Harley-Davidson 1870 Tri Glide Ultra FLHTCUTG 2024 — Specifications

Who, today, can claim to produce a factory-built trike? No one, except Harley-Davidson. The 2024 Tri Glide Ultra FLHTCUTG occupies a niche the Milwaukee manufacturer knows well, having built three-wheelers without interruption from 1932 to 1973. Forty years of expertise, put on hold then revived stateside in 2009, before landing on the French market five years later. This is not a marketing whim, but an acknowledged mechanical heritage, rooted in the brand's DNA.

Let's be frank: at 564 kg fully loaded, the Tri Glide is an ocean liner. Its width generously exceeds that of a Gold Wing 1800, and its silhouette goes nowhere unnoticed. The technical platform borrows from the Electra Glide Ultra Classic, grafted with a dedicated rear axle fitted with 205/65-15 tires, a massive 124-liter King Tour Pak trunk, and adapted braking featuring two 300 mm front discs squeezed by four-piston calipers, plus a 270 mm rear disc. The steel tubular double-cradle frame handles the mass without flinching, and the 49 mm telescopic fork offers 117 mm of travel. The seat, perched just 735 mm off the ground, reassures from the moment you climb on. You plant both feet flat, take a breath, and tame the beast.

Beneath the Batwing fairing sits the Milwaukee-Eight 114 in Twin Cooled guise, partially liquid-cooled. This 45-degree V-twin displacing 1868 cc, with its 4 valves per cylinder and 102 x 114 mm bore x stroke, produces 87 horsepower at 5020 rpm. Not enough to set any lap records, but that's not the point. The real muscle lies in the torque: 158.9 Nm available from just 3000 rpm, delivered to the wheels through a six-speed gearbox and belt final drive. This low-end grunt lets you haul over half a ton back up to speed with disconcerting ease. Top speed caps out at 170 km/h, more than sufficient for touring use.

On the electronics front, Harley has spared no expense. The RDRS package includes cornering-optimized linked ABS braking (C-ABS and C-ELB), adaptive cornering traction control (C-TCS), and directional drag-torque slip control (C-DSCS). For a vehicle of this size, these aids are not a luxury—they are a necessity. H-D Connect connectivity lets you monitor fuel level, range, or vehicle location from a smartphone, with alerts in case of suspicious movement. The BOOM! GTS infotainment system, compatible with Apple CarPlay, delivers a readable screen and smooth navigation. Add in the Daymaker LED headlights, electric reverse, parking brake, and One Touch opening for all compartments: the equipment rivals that of a four-wheeled grand tourer.

That leaves the question of price and audience. At 45,890 euros, the Tri Glide Ultra targets a very specific clientele: long-distance touring enthusiasts, often experienced riders, seeking the absolute stability of a three-wheeler without giving up the Harley universe. The riding experience is radically different from a conventional motorcycle, with virtually no lean angle through corners. But the low-speed stability, cargo capacity, and cruising comfort more than make up for that compromise. A noteworthy detail: the Tri Glide is accessible with a standard car license, opening the door to drivers who have never obtained a motorcycle license. A formidable selling point for Milwaukee, which thereby expands its customer base well beyond the traditional biker circle.