Which Harley Electra Glide Years to Avoid?

Before buying any older Harley Davidson, you always need to think about its make and year. Doing that allows you to know which model works out for your personal preferences the most. 

In this article, we will discuss which Harley Electra Glide years to avoid when buying a used model. So, if you are planning to get one, this article will help you rule out the bad options to make your buying decision easier.

Let’s jump right into it without wasting any more time.

Harley Electra Glide Years to Avoid (List of Years) 

The journey of Harley Davidson Electra Glide started in 1965, and it has been going strong since then. 

However, there are some years where they failed to deliver quality on some of the Electric Glide models. Here’s a list of Electra Glide years that you should avoid for the most part –

Years	Models
2009	Electra Glide CVO Ultra Classic
2010	Electra Glide Ultra Classic
2014	Electra Glide Ultra Classic
2017	Electra Glide Ultra Limited

What Makes Harley Electra Glide Years Worth Avoiding? 

Honestly, just knowing about the years to avoid while buying a Harley Electra Glide doesn’t do justice to them. 

Knowing why you should avoid these certain years is important to make a more informed buying decision. So, let’s check out why you should avoid the particular years we listed above.

2009 Electra Glide CVO Ultra Classic Problems

Some riders have reported reliability issues with certain Harley-Davidson models from this era, including the 2009 Electra Glide CVO Ultra Classic. Common concerns include problems with the engine, transmission, and electronics.

Additionally, the overall user rating is just 3 out of 5 which also signals not to own the bike. From our research and knowledge we can say that the bike may become an absolute disappointment. Because, the workmanship on the bike is very bad, and the overall build quality is just poor.   

2010 Electra Glide Ultra Classic Problems

The 2010 model is another electra glide year you should avoid due to poor user experience. The 2010 year Electra Glide Ultra Classic received a 2-star rating out of 5 overall. In most of the parameters, the bike was rated 2/5. 

The 2010 Electra Glide Ultra Classic may have issues with heat management, affecting rider comfort. Some riders report excessive heat from the exhaust and engine, particularly at low speeds. 

Additionally, potential reliability concerns with the engine and transmission could lead to higher maintenance costs over time.

Read Also: Which Harley Shovelhead Years to Avoid?

2014 Electra Glide Ultra Classic Problems

Along with 2010, in our quest for finding the worst Electra Glide years, we found a recall report for the 2014 year models. They had to recall the Electra Glide Ultra Classic model for a defect in their clutch master cylinder.

Harley Davidson recalled around 105,000 units that year for the same issue in some other models alongside the Electra Glide Ultra Classic. 

The issue became so serious that it could potentially cause the bikes to crash. So, if you ever come across one, we suggest avoiding it.

2017 Electra Glide Ultra limited Problems 

Finally, avoiding the 2017 Electra Glide Ultra Limited is best due to multiple reasons. While exploring user experiences, we found that the bike’s performance is disappointing in terms of comfortability. And they have rated it 2 stars on a scale of 5. 

Along with that, the engine performance simply falls flat when it comes to the power and torque of the bike. The worst part of the bike turned out to be the excessive noise it made while riding the bike.

Read Also: Which Harley Twin Cam Years To Avoid & Why?(Explained)

Which Year is Harley Davidson Electra Glide worth buying? 

You will get plenty of models when choosing the years worth checking out for Electra Glide. However, considering the state of Electra Glides, we think 2020 is surely a year worth checking out. Let’s go ahead and take a look at the 2020 Electra Glide Standard –

2020 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Standard

Getting the newer bike models is always better because you can easily get replacement parts. Considering that, the 2020 Electra Glide Standard is one of the best years for the Electra Glide range. 

The model received an overall rating of 80 out of 100. Here the rating is given based on the bike engine performance, handling, build quality, fit for purpose, and value for money. In every aspect, the bike had pretty decent numbers.

You can also check out below video on the bike detailed review for a better understanding –

Tips for Buying Used Harley Electra Glide

Let’s get one thing straight, buying a used Harley Electra Glide is very different from buying any other used bike. 

You have to consider things differently than you would in general. Here are some tips that may help you buy a used Electra Glide –

• Always spend some time on internet research about the years and models to learn about the specialties and problems.
• Check whether the bike is from a dealer or an owner. Purchase from owners is always better than purchase from dealers.
• Remember to check the VIN to make sure someone didn’t steal it.
• When inspecting the bike, always look for clutch pulls and any kind of cracks and tears. Also, check for wear and damage on the drive belt.
• Start the engine and let it run for a while. Then check the oil to see if there are any issues or not.

Read Also: Which Harley Street Glide Years to Avoid? (Why Explained)

Frequently Ask Questions

Now, it’s time we glanced at some of the most common questions many people ask regarding the Harley Electra Glide. If you have the same questions, the answers are here for you.

Is the Harley Electra Glide reliable?

Yes, Harley Electra Glide is a very reliable bike for touring purposes. Anyone looking to get a bike for touring purposes should love the Electra Glide range from Harley Davidson. If you can find the best year and model, it’s a reliable option for sure. 

What is the average life of a Harley Electra Glide?

Depending on the maintenance of the Harley Electra Glide owner, it can last for many years. You can easily get about 200,000 miles from your Harley Electra Glide without any trouble whatsoever.

How often does a Harley Electra Glide need an oil change?

A Harley Electra Glide can typically use an oil change every 2500 miles. If you use semi-synthetic oil, you must change it every 5000 miles. For full synthetic oils, you have to change it every 7000 miles.

What Years of Harley Electra Glide Are More Fuel Efficient?

One of the best Harley Electra Glide years, in terms of fuel efficiency, is 1998, with a fuel efficiency of 41.5MPG. It’s also great for a 2010 Electra Glide with a 38.4 MPG value.

How much does it cost to maintain a Harley Electra Glide?

Usually, you will need to go through maintenance for your Electra Glide every 5000 miles. For every 5000 miles, you can expect around $400. Mostly, people need four maintenance jobs which can add up to $1600.

Final words

After all that discussion, now you know which Harley Electra Glide years to avoid. Since there are so many models of Electra Glide available, knowing which to avoid should make things easy for you when deciding on one.

We also gave you a little hint on which years are best. Of course, along with those, you can always check out the brand-new models that came out in recent years. That’s it from us today.