2024 Harley-Davidson Enthusiasts Collection Ultra Limited Review – GUITAR SEX-AXE SUNSET

IMAGES BY MATT McINTYRE

The last time I saw a paintjob that stunned me like this one, was at one of the outlaw club bike shows many years ago. It was a custom paintjob, the bloke had spent a billion dollars on it, and was coping with the trauma by drinking beer, and throwing what money he had left at strippers.

Harley calls the paint Tobacco Fade. Which is fair enough. Personally, I would have called it Guitar Sex-Axe Sunset, because it speaks directly to the images in my memory of what guitars used to look like back when rock ruled the world.

Back then, there were only two people on the stage who could and did bonk every single hot chick in the audience, the lead singer and the lead guitar player. The bass player and the drummer just smoked bulk dope and helped the roadies out. And back then, the guitar player often had a guitar that was painted like the paintjob you see on this Harley. It’s the colour of pure rock back when stuff like that mattered. And it worked on bitches like Kryptonite on Superman. It’s possible many of you were conceived after mummy was mesmerised by a guitar painted just like this Harley.

If you didn’t know, in the last few years, Harley addresses just these memories of its core market. It did this with the Fast Johnny range, and it’s now doing it with the Guitar Sex-Axe Sunset.

Each model that carries this paint, and there are three of them – the Low Rider ST, the Tri Glide Ultra, and the one I had, the Ultra Limited – will be made in a limited run of 2,000 examples, and any limited run bike will invariably appreciate over time.

The Ultra Limited itself, is one of the most comfortable touring bikes you’ll ever ride, and it cares deeply about the pillion and her comfort as well. Put aside for a second the new range of big Harley tourers and CVOs with the big VVT 121-cube donks. They’re all painted in largely muted colours or Screamin’ Eagle racing hues. The Ultra gives a little away to them in terms of performance, but the people buying the Ultra don’t care at all about ground clearance, handling, Brembo brakes, and a banging motor. They ride a different road.

And Harley knows this road and those who ride it very well. Which is why it builds these things. On this road, paint and chrome matter more than Brembos and Stage 3 heads. Pillion comfort, and long, easy going rides where you smell the air and admire the scenery is what this Ultra is all about.

No-one under 50 would even care. But then no-one under 50 has memories that are tweaked by the paintjob and that entire ineffable Harleyness of the Ultra. Mum isn’t the slim hotty she once was, so it wouldn’t be right (or even possible) to perch her on a thundering stroker’s bitch pad, belt out to some riverbank all sound and fury, share a bottle of Jack with her, and then take her for another sweatier ride while you pull her hair some.

But a few hours gentle rumbling on the Sex-Axe Ultra to some nice hotel, a bottle of Prosecco and a nice meal, and mummy might well want her hair pulled again. You know how this works.

I did none of that. I promise. But I did get a charge out of putting the Ultra to the question. I’m a huge fan of the new CVO touring range – which is honestly a huge step forward for Harley, and I was curious to see how the Ultra faired in comparison.

Not bad, pilgrims. Like I said, it gives a bit away to the new Road Glides and Street Glides in terms of performance, but not in any way a potential buyer would notice or even care. And remember, these big Ultras are much better-handlers than say the Softail-framed Breakout or the Fat Boy. And it’s handling may well surprise you in a good way if you’re new to the marque.

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What won’t surprise you is the attention the bike gets. That paintjob is a jaw-dropper. People just gravitate to it and smile. Harley has always known how to paint its bikes, and when it decides to something special, it really is special.

In practical terms, you can haul lots of luggage, the seats are divine, the chrome is stellar, and the whole package is entirely true to its DNA while still offering a grand and very satisfying touring experience.

I’m think even Mick Jagger, who complained musically about a complete lack of satisfaction at the age of 22, would now sing a different song aboard the Guitar Sex-Axe Sunset Ultra Limited.