Ultra's Ugly Lowers
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 3
From: California
Yes, the old lowers will fit. I put them on my new bike. I was going to order the new lowers and sell my old ones, but found the new ones were harder to open and close (both the vents and the plastic flap). I put the magnetic ones on a couple years ago and got used to just flipping them up to close them.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 34
From: Maryland
Last week I went by the dealer to see the '14's but they only had a Street Glide and a Ultra Limited in stock, so I didn't get to see a bike with lowers but no twin-cooling. Do the new lowers still have doors like the older models, or do you have to buy from the P&A?
I never used the dang things anyway and put speakers there. I heard someone say a speaker mod is already in the Harley accessories catalog.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Oh wait!
Beary
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
Yes, they have doors. It clicks open and closed by pushing on the door. It opens real easy but I had to push a lot harder than expected to get it closed. I think it is an improvement over the buttons. I have never used the magnetic but I've heard people say the magnetic are best.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 26
I got my first up-close look at the new 2014 touring bikes this weekend. The Ultra, to my surprise, doesn't have the new twin-cooled engine. But, they have the same lower fairings as the Limited that has the radiators. Instead of making lowers specifically for the Ultra they just put a piece of plastic in the hole where the radiator grills are on the Limited. In my opinion, this detracts from the looks of the Ultra. I know it's a cost savings to do it this way, but why didn't they just make the Ultra lowers without the radiator openings? I also agree with the posts that compare the saddlebag lid opener with a commode flush handle. Other than these two issues I had with the Ultra, I like what they have done to the new touring bikes. I especially liked the touch screen on the Limited. Also, I didn't think the air duct on the fairing looked bad, and if it cuts down on the buffeting that's a big plus.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
I am happy you like all the changes. I am disappointed that they are such a drastic departure style wise from the past. That makes me a hater?
I like chrome and light bars and big directionals. Going away from those makes them more like a metric. I am allowed to like tradition. You are the one bringing "hate" into it.
All the touring lowers are ugly, the best looking ones of the bunch were the 04-05, and they've gotten more homely with each redesign. On the other hand, as they've gotten uglier, they've also gained functionality (vents, speakers, radiators), so I suppose it's a tradeoff.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 876
Likes: 4
From: Waskom, TX
If they are going to make all touring bikes water cooled in the future, they are going to have to come up with a different place for the radiators than lower fairings. Not everyone wants to run lowers on their bikes. Some people actually think they are ugly as hell, with or w/o a radiatior stuck in 'em.
Shakey
Shakey
David
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Road Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 3
From: Mass.
Ye know, I had an '05 Yamaha FJR1300 and that SOB would cook, no, parboil my legs. I have far less issues with my air cooled bike than the water cooled one.
I won't buy a bike that won't allow me to remove the lowers in the summer. Too bad 'cause I like the new bags. I've complained about the two handed covers for years.
I won't buy a bike that won't allow me to remove the lowers in the summer. Too bad 'cause I like the new bags. I've complained about the two handed covers for years.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 452
Likes: 2
From:
Ye know, I had an '05 Yamaha FJR1300 and that SOB would cook, no, parboil my legs. I have far less issues with my air cooled bike than the water cooled one.
I won't buy a bike that won't allow me to remove the lowers in the summer. Too bad 'cause I like the new bags. I've complained about the two handed covers for years.
I won't buy a bike that won't allow me to remove the lowers in the summer. Too bad 'cause I like the new bags. I've complained about the two handed covers for years.