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Silver lining?

Old Mar 29, 2011 | 11:59 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by slhanks4
When I joined the forum nearly a year ago, my goal was to find out the straight dope on HD touring bikes as I was planning to replace my aging ride. I have been riding a 2007 Kawasaki 1600 Nomad since buying it new. Two weeks ago, I went down and it looks like my Nomad will be totaled by my insurance company. Fortunately, my injuries were mostly superficial and my road rash is almost completely healed.

However, there may be a silver lining to my cloud of misfortune. This is my opportunity to buy a new Harley. I am considering a 2011 EG Classic or UCEG. Any thoughts, advice, etc?
I will give you my two cents here, as I recently traded in my Road King Classic and went home with the Ultra Limited.

First and foremost you have to be realistic about your riding needs, ie: how much do you ride two up, do you put on a lot of miles, how much storage do you need/or don't, what's the weather like in your area during riding season, etc.

In "MY" case, I am much younger than who people seem to expect to ride a Limited, but it's the bike that "best" fit "my" needs.

My wife rides a lot, not so much as of late because our second born is on the way. Once she sat on the limited on the showroom floor I was done. She has speakers back there, volume control, backrest pad with armrest, etc. I think whether I wanted to or not, I would have ended up with this bike lol.

I ride a lot, at least compared to those locally who I usually ride with, my first week I clocked 1K miles and I didn't even get to ride as much as I wanted. The suspension on this thing is great, rides like a cadillac, the seat sits me further forward than I would like but it is very comfortable, I got a fairing, music, heated grips (which I have used a few times already), the tourpak, my gauges have silver faces, advanced audio, leg lowers (vented), etc. I would have thought for sure I NEVER would have used the tourpak, heated grips, or lowers. When it's too hot I open the lowers up and I'm good, in the rain I close them and I'm good, the tourpak holds a lot of my stuff, I can charge my cell phone while I ride, I love having music now that I didn't before. I have the 103 motor, ABS, cruise, and security standard on this model, price out the EG and add the power pak and see how much you're off from the cost of the limited.

Anything I don't or didn't want I could make detachable, haven't done that yet. I got use to the looks of the tourpak and I use it ALL the time, and the cost of making it detachable is not cheap, even if doing it yourself. That's half my stage 1 upgrade, or money for many other things. The lowers will most likely come off soon as it's heating up again good down here already.

The bottom line is, if I had bought the street glide with the 103 that I was looking at, the ride wouldn't have been as smooth, and in the end I would have spent more than the Limited cost to just have the things I "thought" I would use. I do not regret my decision one bit, I'm all for my bike looking good, but function is number one for me and the way I ride (long trips, 2 up most of the time). Everyone's situation is different, just a few things to consider, I know I have been skipping around on things, but just trying to make sure I covered everything I wanted to.

I caught the dealer on a slower month and they wanted to deal, I was looking for a SG with the power pak, or a Vivid Black EG, instead I left with a Limited in Two Tone Candy Root beer.
 

Last edited by Fire-Medic; Mar 29, 2011 at 12:02 PM.
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 12:15 PM
  #12  
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I am a heavy-duty rider. I live in Phoenix, so I ride 12 months a year and usually plan one or two large cross-country rides each year. This year, it's the Smoky Mountains, about a 5,000 mile round trip. I ride solo, but carrying capacity is a must, so I do want the tourpak. I put 52,000 trouble free miles on my Nomad since September 2007. My Nomad was equipped with a fairing and king tourpak, and the standard Nomad hard bags. I want a full dress touring machine.
 
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 12:19 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by slhanks4
I am a heavy-duty rider. I live in Phoenix, so I ride 12 months a year and usually plan one or two large cross-country rides each year. This year, it's the Smoky Mountains, about a 5,000 mile round trip. I ride solo, but carrying capacity is a must, so I do want the tourpak. I put 52,000 trouble free miles on my Nomad since September 2007. My Nomad was equipped with a fairing and king tourpak, and the standard Nomad hard bags. I want a full dress touring machine.
Looks to me then brother, like you just answered your own question

My previous post was not to sway you to the Limited, but rather keep you looking at the full dressers, as folks always say buy a SG and add things later. With the way you ride you need the full dresser. Now it's just up to you to decide which one, as with the Road Glide Ultra in the mix now there are a few options. Just remember to test ride before you buy, then there will be no doubts.

Good luck!
 
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 12:25 PM
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After what you posted, get the Ultra and the 103 is a must you will be thoroughly pleased.
 
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 12:27 PM
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He may have answered his own question but that just brings up another? Limited 103 or stock 96? Darn what a choice.
 
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Silverearl
He may have answered his own question but that just brings up another? Limited 103 or stock 96? Darn what a choice.
Yup I faced the same question, went with the Limited 103 because it wasn't much more than an EG with the power pack. And if I was gonna trade up I wanted the 103, especially with the wife on half the time now at that point and coming from the RK with the 96. A lot of guys on here say it's not that big a difference but to "me" it is, especially with the heavier bike.
 
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 05:18 PM
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Okay, thanks for the input folks. I went at lunch and put a deposit on a 2011 Ultra Classic Limited in psychedelic purple/vivid black. It has everything I wanted and then some. I should be back on 2 wheels by the weekend.
 
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 05:33 PM
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Welcome aboard Brother!
 
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 09:02 PM
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I think i may have seen that bike at Chester's when i was there Saturday. Nice!
 
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 09:17 PM
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Scott,
Sorry about your Nomad. I have owned both a 1500 and 1600 Nomad. They are terrific bikes. There will be some things that you like about your new Harley, and some things that you'll miss about your Nomad. Enjoy your new ride!
By the way, I'm on a Street Glide now. Great bike!
 
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