM

#23

mike131

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 1,539

Likes: 692

From: magnolia tx

I have an 07 SG, my wife rides on the back a lot, I have a sundowner seat on it, just changed original shocks for the new style HD adjustable on 2014 and up, take offs from e bay for $150 bucks, I don't know why people talk so crap about the factory shocks 2014 and up, my bike rides fantastic now, the wife is supper happy, I'm just not paying $1000-$2000 bucks for a set of shocks

Jul 26, 2023 | 03:12 PM

#24

skratch

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 20,616

Likes: 4,440

From: anacoco, la

you already have the seat and the tourpack. change out the shocks and for all intents and purposes, you'll have the same bike.

you say you're short. let me give you my experience as a short rider. 28'' inseam, 5'4'' tall. i ride a 2019 roadglide special. i have changed out the rear shocks with 13'' legends, and the ride is actually lower than stock. the legends have some sag. the stock harley shocks i couldn't get any sag out of. also, i replaced the front springs with the legend axeo cartridges which actually drop the front end 3/4'' as well. can i flatfoot? no. do i feel like that is a bad thing? also no. i just pay attention to where i am parking and never park with my nose facing downhill.

Jul 26, 2023 | 03:38 PM

#25

downzero

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 2,328

Likes: 2,205

Quote:

Originally Posted by skratch

I'm not much taller than you, and the real pain in the *** is backing up. I can flat foot on my Street Glide, but I can't bend my knees very well, which means that pushing the bike backwards is a pain because I can't get much leverage over the massive weight and I only get a little "push" each time I extend my legs. My actual inseam is perhaps 1/2" longer than yours; I'm sure it's even more of a pain for you. If I had an Ultra, I probably would have to lower it.

I am running the 13" long Super Shox with their mount that moves the shock back a bit, so my ride height at least in theory should be approximately stock for my bike. The front is unaltered as far as I know. My primary motivation for clicking on this thread was actually to see what everyone is doing in the front. I don't have any intention of lowering mine but I wouldn't mind making it more progressive in front and gaining some control over the dampers.

Jul 27, 2023 | 11:22 PM

#26

grumpyray

Stage II

Joined: May 2022

Posts: 2

Likes: 0

From: SC

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozzy49938

Yes the bike I am looking at has a mustang seat and the tour back on it already. The current owner also says it is not a very good two up bike, but he feels it could be. Just trying to see who has tried to change to =e ride and how it worked out.

look at air hawk seats thay have air bags built into them put one on my road glide for long rides road from Cleveland to myrtle beach in one day with no pains best seat I ever got worth every penny

Jul 28, 2023 | 09:13 AM

#27

RKZen

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 6,080

Likes: 1,957

From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozzy49938

My ultra was a 2010. The SG I am considering is a 2019.

I would be very tempted to go with the new bike.

Jul 29, 2023 | 04:06 AM

#28

Notgrownup

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 24,711

Likes: 9,214

From: Snow Hill, NC

Measure three twice and cut once. Go to dealerships and sit on bikes after bikes.

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Jul 29, 2023 | 08:02 AM

#29

JINKSTER

Road Master

Joined: Feb 2019

Posts: 1,143

Likes: 950

From: Port Saint Lucie, FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozzy49938

I am looking at going from an ultra to a SG. My research says this is not a good idea if you do a lot of two up riding. Which i do. Does anyone have some suggestions for making it a smooth ride. The ole lady enjoys riding, and I would like to keep her comfortable. Am I better off just sticking with the ultra? Was also thinking maybe a low as I am shorter. The I read a lot on losing suspension with the ultra low. They are discontinued so must ne a reason. Looking for everyone's thoughts.

Thanks

I recently traded my 2022 Heritage in on a 2020 SGS where someone threw their wallet at the engine and a sound system and I just had the saddle bags off yesterday for a good cleaning and to check out tire air pressure and the suspension setting and I say "setting" because only one of the stock 12" rear shocks has an adjustment and I'm guessing that adjustment is only for compression damping with big numbers for heavy/stiffer and low numbers for light/softer.

I was kind of horrified that the compression damping wasn't even linked to both shocks and seemingly only affected the left rear shock but at the end of the day it's really the springing and the ability to adjust spring preload that's going to make or break ride quality wherecompression damping is just a cheap way out to offer up some single source adjustment and controllability but lets put things in perspective here because what we have is about 800 freaking pounds of sprung weight and then throw (2) 200lb riders onboard and you have 1200lbs of laden weight but wait because then there's also what's in your saddlebags/tour pack and what was it we were concerning ourselves with again? Oh yeah...ride quality...let honeycakes eat a few more cheeseburgers then stiffen up the compression setting, drop a couple pounds of tire air pressure and she'll ride like a cadillac take it from Queenie...