My new Harley Davidson Ultra Classic

**Divot** · 19th February 2008, 19:05

This thread is intended to be a report on my views and thoughts on my new Harley.

A bit of back ground first though. My first bikewas a Honda XL100, orange tank, followed by a CB360, XL250 motorsport, CB350, CB650. Got married and sold the bike to get a car for the kid on the way.

My interests over the next 24 years involved Ham Radio, Whale Rescue, Motorsport, Diving and shooting.

Five and a half years ago, the kids had grown up and started paying board, I felt the need for a motor bike. Well thats another story, trying to park a car outside any of the bike shops in Auckland. Ended up at AMPS to take a Honda Hornet for a spin, only to find it had been dropped and not available. So I took a look around and spotted a Sportster 883, and took it for a spin and ended up buying it. In the 4 1/2 years and 40,000 miles later I had become committed to the Harley Brand and HOG.

I have now ridden most Harleys from 883 sportsters to 103ci Ultras.

On the 9th Feb I took delivery of a 2008 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic 105th Anniversary motorbike. 96ci or 1583cc, 6 speed gearbox and ABS bembo brakes.

Yesterday I dropped the Ultra off at AMPS for the first service with 1800km on the clock. Having ridden other Ultras from 2003 models to 2007 models and my first impressions of the the 2008 Ultra is that the bike is far better that any previous years. The ride is better and the motor feels to have more torque, maybe due to the new computer to take the fly by wire throttle. The brakes are far better than the earlier ones.

I intend to post up dates here as I use and put more miles on it. Happy reading.

**sAsLEX** · 19th February 2008, 19:11

This thread is useless without pics......

**johnnyflash** · 19th February 2008, 19:27

Originally Posted by Divot

This tread is intended to be a report on my views and thoughts on my new Harley.

A bit of back ground
Clip....
Clip...
Happy reading.

She's a nice ride Divot, just the trick for cruisin.. :-)

**Horse** · 19th February 2008, 22:20

Love it - very nice.

**Rockbuddy** · 19th February 2008, 22:55

sounds like a nice ride

**Edbear** · 20th February 2008, 06:29

My two favourite Harley's are the 1200 Sporty, (twin disc), and the Electra Glide.

**SilverGrin** · 20th February 2008, 06:37

Very nice. Those 105th anniversary models go all the way down to Sportsters, and they all look good.
How much did it set you back?
It looks as if it would cost a medal ransom!

**Holy Roller** · 20th February 2008, 06:48

With a machine like that one would be sending the registration fee off for the 1000 mile Grand Challenge. Its an awesome ride to get aquainted with ones bike, better with a bit of luxury while riding.

Originally Posted by Divot

I intend to post up dates here as I use and put more miles on it. Happy reading.

**Divot** · 21st February 2008, 20:12

Originally Posted by SilverGrin

Very nice. Those 105th anniversary models go all the way down to Sportsters, and they all look good.
How much did it set you back?
It looks as if it would cost a medal ransom!

$36.500 not bad when two years ago a standard ultra classic was $41,000

**Divot** · 21st February 2008, 20:19

Thanks guys for the comments. Hope to catch up with you out there on the road. Doing Westpac this weekend.

**popelli** · 2nd March 2008, 09:04

Originally Posted by Divot

The ride is better and the motor feels to have more torque, maybe due to the new computer to take the fly by wire throttle. The brakes are far better than the earlier ones.

.

per quotes I have read the twin cam 96" motor puts out about 66 ft lbs of torque as it leaves the factory, no doubt it puts out quite a bit more after the stage 1 is done and all the emmission control crap is removed

by comparison my 52 panhead puts out 63 ft lbs torque on the dyno

you have to ask what has harley actually been doing for the last 55 years to gain the additional 3 ft lbs torque

**JimO** · 2nd March 2008, 09:52

Originally Posted by Divot

$36.500 not bad when two years ago a standard ultra classic was $41,000

so much for harleys holding their value and everyone saying you get more than you pay for them i doubt someone that paid $41000 will ever see that again

**scumdog** · 2nd March 2008, 13:57

Originally Posted by jimjim

so much for harleys holding their value and everyone saying you get more than you pay for them i doubt someone that paid $41000 will ever see that again

The high NZ dollar + HDs being common-as have dropped the prices (The supply-and-demand thing)

Oh, and the other brands ARE holding their prices???????