My name is Mike (Huntsville, AL) and I ride a 2002 FLHTCUI since January of 02.
I've owned several bikes (78 Honda CB 750, 9x Vulcan 1500, 98 Valkyrie Tourer, and now an Ultra Classic); the full dresser was the only way that I could justify changing from my Valk. I put about 65,000 miles on the Valk in 3.5 years and am riding the H-D at a similar pace. Other Riders and some people often told me that "The Valk is nice, it just isn't a Harley" and other such statements. I can definitively state that they were right (not usually for the right reasons) but also "The H-D just isn't a Valkyrie, or any other modern bike".
The Ultra has a lot of things I appreciate: smooth ride, ample room, cruise control, radio etc. These are some of the things I've added to other bikes. Power/Torque is a bit lacking and the handling isn't as stable as it should be. This can be modified at an expense of $ and some reliability judging from others experience.
In any event I like the H-D for now and a few more years but will probably look to another bike eventually. There is just too much out there to blindly think/believe that H-D is hte ultimate motorcycle. It does, however, have the largest faithful following, as you all know.
I've owned several bikes (78 Honda CB 750, 9x Vulcan 1500, 98 Valkyrie Tourer, and now an Ultra Classic); the full dresser was the only way that I could justify changing from my Valk. I put about 65,000 miles on the Valk in 3.5 years and am riding the H-D at a similar pace. Other Riders and some people often told me that "The Valk is nice, it just isn't a Harley" and other such statements. I can definitively state that they were right (not usually for the right reasons) but also "The H-D just isn't a Valkyrie, or any other modern bike".
The Ultra has a lot of things I appreciate: smooth ride, ample room, cruise control, radio etc. These are some of the things I've added to other bikes. Power/Torque is a bit lacking and the handling isn't as stable as it should be. This can be modified at an expense of $ and some reliability judging from others experience.
In any event I like the H-D for now and a few more years but will probably look to another bike eventually. There is just too much out there to blindly think/believe that H-D is hte ultimate motorcycle. It does, however, have the largest faithful following, as you all know.