Harley-Davidson 1870 Freewheeler FLRT 2022 — Specifications

Who said a trike had to look like a chrome-plated cruise ship for Florida retirees? With the Freewheeler FLRT, Harley-Davidson takes the exact opposite approach to the Tri Glide Ultra and delivers a three-wheeler with a hot rod twist. Where its big brother plays the absolute comfort card with its saddlebags, windshield, and 564 kg on the scales, the Freewheeler trims down seriously. We're still talking about 507 kg wet, nearly 57 kilos less. The lines are leaner, more aggressive, with those Mini-Ape Hanger handlebars that immediately set the tone. And your wallet breathes easier too: at €33,590, it comes in at almost €7,000 less than the Ultra version. A clever positioning to attract a different clientele — perhaps younger, certainly more drawn to style than long-distance touring.

Beneath that stripped-down bodywork beats the Milwaukee Eight 114 V-twin, packing 1,868 cc of American character. Air-cooled, this 45° twin produces 87 horsepower at 5,020 rpm. A modest figure on paper, but it's the torque that does the heavy lifting: 158.9 Nm available from just 3,000 rpm. With a 102 mm bore and 114 mm stroke, the engine favors strong mid-range pull and a deep rumble over high-revving theatrics. Four valves per cylinder, a 10.5:1 compression ratio, and a six-speed gearbox paired with belt drive: the recipe is classic but proven. Nobody's chasing outright performance here. It's about the sensation — that of a big V-twin pulsing between your legs, propelling half a ton of metal without breaking a sweat.

Piloting 507 kg with two rear wheels wearing 205/65-15 tires demands a minimum of onboard electronics. Harley understood this and equipped the 2022 Freewheeler with the trike-specific RDRS package. Cornering-optimized ABS, adaptive traction control, drag-torque management through curves — everything is calibrated to compensate for the absence of natural lean. Braking relies on two 300 mm discs up front with four-piston calipers and a 270 mm disc at the rear, all electronically linked. The 49 mm telescopic fork offers 117 mm of travel, enough to soak up imperfections without turning the ride into a physiotherapy session. The suspension, inherited from the Touring range, allows simple preload adjustment to accommodate different loads.

The Freewheeler targets a very specific audience. First, car license holders who want a taste of the Harley universe without getting a motorcycle license. Then riders who, for physical reasons or simply by choice, prefer the stability of a three-wheeler without sacrificing looks. The low seat, perched at just 700 mm, reassures smaller riders. The 22.7-liter tank provides decent range for runs along back roads. And the rear trunk, spacious enough to swallow two helmets, is a reminder that this machine happily accepts a passenger. Top speed caps out at 170 km/h, which clearly places the bike in the leisurely cruise category rather than the highway-devouring express lane.

In the trike market, the Freewheeler has no real direct competitor at this price point and personality level. Can-Am offers its Spyder and Ryker with two wheels up front — a radically different philosophy. The Tri Glide Ultra remains the obvious choice for grand touring. The Freewheeler occupies a niche all its own: the unapologetic three-wheeled cruiser that banks on style and sensation rather than an overload of equipment. A singular bet, not without its flaws (the weight remains substantial, and the limited cornering ground clearance demands anticipation), but one that has the merit of existing and offering a different vision of the road.