My friend and I have been waiting until the 2014 launch to purchase a pair of ultra limiteds. Now with the new bikes out, we are second guessing our selves and leaning more towards the regular air cooled ultra primarily because it has the proven 103 and its almost $3000 cheaper. With the ultra, you still do get a lot of the new features that I like. I enjoy reliability and I don't know if I would be nervous about braking down on the rode with the new cooling system. We are buying these bikes for the long haul and don't want to make the wrong decision.

 

Considering the wording of your post, I'd go with the air cooled 103. The potential is real that this water cooled engine 'could' be an utter nightmare. If you must own a 2014, my suggestion, as you already pointed out, is to stick with what's tried and true.

 

Well, look at it like this, if it the cooling system breaks down( springs a leak) then it will become just an air cooled ultra like the rest of em, win win, lol... just sayin.

 

good point......but doesn't it have a warranty like the others....just saying if something goes wrong, take it back and get it fixed.

 

I wouldn't assume that. With a passage in the head for coolant to pass through, air cooling will not be very efficient due to poor heat transfer caused by the air pocket where the coolant is supposed to be (assuming a loss of coolant in the system)

 

I will offer an example.

Cadillac made a car called the catera several years back. It was a complete and utter pile of ****. Few of these cars lasted 100k miles. A pretty normal longevity expectation these days.

Cadillac did not extend the warranty to help owners. They didn't offer trade assistance to help people stuck with these cars. When the warranty ran out, it was yours to fix.

I say that to point out that if these water head engines are total failures (and they may not be) it is unlikely that harley will do anything to accommodate owners that jumped on this new technology. Yep, warranty is expired and you could be left holding the (empty) bag.

 

What makes you say that? This looks like the simplest implementation of liquid cooling yet.

 

Hell I'm still trying to figure what's so good about the 103 with water cooled exhaust valves? If I'm reading the specs right it makes just .8 more pounds of torque but at 500 rpm higher. They all incorporate the new compensator and other improvements don't they?

 

I don't get it either, minimum gains with new parts to break

 

But, you get "tootsie" warmers. Radiators in the lowers should feel good when you are riding in 40 degree temps.

Bwana