Last month, HOT BIKE gave you the rundown on Harley-Davidson's 2010 Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) models. This month, we're back with more American-manufactured motorcycle goods with Harley-Davidson's brand-new-to-the-regular-fleet 2010 models.
This year was an exciting launch and the Harley brass invited the motojournalists of the world to Denver, which was a very fitting location to ride the new fleet in the Rocky Mountains. After arriving in the Mile High City, the Colorado weather was intermittent, sun shined sporadically throughout both days, but for the most part, clouds formed in the heavens and rainfall overshadowed the sun's rays. Not exactly conditions that average riders look forward to, but to journalists testing new product, bring it on! "This ambitious new motorcycle launch reaches out to our riders with the incredible passion that Harley-Davidson has inspired for more than a century," said Bill Davidson, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Core Customer Marketing.
Harley added some brand new models to the already impressive lineup, and we've focused this article solely on the brand new bikes to show you what to look forward to: the Ultra Limited, a comfort cruiser that's been loaded to the gills with controls and gizmos, powered by a 103ci Twin Cam to get you up the toughest hills; the Road Glide Custom, an upgraded version of the classic shark-nosed fairing-equipped bike, which features hot rod styling cues that the customized bagger crowd can definitely appreciate; the all new Dyna Wide Glide, a lowered, aggressive handling cruiser that's nimble in the corners and quick off the line; the Fat Boy Lo, a satin chrome and black finished Softail to give those looking for the less-is-more style motorcycle what they want without skimping on anything; and finally, the Street Glide Trike, a three-wheeler that mirrors the design of the ever-popular two-wheeled FLHX model.
We've only begun to scratch the surface of what's available for Harley enthusiasts for 2010. For the full model lineup of all Harley models from every class, log on to hotbikeweb.com. For now, enjoy these brand new for 2010 Harleys.
Ultra Limited (FLHTK) $24,699
The Ultra Limited is anything but limited when considering the amount of features included on this touring wonderment. For the engine, a 103ci Twin Cam with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) sits between the new-for-2009 Touring Chassis instead of the 96ci Twin Cam (the only two-wheeled model in the regular fleet to house the 103), and a two-into-one-into-two dual exhaust system with tapered mufflers exhaust the gases. To bring the 857-pound dry weight cruiser to a halt, a Brembo braking system with ABS was utilized and features two four-piston calipers with two discs in the front and one four-piston stopper to grab the single disc in the rear. If comfort is a concern, you need not worry because the one-piece, two-up Electra Glide classic comfort stitch seat cradles your bum like a pillow-top mattress, and for your passenger, a backrest with wrap-around armrests come standard for sleepy time. You'll also find heated hand grips for the cold days, a Smart Security System for peace of mind, a Premium Tour-Pak luggage rack for added storage, Premium saddlebag and Tour-Pak liners to keep things in pristine condition, and a 12-volt/15 amp Tour-Pak power supply for charging your phones, MP3 devices, etc., are all standard on the Ultra Limited.
In the paint department, two-tone paint schemes in three different color combinations are available and two custom color schemes are also an option. To get the Limited down the road, two 28-spoke cast aluminum wheels with contrasting chrome accents were designed, and in the fork-mounted batwing fairing you'll find new titanium-tone instrument faces. For a little extra pizzazz, Ultra Limited badges have been placed in various locations.
The Ultra Limited model was designed for comfort and confidence. After putting it to the test, it achieved both feats. You can definitely feel the added torque of the 103ci Twin Cam. And for comfort, the Ultra Limited also features an electronic cruise control to give your wrist a break, an 80-watt Advanced Audio System by Harman/Kardon to blast your favorite tunes, a CB radio/intercom to talk to your buddy, vented fairing lowers, and adjustable wind deflectors to control the breeze. The batwing fairing and fairing lowers definitely block the wind and elements, but when the outside temps rise and engine temps soar, you might get a little overheated due to the extra wind protection. Let's just say you lose the wind-in-your-face experience when riding this motorcycle. This is the Cadillac of cruisers though, and the long haul doesn't feel as long.