2015–2016 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
The Fully Loaded Mile Eater
The Ultra Classic is Harley's fully-dressed touring flagship, and it wears every bit of that role. The air-cooled 45° V-twin runs 1,690 cc and hands you 105 lb-ft at just 3,750 rpm, so forward motion arrives early and stays lazy. Peak power sits at 86 hp, but the number tells you little; this bike moves on torque and a long 64.0-inch wheelbase that plants it dead-straight at highway speed. Add the Boom! Box 4.3 infotainment, the batwing fairing, deep floorboards, and a full luggage set, and you have a machine built to swallow states, not corners.
It rides like it looks: heavy, planted, and happiest holding a steady line for hours. At 913 lb wet it takes intent to move at walking pace, and the low 29.1-inch seat helps more than the mass suggests. Build quality is solid and belt final drive keeps the upkeep simple, so these age well when maintained. This is a two-up, long-haul tourer for riders who measure a good day in fuel stops. The honest caveat: two safety recalls apply to this run, covering the clutch master cylinder and the saddlebag mounts, so confirm both were addressed before you buy.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 86 hp (64 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 105 lb-ft (142 Nm) @ 3,750 rpm |
| Displacement | 1690 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twinMotorcycles With V-Twin Engines → |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | BeltMotorcycles With Belt Drive → |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 130/80B17 |
| Rear tire | 180/65B16 |
| Wheelbase | 64.0 in (1625 mm) |
| Seat height | 29.1 in (739 mm)Motorcycles With a Seat Height Under 30 Inches → |
| Wet weight | 913 lb (414 kg)Motorcycles Over 900 Pounds Wet → |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
Clutch master cylinder may fail to disengage (safety recall)
On affected 2014-2015 FLHTCU models the clutch master cylinder may lose the ability to disengage the clutch, especially after the motorcycle has sat for an extended period, letting it creep forward in gear with the lever pulled. Dealers flush the clutch system and rebuild the master cylinder free of charge. NHTSA recall 15V216000.
Saddlebag mounting receptacles may not secure saddlebags (safety recall)
Affected 2014-2015 touring models (incl. FLHTCU) have saddlebag mounting receptacles that may not adequately secure the saddlebags; a bag may separate while riding. Dealers replace the receptacles free of charge. NHTSA recall 15V427000.
Where this Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic FLHTCU 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 Electra Glide Ultra Classic FLHTCU is actually built for.
If Sturgis and Daytona sit on your calendar and you ride for the sound and the culture, this Ultra Classic gives you the presence, the voice, and the full-dress look you came for.
Made for Florida State Road A1A · Black Hills · Main Street, Daytona Beach
Loaded two-up for Going-to-the-Sun or Beartooth, this bike is in its element: steady at speed, comfortable for hours, and packed with the luggage a long season on the road demands.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
You'll love the comfort and the highway calm on Blue Ridge or Highway 1, but at 913 lb this is a cruiser at heart, not the quick-steering sport-tourer for tight, busy days.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2011–2016
Fully Loaded American Long Hauler
Compare to the previous model →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 Electra Glide Ultra Classic FLHTCU. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2014–2017
The Flat-Six Muscle Cruiser
Roughly $2,700 cheaper used than this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2014
Thunder Stroke Touring Bagger
About the same used price as this bike at 10 yr
Same Platform · 2015–2016
Big Dresser, Low Threshold
Roughly $1,400 pricier used than this bike at 10 yr
Compare it with every bike that shares the same spec or equipment.