2017 Iron Butt SaddleSore 1000: The verdict

We won’t lie: our path to SaddleSore 1000 success was made a hell of a lot easier by taking three luxury tourers along for the ride – and it was originally going to be four before a last-minute scratching for the excellent BMW K 1600 GTL.

That was disappointing, but there was still plenty of long-haul muscle with the Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited, Honda Goldwing and Indian Roadmaster. We punched out plenty of miles on all three steeds – over 21 hours and 15 minutes that can happen… – so we had plenty of time to soak up all aspects of the triumvirate, from comfort to performance, multimedia offerings, weather protection, et al. The whole gamut!

The contenders
Before we announce the overall winner, here’s a snapshot of all three bikes:

Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited
A series of updates since 2014 have transformed the Ultra Limited, with the modernisation process taking in the brakes, fairing, panniers, venting, infotainment, suspension and engine. The 107ci Milwaukee-Eight engine is a pearlier, with a quantum performance upgrade and less vibration over the old 103 powerplant – and it’s great on juice. The Ultra Limited is a compact luxo tourer, but that’s not at the sacrifice of comfort – in fact its seat offers superb lower back support. The Ultra Limited has a natural, easy and responsive manner, and the new engine is the cream that sits at the top.

Honda Goldwing
The current model is set to move aside for the next generation in February 2018, and so for our test bike this review is something of a swansong. Settling back into the plush, broad and well-padded seat was like slipping back into our favourite ugg boots. It takes some time to get your head around the various features, and we look forward to a far better interface on the new model. Luggage capacity is excellent, the combined brakes are well up to the task, and that engine is a pearler. Even with the new Goldwing just around the corner, the existing model can still hold its head high. It performs, it handles, it's about as comfortable as an armchair and it simply oozes opulence.

Indian Roadmaster
With its period looks – that valanced front guard is dripping with history – the Roadmaster quickly became an unmistakable luxury touring presence on the open road when it was released in 2015. It’s an indulgence package that rewards not only riders, but pillions as well – and the seats are real leather! The Roadmaster is incredibly roomy, and audio system is part of the excellent Ride Command infotainment setup, which is one of the best in the business. The touchscreen is easy to use, the GPS navigation is exceptional, and the driving lights are roo burners! The Indian has a real aura about it, with the beaut heritage touches and modern functionality.

And the winner is…
The Ultra Limited. The Milwaukee-Eight engine is a true powerhouse, while everything else just works to produce a classy, polished package. The Goldwing just can’t match the technology flair of the Harley – but we all know that Honda is doing something about that – while the Roadmaster just lacks the refinement of the Ultra, particularly the powertrain, and it's let down by an ordinary fuel range. Congratulations Harley-Davidson!

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