Harley-Davidson 1870 Tri Glide Ultra FLHTCUTG 2022 — Specifications

Who could possibly want a three-wheeler weighing over half a ton, as wide as a small utility vehicle, sold for nearly €43,000? The question deserves to be asked, and the answer is less obvious than it seems. The 2022 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra FLHTCUTG occupies a niche that no one else covets: that of the factory-built, production trike, without going through a custom builder or a conversion kit. Milwaukee knows the subject well. The American firm manufactured three-wheelers from 1932 to 1973, before reviving the formula stateside and then offering it in France starting in 2014. A heritage that rivals cannot claim.

On paper, the numbers are staggering. 564 kg wet weight, a 22.70-liter tank, a seat height limited to 735 mm, and a rear axle fitted with 205/65-15 tires — a strictly automotive format. The Gold Wing 1800, widely regarded as the ocean liner of the touring category, looks almost slender by comparison. The tubular steel double-cradle frame houses a 49 mm telescopic fork with 117 mm of travel up front, while braking relies on two 300 mm discs squeezed by four-piston calipers at the front and a 270 mm disc at the rear. All overseen by a substantial electronic arsenal: cornering ABS, adaptive traction control, linked braking, and residual torque management in curves. Harley did not skimp on rider aids, and that's a good thing given the sheer size of the machine.

Beneath the Batwing fairing sits the Milwaukee-Eight 114 in Twin Cooled guise, partially liquid-cooled. This 45-degree V-twin displacing 1868 cc, fed by four valves per cylinder and a 10.5:1 compression ratio, produces 87 horsepower at 5020 rpm. Modest, you might say. But the torque changes everything: 159.8 Nm available from just 3000 rpm, transmitted to the rear wheels via a six-speed gearbox and a belt drive. Top speed caps out at 170 km/h, which is more than enough for a vehicle designed for cruising rather than performance. This engine never asks to be thrashed. It hauls, it pushes, it carries the rider through roll-ons with a smoothness that only a big American twin can deliver.

The equipment list reads like the options catalog of a premium sedan. BOOM! GTS multimedia system with color screen and Apple CarPlay compatibility, Daymaker LED headlights, One Touch openings on all luggage compartments, electric reverse, and a parking brake. The King Tour Pak trunk offers 124 liters of storage. H-D Connect connectivity lets you monitor fuel level and range or receive an alert in case of suspicious movement, although the subscription becomes paid after the first year.

Then there's the question of riding. A trike does not handle like a motorcycle. There is no lean angle, the line is negotiated through the handlebars rather than body inclination, and the width demands constant vigilance in traffic. In return, stability at a standstill is absolute, and long trips turn into a rolling living-room crossing. A regulatory detail worth noting: the Tri Glide Ultra is accessible with a standard car license, opening the door to enthusiasts who never obtained a motorcycle license. At €42,890, the price tag remains steep, reserved for a clientele that knows exactly what it's looking for. This is neither a beginner's motorcycle nor a weekend toy. It is an object of conviction, a deliberate choice, and on that ground, Harley-Davidson simply has no competitor.