2018 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra

Signature elements of the Road Glide include a frame-mounted fairing with integrated instrumentation, and hard side bags. Despite these useful features, however, the model stops short of being a fully fledged tourer. This all changes with the Road Glide Ultra, which cranks up the feature count to include not only the popular fairing, but a 13.5-inch-tall windshield that creates a wonderful cocoon of quieter air for the rider (thank you, Harley!), fairing lowers for increased leg comfort, a luxurious two-passenger touring seat, a passenger backrest and armrests, and a top trunk with a rack. Luggage space more than doubles to a greatly useful 4.7 cubic feet.

Additional touring-oriented tech on the Road Glide Ultra includes a 17-inch front wheel instead of the base Road Glide’s 19-inch unit, mild retuning of the now “Twin-Cooled” Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine to kick out 2.7 percent more peak torque, and a standard instead of optional Boom! 6.5GT infotainment system. Realistically, the Road Glide Ultra is comparable to the Electra Glide Ultra Classic and the Ultra Limited, so let styling be thy guide.

Likes: Finally, a bagger with an actual, useful windshield.

Dislikes: Already a chunky-monkey, the Road Glide swells to 937 pounds wet while transitioning into the Road Glide Ultra.

Verdict: Frame-mounted fairings make great sense dynamically, solidifying the Road Glide Ultra as one of Harley's best touring rigs.

2018 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra 107 Dyno