Ouch on the cost.
But in my opinion the goldwing is a two wheeled convertible.
The ultra is a motorcycle.

 

Wow! I would say the ultra...but is it worth 15 more than a g-wing? I dunno....seems a big difference in price!

 

For the application you've outlined, the $15K difference plus the fact that you have a HD you're keeping... think I'd be Wingin'.

 

Are we talkin' dollars or Lira?

It doesn't really matter those prices are crazy

For those prices you could do something crazy to the Fat Boy:brows:

 

50k for an Ultra, Dude where are you paying that much. Even a hotrod Ultra is much less than that. Or you talking about getting two?

 

He is in Turkey so I'm sure that has a lot to do with pricing.

What are the prices of used of those models used? How is the dealer locations for repairs/service?

What are the roads like there?

Need more info.

 

Sorry, I guess I should try and give you my two cents, my brother has the Honda 1800 and he has just about everything on it that a normal person could think of. I don’t care for the ABS but do think that BMW did a fine job in the development, being an old dirt biker I want them tires to lock when I need it. The 1800 is scary fast and a damn fine bike. I did notice that it doesn’t maneuver well at low speeds like parking lots and seems to be a lot of plastic. As far as long road trips, it’s a great bike. At the end of the day, it’s what works for you and fits your style. Good luck and ride safe.

 

Doesn't handle at low speed??
Just did an Advance Pro Rider course yesterday, me on my 97 FLHTC and my neighbour on his 2005 Wing. He was putting through the paces, slow and fast like no ones business.
I think it depends on the rider's ability.
Personally I like the wing, smooth quiet, powerful. But it's like driving a car, a Harley is a bike 100%

 

You said you want to got fast, then the stock Goldwing should be your choice, and at 15k cheaper, it's a no brainer.

 

When I first saw the title of the thread, I cou;dn't believe it. But upon reading your delimna, I'd say Goldwing or check out a BMW. $15K is a lot of money to me but maybe pocket change to you...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo :hystria:

 

Ya beat me too it. I was gonna post that youtube clip, but I see it is no longer available. Glad I got a chance to watch it a couple times. Those guys could ride like nothing I have ever seen on a tour bike... I loved the sound of the pegs scraping

 

Interesting Pricing there rmd! - Harleys are crazy money anywhere outside the US. I am based in Ireland & here are our prices(converted from Euro):
FLHTCU - 47K$
FLHTCUSE - 66K$
Wing - 41K$

I've been riding close to 35yrs now & always rode Jap/Italian/German (had a GL1000 way back in '79!) - only switched onto HD's in 2003 & have never looked back. I traded my Fatboy (&cried!) for an '06 FLHTCUSE back in February as we tour & wanted a comfy, quick bike. I looked briefly at the Wing & took a test ride for few hours; quick, comfy, but no thrill, no feeling of riding a bike.....it is a "nice" bike. Took a ride on the SEUC - yep, its hefty, no reverse, vibrates at tickover(which is gone by 2000rpm - I was so used to the B-motor in the Fatboy!), but it FEELS like a motorcycle should. IMHO, I rate the Ultra over the Wing, but if you are going to buy new from a dealer, then the 15k$ difference IS a big deciding factor.... Could you import a low mileage 2nd hand Ultra? Could save you a packet.

 

Guy I ride with rides a Goldwing. His Wing is so fast he leaves me in the dust at will. I don't know how it handles at slow speed, but I know it corners very well on curvy roads. I ride a Road King, and love Harleys, but for 15K difference, I'd buy the Wing.

 

I ride both an 02 Wing and a 03 FLHRI and swap from bike to bike ever few days. IMHO the Wing is faster and handles extremely well for it's size in the twisties. BUT--It does not have the slow speed handling in the parking lots that the Road King has. When I was able to do long days in the saddle I toured on the Wing, often pulling either camping or cargo trailers. I'm good for a few hundred miles on the Harley but it's more "fun" to ride when you're just doing local rides. Amazingly at the same speeds the Wing gets about 4 mpg better mileage than the Harley, 41 for the Wing vs 37/38 for the Harley and the Wing burns regular, doesn't require premium fuel. There's NO perfect motorycle, each has advantages and disadvantages.
YMMV
SKOOTER
NNNN ZCZC

 

I'm going with the consensus here. If you already have an HD and you are looking for something comfortable and fast to chew up some highway miles, then you gotta go Goldwing. We all have our loyalties to Harley here, but the Goldwing is the ultimate interstate sled. Good luck with your decision.

 

Just my 2 cents' worth: I have talked to several people who have owned both a Wing and a Harley. IN each case, they have told me the GL1800 is faster (duh!!) but they have to stop more often for gas, and the Ultra Classic is more comfortable. Had a complete stranger tell me that yesterday, in fact. He was on a GL1800, used to have an EG Classic, said the 'Glide was more comfortable and he was going to sell his Wing.

I've never been on a Wing, so I can't speak from my own experience, it's just what people tell me.

 

Prices in Europe is not allways "harleys fault" - but most european countries have some sort of luxury tax on bikes ..

My 08 ultra was USD 127.000 ... And no I am NOT kidding ... A little extras is in that price but a bone stock two-tone colour here is USD 116.000 (incl ABS)... All caused by 25% VAT AND 180% TAX .. Still not kidding - If you dont pay you will not get a licenceplate

To the question: I'm sure you'll get most "Ultra" replys here - and most "Wing" replys on a goldwing forum... You'll have to try both and make your own opinion. When you do - please make ´sure you try a 08 Ultra - the difference to earlier models is huge.

