Normally, during a road test, I make notes of significant thoughts at gas stops, coffee stops or scenic vistas. I later massage said notes into an incredibly witty and entertaining review.
For some reason, the Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic notes were (ahem) temporarily reallocated to a not-easily accessed grotto of a piece of soft luggage that I recently rediscovered in a corner of the garage. In other words, toast!
Trying something new and different, I present the random thoughts as noted during my time with the 2007 Ultra Classic:
When I was younger, the ultimate motorcycle was the police Harley. Big, loud and imposing, it struck both fear and admiration in the hearts of pre-pubescent, would-be motorcyclists. Anyone riding an Electra Glide (police or civilian version) was automatically a “real” motorcyclist.
The Ultra Classic is the pinnacle of Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles ??“ with the factory-installed CVO option package, my press unit (at the time of my test) listed for a cool $42,500. The most expensive Harley you can buy.
Of all the Harley riders I’m seeing, how come I’m the only one wearing a full face lid?
The six-speed box is slick shifting and 100 km/h in top equates to just 2200 r.p.m. ??“ a situation the Ultra doesn’t like. Most U.S. states now have sensible 70 m.p.h. (120 km/h) speed limits on the Interstates, and for that, the bike is geared perfectly. Knock it down 15 - 20 klicks in sixth and the bike stutters and chugs annoyingly. For legal touring, use fifth.
Root beer and orange aren’t my favourite colours but there’s no knocking the quality of the paint and chrome ??“ it’s flat out gorgeous and draws a crowd wherever it’s parked.
After a few thousand klicks, I’m enjoying the Ultra but still have no idea about the mythical Harley “lifestyle.” I haven’t transformed physically or mentally. I still won’t wear a beanie helmet, I don’t feel like a badass and I haven’t sprouted any tattoos. Does “lifestyle” boil down to Harley T-shirts and stickers on pickup truck back windows?
The optional $420 Harley proximity security system is pretty cool. Keep the key in your pocket, walk away from the bike and it automatically arms ??“ “chirp.” Approach the motorcycle and it disarms ??“ “tweet, tweet.” The only downside is the piercing shrieks that occur when you move the bike around in the garage without the key in your pocket. Don’t ask me how I know this.
Harley riders take note: the stock mufflers have a very rich, mellow exhaust note that’s pleasing to the rider without being obnoxious to the non-riding public. Please, leave the damn original mufflers on the bike!
The view from the cockpit shows a panorama of instruments with analogue gauges for fuel, air pressure, oil pressure and a voltmeter. There’s a tiny LCD tripmeter display and a bank of warning lights for turn signal indicators, neutral, high beam and a little “6″ that illuminates when you’re in top gear. The navigation system screen is small and not colour ??“ definitely not as good as the Gold Wing’s.
One guy riding a chopper passes me and waves. Cute. He’s wearing one of those bandana masks that looks like a skull face. What’s the deal with these guys and skulls anyway? You’d think if they were that obsessed with skulls, they’d wear better helmets.
The Harmon Kardon Stereo has killer sound quality and the volume adjusts to the ambient noise level ??“ the quicker you go, the louder it gets. You slow down for a village or town and it goes quieter. Nice.
The rubber mounted engine shakes like a hula dancer at idle but smooths out nicely once underway. Clutch and throttle are deceptively light and the fuel injection provides a consistent power curve with no dips or hiccups.
If part of the “lifestyle” is to be an individual, why do Harley riders dress alike? Everybody repeat after me, “We are all individuals.”
At 367 kg (807 pounds!) dry, this ain’t no lightweight but the only time you notice is when pulling the Ultra off the sidestand. It’s well balanced while stopped at a light and low speed handling is above average. You can putter through rush hour traffic at a snail’s pace without paddling with the feet.
Ultra owners aren’t interested in corner carving but the handling is better than I expected. On the highway, it’s as stable as a freight train and the seat is super comfy. Stick it in sixth, crank up the tunes and I’ll see you on the left coast.
The cavernous, leather-covered top box looks very luxurious while the colour-matched hard bags hold an acceptable amount of “stuff” if carefully packed. There are two small storage pockets oddly placed on the crash bars ahead of your feet.
For 2008, there are changes and upgrades including a larger fuel tank, special 105th Anniversary editions and ABS brakes.
With the dollar skyrocketing, Deeley’s Harley-Davidson Canada just lowered the price of most of its models and another adjustment is in the works. If this keeps up, I’ll be able to afford an Ultra (2008 model is $34,000 now) in, oh, about another 20 years.
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Filed under: MOTORCYCLES
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