·
2010 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Luxury Loaded From The Factory
The Ultra Limited sits at the top of the Touring lineup and never pretends to be anything other than a full-dress luxury bike. The 1690 cc air-cooled 45° V-twin makes 102 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm and 66 hp, so the whole machine is built around low-rpm pull rather than revs, with a six-speed box and a belt final drive doing the rest. Everything a long trip needs is already bolted on: ABS, cruise control, heated grips, adjustable rear suspension and the full luggage system. A 63.5 in wheelbase and 902 lb wet give it the planted, unhurried feel that defines this class.
On the road that mass turns into calm. High-speed stability is the standout, and the chassis holds its line on open interstate without asking much of you. Build quality holds up on a bike that lives outdoors and gets ridden loaded, and parts support is effectively bottomless, so a used one can be reshaped to fit you exactly. This is for riders who measure a season in states crossed. The honest part: smoothness is good rather than flawless by the standards of this category, and three safety recalls sit on record for these years. Verify all of them before money changes hands.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 66 hp (49 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 102 lb-ft (138 Nm) @ 3,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 1690 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Front tire | 130/80B17 |
| Rear tire | 180/65B16 |
| Wheelbase | 63.5 in (1613 mm) |
| Seat height | 30.7 in (780 mm) |
| Wet weight | 902 lb (409 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
Thumb the starter and the 45° twin settles into that uneven, chesty idle the brand built its name on, and it stays the loudest voice in the experience at any legal speed. You feel it through the tank and the floorboards as a low pulse rather than a buzz, present enough to remind you what is underneath you, never sharp enough to numb your hands across a long day. The seat sits low at 30.7 in, which makes the 902 lb manageable once you are rolling, though you learn to plan parking-lot moves in advance. Behind the fairing the air goes quiet across your chest and shoulders and the noise drops to engine and tires. Heated grips, cruise control and 6.0 gal of fuel mean the bike runs out of road before you run out of patience.
This one isn't from my own miles. It's what I've picked up over years of listening: talk in parking lots after a ride, owners flagging me down with questions, notes and messages landing from people who live with the bike. The pattern on the Ultra Limited is consistent. The praise goes to the engine and the touring hardware, and the reservations almost all surface once the pace drops.
Most of it starts with the engine. Owners describe a broad, always-there pull that covers passing and a loaded two-up run without drama. Braking comes up nearly as often, trusted for strong, progressive stops on wet pavement. Many add that it corners with more composure than the mass suggests, stable and predictable. The factory equipment draws the same steady approval: grips, audio, cruise, luggage, nothing to buy before the first trip.
There's less on the other side, and it sits in a narrow band. Low-speed weight draws most of it, with tight maneuvers and shuffling the bike around by hand called out as genuine work. Fewer riders mention ground clearance running short on twisty roads, hard parts touching down sooner than they expected.
ABS module recall (NHTSA 18V‑076)
All 2008-2011 Touring, CVO Touring and VRSC models with ABS - including the 2010-2011 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (FLHTK) - were recalled because deposits can form in the brake system when the DOT 4 fluid is left beyond the 2-year service interval, causing a valve in the ABS hydraulic control unit to stick and reduce braking ability. The remedy is a free brake-system flush with new Platinum Label DOT 4 fluid; confirm it has been performed.
Rear brake light switch recall (NHTSA 11V‑506)
NHTSA campaign 11V506000: on 2009-2012 Touring, CVO Touring and Trike models built 06 Jun 2008 - 16 Sep 2011 the rear brake light switch can be exposed to excessive exhaust heat, so the brake lamp may fail to light, light without brake input, or leak brake fluid and degrade rear brake performance. Dealers install a rear brake light switch kit free of charge; confirm the recall was completed.
Front fuel tank mount recall (NHTSA 09V‑457)
NHTSA campaign 09V457000: on 2009-2010 Touring family motorcycles (incl. CVO Touring and Trike) built 06 Jun 2008 - 19 Nov 2009 the front fuel tank mounts can distort after severe frame damage in a frontal collision, causing a fuel leak at the weld of the front bracket to the tunnel. Dealers install left and right braces free of charge; confirm the recall was completed.
Compensator rattle and failure
The stock compensator can produce a loud clunk or rattle during startup, especially with increased engine load. Premature wear may lead to difficult starting and metal debris in the primary, often resolved with an upgraded Screamin’ Eagle compensator.
Saddlebag quick‑release lock vulnerability
The stock saddlebag mounting system can be easily defeated, allowing theft of the bags. Aftermarket security kits or modified pins are available to address the issue.
Rear fender tip light water intrusion
Water can leak into the rear fender tip light housing, causing corrosion and failure of the circuit board.
Brake master cylinder fluid weeping
The original master cylinder cap gaskets can seep brake fluid, damaging paint if left unchecked. An updated cap and gasket kit from Harley‑Davidson resolves the leak.
Where this Harley-Davidson Touring Electra Glide Ultra Limited FLHTK 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 Touring Electra Glide Ultra Limited FLHTK is actually built for.
If the ride is about sound, presence and rolling into Sturgis or Daytona with the whole rig loaded, this is the bike you already had in your head. Nothing about it apologizes for being big.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Two-up over Beartooth or Going-to-the-Sun it delivers on comfort, weather protection and 6.0 gal of range. Accept torque-led progress on the climbs instead of outright speed.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
For flowing days on the Blue Ridge it works well. Tight switchbacks are a different story, because 902 lb and a 63.5 in wheelbase want long curves, not constant direction changes.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
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 Touring Electra Glide Ultra Limited FLHTK. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
