RKC .vs. Ultra
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 239
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RKC .vs. Ultra
Have a 06' RKC...test road an Ultra yesterday
Are the front and rear shocks the same? The Ultra had a much, much better ride then the RKC, would the weight of the fairing & tour pak make that much of a difference? Could it be the tires (tubes vs. tubeless)
What kind of seat do folks use to sit you back from the "dash" felt like I was way to close.
Is the Ultra worth the $2k more then the EG Classic?
I am not normally a fairing type of person, but after riding with one. You really don't pay attention to it.
Are the front and rear shocks the same? The Ultra had a much, much better ride then the RKC, would the weight of the fairing & tour pak make that much of a difference? Could it be the tires (tubes vs. tubeless)
What kind of seat do folks use to sit you back from the "dash" felt like I was way to close.
Is the Ultra worth the $2k more then the EG Classic?
I am not normally a fairing type of person, but after riding with one. You really don't pay attention to it.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
From: Pekin, IN
RE: RKC .vs. Ultra
I do think the shocks are the same. I agree the ride is better than a Road King. Maybe a combonation of the extra weight and the seating position. I traded a Road King Custom for the Ultra, the shocks were different in my case.
Is it worth the extra 2k? I thought so. The Ultra is standard with cruise control, beefier stereo, vented lowers, tour pak lights/brake lights, fairing wind deflectors. As for the feeling of being "too close" to the fairing, I remember feeling the same thing, but quickly got used to it. I think that is due to the more upright seating postition on the Ultra which has great benefits when it comes to comfort on a long distance ride. I get much less lower back fatigue on the Ultra vs the Road King. I had the Ultra since January and put just over 6000 miles on it. Much of that in the cold weather. I attribute that to the lower fairings allowing me to be comfortable in lower temps. Conversly, now that its warm, the vents in the lowers allow enough air flow to keep me cool.
I give the Ultra a thumbs up[sm=smiley20.gif]
Steve[sm=icon_rock.gif]
Is it worth the extra 2k? I thought so. The Ultra is standard with cruise control, beefier stereo, vented lowers, tour pak lights/brake lights, fairing wind deflectors. As for the feeling of being "too close" to the fairing, I remember feeling the same thing, but quickly got used to it. I think that is due to the more upright seating postition on the Ultra which has great benefits when it comes to comfort on a long distance ride. I get much less lower back fatigue on the Ultra vs the Road King. I had the Ultra since January and put just over 6000 miles on it. Much of that in the cold weather. I attribute that to the lower fairings allowing me to be comfortable in lower temps. Conversly, now that its warm, the vents in the lowers allow enough air flow to keep me cool.
I give the Ultra a thumbs up[sm=smiley20.gif]
Steve[sm=icon_rock.gif]
ORIGINAL: wuznme
Have a 06' RKC...test road an Ultra yesterday
Are the front and rear shocks the same? The Ultra had a much, much better ride then the RKC, would the weight of the fairing & tour pak make that much of a difference? Could it be the tires (tubes vs. tubeless)
What kind of seat do folks use to sit you back from the "dash" felt like I was way to close.
Is the Ultra worth the $2k more then the EG Classic?
I am not normally a fairing type of person, but after riding with one. You really don't pay attention to it.
Have a 06' RKC...test road an Ultra yesterday
Are the front and rear shocks the same? The Ultra had a much, much better ride then the RKC, would the weight of the fairing & tour pak make that much of a difference? Could it be the tires (tubes vs. tubeless)
What kind of seat do folks use to sit you back from the "dash" felt like I was way to close.
Is the Ultra worth the $2k more then the EG Classic?
I am not normally a fairing type of person, but after riding with one. You really don't pay attention to it.
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
From: Elkridge, MD
RE: RKC .vs. Ultra
For me, I am not into the fairing bikes - but then I also do not believe a stereo has any place on a bike and hand operated clutches are a luxury. When I finally pull the trigger on my next bike, It will likely be a RKC - it comes standard with cruise and with an aftermarket seat seems very comfortable - but comfort is all perspective, it depends on what you are used to - for me a RKC is like riding a giant marshmellow.
All that said, I am afraid to try out an ultra - I am worried I may like it too much and could even get used to that Dog Kennel on the back.[8D]
All that said, I am afraid to try out an ultra - I am worried I may like it too much and could even get used to that Dog Kennel on the back.[8D]
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
RE: RKC .vs. Ultra
I've put enough miles on an Ultra to know and appreciate its "virtues," but I can't figure out what some of you are experiencing when you say an Ultra gives a better ride than a RK. Once I get into the RK seat, I'm good to go all day and into the night. And I prefer the RK to do riding drills or when powering through curvies and twisties, mainly due to the more attentive "position" that your ride is naturally on a RK configuration. The Ultra, with moving you further up a little, puts you into a more upright position that takes away from optimum speed performance, and you'll find yourself moving back into the seat as far as you can and bending forward some to get that RK position back ready to pay that fired up attention you need for those times you want to "cruise" more than you want to "tour." So, like most things, it's mas o menos, whatever turns you on, but I'm always down with the clown when it comes to a Road King. The Ultras are great bikes, too, and I love um' but, man, give me the "big" air and sound, nothing to cover the face of that beautiful Hiawatha lamp and let me ride!
Ride to enjoy,
axe11
Ride to enjoy,
axe11
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: Citizen of the Republic of Texas, now in GA
RE: RKC .vs. Ultra
Gotta go with Bigfoot and Axe11 ... what the devil is a sound system doing on a motorcycle? You got the music of the road.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 25
From: St George, UT
RE: RKC .vs. Ultra
Y'know...when I bought my first Harley in over 20 years, I really liked the standard. I bought a used '99, put a back rest on it for the wife. I was a happy guy. My last Harley, a '79, was much like the EL Classic is today, except no radio. Three weeks after I bought the Standard, we spotted the Pearl White Ultra in the dealer show room. My wife said she liked the passenger back rest, and the other amenities too. Well, we gave them back the Standard, and haven't looked back yet. I have test ridden Road Kings and Heritage Softails and count them possible bikes for me to enjoy. But I can only have one motorcycle, and the Ultra does it for me. I like to do long haul runs and the Ultra performs them great. It is also good for riding around the back roads here in Color Country Utah. I think it is a great all around useful bike, without reservation. Granted, it is an expensive motorcycle to own and maintain, but then anything of this caliber will be.
I am too old to think of owning another bike down the road, so this is the epitome for me.
I am too old to think of owning another bike down the road, so this is the epitome for me.