Harley-Davidson 1870 Tri Glide Ultra FLHTCUTG 2023 — Specifications

Who could possibly want to ride a 564 kg machine, wider than a sedan, topped out at 170 km/h, and priced at 45,490 euros? The question is worth asking, and the answer might surprise you. The 2023 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra FLHTCUTG fills a niche no one else is after: that of the factory-built production trike, no aftermarket converter required. Milwaukee has a long history with the three-wheel format, having produced them without interruption from 1932 to 1973. The return of this unusual layout to the French market in 2014 was almost a commercial gamble. Ten years later, the Tri Glide still stands alone in its segment. No major manufacturer offers a factory-built equivalent, not even Honda with its Gold Wing, a machine otherwise tailor-made for grand touring.

Beneath the Batwing fairing, the 45° V-twin Milwaukee-Eight 114 displaces 1,868 cc and produces 87 hp at 5,020 rpm. The figure seems modest relative to the displacement, but torque does the heavy lifting here: 159.8 Nm available from just 3,000 rpm, sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed gearbox and a belt drive. The engine runs in its Twin Cooled configuration, partially liquid-cooled, with 4 valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 10.5:1. The 102 mm bore and 114 mm stroke confirm the long-stroke character of this powertrain, designed to haul a considerable mass without breaking a sweat. You're not chasing outright performance here — you're after effortless mid-range pull, and the Milwaukee-Eight delivers on that promise without strain.

The steel double-cradle frame houses a 49 mm telescopic fork with 117 mm of travel up front, while the rear end rides on two wheels shod in 205/65-15 tires — a purely automotive size. Braking duties are handled by two 300 mm discs with four-piston calipers at the front and a 270 mm disc at the rear. The whole package benefits from cornering-enhanced ABS, traction control, and drag-torque slip control through curves. Harley has progressively integrated the full suite of electronic rider aids grouped under the RDRS banner, and the Tri Glide genuinely needs them given its size. The linked braking system works across all three wheels simultaneously, which is reassuring during hard stops where the weight makes itself felt.

On the equipment front, the Tri Glide Ultra plays in the rolling living room category. The King Tour Pak trunk offers 124 liters of storage, the electric reverse gear is a lifesaver during tight maneuvers, and the parking brake prevents cold sweats when stopped on a slope. The BOOM! GTS infotainment system with touchscreen, Apple CarPlay compatibility, and GPS navigation rounds out the package. The H-D Connect system lets you monitor the vehicle from a smartphone: fuel level, location, and alerts if the bike is moved unexpectedly. The 22.7-liter tank seems tight for a touring machine, but fuel consumption stays reasonable thanks to the low cruising rpm. The seat, perched just 735 mm off the ground, inspires confidence even for shorter riders.

The Tri Glide Ultra targets a very specific audience: experienced riders, often coming from the automotive world, drawn to the Harley universe but reluctant to manage the balance of a 400 kg two-wheeler. A standard car license is all you need to ride it, which considerably broadens the potential customer base. The riding experience does require real adaptation, though: forget about leaning into corners — here you steer with the handlebars, and lines are negotiated differently. As for the competition, there simply is no one else in the factory premium trike segment. The Can-Am Spyder plays in a sportier, lighter category at a significantly lower price point. At over 45,000 euros, the Tri Glide sells prestige, image, and a riding experience unlike anything else on the road.