2009 Harley-Davidson reviews

Well it's been a couple years and a few thousand miles since my last review. I said I would keep the bike and so far so good. I have not had any issues with the bike. I used a simple $22 relocation kit for the front turn signals, did it myself piece of cake and now I can use any of the three different types of bars I have. The stock seat is awesome. I have not replaced it because it is so comfortable that I just haven't thought of messing with that, yet working on other things. This bike looks real good with some old 1941 handlebars. They look like eyebrows when the bike is approaching you. They are low but give you good handling and clear the tank easy, but at $425 dollars, bars were rather pricey. Oh well, that's what we work for. Keep riding and if your contmplating a Springer, go for it. They are instant classic and I really enjoy how different they are to other bikes. Show less

I bought this bike new 3/30/10 and it is fun to ride. It has plenty of power, handles nice and I love the springer. The only problem is you can't leave it alone. Everybody wants to touch the beautiful flame paint job. It's the best bike made by Harley. It's a privilege to own. Show less

Well the ride is rough so I can see me upgrading the shocks and seat. Other than that I love the bike. I can't stay off it. I just make up any reason to go for a ride, short rides though (rough). I love the looks and the ride at low or high speed is great. You'd never know the bike's 545 lbs. It feels more like 200 lbs., like a dirt bike I had 30 years ago. Oh yeah, I should have mentioned I retired and thought I had to have a Nightster. I love the old time look, forward controls. Show less

I have owned this bike three full years, and purchased it new. I use it for commuting and transportation, riding about 3k-4k miles per year March - November. In Maine, that means I ride in temperatures ranging from 20 deg. F to 90 deg. F (20 deg. F is only bearable because my commute is 15-20 minutes). The Sportster is my third bike. It handles well for a cruiser/standard, and has good power for a 1200 cc V-twin. Gas mileage varies from the low 40s in mixed city/highway riding to nearly 50 mpg. on extended rides on secondary roads. Most maintenance is simple enough to do at home with basic tools and a repair manual. The main weaknesses of the bike are the suspension and seat. Personally, I would also prefer a cast 19 inch front wheel. My only issue so far has been a loose ground cable connection at the battery, which left me stranded beside the road a few weeks ago. My wife came with my truck and tools, and I fixed it in about 15 minutes. This is the price you pay for riding a non-counterbalanced V-twin. Show less

After riding Japanese bikes since I was 16, I decided to buy my first Harley, at the age of 49, for my retirement in Bulgaria. What a fantastic bike. On the poorly surfaced motorways or up in the mountains, it's a pleasure to ride solo or with the girlfriend on the back. But there is a problem with spares, as there are no dealerships in Bulgaria. Show less

I purchased mine used (20k miles). After extensive research, I decided that I wanted an Ultra no later than 2009 in order to get the benefits of an improved ride by the larger front and rear tires; ABS brakes; electronic throttle and modular frame. I have the 96 engine and very happy with its performance. I particularly wanted the 96 since it has been around for a long time and the 103 is realitively new. I rode one bike with 103 and didn't notice any performance differences. I have ridden this bike from Maryland to South Carolina (1,300 miles round trip). The bike is extremely comfortable and although weighs over 800 lbs. it easy to ride, especially at speed. This bike does not have the torque of a VRod (my previous bike), however, I find that acceleration up to 90 is relatively effortless (How fast do you need to go?) but not racey. My only negative comment about this bike is the sixth gear. The manual states that you should engage the sixth gear at 50 mph., however, the bike "chugs" at this speed. I recommend keeping the bike in fifth gear and change to sixth only if you are going to remain above 60-65 mph. for an extended period. If you engage the six speed below 60-65 mph. in normal, non-speedway traffic, you'll be down-shifting a lot. Secondly, the fuel gauge is not accurate, however the estimated miles remaining gauge is best to measure your distance. don't expect to get high mileage around town (25-30 mpg. highway (35-40 mpg.). I love this bike and expect to have it for a long time. Show less

I have owned my 2009 for three years. I purchased the stage 1 kit with Screaming Eagle street pipes. It really turned the 96 motor loose. The only issues I have had with the bike is like other people. The 5th gear is noisy and at 5,000 miles my dealer changed the front tire. It sounded like a snow tire I now have over 11,000 miles on the bike and 6,000 miles on the front tire and it is starting to make noise around corners or any time you lean it. I never was a fan of Dunlop tires and now I dislike them even more. I'm looking at changing my tires to Avon Cobra. My 89FLH never failed me in my 20 years of riding it with Avons on it. Show less

I bought the bike in 2010 used. It had low miles. I've ridden it very hard. It's been perfectly dependable. The rear tire and brake pads wear very fast but that's not the bikes fault. The only time it's ever thought about over heating was when it was used as a dirt bike. Average gas mileage varies from 29-47 mpg. Top speed is around 115 mph. Max cruising speed is around 90 and the best speed is 70. For a long 700 lb. motorcycle, it has good low speed manners. It's very stable and forgiving. Let out on the clutch and she moves forward. Show less

I owned a 2005 Road King with the twin cam 88 and loved the bike. But 10 klm. down the road I was convinced I'd made a great choice to trade her in. The refinement of the new RC is amazing - better motor, better frame, better brakes and transmission. I had to keep looking to see if I was on a Japanese sport bike. Show less

It's a very comfortable ride. I can go eight to nine hours easily. The high end torque is acceptable for passing. I can cruise at 75 mph. with no vibration. I get approximately 46 to 50 mpg. I live near mountains and it performs surprisingly well, although I don't challenge the mountain curves. My only complaint is I wish the rear fender didn't flair straight out but rather curved down over 1/3 of the rear tire. By the way, that fat rear tire really helps with the comfort level touring down the interstate. Show less