Tag Archives: Street Glide

Step up to Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

The 2019 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special is a massive step up in technology, but not price.

It now includes the Reflex Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS) introduced in the electric LiveWire which will be available in Australia late next year.

RDRS affects chassis control, electronic brake control and powertrain technology, basically providing a safer, more enjoyable riding experience for just $500 more than last year.

And that’s despite the fact that the Australian dollar has fallen more than 16% since January 2018 against the US dollar.

Street Glide SpecialStep up to 2020 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

I’ve ridden Harley’s Street Glides for many years now and can understand why it is their top-selling Touring model.

What makes it “Special” is the big 114-cube Milwaukee Eight engine with a whopping 163Nm of torque.

Despite all that thump, there is no clunk on start-up. In fact, it is a refined mill married to a finessed transmission where neutral is no longer difficult to find.Step up to 2020 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

What also makes it Special is the step up in rider-aid technology.

Their RDRS features cornering-enhanced traction control, cornering ABS, linked brakes, tyre pressure monitors,  a slipper clutch (Drag-torque Slip Control System) to prevent rear-wheel lock-ups on aggressive downshifts and even assistance to prevent you rolling backward on hill starts!

The suite of rider controls combine to provide more confidence, especially in wet or slippery road conditions.

But they don’t get in the way of your enjoyment.

In fact, you don’t really know they are there until you need them.

On a couple of my exploratory rides through the Sunshine Coast hinterland, I ended up on dirt roads and was glad to feel the engine falter as the back wheel lost traction.

It’s a soft intervention that allows a little bit of wheel spin, but not out of control.

If the conditions get extra slippery or the roads are wet, simply toggle the left switch block traction control (TC) button to bring up the blue cloud and rain symbol on the dashboard. This totally eliminates any wheel spin.Step up to 2020 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

Step up to cornering aids

I also accidentally discovered the joys of Harley’s step up to cornering-enhanced linked braking and traction controls on the tight and twisty Bellthorpe Range Rd.

I came around a blind corner a little too eagerly only to find a peacock strutting its stuff across the gravelly road.

My right foot was not perched ready over the rear brake to tuck the bike into a tighter line, so I grabbed the front brake, instead.

Normally this would stand the bike up and point me directly at the peacock. But because the brakes are linked and “enhanced” for cornering, it allowed me to steer around the strutting bird.

The sprinkling of gravel also activated the Cornering Enhanced Antilock Braking System (C-ABS).

While no amount of electronic rider aids is a replacement for a step up in skill levels, it does save your bacon when a bit of inattention and bad luck could otherwise have dire results.

Step up to 2020 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

As for the Vehicle Hold Control (VHC), it’s actually quite handy at the traffic lights.

All you do is add a bit of extra brake lever pressure when you come to a stop and it will hold the bike and allow you to relax at the lights without having to hang on to the brakes.

It lets go as soon as you let out the clutch or activate the throttle for a smooth and faultless hillstart. That’s reassuring when you are on a steep incline with a full load and a pillion!

Infotainment

I’m not a big fan of built-in infotainment systems where the music is inaudible at anything over 80km/h.

However, the integrated BOOM! Box GTS infotainment system on this bike works well.

I love the fact that the bike asks you if you would like to guided to the nearest service station if you are low on fuel or tyre pressure.

It has a TFT display with edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass that is touch sensitive, even with gloves and in the wet.

You can also control all functions from the two handlebar toggle switches.

For an extra $300 (approx) you can fit a wireless interface module that adds Apple CarPlay for access to some of your iPhone apps.

Or you can press the speech button to activate Siri and tell the system what to do.

Step up to 2020 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special
HD OneConnect app

Next year, Aussie buyers will also have access to Harley’s subscription-based OneConnect app that alerts the owner to tampering or theft and provides real-time tracking.

Handling

Suspension was updated the previous year.

It comes with Showa Dual-Bending Valve forks with bigger pistons for improved damping that takes away that “jackhammer” affect through the grips while retaining a sharp and light steering feel.

