Hi everyone. I've just joined because I am looking at buying a full touring bike and would appreciate your input on the UC. I currently have a Yamaha Road Star Silverado and have looked at the 07 Ultra Classic just yesterday. What a great looking bike. Unfortunately it's starting to be winter here and test rides are done for the year.

I have a few questions and would appreciate your advice.


1) My RS has very slight vibration at 60mph. Does the UC have the same or is it smooth?
2) I've heard the UC has excess heat issues from the motor. Is this true?
3) I've heard the HK stereo is not all that good. Your comments would be appreciated.
4) How is the slow speed handling?
5) What do you like most about the UC?
6) What do you like the least about the UC?

Thanks for your help.....

 

1) My RS has very slight vibration at 60mph. Does the UC have the same or is it smooth?
Smooth like Butter.

2) I've heard the UC has excess heat issues from the motor. Is this true?
Whats Excessive? Your thighs will never get cold. Do a stage 1 with a PCIII and you will correct the lean/hot condition the MOCO is forced to ship you from the factory.

3) I've heard the HK stereo is not all that good. Your comments would be appreciated.
I disagree with that statement - Mine has been awesome!

4) How is the slow speed handling?
Depends on your experience level with that bike. Get "Ride Like a Pro IV" practice the drills and you will handle it like a champ. That goes for any slow speed handling with any bike.

5) What do you like most about the UC?
Taking trips with the little woman - cruising long distances in comfort with plenty of storage room.
Its looks are classic. The three headlights gets noticed more than the single light. The lowers for those wet or cold rides. The Stereo - playing a cd with 125 songs in MP3 format (who needs XM with that). The Intercom - again on long cooler rides the wife & I will have our 3/4 helmets with the headsets - A mute button when needed. Outside the paint - look close and you will not see any UC that looks like any other. Oops out of milk again - taking the bike to the store, C-ya in 6 hours. I can go on......

6) What do you like the least about the UC?
I guess I wish the MOCO could ship them with the stage I and PCIII installed and tour pak with the quick detach installed. But, thats just me. Oh - And get rid of the damn ambient temp guage and put in the oil temp guage.

Mark

PS - Welcome to the forum.

 

An Ultra from any year is the top of the line. The stereo is just that...a radio that you can hear while your pipes are singing. The HK unit has a lot of great cabilities.

My UC is a 2004 and I upgraded from a 1992 FXSTC Softail and it handles much better and rides more comfortably than the softail ever thought about.

You can't go wrong with the new engine at 96 Cubic Inches either.

Good luck!

 

I got my ultra in Sept of this year and I love it. I changed from a Victory Kingpin that I really liked but I really wanted a full touring bike. I thought HD would be the last bike that I would buy but man am I glad that I did. Did around 750 miles this past weekend in East TN and never got tired of riding. Lots of hours on back mountain roads so the 750 miles translates to about 30hrs in the saddle. The bike handles great! I tell people it handle more like a small bike (to me) It is easy to turn and handles the twisties very well. The stock seat to me is perfect. never had any butt pain and rode 8hrs straight two days. I think the stereo is awsome. I have no problem hearing at highway speeds. I like the fact you can pug an Ipod or MP3 player in--bla bla bla - I could keep going and going. The only issue that I have is the heat on a hot day. Ofcourse on cool days it is no plroblem. I am planning to do the stage 1 and PCIII this winter and I hope it helps. There is also heat sheilds that you can buy that blocks the heat. Good luck

 

I had a 06 Dyna Superglide and after a 2300 mile trip from Dallas to Utah I traded and got the 06 Ultra. This was the best choice I could have made. Smooth at 80 mph. Radio is great. Added XM, amp and Hog Tune speakers. Love the cruse control and storage compartments.

 

I had a 1999 Silverado, wanted a touring bike. Looked at GoldWings, BMW and Yamaha Venture (I've owned nothing but Yamahas sine 1979, felt they were some of the better bikes made). I didn't consider HD at the time although IMHO they had come a long way by 2005. I eventually decided on the Venture. When I heard the beating I was going to take in trade or resale "yet again" I just got fed up and decided to look at HD for nothing more than resale value. I know that I trade bikes in every 4 or 5 years.

I loved the look of the HD. Not very different than the Yamaha Midnight Venture I was looking at.

