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#5 Harley day tour to the North Sea
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A day trip with the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra to the North Sea

Part 5

It's supposed to be a day trip with my two buddies Hermann and Ernst. It's Ascension Day and we want to take our Harleys to the North Sea to the Eider barrage.

On the way to Ascension Day with your best friends
On the way to Ascension Day with your best friends on a Harley tour

We start on the Baltic Sea coast near Schönberg, but our Hermann comes from the island of Fehmarn , he is the winner of the furthest journey.

We crossed the North Baltic Sea Canal in Schacht-Audorf with the Nobiskrug ferry
We crossed the North Baltic Sea Canal in Schacht-Audorf with the Nobiskrug ferry

We take the ferry across the canal

Schleswig-Holstein offers some beautiful routes for leisurely driving, we are driving north and want to take the Nobiskrug ferry to the other side of the canal in Schacht-Audorf.

It doesn't cost anything and the short stop is fun. You often meet other motorcyclists with whom you naturally start a conversation. Every year, over 120,000 motorcyclists cross the canal on this ferry, most of them just for fun.

BoomBox Navigation interests other bikers

These are often the moments when bikers from other brands in particular take a closer look at the Road Glide and you quickly start talking to them. Because built-in navigation and such a heavy machine are somehow interesting.

We drive past the Hohn air base

We now drive on towards Hohn, the village is better known as Hohn Air Base, where the Transall is at home.

Ernst on his E-Glide with the extraordinary military design
Ernst on his E-Glide with the extraordinary military design

We stop to refuel in Hohn, our Hermann has a hundred kilometers more on him than us, otherwise we always fill up the tank before the journey, which is actually usual.

In sport she consumed 6 liters

I have now driven 5787 kilometers with the Road Glide Ultra. With a little sporty driving style she now consumes 6 liters. You can certainly use a liter more petrol if required. Who would have thought that the Road Glide could also be sporty!

Breakfast in the Niebüller bakery in Friedrichstadt
Breakfast in the Niebüller bakery in Friedrichstadt

We get hungry and enjoy our breakfast in Friedrichstadt.

The machines are full of fuel and now we're heading to Friedrichstadt, where there's a good baker on the market square. Now it's time for breakfast and we're not the only bikers who know the beautiful little town between Husum and Büsum.

In the middle of town there is the Niebüller Bakery, the strange thing is that you can sit comfortably in the middle of the square to enjoy your coffee in the sun.

Hermann on his Harley-Davidson Heritage
Hermann on his Harley-Davidson Heritage

We are planning the Norway tour

While we have breakfast we discuss our tour to Norway, we have decided to go North Cape

I can tell you, we've been planning this number for ages and now it's finally supposed to start in July.

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We are going on an overland rapeseed flower trip and are currently near Tönning
We are going on an overland rapeseed flower trip and are currently near Tönning

Now we continue and we drive via Tönning in the direction of the Eider barrage , in between we enjoy the landscape and the rapeseed is blooming so beautifully.

And the wind from the North Sea is slowly blowing around your nose, the air is noticeably different on the coast. And then the barrier appears in front of us.

The Eider Barrier protects the inland area from storm surges

The Eidertal Barrier is the lock of the North Baltic Sea Canal
The Eider Barrier protects the inland area from storm surges

The Eider Barrage is a popular meeting point among bikers, and you can buy some of the best fish sandwiches here. If you want, you can also buy whole eels here. Such a barrier is not something you see every day; the huge flaps are lowered during storms so that the Eider does not flood the inland areas during a storm surge.

Super tasty fish sandwiches and good coffee, it's worth it!

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We spent a little too long in Friedrichstadt at the bakery, so there isn't as much going on here anymore. It's like most meeting places in the country, it gets quieter after 2 p.m.

My buddy Hermann and I are enjoying the weather on the North Sea
My buddy Hermann and I are enjoying the weather on the North Sea

We have perfect weather, so the day with his friends is fun and as an encore we will now go to Büsum.

The good thing about the Road Glide Ultra is that the suitcases have plenty of space. There is always enough space to store everything for shopping, jackets or rain gear.