At the back, Harley moved from air shocks to emulsion shocks with 15-30% more preload adjustment using a single hand-adjustable knob behind the left pannier.

Ride quality is firm, but not harsh.

However, the rear shock is a bit short for bumpy roads and heavy loads, although I never got it to bottom out.

AeroStep up to 2020 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

The first hint of summer arrived just in time for my test.

It’s always going to be hot sitting on top of massive V-twin behind a “barn door” fairing.

However, Harley has advanced the ignition, dropped the rear header down from the exhaust port and moved the catalytic converter rearwards to make it cooler for the rider.

It still gets hot in slow traffic and your pillion’s right leg cops a lot of the hot air that has been moved backwards.

Unfortunately, even the short sporty windscreen blocks a lot of cooling air.

Yet it also creates a bit of turbulence around the top of my helmet.

I’m 183cm, so shorter riders might find it ok. You can also buy taller screens.

I added a windscreen extension which reduced the turbulence but also diverted cooling air.Step up to 2020 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

Conclusion

This torque monster delivers plenty of raw grunt, but with finesse.

It will also provide a step up in comfort and safety on long trips, thanks to its suite of hi-tech rider aids.

PRICING 5

  • VIVID BLACK $A39,250 ($NZ42,250)

ENGINE

  • ENGINE2Milwaukee-Eight™ 114
  • BORE102 mm
  • STROKE114 mm
  • DISPLACEMENT1,868 cc
  • COMPRESSION RATIO10.5:1
  • FUEL SYSTEMElectronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
  • EXHAUSTBlack, 2-1-2 dual exhaust with tapered mufflers

DIMENSIONS

  • LENGTH2,425 mm
  • SEAT HEIGHT, UNLADEN690 mm
  • GROUND CLEARANCE125 mm
  • RAKE (STEERING HEAD) (DEG)26
  • TRAIL173 mm
  • WHEELBASE1,625 mm
  • TYRES, FRONT SPECIFICATION130/60B19 61H
  • TYRES, REAR SPECIFICATION180/55B18 80H
  • FUEL CAPACITY22.7 l
  • OIL CAPACITY (W/FILTER)4.9 l
  • WEIGHT, AS SHIPPED359 kg
  • WEIGHT, IN RUNNING ORDER375 kg
  • LUGGAGE CAPACITY -VOLUME0.071 m3

PERFORMANCE

  • ENGINE TORQUE TESTING METHODEC 134/2014
  • ENGINE TORQUE3163 Nm
  • ENGINE TORQUE (RPM)3,000
  • LEAN ANGLE, RIGHT (DEG.)32
  • LEAN ANGLE, LEFT (DEG.)31

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 TYPE6Gloss Black Prodigy
  • WHEELS, REAR TYPEGloss Black Prodigy
  • BRAKES, CALIPER TYPE32 mm, 4-piston fixed front and rear

ELECTRIC

  • LIGHTS (AS PER COUNTRY REGULATION), INDICATOR LAMPSHigh beam, turn signals, neutral, low oil pressure, engine diagnostics, auxiliary lighting, cruise, ABS, immobiliser, low battery voltage, low fuel warning.
  • GAUGESGauges styled to complement each vehicle. Display features odometer, trip A, trip B, range to empty and gear indicator; and larger tell-tale indicators.

