Doc, I have just been through this process… so this is my findings for what it’s worth, but appreciate we are all different.
I wanted a SG and was set on it.
Chatted long and hard with SWMBO and agreed she will still want to tour occasionally and have the odd day out. So this left a bit of a dilemma. The SG is suspended low… it’s the custom cruiser of the touring bikes… according to some, many buy a SG, add a Tour Pack (top box) and a pillion! Then the suspension can’t cope. The screen is lower, but taller one is available… seat is flatter, harder etc.
So I looked at the the Ultra Limited… with a detaching docking kit to take the tour pack off. The bike is suspended higher etc. as it is an out and out twoup tourer. When my missus is in the back, it’s comfy, bigger seat, has the mahoosive seat on the back, has extras like heated grips, lower faring on the bars etc etc.
But I now run it without the tour pack and it is as good as a SG just with extras! Comfier seat, bigger screen, leg protection, etc. but it’s not quite as cool looking as a SG in this form, I accept that. But it gives me the best of both worlds. So I found it was worth going for a UL and stripping down, rather than getting SG and then suffering extra weight needing an upgrade the suspension to accommodate the pillion and a tour pack.
Just a different viewpoint… good luck with the chase for the next bike… always a great time
