Harley-Davidson 1745 TRI GLIDE ULTRA FLHTCUTG 2018 — Specifications

Who could possibly want to ride a 564-kilogram machine, as wide as a small city car, powered by a 1746 cc V-twin? More people than you'd think. The 2018 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra FLHTCUTG occupies a niche that no one else even bothers to contest. It is the only factory-built trike from a major motorcycle manufacturer. Not a conversion kit cobbled together in some Missouri garage, not a custom shop creation: a vehicle designed, engineered, and assembled in Milwaukee. That distinction gives it a status all its own, almost that of a rolling collectible.

The story is nothing new. Harley-Davidson built three-wheelers from 1932 to 1973, mainly for utility and police use. The trike's return to the lineup, first in the United States and then in France from 2014 onward, carries on that legacy. The mechanical foundation is that of the Electra Glide Ultra Classic, fitted with a dedicated rear axle bearing two car-sized wheels — a 205/65-15 rear tire that leaves no doubt about this machine's calling. The King Tour Pak trunk offers 124 liters of storage. This is closer to an ocean liner than a canyon carver.

Beneath the Batwing fairing, the Milwaukee Eight 107 delivers 87 horsepower at 5,450 rpm and, more importantly, 151 Nm of torque from just 3,250 rpm. This 45° V-twin benefits from 4 valves per cylinder and partial liquid cooling in Twin Cooled form. Raw power remains modest, but the generous low-end torque is exactly what's needed to get a mass like this moving without breaking a sweat. The 6-speed gearbox and belt drive do their job in complete discretion. The 10.1:1 compression ratio and the 100 x 111.1 mm bore and stroke betray an engine built for torque, not revs. Top speed caps out at 170 km/h, which is more than enough when you're sitting atop half a ton of steel and chrome.

On the equipment front, the Tri Glide Ultra pulls no punches. BOOM! 6.5 GT multimedia system, Daymaker LED headlights, linked ABS across all three wheels, One Touch compartment opening, 49 mm telescopic fork with 117 mm of travel, dual 300 mm front discs squeezed by 4-piston calipers. The 735 mm seat height and electric reverse gear make maneuvering easy. A parking brake rounds out the package, a reminder that this machine borrows as much from the car world as from motorcycling. The 22.7-liter fuel tank demands regular stops — the only real practical weak point for a tourer of this size.

Riding a trike has nothing in common with riding a two-wheeler. No leaning into corners, total stability at a standstill, and cornering behavior that requires a complete relearning process. The Tri Glide can be ridden with a standard car license, opening the door to enthusiasts who never obtained a motorcycle license. It's a shrewd selling point. The trade-off is nonexistent agility in the city and dimensions that make parking a headache. At €37,650, the price tag stings. It exceeds Honda's Gold Wing, already considered the gold standard in touring. The Tri Glide Ultra targets a very specific audience: brand loyalists, often seasoned riders, seeking absolute long-distance comfort and the iconic image of the American trike. Not a rational choice, but a deliberate one.