H-D Ultra Classic
‘Ah! Electra Glide in Blue!’ Said Ferg when we met in town, referring to the 1973 Film of that name. ‘Very tasty’ was the comment. I admit I had to come home and utilise my Ph.D. in Google to refresh memory of the flick.
The cliché title had stuck with both of us as a catchphrase, not for the integrity of the Robert Blake Police drama, but because it was the first movie, we can recall, which featured the model designation of a motorcycle in its title. (I think it’s the only one?) And Electra Glide is such a famous name in motorcycling.
The first FL Electra Glides appeared in 1965, and as Author Mac Mcdairmid asserts in his comprehensive Encyclopaedia ‘The Ultimate Harley-Davidson’ (Hermes House) ‘Of all H-D models, surely the enduring FL Electra Glide is the one that best epitomises the breed’.
Brave claim, Mac, but after spending a week living with a magnificent Flame Blue Pearl & Vivid Black FLHTK Electra Glide Ultra Limited, I’d have to agree that it’s everything I like about a big block Harley. (And confuses me about Harley names!)
Don’t believe any of the internet dribble about ‘Harleys don’t do this or that’, because this is a very competent, really pleasurable, good fun motorcycle. It goes, and chucks around, like a Sportster did four or five years ago – and it weighs 400kg.
I read a bit more from the esteemed Mac and he proceeds to completely dump on the original Electra Glides. Referring to the 1966 model he claims ‘this never was a state of the art machine’ and bemoans the reliability of the first electric starters and lack of front brakes.
Fortunately in the ensuing 44 years that whole situation has changed and the 2010 unit is up there with any machine - if uber-tourers are your riding pleasure.
Don’t let the Touring and luxury deportments fool you either, it really is a fun to ride motorcycle. Well balanced, nicely mannered, torquey and even, I know this sounds unlikely, but it feels like quite a ‘zippy’ bike. I did one of those ‘Hellllooooo, niiiiice!’ things in my helmet the first time I twisted the grip in earnest.
Co-pilot looked at me like I was drunk when I got all fizzy about it when she came home from work on pick-up day.
Harley claim the 103 cubic inch (1690cc) ‘Police’ motor has 11% more torque than a Standard Ultra with Twin Cam 96 (1584cc) engine. A bigger bore of 98.4 and stroke of 111.1mm. As is the H-D way now, there are no published Horsepower figures, but a claimed 136nm of torque is the selling point.
Whatever they horsepower number is there, they are fun to tap.
The whole shebang shakes like a Harley should at idle, then when it’s going it’s probably the smoothest V-twin I have thrown a leg over. It just purrs along on its rubber mounts. Kick it down a couple of cogs and it torques up nicely and equally smoothly. I felt an occasional feint vibe through my Harley Brand FXR boots, but only when I was searching for vibe, overall I thought it’s a very sweet unit.
The EFI was also noteworthy. This unit is also as good as any I’ve tested. It didn’t stumble once in the entire test. I ran it on 95 Octane and it seemed un-bumbleable. Harley says it ‘delivers easy starting cold or hot and self-adjusts to changing elevation and atmospheric conditions.’ Fuel economy got better with each Kilometre of the run-in and the estimated range to empty (by the trip computer) got longer with each km of engine loosening.
Wick it up and it gets along, but at the price of burning the fuel required to shift 400kg plus rider passenger and gear, but shift it nicely, it does.
I almost did stumble a few times though. For a unit that only had 120km on board when I picked it up, the gearbox was very good and easy to select. All of these car size engines have a noticeable run in transition but this one’s box was particularly nice from the get-go.
The only problem was that it is so easy to click in and out of gear that I accidentally knocked the heel shifter into neutral with my size twelves on a few takeoffs. Very Keystone Cops. It’s a very easy 6-speed gearbox.
As soon as the ‘Limited’ is moving it feels quite light on its feet. It’s not a hard chore to get the footboards on the ground, but with so much bike around you it feels like a steeper bank angle than it actually is. Ultimately the 33 degree lean angle is the limiting factor, but it’s good fun, and quite reliable, getting there. It does the posted ‘75’s’ at 100kph easily.
