Before you buy a Harley

Always wondered why my father stayed with his softail instead of upgrading and thats what he said too. And he's got a point. I got my hands full with the Ultra but its the best 2 up tourer in the HD line.

Don't worry, when HD makes water cooled, they will still be making air cooled.
They have way too many folks who do not want water cooled and are loyal customers. HD don't want to cut their had off.
And will not buy water cooled.
Already been told by HD.

If you are not used to riding the Ultras you just got to learn how to handle the weight.
Sit down on the bike and turn the wheels to the right and pick it up off the kick stand while using your legs and back. It will make it a little easier.
And as you handle the weight, it will build you up more.
Do not lean the bike when you are going slow and turning. It will fall over.
Turn the front wheel while the bike is up staight.
When you are going slow use the back brakes only.
Look at the angle on hills, make sure you back the bike in so you ain't got to git somebody to help you back it up

And know a big bike ain't gonna stop like a smaller bike. so don't git on folks tailgate, give yourself some room.

You are on a Heavy weight bike now man.


If you already know this great.

I lowered both ends of the limited with Harley's lowering kit and it makes all the difference in the world in the parking lot and stopping on the street two up. It was the difference between being almost flat footed to being completely flat footed. I am not very good at full lock turns with a passenger yet though..it is heavy.

I been thinking about that and have a couple concerns...Do you ride 2 up? If so how is the dampening over the bumps when 2 up?

Thanks for the input. I been riding Ultra's since 2007. And the first year it was a very difficult adjustment. I dropped her twice that first year. I put on a reach seat and that helped but turning a right hand corner especially going up a hill at the same time was scary and I couldn't do it with a passenger. CHanged the handle bars because the stock bars on the 2001 were to narrow in my opinion.

The turning point for me was when some one reccomended "Ride Like a Pro" video. That helped. Alot. The key instruction of "looking where you are going as you are going and you will automatically go in that direct" was the ticket that worked for me.

Fast forward to today I've overcome my Ultra demons but still need to be wary of certain things more so and especially when two up.

I been tearing up the roads ever since..been to Nova Scotia/ Ashville,NC/Key West/Pigeon Forge,TN/San Diego,CA/Paintsville,KY/ Outer Banks,NC/Marble Falls AR to name a few and nothing beats an Ultra for 2 up touring.

All Greek to me! What IS it about men's minds that can deal with this stuff? It's breaking my brain!!!

I gave most of my biker magazines to my next door neighbor b/c I didn't know what in the hell they were talking about! LOL!

Well, I'm glad someone understands this stuff...I depend on my mechanics to get it right!

I ride two up pulling a trailer so the bike is weighted down pretty good. If we hit a big enough bump the back end will hit pretty hard. There may be some aftermarket shocks that dampen better than the shorter harley shocks but I would still lower it just to be in control of the bike when it is stopped. No trailer and riding alone there is absolutely no problem except for slightly less cornering clearance.

And answer me this , he is a real authority on that Huh......:roflmao:

Thanks for the honest explaination. Me and wife ride 2 up and loaded down. I'm 210 and I'll say she's 110 in case she reads this. I am flat footed just not as knee bent as I'd like. Sucks being 5'8.

My dream seat is a road zepplin, that'll never happen.