Return of a Classic
Like the Fat Bob, the Ultra is a returning CVO favorite, but unlike the Dyna, the Electra Glide has enjoyed the longest continuous CVO run of any bike; this is its 5th appearance in the line. Seems people like their Harley tourers, CVO or otherwise.
The premier grand American Touring vehicle, as Harley calls it, receives notable updates for '10. We all know about last year's frame revamp that dramatically improved the big rig's maneuverability, but the bigger deal on the 2010 CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide is lighting redesign- a combination of upgraded rear lighting and new LED taillight components now allow the bike to meet international standards, so it can be street-legal overseas. Another nice side benefit-because LEDs don't require bulb housings-is increased capacity inside the Tour Pak trunk section.
The Ultra gets other road-ready tweaks; passengers will especially stoked to see the new passenger backrest with adjustable lumbar support (and an interior up/down adjustment), as well as a new Tour Pak 112 volt outlet along with the aforementioned color matched LED King Tour Pak Brake/tail lamp. Another part of the lighting upgrade is a series of brilliant white LED light pods positioned to illuminate the saddlebag and Tour Pak interiors. The luggage also now offers carry-out liners and gets a power lock system to boot.
New stylish Roulette rims frame the 17-inch front wheel and 16 rear. The signature twin antennas sprouting behind the Tour Pak (and Air Wing rack) are now connected to an impressive sound system by Harmon Kardon that will go a long way toward drowning out the engine braking of the semi in the next lane. On the Ultra CVO, it's an 80-watt setup, complete with CB/intercom and navigation system options. As if that wasn't enough, and there's an integrated garage door opener and receiver tucked in among the Ultra's high-end electronics system, too.
In the ultra-heavy Ultra Classic Electra Glide, the 110 motor performs well enough to allow it get it out of its own way; in fact, this motor should come standard on all of Harley's touring models. Anything less is, well, not enough (especially on the Ultra). In my short time on the Ultra, the tight canyon roads were very manageable once you understood the mass you were squiring around and the throttle response required therein. While the new frame (introduced in '09) does a superhuman (and vastly improved) job of addressing the Ultra's age-old handling issues, at the end of the day, you're still muscling a lot of weight. And I'd rather be doing all that heavy lifting on the CVO version, with the persuasive 110 motor and ultra-user-friendly ABS, than on a mainline Ultra.