INFOTAINMENT

  • INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMBoom!™ Box GTS
  • TYPEFull Colour TFT
  • WATTS PER CHANNEL25
  • SPEAKERS2
  • SPEAKER SIZE6.5 inch BOOM standard
  • HEADSET SPECIFICATIONS (IF EQUIPPED)16-64 ohms
  • FMStandard
  • SD CARD, FLASH DRIVE AND MP3 – VIA USB CONNECTIONSupported
  • LANGUAGESEnglish (US/UK), German, Spanish(Mexico/Spain), French (Canada/France), Italian, Portuguese(Portugal/Brazil), Russian, Czech, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Japanese
  • HANDS-FREE MOBILE PHONE – VIA BLUETOOTHStandard
  • VOICE RECOGNITION LANGUAGES: PHONE FUNCTIONS ONLYEnglish (US/UK), German, Spanish(Mexico/Spain), French (Canada/France), Italian, Portuguese(Portugal/Brazil), Russian, Czech, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Japanese
  • VOICE RECOGNITION LANGUAGES: TUNER/MEDIA/NAVIGATIONEnglish (US/UK), German, Spanish(Mexico/Spain), French (Canada/France), Italian, Portuguese(Portugal/Brazil), Russian, Czech, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Japanese
  • VEHICLE INFORMATION SCREEN (AIR TEMPERATURE, OIL PRESSURE AND EITMS)Standard
  • TEXT-TO-SPEECH (TTS) LANGUAGESEnglish (US/UK), German, Spanish(Mexico/Spain), French (Canada/France), Italian, Portuguese(Portugal/Brazil), Russian, Czech, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Japanese
  • USBUSB/MTP/iPod/iPhone
  • BLUETOOTHPhone/Media Supported

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 Street Glide Special on tour

Aussies love a good motorcycle tour so it’s no wonder the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special is our top-selling tourer.

I’ve been riding one for the past month in South East Queensland. In that time, I’ve done all sorts of riding from short trips to the shops just 800m away to riding several hundred kilometres across bumpy backroads and gravel.

This is no adventure tourer, but it is quite surprising how well this bike will tour in varied conditions.

And at the end of the day, I can get off feeling fresh, thanks to the comfortable ergonomics and that deep-dish saddle.

I’ve ridden the Street Glide on many occasions in the past few years plus the latest blacked-out Special model in the most horrendous typhoon conditions in the States.

2019 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special review top
Sloshing around in a US typhoon

So I have now compiled five top reasons to try the Street Glide Special.

1 Milwaukee Eight engineHere's why Harley's Street Glide Special is our top tourer

Ever since Harley introduced the Milwaukee Eight engine a couple of years ago, I’ve been a big fan.

The Touring range for 2019 now all come with the 114 cubic-inch Milwaukee Eight engine with a whopping 163Nm of torque.

No initial thump on start-up, more torque than a truck and quite smooth for a big V-twin.

Together with the finessed transmission with a new slipper clutch (Drag-torque Slip Control System), it’s Harley’s most sophisticated drivetrain yet.

2 Infotainment

2019 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special review

Tourers love plenty of tech and entertainment to soothe away the long, boring highway miles.

The 2019 Touring modelsnow get the new BOOM! Box GTS infotainment system with extra functionality.

It has a TFT display with edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass designed to minimise reflection and optimised for touch sensitivity even with gloves and in the wet.

You can also control it all from the handlebar toggle switches.

Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide Limited Road Glide Boom Box rain wet infotainment audio techno street glide secial

By the way, you can also pay an extra $300 (approx) to fit a wireless interface module installed which that adds Apple CarPlay compatibility.

It basically makes many of your iPhone apps available on the screen.

You can also use Siri to tell the system what to do. No need to use your hands at all!

Not that Siri would have reacted to any of my “colourful” verbal commands as I steered the Street Glide Special through the maelstrom around me.

3 Back in black Here's why Harley's Street Glide Special is our top tourer

Black never went away, but the blacked-out Special models give the bikes a new menacing stance on the road.

There is hardly any chrome on the bike.

It’s black around the headlight, engine guard, forks, handlebars, controls, mirrors, indicators, tank console, engine covers, air cleaner cover, mufflers and exhaust shields.

4 Top suspendersHere's why Harley's Street Glide Special is our top tourer

It doesn’t glide along the road, it carves its way through the road and startle many riders on smaller and more nimble bikes.

I rode it over several tight and twisty mountain passes and kept pace with many other riders on sportier machinery.

The suspension upgrades include Showa Dual-Bending Valve forks with bigger pistons for improved damping.

It makes the front end more compliant, taking away that jackhammer affect through the grips, yet retaining a sharp and light steering feel.

It’s a big and heavy touring bike, but it still has the ability to change direction in a corner without upsetting the ship.

