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2017–2018 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
The Shark Nose Mile Eater
The Road Glide Ultra puts its fairing on the frame instead of the fork, and that one decision shapes the whole motorcycle. The shark-nose stays put while the bars move, so the front end isn't fighting its own bodywork every time the air gets busy. Behind it sits a 1745 cc 45° V-twin, air and liquid cooled, good for 90 hp and 114 lb-ft at 3,250 rpm through a six-speed box and a belt. Add the Tour-Pak, the passenger accommodation and 6.0 gal of fuel and you have a full-dress tourer wearing cruiser clothes.
Riding it is an exercise in momentum. At 937 lb wet on a 64.0 in wheelbase it picks a lane and stays in it, and the 28.9 in seat means most riders get boots down where it counts. It ages predictably: the paint and metalwork keep their look, while the steering head bearings can loosen over miles and leave the front feeling vague until they're reset. The honest caveat is equipment. Rider aids stop at ABS on this trim, the fork carries no adjustment at all, and only the rear shock takes preload, so a heavily loaded bike gets one dial.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 90 hp (67 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 114 lb-ft (154 Nm) @ 3,250 rpm |
| Displacement | 1745 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air/liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 130/80B17 |
| Rear tire | 180/65B16 |
| Wheelbase | 64.0 in (1625 mm) |
| Seat height | 28.9 in (735 mm) |
| Wet weight | 937 lb (425 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
| Fuel economy | 43 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Lighting
Safety
Hit the starter and the twin settles into an uneven idle you feel through the floorboards before you really hear it. Pull away and the beat smooths into a low thrum that reaches the seat and the grips at cruising revs without ever turning your hands numb. The riding position is upright and wide, arms out, boots forward, and the fairing pocket puts clean air across your shoulders rather than at your helmet. The bike feels enormous at walking pace and then shrinks the moment you're rolling. Your hands get told plenty: levers move with weight behind them, switches click instead of rattling, and nothing on the dash buzzes loose at highway speed. The shifter throws long and lands with a clunk you feel through the boot sole. The soundtrack stays a low, loping bark, loud enough to be part of the day without wearing you down by the end of it.
What follows isn't my seat time. It's what I've picked up over years of listening: riders who stop to talk in a parking lot, owners who write in after a long trip, the conversations that run late at club nights. On the Road Glide Ultra the chatter lands in two places. Riders talk about how the engine handles a loaded bike, and they talk about what happens when they stop rolling.
The most consistent thing owners say about this bike is that the motor never asks them to plan ahead. Passing a truck, climbing a grade, two people plus luggage aboard, and riders describe the same thing: the pull is there low down and it arrives without drama. The other half of that report is speed. Owners say the front end stays settled at highway pace and in crosswinds, with none of the bar shake they've felt on other touring bikes. Some point to the shark-nose fairing as the thing that gets them noticed at fuel stops, and a few mention the big touchscreen and navigation as part of why long days pass easily.
Riders keep coming back to low-speed handling. Over 900 lb wet means every U-turn, every tight parking spot, every push backward asks for technique and full attention. Nobody describes it as a surprise. They describe it as the thing you learn to manage.
Hydraulic clutch master cylinder failure (recall 16V471000)
On certain 2016 models, the hydraulic clutch master cylinder could lose the ability to generate pressure, preventing clutch disengagement and increasing the risk of a crash. A recall was issued to inspect and replace the master cylinder as necessary.
Secondary clutch actuator cylinder leak (recall 18V734000)
On 2017-2018 models the secondary clutch actuator cylinder may leak fluid internally and the clutch master cylinder may lose the ability to generate enough lift to disengage the clutch, which can cause a loss of control. Dealers installed a new secondary clutch actuator piston assembly free of charge.
Missing rear reflectors on Tour-Pak conversion kit (recall 19V574000)
Bikes fitted with the Harley-Davidson Detachable Tour-Pak Luggage Conversion Kit (part numbers 53000291, 53000291A, 53000567) lost their rear red reflectors because the kit shipped without replacements, leaving the motorcycle non-compliant with FMVSS 108 and less visible from behind. Dealers installed the replacement reflectors free of charge.
Milwaukee-Eight 107 oil sumping
On 2017-2019 models with the M8 107 engine, a faulty oil pump design allowed oil to accumulate in the sump, leading to increased crankcase pressure, oil leaks, and potential engine damage. Harley-Davidson introduced an updated oil pump assembly starting with the 2020 model year.
Front spark plug wire chafing
The front cylinder spark plug wire can rub against the lower edge of the fuel tank, wearing through the insulation and causing intermittent misfires or poor running. A preemptive fix involves adding a protective loom or relocating the wire.
Steering head bearing play
Some owners report that the steering head bearings can develop excessive play after moderate mileage, resulting in a vague front-end feel and occasional headshake. Readjustment or replacement resolves the issue.
Where this Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Road Glide Ultra is actually built for.
This is your Sturgis bike. It has the presence, the sound and the luggage to ride there rather than trailer there, and it still looks the part parked on Main Street at the end of the day.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Loaded and two-up, it handles interstate and mountain highway without drama, and 6.0 gal at 43 mpg clears most fuel gaps out west. Save some energy for the parking lot at the end of the day.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
Only half your bike. The style and the unhurried pace suit small-town roads, but this is a full-dress bagger with real bulk, not a light heritage machine for tight, twisty detours.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
