HARLEY-DAVIDSON ULTRA LIMITED
Yes, we can all see just how big the Harley is, but the first surprise is just how easy it is to move around at a standstill, especially if you’re pushing it backwards. Clearly the weight (all 416kg of it) is held low, but if you lean it over the slightest bit at a standstill, you soon get an idea of the mass involved.
Rockin’ and rollin’
Once rolling, you still know that there’s a lot of bike underneath, but it is surprisingly easy to trickle around at tickover, feet up and with a feeling of stability only surpassed by a container ship. And when it’s time to get a shift on, the big 1868cc version of the Milwaukee-Eight vee-twin certainly delivers. While the horsepower figure of 87bhp may seem a little limp for a modern engine of 114 cubic inch capacity, bear in mind that that’s at a smidge over 5,000rpm – nothing like the stratospheric revs that modern sportsbikes reach. Once you get your head around the fact that it’s revving at about a third the rate of 200bhp/ litre supersports bikes, remember that the impressive 121lb-ft of torque is delivered at a mere 3,000rpm. The fact that the torque is half as big again as that from a supersports bike means that, if you keep it around the torque sweet spot, it can haul its hefty 416kg around with some surprising ease. I wouldn’t say that it’s fast, but it is certainly no slow coach. It could be described as ‘not accelerating, but very swiftly gaining a lot of momentum’...
Comfort at low revs
The gearing also plays a part. In top gear, 55mph is 2000rpm, and 80mph (as shown on the speedo) is at just 3000rpm. This gives a really nice cruising speed that’s comfortable for both rider and bike. The seat is mega comfy and like a settee, but you are pinned into one position, which makes the footboards all the more practical as they do allow you to move your feet around and stop any numbness creeping in.
Is it watertight?
In rain, I was impressed by the excellent weather protection afforded by the Harley’s bodywork, with the screen proving effective and not being overly noisy (take note Honda!) and the leg guards keeping the lower bits dry, too. The flip-side of that is the Ultra’s seat acts as a giant sponge and, when
I sat on the HD two days later, my posterior was instantly soaked. Somewhat frustrating, as every other manufacturer has managed to create seats that are waterproof.
The big issue with the wet, however, was that the Ultra felt really skittish on wet roads, with next to no feedback from the Harleybranded Dunlop tyres.
Heavyweight moves
There are the usual chunky Harley controls. The switchgear seems fairly intuitive, despite the old-style indicator switches, with one on each bar – right for right, left for left.
The gearchange in the six-speed ’box is heavy, and slow, and feels unlike any other modern transmission. It feels rather agricultural, although there’ll not be any missed shifts as you’re left in no doubt that it’s shifted cogs. The shift is actually better when the bike is being revved harder.
It will pull top gear from a smidge under 40mph, albeit with some complaint, but fifth is fine, although fourth is better for 30mph limits. But when in the sweet spot of 55mph and above, top is ideal. And while the long silencers on the dual exhaust system are very effective, giving out a mild wiffling at tickover, the rumbling that is emitted by exhaust and intake when given big throttle is addictive.
The brakes are pretty effective for HD fare, and haul the bike to a halt with three fingers on the front, and a gentle toe or two on the rear. And it actually hustles quite well, as long as you don’t mind the feeling of the front end shimmying around with the feeling that the fairing is the bit that’s deciding where it wants the bars to be. Naturally, it’ll come as no surprise to hear that ground clearance isn’t a priority for this kind of bike, and the footboards do seem to have a magnetic appeal to Tarmac. Not that it spoils the experience though. In fact, it adds to it, with a giggle each time a board or boot heel skims terra firma.
Ready to go?
Big tourers need big luggage space, and the Harley has a cavernous top-box. The panniers aren’t quite as big, but still capable of holding a medium-sized rucksack, and they’re top loaders, too, which are so, so much better than the side-loaded efforts that vomit all your worldly goods on to the floor each time you open them. Unlike the Honda, the HD panniers are really easy to take off, too, although I’m not entirely sure what the reason would need to be for you to do so.
Like many modern bikes, the Ultra has remote key locking, which is fine except when you need to refuel as you still need the barrel-style key to unlock the fuel cap. Cue frantic rummaging through your pockets… The heated grips get really, really hot. Of the six positions, I could only endure level 3 when wearing summer gloves, so despite the popular view of Harleys being summer vehicles only, I’d go as far as to suggest that this could be the perfect winter motorcycle, but for the sponge-like seat.