woops, bought an Ultra

[wvrider]

Not sure how all this happened but I am now the owner of an 09 Ultra   . We will see how this social experiment by a former committed sport tourer (BMW RT, Ducati ST, Triumph Tiger) works out. Dont have my tattoo appointments booked or my leather fitting arranged just yet   . Once the freakin weather settles a bit maybe I can get more than an hour or two on it. Yes I know it doesnt exist without pic's but those will have to wait while it sits at the local shop waiting for my driveway to thaw   .

Phil

[chornbe]

Nice. There are damned few better bikes out there for long days on the road, then arriving fresh and ready to party down for the evening.

[Rincewind]

Congrats...  I think.    Are you keeping your Tiger?

[Mr. Whippy]

 

That's all I'm gonna say.  

[atadaskew]

Sweet.

[sammyseaman]

 

[zeakers]

Welcome to the club! I purchased my '09 electraglide a month ago and haven't looked back. Congrats!!  

[Geoff]

[mjrfd99]

    Welcome to the dark side.

[st ryder]

Congrats on the big bagger.   Remember, it's not a sport bike. Ride it within its design parameters, and you'll love it, oh, and pay the HD tax asap, don't waste time thinking about it.

[spd2918]

Not sure how all this happened but I am now the owner of an 09 Ultra   . We will see how this social experiment by a former committed sport tourer (BMW RT, Ducati ST, Triumph Tiger) works out. Dont have my tattoo appointments booked or my leather fitting arranged just yet   . Once the freakin weather settles a bit maybe I can get more than an hour or two on it. Yes I know it doesnt exist without pic's but those will have to wait while it sits at the local shop waiting for my driveway to thaw   .

Phil

I know how you feel.  I rode my Ultra 2up at a COG National in the Black Hills.  I didn't get too much grief (other than from the wife- too much scraping for her).

[Playinthestreet]

    Welcome to the dark side.

Beat me to it!  "Luuuuuuuuuuuke, feel the power"

[wvrider]

Congrats...  I think.    Are you keeping your Tiger?

Well as much as I liked the Tiger I never got to actually LOVE the thing...no problems at all with it. A grand bike but it lacked something for me. I kept thinking about my Ducati in comparison which had something the Tiger didnt...whatever, I cant afford to keep multiple bikes so it was time to sell the Tiger and find the next thing which is now the Ultra. We will see how this all goes. If I end up grinding everything off it I guess I will know I need something more sporty  , if not I will be in the lap of luxury. I wanted something more comfy for my 100 mile plus round trip commute and hoped to ride more often if I had ABS, radio, cruise, etc....so here goes the experiment.

Phil

[DCLXVI]

congratulations!

[chornbe]

Well as much as I liked the Tiger I never got to actually LOVE the thing...no problems at all with it. A grand bike but it lacked something for me. I kept thinking about my Ducati in comparison which had something the Tiger didnt...whatever, I cant afford to keep multiple bikes so it was time to sell the Tiger and find the next thing which is now the Ultra. We will see how this all goes. If I end up grinding everything off it I guess I will know I need something more sporty  , if not I will be in the lap of luxury. I wanted something more comfy for my 100 mile plus round trip commute and hoped to ride more often if I had ABS, radio, cruise, etc....so here goes the experiment.

Phil

You back stabbing traitor.  

Put 20+ LBs in the rear shocks and lean the shit out of it. Get good with body position - you can *seriously* modify your turns on this bike with good body positioning and line selection. Keep your feet to the back of the foot boards and hang off. Learn the limits of the floorboards which touch down WAY before anything else. Eventually, again, body position and line selection, you'll get faster and touch down way less. Took me a couple of thousand miles, but the second set of floorboards had nary a scratch on 'em.  

Any questions you have about the bike, let me know. I had an '08 and I've clocked some decent time on my brother's '09, including some wicked fun twisties here in PA.  