The stage of the Shanty Festival in Büsum
The stage of the Shanty Festival in Büsum

We continue to the Shanty Festival in Büsum

Shanty Festival always takes place in Büsum on Ascension Day, which is pure seafaring romance. The shanty choirs are singing on several stages and ignite your wanderlust.

On the Road Glide Ultra I always think that I'm the captain of a big ship. The solid fairing makes it easy to steer my steamer because there is no weight hanging on the handlebars.

Beach, crabs and ice cream are arguments for Büsum

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The day is slowly coming to an end, we still have a few kilometers ahead of us. Fortunately! We feel like driving, it's always fun to do a few laps around the country in a small group.

Today I noticed again that the Road Glide is really flexible, it is easy to drive through the curves, a perfect gear ratio and the torque of Nm ensure that there is enough power in every situation.

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I have a good feeling about the Norway tour, it couldn't be more convenient to drive to the North Cape.

Days like these, riding a Harley together with your best friends without stress, give rise to gratitude.

Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra 107
#4 From Saint Tropez to the Harley Dome Cologne
West Coast Choppers

#4 From Saint Tropez to the Harley Dome Cologne

Part 4

After the Euro Festival we went back to Germany. I started in Saint Tropez early in the morning at 5 a.m. The weather was nice the whole day. That has now changed, it has become cold and wet.

Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra Saint Tropez
Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra Saint Tropez

First you go to the gas station with the Road Glide Ultra. In France it is often the case that you have to go to the gas station first and pay in advance.

Anyone who speaks French in France has a clear advantage

And early in the morning I caught an unfriendly gas station attendant who was even grumpier than I was at that time. Linguistically, it's really bad if you can't speak French, because many people here only speak their national language and he was one of them.

1300 kilometers want to be eaten

No matter, the tank is full and we continue on the motorway towards Lyon.

Mileage indicator from the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra
Mileage indicator from the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra

My odometer reading is now at 4,039 kilometers and I have decided to drive the 1,300-kilometer route to Cologne.

Only 5 liters per 100

After the first 300 kilometers I take the first fuel stop in Pont-de-l'Isère and fill up with 15 liters of petrol. That's a simple calculation, 300 kilometers in 3 hours and 5 liters per hundred.

Stupid highway driving in France

The advantage of the French motorways is that they are quite empty, but this strict speed limit makes you tired even though you are fully rested.

But the worst thing are the toll booths, either with a card or you throw money into the machine, which is really annoying and also costs money.

The BoomBox Navigation shows me the way

The navigation does a good job as usual, and the entire infotainment unit is a benefit for the driver, especially on long tours. The traffic information always keeps me up to date. At times the music plays while the cruise control maintains the speed.

Shortly before Lyon it rains and the dark clouds have already appeared on the horizon. but I still made it 270 kilometers to Gevrey-Chambertin to refuel and take a break.

If I'm good now, the Road Glide will take me to Luxembourg without refueling.

The weather turns to rain

Screen on the Road Glide Ultra
Screen on the Road Glide Ultra

It's a strenuous ride, the weather just doesn't cooperate and now the advantages of a large tourer come into their own. The large lens offers me enough protection in this weather. The fairing on the side also pays off. When the weather is so bad, you're lucky if your legs are protected.

www.1903shop.de Tips For The Road 950x230
Harley-Davidson Road Glide weather protection
Harley-Davidson Road Glide weather protection

I stop along the route at the Rastätte motorway to warm up with coffee and keep fit.

It's 350 kilometers from the last stop to Luxembourg. I travel very economically. Even though the Road Glide is fully packed, the luggage doesn't affect fuel consumption.

Refuel cheaply in Luxembourg

When I arrived at the crossing in Roeser, the on-board computer showed me a remaining range of 48 kilometers.

Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra mileage display
Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra mileage display

I refueled with 19 liters and that's fine. I think with a capacity of 22.7 liters including reserve it fits well into today's times.

Final spurt, it's now 4:15 p.m., they're waiting for me in Cologne. I help organize the bike show there and the preparations have to be made.

Cologne, here Cologne!

With the Road Glide Ultra in Cologne
With the Road Glide Ultra in Cologne

That was the last 240 kilometers for today, it took me 3 hours from Luxembourg to Cologne.

