Harley-davidson Road Glide Ultra Review
"The best American touring bike if you respect its weight."
Key Specs
Used Buyer Review
The Road Glide Ultra is genuinely impressive touring iron when it's running right, and that's the catch. These bikes carry real weight — pushing 900 pounds wet — so if you're not comfortable with that reality before you buy, walk away now. The frame-mounted fairing is the real differentiator here; it doesn't shake your eyeballs out at highway speeds like the fork-mounted touring bikes, and the infotainment system on 2015+ models is surprisingly usable once you stop fighting it. Buy one from 2017 onward if you can stretch the budget. The Milwaukee-Eight engine addressed most of the Milwaukee-Eight predecessor's heat-soaking complaints, and the suspension finally got serious attention. Pre-2017 Twin Cam examples are cheaper but come with well-documented compensator and primary chain tensioner issues — budget $800-1,200 for that work unless you enjoy surprises. Always check service records, inspect the frame for tip-over damage near the right lower fairing, and listen carefully at idle for primary rattle.
Pros
Cons
You're short, new, or budget-shopping pre-2015
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