3K RPM in 2nd and 3rd in the twists and you'll never be wondering "where's my turn exit power". The 96 engine pulls like a freaking monster from 2500 on up, though the sweetest parts are 3500-4500.

[sagerat]

There but for the grace of gawd and about $18K go I...  

Congrats on the bike; I've always been a sucker for the E-Glides.  Be interested to get your impressions after a tour or two.  

[wvrider]

jeezus, I'd just like to get it home to post the review of the ride home at this point. My driveway thaws then we get 6 inches of snow. Now we are to get two more bouts this week Tuesday night and Friday...I musta pissed someone off with this purchase!

Phil

[stevent]

Congrats! excellent choice. I've put over 20k on my '08 in a year and a half. These bikes are like a big dumb dog, you just can't help loving them. You have the re-designed frame and 17 inch front wheel that's supposed to make a big improvement in handling so that's good. just remember it's a heavy bike with limited ground clearance, that said once you learn it's limitations you can toss them around pretty good and they will shit 'n git down the road just fine. The ABS along with the triple Brembos will stop you on a dime, the rears cycle slower than I would like in dry weather but the fronts are near perfect and in wet weather they are excellent.

I have a Harley Hammock touring seat on mine, p/n91583-99 which has an internal suspension system and is as comfortable a seat as you'll find. Chicago HD has a 20% discount on internet orders if you wish to add anything. Ride the bike stock for at least 10 or 15k to see what it can do, a lot of people jump in and start changing pipes, aircleaners and fuel maps around without learning the bikes potential as is. The only performance mod I've added was a set of D&D Police Interceptor slip-ons about a month ago, they're not significantly louder than stock and flow better at higher rpms however the bikes do run fine stock. You don't have to dress like a pirate either, I wear a Hi Viz 'stitch and a modular Shoei riding mine. it's actually fun to see the looks I get from the posers, old timers don't give a shit LOL

Anyway, congrats, I'm sure you'll love it.            

[wvrider]

yeah I am going to ride as is for a while. I am putting a softbrake extended brake pedal and some extended shift arms on to help clear the decks for my size 14 feet and a Cee Bailey shield to lower it out of my line of sight. I will wait for anything like pipes (I dont like loud) although something like the BUB 7 stealth or your D&D interest me (D&D always represented LOUD in the past, they must be changing) as I have seen the video's of them.  Anyway thanks for the comments.

now back to watching snow cover my freakin driveway  

Phil

[stevent]

yeah I am going to ride as is for a while. I am putting a softbrake extended brake pedal and some extended shift arms on to help clear the decks for my size 14 feet and a Cee Bailey shield to lower it out of my line of sight. I will wait for anything like pipes (I dont like loud) although something like the BUB 7 stealth or your D&D interest me (D&D always represented LOUD in the past, they must be changing) as I have seen the video's of them.  Anyway thanks for the comments.

now back to watching snow cover my freakin driveway  

Phil

Yeah I hate loud pipes too. I've worked in high pressure steam plants for the last 35 years so I'm very sensitive to noise. These particular D&D's are the same size internally as the stockers so they retain a good bit of back pressure and sound deadening material, however they are a straight through design so you get the benefit of higher flow. They are louder than stock but not what I would consider excessive, at normal cruising speed they offer a pleasant burble while at larger throttle openings they have a nice bark. I'm pretty happy with them but I liked the stock ones as well, I just got a bee in my bonnet and bought these for myself for Christmas. The higher flow does help out pulling on the freeway and other times where you're up around 5k rpm, doesn't feel as choked off.

[skater69]

These bikes are like a big dumb dog, you just can't help loving them.

Good analogy......I like that.

[2DFlyer]

Not sure how all this happened but I am now the owner of an 09 Ultra   . We will see how this social experiment by a former committed sport tourer...

It's not like you bought a Buick but there's no shame in liking to stretch out and experience the laid back cadence of the slow lane.  You can always pick up a 600 or a liter play bike.  Congrats on a very cool ride!

[wvrider]

finally got some pics taken







Phil