In total, I spent 14 hours on the Harley-Davidson long-distance tourer today. Now grab a nightcap at the Hard Rock Cafe and then it's time for the event over the weekend.

Harley Dome Cologne
Harley Dome Cologne

I'll take care of the Harley Dome Cologne Facebook page a little bit so that all the information and photos are online and on Monday I'll go back home to the far north.

That's another little over 500 kilometers, then the Road Glide Ultra will have around 5700 kilometers on it.

The tour to Saint Tropez and back home was 4200 kilometers. This was the first really big tour with the new 107 Milwaukee-Eight engine.

On the highway from Cologne to Hamburg
On the highway from Cologne to Hamburg

So far the Road Glide Ultra has been very impressive and has all the features of a touring machine.

The special characteristics that have shown me so far are its economy and the refined running of the engine; in hot traffic jams, the engine is noticeably cooler than its predecessors.

#3 The first big tour with the Road Glide Ultra
#3 The first big tour with the Road Glide Ultra
Thunderbike Harley Davidson

#3 The first big tour with the Road Glide Ultra to Saint Tropez for the Euro Festival

part 3

It started on May 10th, a fresh 6 degree wind blowing around your ears, but it's bearable on the big tourer and it's foreseeable when you're heading south that it'll get warmer at some point. And that's how it was, at Cologne it was already 15 degrees.  

My first stop is between Cologne and Frankfurt, where I will do the first inspection of the Road Glide Ultra. After driving 1,600 kilometers you should change the oil. For the first few kilometers there is still a special running-in oil in the engine and this needs to be replaced.   

Harley Tour Saint Tropez
Harley Tour Saint Tropez

The plan is to spend a nice evening with friends in Stuttgart and continue driving the next day. In total I will drive 1,800 kilometers to Saint Tropez, an overnight stay after 800 kilometers and the remaining 1,000 will go in one go.

From Stuttgart I head towards Switzerland, the route will take me via Zurich, a great route awaits me there, real mountains on the left and right, that's something special for a northern German.

What's not so great is the journey through the Gotthard Tunnel, which has turned into an adventure in itself, just before the tunnel it was 19 degrees, in the tunnel it goes up to 33 degrees and after the tunnel the thermometer drops to 9 That's something like a Kneipp tour.

THE GOTTHARD TUNNEL HAS SOMETHING OF A KNEIPT TOUR

Harley Tour Saint Tropez 4
Harley Tour Saint Tropez

The tunnel is around 17 kilometers long, so I wouldn't be surprised if one or two people fall off their feet in the summer.

It's not nice, but the pass road isn't open yet in May, so you have no other choice. In Switzerland you need a toll vignette, which costs €36.50 and is valid for 1 year.

Harley Tour Saint Tropez 3
Harley Tour Saint Tropez

The mountains appear to the left and right and I slowly approach the beautiful town of Lugano, along the Lake Lugano I take in beautiful images in my head.

The Swiss Harley Days take place here, also an ideal location for bikers. The area does have something, unfortunately the weather isn't great, but that's nothing new this year.

Harley-Davidson Hamburg North

These are exactly the moments when you can appreciate the fairing of the Road Glide Ultra, the ventilation flaps all closed and hidden behind the high window.

IN SWITZERLAND A FUEL CONSUMPTION OF ONLY 5.49L PER 100 KM

Switzerland is a place where you can set consumption records, I used 13 liters on a 237 kilometer stage, that's 5.49 liters per 100km, with a fully loaded Road Glide Ultra.

But this consumption is nothing special; I often didn't use more than 6 liters per 100 km when driving quickly. The Milwaukee-Eight engine is very economical; a range of over 400 kilometers is not utopia.

Harley Tour Saint Tropez
Harley Tour Saint Tropez

My journey continues, at some point I reach Italy, the beautiful city of Milan can only inspire me for a short time, the sun slowly sets and I have arrived in France.

First I come across the Principality of Monaco, a very special city-state that I will visit later, and then Nice lies in front of me, shining in the evening light, which is a great sight.

Again and again I drive right along the sea, it's just fantastic, even when it's already dark. Cannes is once again such a special place of film stars and glitter, but I don't have time for that right now.

