New and Used Motorbikes & Motorcycles for Sale

Motorcycle Reviews

Find By Make/Model

Sell your bike for £13.99

An MCN ad reaches more motorcyclists than any other biking website or publication

Sell your motorcycle

Advice from owners & experts

Visit our forums to ask current owners about their bikes - or to put a question to our expert panel

Get advice

1 of 18

Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide motorcycle review - Riding

translate:/Shared/Controls/Multimedia/Flickrator/PreviousImageAltText

translate:/Shared/Controls/Multimedia/Flickrator/NextImageAltText

Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide (1988-current)

Detail	Value
New price	£18,395
Used price range	View Harley Davidson ELECTRA GLIDE bikes for sale to see current asking prices
Engine size	1449cc
Power	65bhp
Top speed	110mph
Insurance group	16

	MCN ratings	Owners' ratings
Overall
Engine
Ride & Handling
Equipment
Quality & Reliability
Value

MCN overall verdict

Harley cowboy meets Goldwing creature comforts. The Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide is an evocative all-American steed that can carry two plus luggage on a chugging adventure-cruise. Cynics would say the Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide works better on dry, straight, 55mph limit American roads than the drizzly UK where everyone belts up the motorway at 90+.

Watch Harley-Davidson's Electra Glide take on the Victory Vision, the Honda Goldwing and BMW's K1200LT

MCN rating
Owners' rating

Over a hundred years of heritage and more character than Wild Bill Hickok. The Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide's engine is lumpy but loveable, as is the gearbox. Loads of torque – but it needs it to shift all that weight. Not much power in reserve when you get up to motorway speeds – desperate reps in turbo diesels will muscle past the Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide in the fast lane.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

This big ‘ol girl’s built for comfort not speed. Take it easy on the Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide and it’s a great place to chug along, taking in the view. Try to up the wick more than a little and things get decidedly bouncy. It’s pretty easy to touch parts down if you whiz through roundabouts on the Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide. But what’s the point in rushing when your motorcycle looks this good? Slow down and soak up the admiration.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

Next to a CBR600 the Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide’s got it all – huge fairing, comfy seat, stacks of luggage, optional stereo that’s so good you can use it most of the time. But the uber-tourer class is dominated by the better equipped Goldwing. Fortunately there’s a host of extras for the Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide, official and unofficial, to get your Glide just right for you.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

Harleys have come a long way in the last decade and the Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide is no exception. Faults are pretty rare and they’re solidly put together machines. Corrosion can bite, like on any machine, but with so much metal and posing at a premium it hurts more on an Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

The logical man would buy the cheaper and higher-tech BMW K1200LT or superior Honda GL1800 Goldwing. But as well as the huge advantage the Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide has on charm it also benefits from minimal depreciation which is a real bonus. Insurance is cheap considering the price but expensive given the Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide's performance. Find a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide for sale.

Insurance group: 16

Compare motorcycle insurance quotes now

1988: Harley-Davidson FLHTCUI Ultra Classic launched.
1993: Cruise control and CB radio added. Anniversary model Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide available too.
1995: Quick release panniers and gearbox mods.
1996: New clocks, master cylinders and switchgear.
1997: Lower seat, bigger battery, improved suspension and cruise control.
1999: Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide engine increases from 1340cc to 1450cc.
2001: Alarm now standard.
2002: New swing arm, alarm and indicators.
2003: Harley-Davidson FLHTCUI Ultra Classic Electra Glide launched.
2006: Harman - Kardon stereo available on Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide.

Harley-Davidson FLHT Electra Glide Standard: Base spec Electra Glide. No radio or tour pack as standard, engine finish polished alloy.
Harley-Davidson FLHXi Street Glide: Less chrome, cut down screen, stereo and hard panniers fitted as standard.

Specifications

Top speed	110mph
1/4-mile acceleration	14.4 secs
Power	65bhp
Torque	80ftlb
Weight	372kg
Seat height	693mm
Fuel capacity	19 litres
Average fuel consumption	41mpg
Tank range	170 miles
Insurance group	16

Engine size	1449cc
Engine specification	2v V-twin, 5 gears
Frame	Steel spine
Front suspension adjustment	None
Rear suspension adjustment	Preload
Front brakes	Twin 292mm discs
Rear brake	292mm disc
Front tyre size	MT90B16
Rear tyre size	MU85B16

See all Harley Davidson ELECTRA GLIDE motorcycles for sale

Harley Davidson
ELECTRA GLIDE

4425 miles

£19,995

Harley Davidson
ELECTRA GLIDE

19990 miles

£17,995

Harley Davidson
ELECTRA GLIDE

10731 miles

£12,995

Harley Davidson
ELECTRA GLIDE

2373 miles

£16,995

Harley Davidson
ELECTRA GLIDE

2165 miles

£17,448

Owners' Overall Rating (2 reviews)

Submit your Review

New 2009 Frame Really Handles

Patrick Burridge

Average rating

Show Details

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

I'm now 6 weeks and 2,500 miles into my new 2009 Electra Glide Ultra Classic, and it would have been 5,000 miles if the weather had been kinder. The new frame is a revelation, cornering on the footplates is all too easy but it is the low speed manoevering that really sets it apart from my old Road King. The 5 gallon tank is handy giving real life 190 miles refill to refill and the seat is the best in the business, 200 miles at a time without squirming is a real plus for a superbunter! A little extra chrome, some phat exhausts and a skull here and there fixes the look. A real head turner. Wish I'd bought the CVO....

12 April 2009
Electra Glide Std FLHTI

Anonymous

Average rating

Show Details

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

As you'd expect the ride comfort is first class. Being an air cooled engine, you tend to get a bit warm sitting in traffic. The finish on the engine case and wheels needs carefull attention to stop corrosion spots coming through. The fuel gauge sits at the full mark utill there's about one gallon left in the tank when it decides to go from full to 1/4 full in one swift move. I changed the standard srceen to the low profile and found this a better option with improved visibility. I'm averaging 10 miles per litre, which ain't bad.

11 April 2007

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

Discuss this

Add your comment

User's Badge

acecaferacer says

Big Harleys can take corners too!

So that's 2 examples the OP has given for this superb all round tourer....... a dry straight road at 55 or a drizzly straight road at 90+

I live in Thailand and every damn chance I get I am "up-country" in the mountains where these bikes absolutely shine...... ok granted I will conceed that most big Harley riders don't know how to use a gearbox..... but if you know how to ride (it helps having grown up riding the Sussex country roads on fast Japs!!) these beasts you'll be the first to agree....... get 'em up in them thar hills and you'll have the time of your life!

26 April 2008 07:31

Tools

My inbox

Most popular

Rate my bike

LEXMOTO XTR 125 2011

jacklonghorn

The best bike i own, i have had a RS and Dragstar and Kawasaki AR Don't get me wrong, spend some time fixing the thing up, Tyres, rear shock, screws and you have a bloody reliable bike!