Harley-Davidson FLHTK Electra Glide Ultra Limited 2011 — Specifications

What does the quintessential American road trip look like in 2011? The answer is the FLHTK Electra Glide Ultra Limited, a behemoth that embodies Milwaukee’s credo: moving air and road with quiet authority. Beneath its integrated luggage lines and windscreen lies the large V-Twin Twin Cam 103, boosted to 1690 cm³. The figures, 81 horsepower and 138 Nm of torque, seem modest on paper compared to an abundant European competition. But that misses the essential point: here, the mechanics speak a different language. The torque, available from 3500 rpm, is an underlying swell that propels the 413 kg, fully fueled, without apparent effort, transforming highways into long ribbons to be unrolled with a hand on the throttle.

The true audience for this machine is not the track racer seeking lap times, but the pure and hard routard, for whom the journey is an end in itself. The frame is a carefully welded mild steel architecture, designed for unwavering stability rather than agility. The wheelbase of 1635 mm and the whitewall tires dictate a placid ride, where each change of direction is anticipated with serenity. The pneumatically adjustable rear suspension allows you to adapt the firmness to the load, a crucial detail when the integrated 2 x 37 liter saddlebags are full. At 739 mm, the seat is accessible, but the weight commands respect, especially when stopped or maneuvering at low speeds.

Its equipment places it at the top of the Touring range of the time. The complete audio system, handlebar controls, handguards, and the large windscreen with side fairings create a remarkable bubble of comfort. The dual-disc braking system at the front, with its 4-piston caliper and optional ABS, is up to the mass in motion. For 27990 euros new, you bought more than a motorcycle: a ready-to-use travel ecosystem. Today, searching for a used Harley-Davidson FLHTK Electra Glide Ultra Limited becomes a sensible quest, allowing access to this level of finish and presence for a much more contained budget, provided you accept the charming archaism of certain technical solutions.

Because it must be admitted, the competition, particularly the BMW K1600 or Honda Gold Wing, crushed the FLHTK in terms of pure performance, road holding finesse, and innovation. Its stated top speed of 170 km/h and its 22.7-liter tank limit it to a continental cruiser role rather than a continent eater. But it is precisely this assumed limitation that makes its charm. It does not claim to be anything other than a perfect Harley-Davidson for its use: to swallow miles in limousine comfort, with the deep and regular sound of the V2 as a soundtrack. A monument of the road, to be ridden with the appropriate mindset.