I purchased a 2010 Ultra classic two weeks ago and have just now had a chance to put a few miles on it. One thing I noticed this afternoon was that there is a vibration throughout the bike when I pull in the front brake lever, while sitting still with the engine idling. Let off the brake lever and it stops. Is this normal? It does have ABS brakes.

 

Yes, it is normal.

While stopped without applying the front brake, look closely at your front wheel.
You will see it moving (vibrating) ever so slightly back and forth (in time with the V-Twin engine).

Now apply the front brake while still watching the front wheel, and most of that movement is transferred back up through the forks to the handle bars where you feel it.

Every motorcycle is going to do this, some more than others.

Oh, and it has nothing to do with ABS Brakes

 

Have the wife sit on it and see what she thinks

 

Don't do it - I did that, and mine bought her own Road King. LOL!

 

Bazinga!

 

Now she's asking for cams!

 

It just seems like more vibration in this bike than my others when I pull in the front brake. It may just be that I'm not used to the bike-different motor and idle from my Evos.

 

I let my wife sit on my bike back in the 80's while it was idling-she went straight to the Harley dealer and bought her own Custom Softail. lol.

 

All bikes are going to be different in some aspects from previous bikes. That is just the way it is. Older bikes were "then" and newer bikes are "now". Every bike seems to have its own peculiarities. And yes, holding the front brake in the "on" position will result in a shaking or vibrating feeling being transmitted up to the handlebars. Do they all do that? I can't say that they "all" do that because I haven't ridden "all" the Harleys in the world. What I can say is that mine does that and the several other touring bikes I have ridden all do that. So, I am going to go with "That is normal".
If your in doubt, you can always ask somebody in your dealers service department. They are not "all" liars, just most of them. There again, "That is normal".