Tag Archives: electra glide

Elvis Presley’s Harley set to be most expensive

Elvis Presley’s last motorcycle, a 1972 1200cc FLH Electra Glide, will go up for sale on 31 August 2019 at Kruse GWS Auctions and is expected to set auction records.

GWS Auctions believe the motorcycle is worth about $A3m.

If it does, it would smash the current auction record set on Australia Day 2018 by an Australian-owned 1951 Vincent Black Lightning.

Jack Ehret set an Australian speed record on the bike which was bought at the Bonham’s annual Las Vegas motorcycle auction for a record $US929,000 ($A1,155,000, €748,500) by an unknown collector.

Jack Ehret's Vincent Black Lightning collection valuable - speed twin
Jack Ehret’s Vincent Black Lightning

The new owner has returned the bike to Australia.

The Black Lightning beat the previous motorcycle auction record set by Steve McQueen’s 1915 Cyclone which sold at a 2015 Las Vegas Mecum auction for almost $A1 million.

Steve McQueen's Cyclone valuable
Steve McQueen’s Cyclone

Elvis bike is leaving the buildingElvis Presley Harley-Davidson Electra Glide

Now the “King” is expected to eclipse those records with even more star power.

After buying a Harley Davidson Sportster 1000 as a gift, Elvis purchased the customised FLH full dresser in California on 11 August 1976 and shipped it to his home at Graceland, Memphis.

He barely rode the bike, clocking up just 202km in less than a year before he sold it to a local Harley dealership 90 days before he died in 1977, aged just 42.

Elvis often gave away his favourite “toys” after a short time of enjoyment, substantiating his lifelong charitable nature.

The immaculately preserved Harley includes a number of custom features, with Presley choosing a black and blue two-tone paint job, stitched leather seat and chrome accents.

Incredibly, the bike i

s still registered in Presley’s name and has been on show at the Murdo South Dakota Pioneer Auto Museum for over 30 years.

The motorcycle has been housed in a glass museum quality display for its entire stay at the museum and guests have never been allowed to touch it.

There are also two Presley cars up for auction: the last limo he bought, a 1973 Lincoln Continental with all-white leather interior, and a fully restored Circle G Ranch 1967 GMC Pickup Truck with a slick green paint job.

All three vehicles go under the hammer August 31 and you can find out more information about each item at gwsauctions.com.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Harley-Davidson Electra Glide review

When the mercury plummeted to -2C it was the only time I wished I’d been on the Harley-Davidson Street Glide instead of its striped down stalemate, the new Electra Glide Standard.

The return of the famous Electra Glide name from the ’60s when the iconic batwing fairing was introduced is marked by this stripped-down version of the top-selling Street Glide.

Harley has stripped $1500 off the price of the Street Glide by deleting the music infotainment system, heel shifter, pillion seat, USB output, windscreen vent button and those grip warmers.

It is only available in “Vivid Black” and costs $34,495 ride-away ($NZ37,995) which compares with the Street Glide at $36,995.

Cold as iceHarley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard

I didn’t know it was -2C until my mates told me later because ambient temperature info is only available on the infotainment system. However, my fingers certainly told me.

We were on the second day of our five-day ride through NSW and we had just left Glen Innes, heading south into even colder climes.Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard

The batwing fairing was providing reasonable protection and my winter gloves were only just coping, but I had forgotten to put in a set of of hand warmers I had bought for just $10 at a servo. They were still in my panniers!

After stopping to warm up with a coffee at Guyra, the ambient temperature had rocketed to about zero, so I didn’t bother inserting the hand warmers in my gloves. I found the fairing offered enough protection, anyway.

So if, like me, you rarely ride in such freezing conditions, you probably don’t need grip warmers on this bike.

If you find music distracting while riding or use a helmet intercom, like me, then you also won’t need the infotainment system. I find they are pointless for music over 80km/h anyway.

So with the $1500 saved, I would invest in better rear shocks to improve and lift the rear ride. The hand-adjustable emulsion-technology rear shock absorbers are ok, but a bit too short for NSW’s bumpy country back roads.Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard

Yes, I know the idea is to provide a “slammed” rear end for that hot-rod look, but it lowers clearance to 120mm, which is 5mm less than the Street Glide and 15mm less than the plush-riding Road King.

On some of the terrible northern NSW roads, it hit the bump stops on many occasions with the shock waves pounding through my already bad back.

I also didn’t miss the heel shifter, USB output and the button that closes the backdraft vent. It didn’t allow rain in as I’d expected.

However, it would be handy to have a lockable door on the gaping hole where the infotainment system was. It would be useful as a secure glove compartment.Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard

Creature features

Despite the stripped-down “unnecessary” features, the Electra Glide still has a lot of bling.

For example, chrome has been added to the rocker, cam and derby covers to emphasise the V-Twin shape of the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine.

There are also practical features such as electronic cruise control, 49mm front forks with dual bending valve suspension and Reflex Linked Brembo Brakes with ABS.

Those forks are much better for sorting out the NSW country road bumps than the rear shock.Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard

They keep the front wheel on the ground and provide good feel and traction which was handy in the wet conditions we encountered over the Thunderbolts Way.

I had a few slippery moments thanks to the slick combination of cold and wet, yet the big, black Hog was miles ahead of my BMW-riding colleagues by the end of the road.

Most of those “moments” came from the rear, anyway, on account of my over-exuberant right hand. It surprises me that Harley hasn’t added traction control yet.

I suspect it will come in their next round of Touring updates as they already have it on their Trikes.

Milwaukee Eight2017 Harley-Davidson 107 Milwaukee Eight engine in a Road King Classic millennials electra glide

The biggest delight on my five-day tour and subsequent rides around a warmer South East Queensland over the past couple of weeks has been the Milwaukee Eight engine.