I'm drawn along the French Mediterranean coast towards Saint Tropez and I'm getting closer and closer to my destination, that's what not only the navigation on the BoomBox , but also my nose!

The Côte d'Azur smells like a herb garden!

Harley Tour Saint Tropez
Harley Tour Saint Tropez

The scent on the Côte d'Azur is unique, Provence smells like a herb garden, that's really something very special, I'm already really looking forward to what awaits me the next day.

And how could it be otherwise, I arrive at my friends' house in Saint Maxime in the middle of the night, and the cold welcome beer is already waiting for me.

This is the beginning of a really great time with a really big Harley-Davidson on the Côte d'Azur in France! Good night!

Small tank experience with the new 107 Milwaukee-Eight engine
#2 First tank experience with the new 107 Milwaukee-Eight engine
Harley-Davidson Münsterland

#2 First tank experience with the new 107 Milwaukee-Eight engine

Part 2

How much does the new 107 engine consume in a street cruiser like the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra?

I let it tingle a little and went deep into the reserve, the display had been saying “LO RNG” for a long time.

The tank has a capacity of 18.9 L plus the 3.8 liter reserve (22.7 L total).

Now I have used 21 liters of petrol for 369 kilometers, which makes an average consumption of 5.69 liters per .

I find the result impressive. If you look at the Harley-Davidson website, the fuel consumption for the Road Glide Ultra 2017 is 5.9 l/100 km.

We would like to see such honesty from car manufacturers, especially since the actual facts are not hidden from us anyway. 

Mallorca Bike Week 2022

“A consumption of 5.69L during normal driving is realistic”

Now what's more, on my last stage, everything was there except for driving at full throttle on the motorway. Together with two buddies on their Harleys, we drove to the North Sea on country roads, federal highways and an expressway.

The highest speed was briefly 140km/h, but mostly on country roads with normal driving. The tour wasn't designed to save fuel, but it's clear that if you put your mind to it, you can certainly do more with one full tank.

The engine now has 6,150 kilometers behind it, the break-in phase is long over and now the fuel consumption can also be taken into account. For some people it will certainly be interesting to know, especially if big tours are planned, you need these key data.

So far I'm excited about the new 107 Milwaukee-Eight engine, the 103 was actually good, but the new Euro 4 standard required these modifications and Harley-Davidson did a good job here.

The engine has become quieter, the sound is better again even without the standard valve and fuel consumption is low compared to the powerful bike. Perfect!  

Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra 2017
#1 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra long-term test
2023 House Of Thunder Harley-Davidson Lübeck

#1 The Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra long-term test 2017

Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra 2017 Milwaukee Eight
Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra 2017 Milwaukee Eight

Part 1

#1 The Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra test with the 2017 Milwaukee-Eight engine begins in April and is expected to cover many thousands of kilometers.

You will see some of the most beautiful, but also harshest regions in Europe. If it passes this test of fire, it will undoubtedly have proven top tourer with the 107

It's April, the season has just started and the new Euro 4 standard is active. Many people were trembling and there was a lot to be heard in advance about the fact that from 2017 onwards we won't hear anything about the machine, for example. But that's not the case, in fact the opposite happened.

At KessTech I was informed about the new test cycle and also did a few test runs myself on the KessTech test site. Some things are cooked hotter than they are eaten.

The technology in the background is complicated, but it has been mastered by Harley-Davidson and also the well-known manufacturers of electronically adjustable exhaust systems.

We don't need to worry about the sound, it comes from the factory quite well and can also be legally changed using appropriate accessories.

Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra 2017 Milwaukee Eight
Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra 2017 Milwaukee Eight

The Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra has a great sound ex works with its new 107cui engine, I was really surprised, it is even a lot louder than the systems of the 103 engines and with its own new sound.

The new measuring method is about the overall noise development; the new four-valve engine is very quiet and runs smoothly.

The start was at kilometer 2 on the odometer, I'm still in the break-in phase and covered 900km with it in the first week of April.

A travel tourer that should now prove itself!

The first inspection is required after 1,600 kilometers have been driven. Even if the technology is well advanced, it is advisable to avoid high speed ranges and full throttle driving. The valves and pistons should work together correctly.

This means that the engine becomes a little quieter with every kilometer and subsequently develops its performance properly, but I'm not there yet.

