Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/599046
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE ULTRA VS INDIAN ROADMASTER COMPARISON P68 Go figure. One area that's very hard to separate the two bikes is at night. The Harley's Dual Day- maker Reflector LED headlamps could fry a deer at three miles and the Indian is almost as good, illuminating more of the road than my old Toyota Tacoma did with high output spotlights. The fit and finish on both these bikes is outstanding. The Harley is clean and a little sub- dued compared to the Indian, which takes the cake in the looks department thanks to the beautiful detailing on the seat and the chrome that lacquers ev- erything from the switch panels to the exhausts and engine. And both have exceptional storage capacity. The Indian's remote locking compartments have a combined total of 37.6 gallons, a touch more than the Harley's key-entry 35.1 gallons, although it's more spread out. For ex- ample, we were able to fit two full-face helmets in the topbox of the Harley but not the Indian, although I much preferred the style of the Indian's aesthetics to the Harley. There's more style to the Indian, more of what I would consider to be the clas- sic American cruiser look. The paint, the chrome, the stitching on the seat and leather strap for the tank, it all reeks of heritage and pride. But it's not enough for me to buy it. That's because the ride is simply better on the Harley. The smoother engine and gearbox, better early- to mid-corner han- dling and more intuitive electron- ics package (not to mention the added GPS) make the Harley- Davidson Road Glide Ultra the winner. In the looks, style and detail departments, the Indian slaughters the Harley. But, you don't worry about the looks, style and details when you're the one riding it. CN S P E C I F I C A T I O N S 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE ULTRA LIMITED ENGINE: ....................... V-twin, four-stroke DISPLACEMENT: ............... 1687cc/103 c.i BORE X STROKE: .................101 x 103mm HORSEPOWER: .................................... N/A TORQUE: ........................................105 lb-ft COMPRESSION RATIO: ...................... 10.1:1 TRANSMISSION: ........................ Six-speed FRONT SUSPENSION: ..... Telescopic fork, unadjustable. REAR SUSPENSION: ..............Monoshock, air-pump adjustable FRONT BRAKE: ......... Twin 320mm discs, four-piston calipers, ABS REAR BRAKE: ...........Single 320mm disc, four-piston caliper, ABS FRONT TIRE: .... Dunlop 408F 130/80B17 65H REAR TIRE: ...Dunlop 408F 180/65B16 81H RAKE: .....................................................26° TRAIL: ............................................... 6.7 in. WHEELBASE: ..................................... 64 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ................................ 29.7 in. OVERALL HEIGHT: ................................ N/A OVERALL WIDTH: ................................. N/A OVERALL LENGTH: ............................... N/A FUEL CAPACITY: ......................... 6 gallons FUEL CONSUMPTION: ................. 33 mpg WEIGHT: .............. 930 lbs (wet, claimed) COLOR: ...................Vivid Black/Superior Blue/Billet Silver, Vivid Black/Mysteri- ous Red Sunglo, Velocity Red Sunglo/ Purple Fire, Blackberry Smoke/Cosmic Pearl Blue MSRP: ......................... $25,699 as tested It was closer than we expected, but the Harley- Davidon just came out the winner.