I have tried a Wing. Allthough it's fast it didn't do it for me - Feels like a car where they just forgot to mount tha last two wheels - and too much plastic

 

I have always been a Harley man but which makes me think about goldwing is its appealing price.15K is good money for me. We in Turkey pay %18 VAT and %37 luxury tax which is same both bikes. But main thing about the price difference is we are buying harleys in euros hondas in dollars. I asked this question in Harley forum cause I know your feelings about goldwing would be same like me. I don't wan't to buy a "car" and i don't want to pay the difference. By the way we can't import second hand vehicles. It will be hard for my heart if i buy wing and it will be hard for my pocket if i buy ultra.:dunno:

 

Having never owned a wing [but wanting one when I was a kid in the 80's] I have no real opinion on the ride differences. I do know that money is a major motivation in every purchase I make, or I wouldn't have half the stuff I own now...so that makes me think I'd lean towards the wing.

What I really wanted to chime in here for though, is to commend those who weighed in with thoughtful input, instead of slamming this guy from the outset for posing his question on a harley forum. It's refreshing to see not all harley owners here are completely close-minded.:clap:

 

Wing V Ultra

Just my opinion.
I have a 2001 Goldwing. On the wing, I have been as far north as Cape Breton Nova Scotia and as far south as Key West. (With multiple runs on "The Dragon". What I can say is, the gearing on the wing is high. Average is 3300rpm for 75+ with some minor vibration. Runs very cool at higher speeds, the audio is excellent. You will need to get a set of highway pegs to stretch a bit. While the saddle is comfortable and the new configuration is ergonomic it doesn't leave a lot of "wiggle" room. The integrated braking is second to none there is no need for ABS if you took any of the Rider Ed classes.
Low speed riding is good, hard to do really tight maneuvers with the frame mounted faring, but according to the Zumo 550 the lowest speed I’ve stayed upright is 2.3 mph so I would say the bike has some nice balance.
I rode the 2008 UC and fell in love. The seat is perfect, great balance, gearing is lower so you sacrifice the speed and power for over all smoothness and ride ability. The audio is second to none. I have been told(not needed it so far) but the abs was a must so I got it.

I’ve only got a few hundred miles on her but what I can tell you is this:

Speed
Power
Maneuverability at higher speeds
Water-cooled
Excellent braking
You want a gold wing

6 speed transmission
Incredible ride
Low speed maneuverability
Lots of trunk space
ABS
You want an Ultra

 

I went to dealer and after some calculations the price difference fell to 11.500dollars. I am nearer to a new ultra now.:wootdnc:

 

My advice to you is to save up and get what you really want. Seems to me like you want the Harley, and if that is the case, you probably won't be happy with the Honda even though you save a lot of money on it.

After I rode my first rented H-D in 1995 I told myself I would not buy another motorcycle until I could afford one. It took 7 more years before that happened, in 2002, and now I'm on my 3rd Harley. Could not have been happier.

Cheers
MM

 

I was recently in the same boat, Ultra or Goldwing. The wing is a great bike. Fast, reliable, well built, comfy, etc. The Ultra is a great bike too. Great styling, easy to work on, well built, virtually no plastic, and feels like a motorcycle. I was looking at buying a 2008 model of one of those 2 bikes. The deciding factor in my case was cost. I bought the Ultra because I was able to buy if for $3,000 under MSRP. If I'd been able to get the same deal on the Goldwing, I very well might have been riding a Goldwing instead. With all that said, you can't go wrong with either bike. You'll just have to get what your heart wants and wallet can afford.

 

Buy the Wing and forget the Hd bs!

 

Nothin eats away the LONG hi speed miles like a wing, Nothin!! But nothin is more fun to ride than the Ultra, Nothin!!!
The Wing and the LT are time and space travelin machines, the Ultra is a motorcycle
I found I was usually runnin preaty fast to have some fun on the Wing, I ride the same roads on the Ultra slower, I think it's just cause its a fun bike to ride and ya don't have to kick the speed way up to enjoy the ride and the 08s are one hell of a bike.....

 

When I lived in Izmir there were a couple of Americans that owned HD's They enjoyed having the bikes vs Americans that owned the Japanese bikes.

If you bought the 96 Fatboy new you certainly keep the bikes a long enough time. You can ask yourself would you have still kept a 96 Honda cruiser?

If not then would you really want a Honda 10 years from now?

 

I'm %90 on the ultra side. There are 2 colours black and red. Can you please post candy red sunglo pics? I have to see it from the real world not from harley's website

 

Black vs Candy Red Sunglo



Buy the Candy Red Sunglo!

 

I once took a weekend road trip with a couple Honda guys on GWs. They were curious about my ride and I was curious about theirs -- so we switched for a few hours. You can have your Goldwings, I'll keep my Harley. Didn't like anything about them. Riding position was uncomfortable for me, didn't feel connected to the road at all. It reminded me of a BMW vs Lexus commercial several years ago, where BMW exaggerated the isolation of the Lexus driver from the road.

If you can swing it, I'm sure you'd be happier in the long run with an Ultra. Have you considered a Road Glide? Fixed fairing makes a world of difference on long trips. $2500 price diff, you can add a tour pak to the RG & you're right there -- maybe save a few bucks in the process. Just a thought..

EDIT: For that matter, sell your Fat Boy, build the snot out of a Road Glide with removable tour pak, you'll have 2 bikes in 1.

I keep 2 seats, 2 windshields, and the detachable tour pak for mine -- works great!!