FIRST RIDE
P42
2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSONS
Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic
ly linked brakes and is activated
when you are cruising at 25 mph
or faster. At speeds under 25
mph the brakes are individually
controlled - front and rear.
When you start to engage the
brakes, be it front or rear, the system will automatically compensate
for braking pressure. The system
will increase or decrease braking
pressure accordingly between
the front and rear brakes in order
to maximize your braking effort
while not compromising braking
response or effect. The system
will stay linked as you slow down
to below the 25 mph threshold. Of
course, ABS is always a good feature and it works reasonably well
on the new Harleys.
The 2014 Touring line-up re-
ceives two new styles of cast-aluminum wheels. The Street Glide
and Street Glide Special models
are equipped with a five-spoke
design with a new 19-inch diameter front wheel. The other Touring models are fitted with a new
10-spoke Impeller design type
wheel with the front only 18-inches in size. All the rear wheels are
16 inches.
The brakes were the first of
many noticeable improvements
in terms of riding experience, but
the new 2014 cruisers seem to
handle better as well. All the new
Touring models receive upgraded forks with new larger 49mm
diameter tubes - up from the old
43.1mm, which equals a 14 percent increase in size. The bikes
are much more bump compliant
and composed on all surfaces.
One of the first things I noticed
when we hit the highway was
how well the 2014 Road King was
handling the changing conditions
of the road surface. I instantly
noticed how smooth it was over
the bumps. And I thought it would
get loose or unruly in some of the
more difficult bumpy and uneven
payment sections but, much to
my disbelief, the Road King lived
up to its name. It tamed every
obstacle in its way. Some of this
newfound glory must also be
credited to the increased size of
the steering stem and headset
bearings.
As we got further into the mountains, I started to get quite com-
