My first HD
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 783
Likes: 66
From: Sacramento
Congrats on your new ride. I was a sport bike rider for years (Kawasaki Z1 900, Kawasaki GPZ 550, Honda CBX, Suzuki 1200 bandit) before I gave myself my divorce present (07 Street Glide). No more strapping crap to my seat, begging for spare saddlebag space or sore shoulders and neck when riding more than 150 miles in a day. With my performance adders, suspension improvements and frame stabilizer, sport bike riders are actually impressed that a bagger performs to that level. What have I sacrificed? Mainly money. Why? Because this bike is kick *** and the potential is truly incredible. Have fun and be safe.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 346
Likes: 2
From: Buller Louisiana
I rode a 1700 Roadstar which was great. To me the Ultra 09 I now have handles better at even parking lot speeds. Just watch that front brake. If that front wheel ain't straigh when stopping it can be tough.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 903
Likes: 8
From: California
After owning many bikes over my 63 years I finally bought my first Harley; a new 2011 FLHTCU. I traded in a 1999 Yamaha 1600 Road Star so I thought I knew how to ride big bikes. How wrong I was. Anything above 15 mph it rides like my Road Star but better. Anything under 15 mph and I'm as nervous as a new bride on her wedding night. This thing is really a handful and I found out real quick to stay off the front brake after dropping it at a stop sign on a hill; how embarrassing can it get. I'm gradually getting more confident on it but it has made me re-learn the basics on low speed bike handling.
By the way it is black so of course a dust magnet. Any good solutions for keeping the dust under control without having to wash every time I ride? Thanks for your help.
By the way it is black so of course a dust magnet. Any good solutions for keeping the dust under control without having to wash every time I ride? Thanks for your help.
As far as keeping her clean well she is black so your are going to have to deal with cleaning more often, no mystery about that.
Enjoy the new bike shes dream to ride which you tame her.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
From: Grand Rapids MI
Did you buy your Roadie in 99'? How many miles you put on her?
My 99 Roadie only has 87,000 (damn short Michigan season) but i kept her and will for life, great bike!
Congrats on the new scoot.
My 99 Roadie only has 87,000 (damn short Michigan season) but i kept her and will for life, great bike!
Congrats on the new scoot.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 371
Likes: 1
From: RI
Road Star has a much lower center of gravity especially with the TP. You may want to find an empty school lot and practice some slow speed maneuvers there. You already found the first key, to stay off the front brake when going slow. It is magnified when you have a passenger on board. Get to know the friction zone of your clutch as it is different from the RS as well. Floorboard extensions helped me as well as they moved my foot out an inch. And a brake pedal extension for comfort. There is also a good video floating around here on how to pick up your bike if it drops.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
Thanks again for the welcome.
Tazzrider, I bought the 1999 Road Star a year ago but it only had 3700 miles. I put 7000 more miles on it in 9 months! Great bike but the seat was lower plus the CG. Good for local runs but a 600 mile 2 day trip was more than me or my wife could take.
Looking forward to putting some miles on the Ultra. Planning on a trip through the Colorado Rockies in July; will tow trailer to CO then multi-day ride in the mountains.
Tazzrider, I bought the 1999 Road Star a year ago but it only had 3700 miles. I put 7000 more miles on it in 9 months! Great bike but the seat was lower plus the CG. Good for local runs but a 600 mile 2 day trip was more than me or my wife could take.
Looking forward to putting some miles on the Ultra. Planning on a trip through the Colorado Rockies in July; will tow trailer to CO then multi-day ride in the mountains.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 106
From: Colorado Front Range
Congrats on the new bike. You will love it. Plenty of great bikes out there but as you now know, nothing feels like HD.
Regarding slow-speed and advanced maneuvers, pick up the Ride-like-a-Pro CD, fun stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDfyDRXapKg
Regarding slow-speed and advanced maneuvers, pick up the Ride-like-a-Pro CD, fun stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDfyDRXapKg