My new Harley Davidson Ultra Classic

[fergie]

I like it alot, some pics would be nice, happy riding.

[Bonez]

As long as you're happy with it Divot is all that really matters. Look fwd to the long term ownership reports.

Certainly a good time to buy at the moment alright. Been having a gander at the local dealerships lately and the selection is great.

[1200custom]

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.

DIVOT....is your bike in this photo http://www.kiwibikers.co.nz/HTML/hog_rally12.htm

[JimO]

here he is your classic harley rider complete with leather waistcoat

[AllanB]

Good ride. I 'test' rode a Road King a few years ago and they were over $40K then - good to see they are dropping in price.

Now no offense to you or your fine ride but WTF withs a 105th Anniversary motorbike Harley? - 105 is not a significant number - sounds like an excuse to charge a bit more for a fancy badge.

After the global 100th anniversary parties (and rightly so) I'd not expect any thing 'anniversary' until 125.

But ignore my rave and enjoy that fine ride - how do you find the new 6 speed tranny (that's US talk for gearbox folks)?

Allan

[1200custom]

here he is your classic harley rider complete with leather waistcoat

All good, leather vests were made for a reason...believe it or not Jimmy they are made to wear, not just to sit in the closet

[1200custom]

Good ride. I 'test' rode a Road King a few years ago and they were over $40K then - good to see they are dropping in price.

Now no offense to you or your fine ride but WTF withs a 105th Anniversary motorbike Harley? - 105 is not a significant number - sounds like an excuse to charge a bit more for a fancy badge.

After the global 100th anniversary parties (and rightly so) I'd not expect any thing 'anniversary' until 125.

But ignore my rave and enjoy that fine ride - how do you find the new 6 speed tranny (that's US talk for gearbox folks)?

Allan

Im pretty sure they are doing a anniversary every 5 years now, unsure why they do it though, im not complaining, i like to see the new anniversary models

[popelli]

Now no offense to you or your fine ride but WTF withs a 105th Anniversary motorbike Harley? - 105 is not a significant number - sounds like an excuse to charge a bit more for a fancy badge.

105th aniversary of what???

records show they didn't probably actually sell any bikes untill 1904 or 1905

they produced a 50th aniversary bike in 1954

something does not add up

[1200custom]

105th aniversary of what???

records show they didn't probably actually sell any bikes untill 1904 or 1905

they produced a 50th aniversary bike in 1954

something does not add up

The company considers 1903 to be its year of founding, William S. Harley, Arthur Davidson and with the help of Arthur's brother, Walter Davidson they completed their 1st bike in 1903 which was 7.07 cubic inches (116 cc)............Therefore 2003 was its 100th anniversary

[Bonez]

Im pretty sure they are doing a anniversary every 5 years now, unsure why they do it though,

With you being in sales it should be obvious.

[1200custom]

With you being in sales it should be obvious.

alright then, the reason i THINK they do it, is to bring more attention to the brand by making a big deal by celebrating a anniversary they will try and boost their sales and try and bring more people to the great harley davidson life

[Bonez]

alright then, the reason i THINK they do it, is to bring more attention to the brand by making a big deal by celebrating a anniversary they will try and boost their sales and try and bring more people to the great harley davidson life

Now that wasn't hard was it?

[AllanB]

alright then, the reason i THINK they do it, is to bring more attention to the brand by making a big deal by celebrating a anniversary they will try and boost their sales and try and bring more people to the great harley davidson life

The only issue with whacking out a 'special' anniversary model every 5 years is that they become too common and will not hold any extra value long term. It would piss me off if I had shelled out for a 100th anniversary bike only to have another 'anniversary' 5 years later. Just call it a limited edition deluxe model or something, maybe a Willie G signature series.

[popelli]

The company considers 1903 to be its year of founding, William S. Harley, Arthur Davidson and with the help of Arthur's brother, Walter Davidson they completed their 1st bike in 1903 which was 7.07 cubic inches (116 cc)............Therefore 2003 was its 100th anniversary

The first documented evidence of them actually selling anything is january 1905 when they advertised bare motors

The first documented evidence of them building a bike that ran was an entry in a 1904 race

They were definitely playing around in a shed with the 116cc motor you mention but there is no evidence that it was actually fitted to a bike and all the evidence points to its not having sufficient power anyway (some may well say that nothing much has changed since)

However the factory did release a 50th aniversary model in 1954

Either way the 1903 start date is an urban myth that they are happy to keep purpetuating as it moves the aniversary sales forward a year.

[Divot]

DIVOT....is your bike in this photo http://www.kiwibikers.co.nz/HTML/hog_rally12.htm

Yep it is the one on the right. Lost the Chapter flag half way around the thunder ride but did stop and pick it up. Had a ball at the rally and on getting back to Auckland had the first service done. The bike is now 4 weeks old and has 3,500km on it.