At the back, Harley has moved from air shocks to emulsion shocks with 15-30% more preload adjustment using a single hand-adjustable knob behind the left pannier.

5 Cooler rideHere's why Harley's Street Glide Special is our top tourer

Despite riding a big, faired cruiser in Queensland’s summer heat, the new Street Glide Special is a whole lot cooler these days.

Harley has advanced the ignition, dropped the rear header down from the exhaust port and moved the catalytic converter rearwards.

This makes it cooler for the rider.

However, it still gets hot in slow traffic and your pillion’s right leg cops a lot of the hot air that has been moved backwards.

Harley-Davdison FLHXS Street Glide Special tech specs2019 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special review

Price $A38,750 ($NZ42,750)
Engine Milwaukee-Eight 114 (1868cc)
Torque 163Nm
Transmission 6-Speed Cruise Drive
Length 2425mm
Seat 690mm
Fuel tank 22.7 litres
Dry weight 362kg
Wheels Black, Talon Cast Aluminium
Tyres front 130/60B19 61H
Tyres rear 180/55B18 80H

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Mary River Valley a motorcyclist’s haven

The Mary River Valley was almost deleted from our favourite list of places to ride when politicians threatened to flood it for a dam!

It’s a long and stupid political story, but thankfully sanity prevailed and the massive Traveston Dam was never built.

So a pretty little valley north of Brisbane remains a haven for riders.Mary River Valley a motorcyclist’s haven Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

Many Brisbane riders visit the area, but turn around after a lunch stop at Kenilworth.

I’ve been guilty of the same offence.

On the few occasions I’ve strayed further north, it’s been on the way to somewhere else for an overnight trip.

So I’ve often ridden through the valley on the Mary Valley Rd and haven’t explored some of the interesting offshoots.

On this occasion I took a Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special to visit the new location for the Bellbird Creek Cafe which is no longer at Bellbird Creek.

Mary River Valley a motorcyclist’s haven Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special
Bellbird Creek Cafe is now Ridgey Didge!

The cafe had been ideal situated on the twisting hot mix just south of Kenilworth, but the property owner wouldn’t extend the lease.

So leasee and bike fan Peter Cusack moved to Carters Ridge, just off Skyring Rd.Mary River Valley a motorcyclist’s haven Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

His cafe sells great coffee, wholesome food, fruit and veg and has a stack of bike magazines for the patrons.

On the Mary Valley Country tourist map, it’s almost dead centre in the region, so it’s an even better spot to base yourself to explore.

And there’s plenty of great roads to ride, no matter whether you like fast, open bends, tight hairpins, hot mix, scenic back roads, formed gravel or Conondale National Park forestry trails. The area simply has everything to suit every rider’s taste and bike style.

Peter shoved the tourist map in front of me and began introducing me to roads I’d passed, but never ventured down.Mary River Valley a motorcyclist’s haven Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

On the Harley, they were a barrel of fun, challenging, bumpy, twisting and scenic.

Two great roads I’d never tried before are Moy Pocket Rd and Cooroy Belli Rd. I’ll certainly be back to do them again, although Peter warns that Moy Pocket Rd is busy with cement trucks on weekdays.

He recently did a big trip with his wife on their Triumph Tiger 1050 which suits 99% of the region’s roads.

Today, I’m on the Street Glide Special, which looks commanding and handles the winding roads surprisingly well, but would be a handful on the gravel.Mary River Valley a motorcyclist’s haven Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special

Here is a list of some of the lesser-known, but superb tarmac roads in the region which the Harley handled well so they should suit just about any motorcycle: Moy Pocket Rd, Skyring Rd, Blad Knob Rd, Hovard Rd, Obi Obi Rd (up only, down section is still gravel), Reesville Rd, Postmans Track/Aherns Rd, Bellthorpe Range Rd, Eastern Mary River Rd and Lawnville Rd.

Mary River Valley a motorcyclist’s haven Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special
Obi Obi Rd is bitumen uphill and gravel downhill

Road conditions: phone 131940 or visit traffic and travel information website.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com