Demo riding the Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic

Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic

Thanks to Harley-Davidson's first-come, first-served approach to demo rides, I had the opportunity to test ride the new Screaming Eagle Ultra Classic. This is H-D's top-of-the-line motorcycle, designed for the rider who wants it all. It's an impressive package.

To give you an idea of what this bike is about, here's what the Motor Company has to say about it on their website.

This bike pushes the term "fully loaded" to the ultimate edge. From satellite radio and heated handgrips to exclusive custom paint schemes and a 110-cubic inch Screamin' Eagle V-Twin, this ride is truly top-of-the-line.

You get the picture? Starting at $35,999, says the website.

The first thing you need to know is that this bike is big. And it's heavy. The Harley guy who explained the set-up to me said it weighs 900 pounds. In fact, he asked me if I thought I could handle a bike that heavy. I was a little insulted, but he was probably just doing his job, trying to keep the bike out of the hands of anyone who truly should not be on it. As for me, I figured all I had to do was lift it off the kickstand and once we got rolling it would be just fine. That proved to be the case.

   Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic instrument panel

One thing I noticed immediately upon straddling the bike was how my legs were splayed out to the side, making it harder for me to plant both feet flat than it is on my very tall Kawasaki Concours. This was the same thing I had found when I test rode the Yamaha FJR1300. Both were much lower to the ground but the width of the seat more than counter-acted the lower height. I guess these bikes are just designed overall for taller people than me. I'm 5 feet, 8 inches tall.

In motion, none of this mattered. The bike is powerful and smooth and handles beautifully. The seat is comfortable and well-cushioned and definitely seemed like something you could ride all day. That's important for me because I'm basically a touring kind of guy. Stopped at a traffic light, the bike does the standard Harley shake, but as soon as you get going again it turns silky smooth again.

The fairing was very good, keeping the wind from beating on me just fine. I've ridden my buddies' Harleys at times and I don't see how the guys without even a windshield can do it. At high speeds I get pounded and my tear ducts just open wide. This fairing is also a ride-all-day item.

One thing I had to be conscious of, because I'm not used to it, was lifting my left foot up onto the floorboard, over the heel shifter. I'm used to pegs. I like the positioning on this bike because it was not too far forward. Again, on my buddies' Harleys, I have found at times that my short legs almost won't reach the brake or gear shift because they are so far forward. On the Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic I could reach both with no problem.

So what are my impressions overall, aside from the fact that I'll never have the money to buy one of these bikes?

It's a terrific motorcycle. It has every gadget imaginable, it's smooth and powerful, it's comfortable, it's good-looking. In short, it's got everything you would expect in a motorcycle that costs almost as much as my first house. If you've got the money and you want it all, there's only one bike in this class, and this is it.

The rest of us will just make do with something else.

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