2010 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited - King Of Grand American Touring

If Harley-Davidson's huge 2009 Touring-model makeover didn't get your attention, hopefully the new 2010 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (FLHTK) will get your heart pumping. Dubbed by H-D as the king of the Grand American Touring experience this newest Glide ups the ante in both the performance and style departments. From a distance the Limited screams custom without being pretentious.

Aside from the unique two-tone and custom color options available to the Ultra Limited the real soul of this bike rests between the framerails in the form of a 103 cubic inch Twin Cam engine. The additional 7 cubes over the stock Twin Cam 96 come from a pair of 3.875-inch big bore pistons and cylinders sitting atop the same 4.38-inch stroke bottom end. Those 1690 cc's of V-twin muscle are enough to propel the 900 pound Limited with ease. The Limited also received an increase in compression ratio compared to the stocker, up a 1/2 point to 9.7:1. While we didn't dyno the two motor variations, H-D claims a 10 percent increase in torque on the 103 that yields 102 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm. An integrated oil cooler helps to keep the motor and rider cooler. Transmission, primary, and final drive ratios are the same throughout all three 2010 Electra Glide models. One notable change throughout the whole lineup is the addition of a helical cut 5th tranny gear. The previous straight cut 5th gear had a noticeable whine that was amplified on the Touring bikes with bodywork and quieter cockpit.

Returning for 2010 is the new two-piece chassis that Harley rolled out last year. Its rubber isolated motor mounts do a great job of soaking up idle vibrations and do an even better job once out on the open road. Up front a pair of 41.3-mm non-adjustable hydraulic forks do a great job of soaking up anything the tarmac has to offer while the rear shocks are air adjustable to compensate for load and riding style. We've mentioned the superior riding quality afforded by the new chassis for a whole year now; if you haven't thrown a leg over a new machine and taken it for a spin then you really don't know what you're missing. The Limited takes the experience to another level.

With the Electra Glide Standard gone from this year's offerings other than the Street Glide all of the fork-mounted Batwing fairing bikes come with a Tour-Pak. There's still the Ultra Classic and the slightly less-adorned Electra Glide Classic but the Limited is situated at the top of the heap from the Factory's 'stock' offerings. While the CVO Ultra might be too much for many the Limited gives the Touring rider a very capable and equipped long-distance machine. Although the price is higher than the Ultra Classic, the Limited comes stock with antilock brakes, security system, and two-tone paint. That's about $2,500 in options included in the price.

An extremely inviting one-piece, comfort stitch seat immediately welcomes both rider and passenger. The seat has a great pocket and exceptional lumbar support right out of the box. It might be a tad confining for taller riders but gives really great back support and all-day comfort. Passenger accommodations get even better with the Tour-Pak mounted backrest and wrap-around armrests. Speakers and passenger audio controls gives the backseat rider a more enjoyable experience. Helping both the rider and pillion are the side mounted mid-frame air deflectors that aid in keeping engine heat at bay. Wind and element protection are top notch on the Limited with removable, vented lower fairings (attached to the engine guards), a tall windscreen, and adjustable fairing-mounted air deflectors. The deflectors can be rotated to either block the wind or direct it towards your body, depending on weather conditions. One item that we absolutely loved were the heated handgrips. During a few sub 50-degree evenings the heated grips were able to keep the chill away (even through leather gloves). It's amazing how having warm hands works to keep the body warm. A dial on the left grip can be turned for more or less heat.

In the Touring department the Limited doesn't disappoint with ample storage space throughout the bike. Injection-molded saddlebags and Tour-Pak are familiar units along with the addition of a Premium Tour-Pak luggage rack atop the box as well as a soft-luggage liner. In addition, each of the lower fairings has additional storage compartments. A nice feature is the addition of a 12-volt cigarette-lighter style power supply inside the Tour-Pak that can be used to charge electronic devices or run any other 12V accessories. A six-gallon fuel tank topped by a low-profile tank console gives the Limited lots of room between fuel stops. Returning is H-D's outstanding cruise control that works in conjunction with the Electronic Throttle Control to seamlessly control the speed.

As has become expected from later model Harleys, the trio of four-piston Brembo calipers with ABS is among the best on the market. The non-linked calipers have a nice feel, that are good for modulating with a finger or two, while grabbing a handful hauls down the big Glide without upsetting the handling. You might not need ABS on a daily basis, but it does a great job of stopping quickly in a hairy situation. ABS inspires confidence in the rain and on sand or gravel too as there's no worry of locking up a wheel. New Contrast Chrome 28-spoke cast aluminum wheels (17-inch front, 16 rear) with narrow whitewall dual-compound Dunlop tires (130mm front, 180 rear) come standard and are reported to extend tire life by 25 percent.

While the view of the inner fairing is familiar with all the requisite gauges and warning lights, the Limited is outfitted with titanium-faced gauges. Each of the gauges is illuminated by bright LEDs and feature larger font for easier viewing and reading. An 80-watt Harman/Kardon audio system with CD/CB/intercom, radio and MP3 hookup drives four speakers, two in the fairing and two in the Tour-Pak/backrest. Out on the road the audio performs pretty well, even wearing a full-face helmet. It's nice to be able to fade the front and rear speakers to get the sound the way you like it.

The Electra Glide Ultra Limited is a great looking and handling motorcycle. We especially love the additional power output from the 103ci motor. The Limited has sophisticated road manners from parking lot speeds all the way up to freeway cruising without ever feeling heavy. Generous ground clearance allows spirited canyon carving that can definitely surprise unsuspecting squids. Combine the extra torque from the oversized jugs and there is little this big bike can't do well. While not as outfitted as the CVO Ultra it's a more conservatively styled machine in the looks department that will also save you over $10K compared to the CVO. If the stock 96 cubic inches on the other Electra Glides isn't enough for you take a serious look into the Limited. It's got a motor and styling that you cannot get in any other factory offering.