I was shocked at how hot the bike ran! In fact I took the bike back and thought there was something wrong and was told, nope, HD's run that hot. It was almost too hot to ride in the summer. Engine oil was never below 270 degrees. My air cooled Silverado never, and I mean never felt like this. I know it's apples to oranges, but still.

Yes I put on Stage1, slip-on pipes, dyno, PCIII etc... even put on RJ's cool thighs product. With parts and labor on all of this:
1500.00. The bike runs much cooler, but, still freaking hot!

Now, I love my bike. Love the looks, comfort etc... Original cost around 22K. I must have 28K into it now with add ons, chrome, GPS, Corbin etc.. Rides like a dream, took it down to NC from MA last year, no issues. Came back from NC to MA 900 miles in 1 day. (That's why I got the Corbin ;-) )

Radio was/is fine on the 2005 different radio on the 2007. But I did get the Hogtunes front and back, much better speakers. No
vibrations to speak of at any spead, handles great at low or high spead. Ride like a pro is a great product well worth the few bucks.

Bike is fantastic, a little loud for my taste even with a quieter slip on (SE slip-ons) but I'm very, VERY happy with it and not sorry at all that I went with the HD over the Venture. Although I'm sure I'd be happy with the venture as I still think Yamaha makes one of the better foreign bikes out there.

What do I like most: Can't put my finger on it exactly, I ride more now than I ever have. 11K miles in 18 months. What do I like
least

Just my .02
Joe

 

I know he's looking at a newer 'Glide, but, having owned about 30 bikes and worked and ridden on plenty of cruisers, deressers and sport bikes, I will make this comment.

Too bad for me that I spent 37 years riding everything except a Harley. Now, 5 months and about 5,000 miles later, I still can't wipe the grin off my face when I ride. It is absolutely the most enjoyable scooter I've ever ridden. And with my wife on the back... only Heaven could be a better place to be.

 

I bought my first Harley UC in August 2006. Love it.
That feeling that you are having a hard time putting your finger on is SOUL. The Harley's have it others don't.
Now don't get me wrong. I have owned 5 other bikes in my life and was proud of each and every one of them on day 1. But man
this Harley is flat out cool. It is hot but that just part of it.

I put on the Zeppelin seat and that is nice. Love the radio and CB with intercom. Anyway. They can be front heavy if you going real slow(1-10MPH) don't pull the front brake, But other than that , Buy it, grin and say the hell with everyone else.

 

Ok, on September 7, I bought my first Harley and I bought a 2007 Ultra. On September 6, I was a V-Star Silverado owner.

I don't have years of Harley ownership to fall back on, but I have owned several Yamahas. I'm 36 and during my spare time I'm a part-time musician and sound tech.

On the road my Ultra is the smoothest I have ever ridden, if it wasn't it would have gone back. Wife was riding with me on the V-Star on weekend trips up to 500 miles per day and it was killing her back. Now no matter how far we go she says she could have ridden farther.

My bike is hot. Actually it is HOT! When I bought it I knew I would change out the stock pipes for that "Harley" sound and so I am not so upset about putting another $1-$2K into it and that will get rid of the heat as someone else has already pointed out. I started a thread somewhere on here about my "Pipes Glowing in the Dark" there is some good info on there.

H/K stereo...As far as I am concerned the stereo is a great unit. It does all things well and out performs my expectations many times. The stock speakers on the other hand, don't cut it. I like lots of bass in my music mixes and even with the bass turned up to the max it is pretty lame. I have a small home recording studio and even tried mixing my music REALLY bass heavy and downloading it to MP3 CDs still no thump. I'm pretty sure that I will never be satisfied because the mounting area only holds a 4" speaker front and six inch back. I thought about putting a sub in the Tour Pack and quickly dismissed it (where would I put the laptop). Besides you wouldn't be able to take advantage of the air compression you get in a cage. So don't be expecting great thumping bass with this stereo. It is setup to be clear at high way speeds. One side note: if you use the helmet mounted intercom speakers the bass is much better.

My Ulta is 200 pounds heavier than my V-Star and handles at all speeds 200 times better. It's a Harley.

The thing I like the best so far about my Ultra is its customizability (don't know if that is a word). I like the idea that over the next months and years this will be my own rolling personal statement of who I am.

I have a payment...I'd have to say that is what I like the least. It's gonna be hard making that payment in winter when there is no hope of riding.

C'mon Spring!!!!

Nate

 

Its the top of the line in touring comfort!!