You see it coming from a mile away. That massive, chrome-drenched front end and the unmistakable silhouette of a Batwing fairing. But as it gets closer, something changes. There are two wheels in the back. For some "purists," the Harley Davidson Trike Ultra Glide—officially known as the Tri Glide Ultra—is a point of contention. They’ll tell you it isn't a "real" bike because it doesn't lean.
Honestly? They’re missing the point.
The Tri Glide Ultra isn't trying to be a nimble Sportster. It’s a 1,200-pound statement of defiance against the idea that you have to stop riding just because your knees aren't what they used to be, or because you’re tired of wrestling a top-heavy touring rig at stoplights. It's a long-haul beast that offers a specific kind of freedom that two wheels simply cannot touch.
The Wrestling Match: How It Actually Handles
If you've spent thirty years leaning into corners, your first five miles on a Tri Glide will feel like you’ve forgotten how to ride. It’s weird.
On a standard motorcycle, you countersteer. On this trike? You push and pull. You have to physically muscle the handlebars to get those two rear wheels to follow your lead. It feels more like riding a high-end ATV or a very fast lawn tractor than a traditional bike. People get this wrong all the time—they think the third wheel makes it "easier" to ride. In terms of balance? Sure. In terms of upper body strength? You’re going to feel it in your shoulders after a day of carving mountain switchbacks.
There is also the "independent suspension" factor—or rather, the lack of it on older models. Because it has a solid rear axle, if your left rear tire hits a pothole, the whole back end tosses. It’s a side-to-side shimmy that can be startling. However, the newer 2025 and 2026 iterations have refined the suspension significantly, utilizing emulsion technology that you can adjust by hand. No tools. Just a knob.
That Milwaukee-Eight Muscle
Underneath all that paint is the heart of the machine: the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine. Some of the newest limited editions are even bumping up to the VVT 117, but the 114 remains the workhorse.
We are talking about 121 ft-lb of torque.
That is a lot of grunt. You need it, too, because you’re moving a lot of mass. When you’re loaded down with a passenger and a week’s worth of gear in the 6.8 cubic feet of storage, that torque is what gets you up the pass without the engine screaming in agony.
- Engine Type: Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 114
- Torque: 121 ft-lb at 3,250 RPM
- Fuel Economy: Roughly 42 mpg (don't expect miracles if you're pinning the throttle)
- Weight: 1,243 lbs in running order
The "Twin-Cooled" part is vital. Harley uses liquid-cooled cylinder heads to keep the heat off you and your passenger. If you’ve ever sat in Sturgis traffic on an air-cooled V-Twin in 95-degree heat, you know why this matters. It keeps the bike from melting your shins.
The Secret Weapon: Electric Reverse
Let’s talk about the thing nobody wants to admit they love: the reverse gear.
Trying to back a 1,200-pound machine uphill into a parking spot is a recipe for a hernia. The Tri Glide has an electric reverse operated right from the handlebars. It’s noisy—a sort of high-pitched whirring sound—but it is a lifesaver. It turns an embarrassing "can you help me push this?" moment into a non-event. Basically, it’s the ultimate ego-saver.
Safety Tech That Actually Works
Harley-Davidson has poured a massive amount of tech into the RDRS (Reflex Defensive Rider Systems) specifically for the trike platform. Since you can’t lean, you can’t use lean angle to help you stay on the road if you come into a hot corner.
Instead, the bike uses Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking (C-ELB) and Cornering Enhanced ABS.
If you panic-brake in a turn, the bike’s computer calculates exactly how much pressure to put on each individual wheel to keep you from flipping or sliding wide. It’s invisible until you need it. It makes the machine feel much more "planted" than the trikes of the 1970s.
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The Storage Reality Check
One of the biggest draws is the trunk. You get a literal trunk plus the King Tour-Pak.
Most people think they can fit a whole grocery run in there. Well, sort of. The trunk is wide but shallow. It’s perfect for helmets, jackets, and soft bags. If you’re trying to haul a hard-sided cooler, you might be out of luck. But for a couple traveling cross-country? It’s a palace. You aren't bungeeing bags to the fender and hoping for the best.
What to Watch Out for When Buying Used
If you’re looking at a used Harley Davidson Trike Ultra Glide, do not just look at the odometer. These engines are built for 100,000 miles if they’re cared for.
Look at the tires. Specifically the rear ones.
Because trike tires don't lean, they wear flat across the tread. If you see "cupping" or uneven wear, it means the rear alignment is off. Fixing a rear-end alignment on a Tri Glide is not a "driveway Sunday" job for most people. It’s expensive.
Also, check the steering damper. Because the front wheel takes all the road shock without the ability to "lean out" the vibration, the damper works overtime. If the steering feels loose or wobbles at 40 mph, that damper is likely shot.
Is It Right For You?
Kinda depends on what you want out of a ride.
If you crave the "on the edge" feeling of a two-wheeler, you’ll be bored. But if you want to see the sunset in Key West without your left leg cramping up from holding a heavy bike at every stoplight, this is the gold standard.
It’s about the destination and the comfort of the journey. It's about being able to wear a half-shell helmet, turn up the Boom! Box GTS infotainment system, and actually hear your music at 80 mph.
Actionable Next Steps
- Test Ride Both: Before you drop $40k, test ride the Tri Glide and the Freewheeler. The Freewheeler is stripped down and feels "zippier," while the Ultra is the literal couch on wheels.
- Check the Build Date: If buying used, aim for 2019 or newer to get the upgraded Milwaukee-Eight 114 and the improved GTS infotainment screen.
- Practice the Push: Find an empty parking lot. Practice "push-steering." Your brain needs to unlearn thirty years of countersteering before you hit a canyon road.
- Invest in a Cover: Trikes are wide. Your old motorcycle cover won't fit, and leaving that much chrome exposed to the elements is a crime.
The Tri Glide Ultra isn't a "compromise" motorcycle. It's a different category of machine entirely—one that prioritizes the experience of the open road over the mechanics of the lean. If you can get past the "missing" wheel, you might find it's the most relaxing ride you've ever had.