I’ve been a big fan ever since I first fired one up at the 2016 world launch in Tacoma and noticed the lack of thump and bluster.

The ninth-generation “big twin” has become more sophisticate with eight valves — hence the name — yet has returned to the old single overhead cam design. It is also now double counterbalanced.

This all results in a much more refined, smoother, more powerful, flexible, responsive and economical engine. Despite giving it a handful, it returned just over 5L/100km.Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard

The transmission has also been updated. There is less clunk in the gears, neutral is easier to find and sixth is no longer only for illegal speeds on the highway.

Roll-on acceleration is effortless at any revs, although there is a sweet spot around 3000 revs that pulls your cheeks apart in a big wide smile.

Despite having massive pistons throbbing around in this 107-cube (1745cc) unit, it feels polished and civilised.

Conclusion

If you don’t need the infotainment system, grip warmers, heel shifter, USB port or pillion seat, then save yourself some money and try the Electra Glide Standard.Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard

  • Price: $A34,495  ($NZ37,995)
  • Engine: Milwaukee-Eight 107, 1745cc, SOHC, eight-valve
  • Power: Not available
  • Torque: 315Nm
  • Bore x stroke: 100 x 111mm
  • Compression: 10:1
  • Transmission: six-speed, belt drive
  • Length: 2400mm
  • Seat: 680mm
  • Clearance: 120mm
  • Wheelbase: 1625mm
  • Tyres: 130/80B17 65H; 180/65B16 81H
  • Tank: 22.7 litres
  • Wet weight: 372kg
  • Lean angles: 31 degrees (right), 29 (left)Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Harley-Davidson Electra Glide is a dressed-down dresser

Harley-Davidson has stripped $1500 off the price of the Street Glide and deleted the distracting music infotainment system to create the new dressed-down Electra Glide Standard dresser.

It arrives in “Vivid Black” at $34,495 ride-away ($NZ37,995) which compares with the Street Glide at $36,995.

Despite deleting the infotainment system, the Electra Glide Standard still has a lot of features such as electronic cruise control, hand-adjustable emulsion-technology rear shock absorbers, 49mm front forks with dual bending valve suspension, and Reflex Linked Brembo Brakes with optional ABS.

“The deletion of the infotainment system enhances the light touch and leaves the rider to focus on connecting with the road,” Harley says.

It is still powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine.Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard

Dressed-down dresser

Harley saying guru Brad Richards calls it a “dressed-down dresser”

“To express the stripped-back essence of the Electra Glide Standard, we focused on finishes that were simple, timeless, and fundamental to the Harley-Davidson’s touring line. Chrome was added to key components and complimented by polished and blacked out parts, for example,” he says.

“The rocker, cam, and derby covers are finished with chrome to emphasize the V-Twin shape of the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine. In addition, they add a dose of nostalgia that draws a through-line all the way back to the first Electra Glide.”

Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard tech specsHarley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard

PRICING 5

  • VIVID BLACK$34,495 AUD / $37,995NZD

ENGINE

  • ENGINE 2Milwaukee-Eight® 107
  • BORE100 mm
  • STROKE111 mm
  • DISPLACEMENT1,745 cc
  • COMPRESSION RATIO10.0:1
  • FUEL SYSTEMElectronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
  • EXHAUSTChrome, 2-1-2 dual exhaust with tapered mufflers

DIMENSIONS

  • LENGTH2,400 mm
  • SEAT HEIGHT, UNLADEN680 mm
  • GROUND CLEARANCE120 mm
  • RAKE (STEERING HEAD) (DEG)26
  • TRAIL170 mm
  • WHEELBASE1,625 mm
  • TYRES, FRONT SPECIFICATIONBW 130/80B17 65H
  • TYRES, REAR SPECIFICATIONBW 180/65B16 81H
  • FUEL CAPACITY22.7 l
  • OIL CAPACITY (W/FILTER)4.9 l
  • WEIGHT, AS SHIPPED354 kg
  • WEIGHT, IN RUNNING ORDER372 kg
  • LUGGAGE CAPACITY -VOLUME0.064 m3

PERFORMANCE

  • ENGINE TORQUE TESTING METHODEC 134/2014
  • ENGINE TORQUE 3150 Nm
  • ENGINE TORQUE (RPM)3,250
  • LEAN ANGLE, RIGHT (DEG.)31
  • LEAN ANGLE, LEFT (DEG.)29

DRIVETRAIN

  • PRIMARY DRIVEChain, 34/46 ratio
  • GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 1ST9.593
  • GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 2ND6.65
  • GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 3RD4.938
  • GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 4TH4
  • GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 5TH3.407
  • GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 6TH2.875

CHASSIS

  • WHEELS, FRONT TYPE 7Impeller Cast Aluminum
  • WHEELS, REAR TYPEImpeller Cast Aluminum
  • BRAKES, CALIPER TYPE32 mm, 4-piston fixed front and rear

ELECTRIC

  • LIGHTS (AS PER COUNTRY REGULATION), INDICATOR LAMPS 6High beam, running lights, directional lights, low oil pressure, engine diagnostics, neutral, cruise control, accessory, battery, gear indication, security system, 6-speed, low fuel warning, ABS, miles to empty display, fog/aux lamp indicator
  • GAUGESGauges styled to complement each vehicle. Display features odometer, trip A, trip B, range to empty and gear indicator; and larger tell-tale indicators.

Read more at https://www.harley-davidson.com/au/en/motorcycles/2019/touring/electra-glide-standard/detailed-specs-and-pricing.html#iygWttyPP3pykAZl.99

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com