The dampers and springs also only work properly after a certain phase. And the brakes and tires should be treated carefully for the first 200 kilometers, everything takes time.

The first impression!

Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra 2017 Milwaukee Eight
Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra 2017 Milwaukee Eight

But first impressions can already be reported: the chassis has become more stable, the spring struts can now be adjusted by hand using the rotary control without tools.

Harley-Davidson has paid particular attention to heat development; the redesigned exhaust system now radiates less heat to the passenger's foot and lower leg.

It has nice high handlebars, you sit very comfortably and long distances are no problem at all. I drove the first 600 kilometers in one go, only going to the gas station to refuel and get coffee.

The Road Glide Ultra is the perfect travel tourer, I have already ridden it as a 2016 CVO and Special. On my tours to Lake Faak, Denmark, Sweden and Russia, the CVO accompanied me reliably on 12,000 kilometers.

The CVO with full features is a special highlight, but it also costs a little more. If the 107 engine is enough for you, you can order your Harley in advance from the original accessories range so that you don't have to miss out on anything apart from the engine, whether it's the music system or the heated grips.

ROKKERTECH STRAIGHT AAA

If you like powerful music on the ride, you should really get the larger system installed; the performance of the system is noticeably better, even if it takes up a little space in the suitcase. The standard system is easily sufficient for light irrigation and navigation.

Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra CVO 2016
Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra CVO 2016

 What you should know about the Road Glide Ultra

The Road Glide is a big ship, there is no getting around it, it is a heavy machine that drives very confidently on the road.

The driver of a Road Glide Ultra should be at least 1.75m tall. The Road Glide Ultra is very popular with those who are a head taller than me at 1.83m.

The tilt of the BoomBox (navigation) suggests that the machine is also intended for larger ones. When the sun sets behind you, the smaller ones among us can no longer see much on the display.

Of course Harley-Davidson could make the BoomBox adjustable, but these are the first things that start to rattle, which will be one reason why it is not adjustable in tilt.

When ready to drive, it weighs 425 kilos. Care must be taken when going to the gas station. If there are large diesel stains on the gas pump, there is a risk of the front wheel slipping when braking, or your foot losing its grip when stabilizing lose before the stand is unfolded.

Of course, this can also happen with any other machine, these are the classics and have already happened to the most experienced drivers. Riding with the passenger can also cause surprises. If the passenger sits too far back in the nice chair when maneuvering and the driver turns the handlebars too far, it only has to be a little downhill and it happens quickly.

This can be avoided if the passenger moves close to the driver and the center of gravity is in the middle of the machine, then the handling is very balanced.

Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra
Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra

As a rule, the Road Glide has the crash bars, not much will happen, the main thing is that you stay calm in such a situation, the Harley notices that something is wrong and switches off automatically in the side position, activated after a short time The hazard warning lights are a safety feature, so don't panic.

It is possible to get it upright again on your own, but it should be on a solid surface. You can also ask about these tricks during the re-entry or refresher courses. YouTube channel soon .

What you get with the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra!

Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra CVO 2016 Like the E-Glide Ultra, it is one of the best travel cruisers you can drive, with its Reflector LED double headlights it has the best light I have ever ridden on a motorcycle.

Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra CVO
Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra CVO

The light output is enormous and one of the design features of the Road Glide. People argue about the design, it looks really sleek from the front, the profile takes some getting used to, its fixed fairing is decoupled from the fork, so you have up to 15 kilos less weight on the handlebars and this is particularly noticeable when cornering.

What I personally don't like that much and looks nicer on the Street Glide is the design of the cockpit, which looks clearer and more elegant on the E-Glide, but the wind protection is better.

But the biggest changes are the new Milwaukee-Eight engine and the new chassis. We'll see if there are any teething problems, so far it's going very well.

What's particularly noticeable is the gearbox. If you now engage first gear, you won't hear any loud clacking from the gear when it clicks into the shaft, which was particularly audible with the 2015 CVO engines.

At the end of April it will have a few more kilometers on it and the break-in phase will also be over. Then we will also look at the consumption and how the new engine behaves under different conditions.

The vehicle was made available by Harley-Davidson without any obligation to publish.

 

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