Harley-Davidson 1870 Ultra Limited FLHTK 2022 — Specifications

Imagine for a moment that Route 66 and a plush lounge had a child together. You'd get something close to this Ultra Limited FLHTK, 2022 vintage, a 416 kg liner fully fueled that sits just below the CVO range in Milwaukee's touring hierarchy. We're talking about a rolling monument priced at 32,690 euros, designed for those who consider that a solo weekend under 800 kilometers isn't really a weekend.

Under the 22.7-liter tank purrs the famous Milwaukee Eight 114, a 45-degree V-twin that spits out 1868 cc through a short-stroke bore of 102 x 114 mm. The official figures announce 87 horsepower at 5020 rpm, which would seem anemic on any sportbike but becomes almost incidental here. The real argument lies elsewhere, in those 163.8 Nm of torque delivered from 3000 rpm, a bovine avalanche that propels the machine like a deep-draught barge. The belt drive and six-speed gearbox stretch this flow up to 170 km/h at peak, a purely theoretical speed on a machine you never push that way. Facing a Honda Gold Wing Tour that is more technical and 35 kg lighter, the Harley plays a different tune, more mechanical, more visceral, infinitely more characterful. Against an Indian Roadmaster, however, the fight becomes fratricidal and the verdict often comes down to a matter of badge and tribal loyalty.

The tubular steel double-cradle chassis stoically absorbs this metaphorical ton. The 49 mm telescopic fork offers 117 mm of travel, the two side shocks settle for 76 mm, adjustable by knob for preload. It's modest on paper, but this isn't a GS. Braking relies on two 300 mm discs with four-piston calipers up front, an identical disc at the rear, all orchestrated by cornering C-ABS, C-ELB for lean-angle distribution, and VHC which holds the bike on an incline. Add two-mode traction control, the C-DSCS anti-slip system, TPMS, and you get that famous RDRS package which brings this ton of chrome up to the electronic level of a modern roadster. The 130/70-18 front and 180/55-18 rear tires confirm the philosophy: stability first, agility second.

The real added value, the one measured after six hours in the saddle, lies in the cabin. The seat at 740 mm from the ground accommodates two adults without cramping them, the passenger benefiting from a seat widened by 2.5 cm, fitted armrests and a redesigned backrest. The Batwing fairing integrates a central air intake that calms turbulence at helmet level, a detail developed after nearly 3000 wind tunnel tests. The 6.5-inch TFT screen of the Boom Box GTS handles Apple CarPlay, navigation, intercom and 100 watts of sound spread across four channels. The H-D Connect service alerts the owner via smartphone of the slightest break-in attempt, a luxury that makes sense when you leave such a machine sleeping in a hotel parking lot.

The target audience is crystal clear. No urbanites, no track riders, no beginners either despite the very low seat height that fools everyone. This Ultra Limited is aimed at the accomplished long-distance rider, the one who devours two-up migrations and considers that a motorcycle must carry its own lounge on board. The major flaw remains this elephantine weight during maneuvers at a standstill, a true test of truth for the arms. The price, meanwhile, is less debatable than one might think when you relate the service offered to the kilometers covered. There remains an honest question, whether the historic clientele will really follow Harley into this hyper-technology territory, or whether they still prefer the more understated Street Glide. For my part, I rank this FLHTK in the category of machines you don't buy with your head.