2011–2016 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Fully Loaded American Long Hauler
The Electra Glide Ultra Limited is Harley's fully loaded flagship tourer, built around a 1690 cc air-cooled 45° V-twin that makes 86 hp and a thick 102 lb-ft of torque. Power runs through a 6-speed gearbox and a belt to the rear wheel, tuned for low-rpm interstate cruising rather than chasing revs. The Batwing fairing, cavernous Tour-Pak, standard ABS, cruise control, and full sound system put it at the top of the luxury-touring order. This is a motorcycle designed to carry two people and a week of luggage across a continent in comfort.
On the road it rides big and planted, and despite an 888 lb wet weight the low center of gravity keeps it manageable once you are moving. Build quality is genuinely solid and it ages well when maintained, but this generation has weak points worth budgeting for. The compensator can fail around 40,000 mi, the charging system can leave you with a dead battery, and the lean factory tune invites pinging. Sort those out and you have a bike happiest eating highway miles two-up, not hustling tight back roads.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 86 hp (64 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 102 lb-ft (138 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1690 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 130/80B17 65H |
| Rear tire | 180/65B16 81H |
| Wheelbase | 63.5 in (1613 mm) |
| Seat height | 29.1 in (739 mm) |
| Wet weight | 888 lb (403 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
Settle into the seat and the first thing that lands is the sound: a deep, even V-twin beat you feel through the floorboards as much as hear. At idle there is a pulse in the bars, but roll on and it settles into a steady thrum that stays civil at a highway pace. The riding position is upright and roomy, the broad seat holds your lower back for hours, and the Batwing pushes enough air over your chest to keep long stretches quiet. What surprises most riders is how stable it feels at speed. Point it down an interstate and it tracks dead straight, unbothered by crosswinds and truck wash, the whole machine anchored to the road. A passenger rides just as easily back there, which matters when the trip is the point.
This read comes from years of listening to riders: talk at rallies, owners I catch up with at events, bike-night conversation, and messages in my inbox. For this Ultra Limited the picture is consistent, broad affection for how it carries you and its engine, weighed against a familiar list of mechanical complaints.
Comfort leads nearly every conversation. Owners credit the supportive seat, upright riding position, and the Batwing's wind cover for days that end without aching, and rate the passenger space and luggage among the best going. The air-cooled V-twin earns steady praise for a smooth, torquey surge and a note that stays refined at a highway clip. A few add how surefooted the mass feels through bends once up to speed, and fuel near 44 mpg (5.3 L/100km) in highway riding.
The complaints run just as steady. Most cited is detonation, a pinging or marble-rattle under hard acceleration on a hot motor. Electrical faults come up nearly as often, the charging side and a scattering of failing sensors and switches blamed for the occasional roadside stop. Some note the rear cylinder's heat on the right leg in warm stop-and-go traffic, and the sheer mass, which asks for care at walking pace.
Rear Brake Light Switch Failure
The rear stop-light switch is prone to failure, causing the brake light to stay on or not illuminate.
ABS Hydraulic Control Unit Recall (NHTSA 18V‑076)
Harley‑Davidson recalled 2008‑2011 Touring models (including FLHTK) for an ABS hydraulic control unit that may exhibit internal corrosion, potentially restricting brake function.
Clutch Master Cylinder Disengagement Failure (2016 Recalled)
On 2016 models, the hydraulic clutch master cylinder may lose the ability to fully disengage the clutch, especially after sitting. This can cause the bike to lurch when started in gear. Recall 16V‑471.
Engine Pinging (Detonation)
Audible knock or rattle when accelerating at 2500–3000 rpm, particularly with a hot engine. Caused by lean factory tune; often cured with a tuner/remap.
Compensator / Cam Chest Failures
The compensator (primary‑reduction sprocket) is a known weak point, often failing around 40,000 mi (64,000 km) with symptoms like rattling and bad starter engagement. The later‑style compensator is a recommended upgrade.
Cam Chain Tensioner Wear
The spring‑loaded cam chain tensioners can wear prematurely, especially on high‑mileage bikes, risking engine damage if not inspected and replaced.
Infotainment and Radio System Failures
The Harman-Kardon radio/infotainment unit can go blank after exposure to rain, and front speakers are prone to failure. The automatic volume control (AVC) may also malfunction, causing erratic volume behaviour. In some cases the entire instrument cluster and infotainment screen cuts out intermittently while riding.
Voltage Regulator and Stator Failures
Charging system components can fail, leaving the bike with a dead battery. Typically occurs after ~19,000 mi (30,000 km); upgrading to aftermarket units is a common fix.
Lifter noise / premature lifter failure
Some owners report a persistent ticking sound from the engine, often traced to failed or noisy hydraulic lifters. The issue can appear at moderate mileage (around 40,000 miles) and may require lifter replacement to restore quiet operation.
Oil Pressure Sender Leaking / Failure
The oil‑pressure sender can leak oil or give false low‑pressure warnings, requiring replacement.
Water Intrusion at Throttle Body Connector
Moisture can get into the electrical connector at the throttle body, causing rough running or no‑start conditions. Cleaning and applying dielectric grease is a common remedy.
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 your season points at Sturgis and Daytona, this bike gives you the sound, presence, and brand ritual you came for, and it will haul you and a passenger there in real comfort.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Built for exactly your kind of week. Loaded two-up with the Tour-Pak full, it stays planted and comfortable across the long interstate hauls out to the big parks.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
You want twisties and daily loops, so here is the honest read: at 888 lb this is a comfort-first highway cruiser, happiest on open sweepers, not tight canyon back roads.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2010
Luxury Loaded From The Factory
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 Touring Electra Glide Ultra Limited FLHTK. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2015–2016
The Fully Loaded Mile Eater
Successor · 2017
Milwaukee-Eight Wrapped in Full Luxury
Same Platform · 2010–2014
Chrome, Thunder, Factory Prestige