Motorcycle specifications Harley-Davidson1690 ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA CLASSIC FLHTCU 2016 A road to savour

the Electra Glide has been consuming the road for decades, in masterful style and with an inimitable pulse. A luxury version of the tourer, it can only be supplanted in the hearts of bikers by the super-luxury version, the Limited, or the ultra-luxury demonstration, the CVO Limited. In 2014, this GT-cruiser underwent a host of improvements linked to Project Rushmore.

rest assured, the lines, philosophy and majesty have not changed. MoCo has refined, improved and revisited life on board and the use of the Electra Glide Ultra Classic. Quality and finish are up, and so is the performance of the Twin Cam. Or rather, the Twin Cooled. This 1690 block features a new camshaft, a more breathable airbox and, above all, water cooling. At least partially: only the top of the engine is water-cooled. Coolant is routed through the cylinder heads in the area around the exhaust valves, and the heat exchangers are located in the lower arms of the left and right fairings. The buggers are well hidden. The precision cooling system is thermostatically controlled, and uses an electric pump to circulate the coolant.
The Twin-Cooled 103 offers 10.7% more torque and 10.6% more power than the standard Twin Cam 103 engine, as well as an inflated compression ratio from 9.6:1 to 10.1:1.

More watts, but also firmer clutch springs. Harley compensates with a new clutch control. A step towards more rigorous handling comes in the form of a beefier 49 mm fork, REFLEX brakes that balance braking force between front and rear, while remaining linked to ABS, and new 10-spoke aluminum wheels.

progressing in comfort can encourage risk-taking. The Rushmore project involved touching an almost sacred element of the Electra: its fairing nose. If Harley had botched the design, bikers would have been furious. Mission accomplished with a subtle revision, whose main development is a judiciously placed slot, the fruit of 3,000 test sessions. A "One-touch" button makes it possible to hide the slot at the touch of a finger. New fairing sills also enhance protection.
Alongside the famous Batwing, lighting has also evolved, with a Daymaker LED headlamp backed up by halogen fog lamps. In addition to offering greater luminosity, Daymaker technology provides a surprisingly modern visual touch, distributing 2136 lumens of luminous efficiency.

on L'electra, the passenger is pampered. With 2014 and Rushmore, the seat surface was increased, the backrest and armrests were redesigned, the Tour-Pak now offers 4% more capacity despite being more compact, the saddlebags are also larger and open with a simple "One-Touch" press, and...
Wait, what's "One-Touch"?
One of the concepts from the Rushmore: a simple press for easy unlocking. It makes life a whole lot simpler when you're handling the elements that come with this philosophy, i.e. the fuel filler flap, the panniers, the Tour-Pak, and every compartment cover.

once the miles start rolling in, there are two camps: those addicted to the mechanical rasp, and those who'd love to share a little music. The Electra Glide Ultra Classic now features a modern infotainment console. The name says it all: the BOOM! BOX 4.3 package. It features a 4.3-inch color screen (the size of a Nokia Lumia), 25 watts per channel, 5.25-inch speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port and front-mounted buttons. Even better: to control it, a 5-way joystick is positioned to obey the thumb.

already firmly rooted in the world of rolling couch highways, the Electra Glide Ultra Classic takes full advantage of the Rushmore project. Improved from one end to the other, it wants to enjoy the road more than ever. The advent of liquid cooling is still causing a stir, as is the price tag, and its appeal is growing stronger.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos