Wednesday, February 11, 2015
2009 Harley Davidson FLHT Electra Glide Standard – Motorbike Bicycle
Harley-Davidson’s climb up the technology ladder has generally been a measured ascent with the pace dictated by tradition, a fiercely loyal constituency, and sales. No one line of bikes exemplifies this strategy better than the company’s flagships, the seven iconic FL Touring models. From Street Glide to Ultra Classic these models have been upgraded only very carefully and as a pressing need arose. As power increased and weight was added the FLs developed a signature wiggle in their handling. Not unsafe, but at times disconcerting, the bikes had a tendency to dance around a bit at the higher speeds and wander off-line in turns.
The seven 2009 Harley-Davidson FL Touring models have a full complement of seriously new components that work in concert to dramatically reduce the wiggle and provide an overall smoother, more controlled ride. These components include much stouter frames, triple clamps, and swingarms, and larger wheels and tires. As a bonus, this new setup gives an extra degree of lean angle on each side; 30 degrees on the left, 33 degrees on the right. Our test tourer was a 2009 FLHT Electra Glide Standard painted in Flame Blue Pearl.
At $16,999 the Standard (along with the Road King) is the least expensive of the seven Touring models. Also noteworthy, and an integral part of the chassis, is the new 17-inch front wheel (up from 16 inches) and larger rear tire. The front is still fitted with a 130mm-wide tire, but its aspect ratio is reduced from 90 percent to 80 percent. The rear wheel size remains at 16 inches, but the tire width goes up a couple of sizes to 180mm from 140mm, and also offers an aspect ratio reduction from 85 percent to 65 percent. The net result of the tire and wheel changes on the 2009 FLs is a slightly reduced sidewall height, but a close to identical overall tire diameter. More specifically, the tire circumference at each end is about one inch less than that of the tires on the 2008 models. These tires run on new 28-spoke cast aluminum wheels and are claimed to have extended tread life over those previously fitted. Other than tread life, the benefit of this wheel and tire change is largely cosmetic as they are more proportional to the size of the motorcycle.
Pushing the Electra Glide Standard about the countryside is the same six-speed, 1584cc Twin Cam 96 motor found in all the regular FLs. (The two CVO FLs ride with 110-cubic-inch motors.) The good news is its load-carrying capacity has increased from 479 pounds to 549, a 70-pound increase. This raises an issue that is sometimes overlooked with the purchase of a touring motorcycle: gross vehicle weight (GVW). Gross vehicle weight is defined as the maximum allowable total weight of the vehicle. This number includes the weight of the motorcycle itself (with gas and oil), and the combined maximum weight it can carry such as rider, passenger, and cargo. For example, our FLHT Electra Glide Standard has a GVW of 1,360 pounds, the same as the FLHTCU Ultra Classic Electra Glide. However, the fully loaded Ultra Classic weighs 78 pounds more than the Standard. Put another way, the Electra Glide Standard can carry 78 more pounds worth of cargo. This becomes an important number if you and your passenger are planning extended trips. A new 2-into-1-into-2 exhaust system has been fitted to the FLs.
Harley specs show no increase in unladen seat height (30.7 inches) but swing a leg over an ’08 FLHT and then an ’09 model and you’ll find your feet need stretch a bit farther to reach the ground on the ’09. While the overall look of the Electra Glide remains traditional, the bike’s tail end has been cleaned up a bit with a new wider fender (nicely accommodating the wider tire) and redesigned taillight/turn signal assembly giving the rear a more massive, custom appearance. The benefit of this will probably be seen in Harley’s parts and accessory catalog as this removable assembly offers any number of creative possibilities. A bit of functionality has been lost with this new design in that the older model’s fender bar, on which the license plate was mounted, is now unnecessary on models not equipped with the Tour-Pak. This bar was very handy for attaching cargo nets and bungee cords. Two engineering advances introduced in 2008 on the FLs bear revisiting. The four-piston Brembo brakes are superb. Powerful, easily modulated and fade-free, they perfectly complement the handling prowess this motorcycle now exhibits. Also, bumps and potholes, or anything that moves your throttle hand, can cause an abrupt fall-off, as if you’ve chopped the throttle.
From 1988 through 1993 Harley-Davidson built a model called the Electra Glide Sport, the FLHS. A precursor to the Road King, this model was simply an Electra Glide with a windshield rather than fairing. I bring this up because if any Electra Glide has deserved the Sport name it is the 2009 FLHT. What I am saying is that this new Electra Glide Standard can be ridden much more briskly and confidently on those tight, winding roads than any past Electra Glide. There is a price attached, however, to this improved chassis as the motorcycle now gives a harsher, less compliant ride over imperfect pavement. First, both tires are of a slightly lower profile suggesting that there is slightly less sidewall flex, a minor component in suspension tuning. Secondly, and more significant, the increased rigidity of the new chassis transmits, rather than absorbs, more of the impact. The downside is that a flexy chassis loads this shock energy, and then unloads it in the form of imprecise handling. Personally, I’ll take this bit of harshness any day over a motorcycle that wanders around a turn.
General information | |
| Model: | Harley-Davidson FLHT Electra Glide Standard |
| Year: | 2009 |
| Category: | Touring |
| Rating: | 78 out of 100. Show full rating and compare with other bikes |
Engine and transmission | |
| Displacement: | 1584.00 ccm (96.66 cubic inches) |
| Engine type: | V2, four-stroke |
| Torque: | 131.00 Nm (13.4 kgf-m or 96.6 ft.lbs) @ 3500 RPM |
| Compression: | 9.2:1 |
| Bore x stroke: | 95.3 x 111.1 mm (3.8 x 4.4 inches) |
| Fuel system: | Injection. Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection |
| Cooling system: | Air |
| Gearbox: | 6-speed |
| Transmission type, final drive: | Belt |
| Clutch: | 9-plate, wet |
| Exhaust system: | New Two-into-One-into-Two chrome exhaust with |
Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels | |
| Frame type: | New mild steel, single spar rigid backbone with |
| Rake (fork angle): | 26.0° |
| Trail: | 173 mm (6.8 inches) |
| Front suspension: | 41.3mm telescopic, cartridge-style damping |
| Front suspensiontravel: | 117 mm (4.6 inches) |
| Rear suspension travel: | 76 mm (3.0 inches) |
| Front tyre dimensions: | 130/80-B17 |
| Rear tyre dimensions: | 180/65-B16 |
| Front brakes: | Double disc. ABS |
| Front brakes diameter: | 300 mm (11.8 inches) |
| Rear brakes: | Single disc. ABS |
| Rear brakes diameter: | 300 mm (11.8 inches) |
Physical measures and capacities | |
| Dry weight: | 355.0 kg (782.6 pounds) |
| Seat height: | 715 mm (28.1 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting. |
| Overall length: | 2,640 mm (103.9 inches) |
| Ground clearance: | 145 mm (5.7 inches) |
| Wheelbase: | 1,625 mm (64.0 inches) |
| Fuel capacity: | 22.70 litres (6.00 gallons) |
Other specifications | |
| Color options: | Vivid Black, Flame Blue Pearl, Black Denim |
| Comments: | Silver powder-coated engine with polished treatment covers; “Batwing”, forkmounted fairing; Chrome, low-profile fuel tank console; Clear-lens reflector-optics headlamp; Full-length height adjustable rider footboards; Full-length height adjustable passenger footboards; New redesigned rider footboard supports for increased lean angle; Stainless steel, classic touring handlebars; One-piece, two-up Electra Glide® classic comfort stitch seat; Clear, Lexan® windshield; Injection-moulded GTX® saddlebags with locks; |
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