This is the first of the new (2008) Touring Chassis vehicles that I’ve tested and…wow. I understand what all the fuss is about. I’m serious about the fun bit. This is a PT Boat disguised as a Battleship and I don’t blame you if you don’t believe me till you ride one.
Yes it weighs 400kg, and backing it out of the Bunker took due care, but the COM is low, the wheelbase is 1635mm, it has state of the art chassis, air adjustable rear suspension, nice upright ergos, and very direct belt drive. It responds well to input and getting a cheek off the plush saddle.
Brakes are triple 300mm Brembo with ABS standard on all Touring Harleys. The beautiful contrast chrome wheels are ‘normal’ size. 17’ front with 180 section rear, fitted with custom Dual compound Dunlop rubber.
It’s a lovely bike to spend a week or a grand tour on.
Meanwhile Mac’s book also told me about the various model designations and how even a hand change option was available until 1972. The tradition of options has also continued to this current model. The Ultra Limited differs slightly from the ‘standard’ Ultra Classic Electra Glide.
How? I hear you ask.
Well, standard ABS and ‘Police’ (as in the one they currently use in the H-D US Police Bikes) Engine, a Smart Security System, upgraded Luggage, a Chrome top box rack, Accessory power supply, Unique Paint (and it’s beautiful), trick wheels and some dashboard bling.
What a dashboard it is too. Comprehensive, old school looking, analogue dials are arrayed around the Harmon-Karden stereo unit, which works well and was clearly audible under my Arai Chaser at open road speeds. Volume and other Stereo controls are located on the left had switch block, or the dash.
It took me a few days to come to grips with switch arrays, but I like the button-per-side Harley indictor set up (self canceling) and the Cruise control, and myriad of other features work well when you remember what they all do and put them in an environment thay were designed for.
‘Cruise control?’ Nearly everyone is somewhat incredulous when I mention it. They shouldn’t be – it has merit. Riding around the Coromandel Peninsula or to Akaroa there’s not much use for it, but crossing the Hauraki or Canterbury plains, in open road situations, it’s just one less thing to ‘worry’ about.
Relax, dial in the heated grips if needed, sit back in lounge chair comfort and watch NZ roll by. The seat is delightfully plush and there is plenty of room in the rider’s chair. Co-pilot rates the rear comfort ‘As good as any. Highest category.’
The rear throne is integrated into a large top box and the panniers are long and quite deep and the blingy rack unit adds extra capacity.
The bodywork is very efficient at creating a bubble for the rider and the Co-pilot said she felt no buffeting in the back seat.
The screen isn’t adjustable, but the height worked for me OK anyway, and there are shorter or taller options available.
The Fairing lowers keep a lot of the weather off and also have small storage compartments built in.
The upper bodywork has wind deflectors that were admirably efficient. They can direct a steady flow of air right up your sleeves. Ideal on a summer day like the one on which we did the photo shoot.
It was warm and I borrowed the H-D brand flow through mesh Jacket from AMPS and was as comfortable as a bloke could be on a motorcycle. Wind deflected and all.
It was a beautiful day on a beautiful machine. The engine is chrome. All chrome. I find it a work of art to look at. The whole bike in fact I found very pleasing to the eye and very pleasing to ride.
The 2-1-2 exhaust system is modern day quiet and finished in similarly lustrous chrome.
I gave the ‘Limited’ a good run through plenty of Freeway, open roads and a decent blat up State Highway 22 and found it’s a really good fun, capable, enjoyable bike.
People who are familiar with Electra Glides say ‘yeah, like you didn’t know???’
People who aren’t familiar look at it and say ’get out!’
It’s opulent, I mean, a wicked stereo on a motorcycle? C’mon! But it also has an engine with pleasing character, the highest levels of all day riding comfort and a nice set of road manners for a very large touring motorcycle.
At $38,500 ride away you’d expect it to be well mannered.
What you get for that hard-earned is a supremely comfortable grand tourer, which doubles as a blinged-up cruiser, while being a pretty good fun bike to ride, right out of the box.
Ultra nice. No blues.
First Published in KIWIRIDER 2009
