See America on a Harley-Davidson Road Glide
By now, you should have developed a firm, G.I. Joe Kung-Fu Grip when you ride a brand new Harley-Davidson Road Glide. It’ll help a lot when you wrap your hands around the big, chunky, black rubber handlebar grips and steer the muscle bike over the Continental Divide or down your favorite back road.
Harley’s Road Glide is a bagger that’s built for speed and it will take you to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally just as easily as a trip to your local 7-11. This summer, I rode this year’s model from Southern California to the Black Hills of South Dakota and it was incredible. It’s easy to rack up thousands of miles on this beast of a bike.
California deserts, the Rocky Mountains, stormy weather and gusty Wyoming winds were no match for the Milwaukee machine. If you live to ride, then look no further than this easy glider.
From the shark-nose design of its aerodynamic fairing to the rumble of its 103 cubic inches (1690cc) air-cooled engine with an integrated oil cooler. The monstrous motorcycle sounds incredibly loud when you fire it up – as it should.
It excels at speeds above 80 mph and has a sweet spot at 3250 RPMs that mimics the engine riffs heard on the opening track of L.A. Woman by the Doors.
I really love this bike. It’s a big, bruiser that’s ready to devour any highway you put it on. The sheer size, stance and appearance is both modern with its six-speed transmission and classic with its six-gallon tear drop tank. It shifts well with a kick from your boot heel and has a range that’s well over 200 miles.
The redesigned, frame mounted fairing shields riders from wind on the open road like a coat of armor. Airflow can be controlled with a push of a large button on the top of the dash, which comes in handy when Great Plains wind gusts push you sideways on the Interstate.
This 849-pound, iron shark from Harley will take you to places you’ve never been and give you excuses to find the long way home. I rode hundreds of miles out of my way just because this bike makes it that easy. It’s an absolute blast to ride and you will feel like you have been fired out of a giant cannon with every flick of the throttle.
It also looks as good as it handles, especially with the incredible, Amber Whiskey metallic paint option which helps it stand apart from the crowd. Way, way apart. The fit and finish on the bike is also top notch and received compliments from strangers wherever I stopped during my month long, joy ride.
The sculpted saddle is completely comfortable even after a full day of riding. There’s also plenty of storage space in the hard, lockable saddlebags that can hold a week’s worth of clothes, a two-person camping tent, a half-helmet, computer and camera gear – plus, whatever else you can squeeze into its deep cavities.
The engine and exhaust are loud enough to part traffic, but the loud ass horn will let people know to stay the hell out of your way. The touch screen infotainment and GPS system works well even with gloves on. Plus, there’s an awesome, UBS connector for your phone in a storage compartment that’s located beneath the booming speakers.
On the dash, I think the speedometer and tachometer should be relocated and swapped out with the touch screen so you don’t have to look down while riding. Personally, I don’t need a map in my face and prefer to watch my speed instead. Perhaps, a digital speedometer option/addition on the touch screen would be an ideal solution here.
I don’t normally listen to music while riding motorcycles and prefer the sound of an engine, but if you want to listen to Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Wild while riding 80 miles an hour in the rain (which I did somewhere near Beaver, Utah) the 25-watt amp and speakers will totally do the trick.
This motorcycle is great for anyone who enjoys riding across the country, up and down the coasts or just across town to work as a daily commuter. If you are an experienced rider looking for a touring, muscle bike then check out the Road Glide from Harley-Davidson. It’s the real deal.
FLTRX Road Glide Model Specifications:
DIMENSIONS
Length – 95.6 in. (2428 mm)
Overall Width – 38.5 in. (978 mm)
Overall Height – 52.3 in. (1328 mm)
Seat Height:
• Laden – 26.1 in. (663 mm)
• Unladen – 27.4 in. (696 mm)
Ground Clearance – 5.3 in. (135 mm)
Rake (steering head) – 26°
Fork Angle – 29.25°
Trail – 6.8 in. (173 mm)
Wheelbase – 64 in. (1625 mm)
Tires (Dunlop Harley-Davidson Series, bias blackwall front and rear):
• Front – D408F – 130/60B19 61H
• Rear – D407T – BW 180/65B16 81H
Fuel Capacity – 6 gal. (22.7 L) (warning light at approximately 1.0 gal.)
Oil Capacity (w/filter) – 4 qts. (3.8 L)
Transmission Capacity – 1 qt. (.95 L)
Primary Chain Case Capacity – 1.4 qts. (1.3 L)
Weight:
• As Shipped – 813 lbs. (369 kg)
• In Running Order – 849 lbs. (385 kg)
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating – 1360 lbs. (617 kg)
• Gross Axle Weight Rating
• Front – 500 lbs. (227 kg)
• Rear – 927 lbs. (420 kg)
Luggage Capacity Volume – 2.3 cu. ft. (0.064 m3)
ENGINE
Engine – Air-cooled, High Output Twin Cam 103™ with integrated oil cooler
Valves – Pushrod-operated, overhead valves with hydraulic, self-adjusting lifters; two valves per cylinder
Bore x Stroke – 3.875 in. x 4.374 in. (98.4 mm x 111.1 mm)
Displacement – 103 cu. in. (1690 cc)
Compression Ratio – 9.7:1
Fuel System- Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
Air Cleaner – Paper, washable
Lubrication System – Pressurized, dry-sump with oil cooler
DRIVETRAIN
Primary Drive – Chain, 34/46 ratio
Final Drive – Belt, 32/68 ratio
Clutch – Hydraulically actuated, 9 plate wet, with high performance spring
Transmission – 6-Speed Cruise Drive
Gear Ratios (overall): U.S.
• 1st – 9.593
• 2nd – 6.65
• 3rd – 4.938
• 4th – 4
• 5th – 3.407
• 6th – 2.875
CHASSIS
Frame – Mild steel; tubular frame; two-piece stamped and welded backbone; cast and forged junctions; twin downtubes; bolt-on rear frame with forged fender supports; MIG welded
Swingarm – Mild steel; two-piece drawn and welded section; forged junctions; MIG welded
Front Forks – 49 mm telescopic
Rear Shocks – Low air-adjustable low profile air ride rear suspension
Wheels: Enforcer Cast Aluminum
• Front – 19 in. x 3.5 in. (483 mm x 89 mm)
• Rear – 16 in. x 5 in. (406 mm x 127 mm)
Brakes:
• Caliper Type – 32 mm, 4-piston fixed front and rear
• Rotor Type (diameter x width): Dual floating rotors (front), fixed rotor (rear)
• Front (dual) – 11.81 in. x .2 in. (300 mm x 5.1 mm)
• Rear – 11.81 in. x .28 in. (300 mm x 7.1 mm)
• Anti-lock Braking System – Optional
Suspension Travel:
• Front Wheel – 4.6 in. (117 mm)
• Rear Wheel – 2.13 in. (54 mm)
PERFORMANCE
Engine Torque (per J1349):
• North America – 104.7 ft. lbs. @ 3250 RPM (142 Nm @ 3250 RPM)
Lean Angle (per J1168):
• Right – 32°
• Left – 31°
Fuel Economy – 42 mpg (5.6 L/100 km)
(EPA urban/highway test)
ELECTRIC
Battery (per Battery Council International Rating) – Sealed, maintenance-free, 12V, 28-amp/hour, 370 cca
Charging – Three-phase, 50-amp system (585W @13V, 2000 RPM, 650W max power @13V)
Starting – 1.2 kW electric with solenoid shift starter motor engagement
Lights (as per country regulation):
• Headlamp LED 40-watt, 1,230 lumen low beam, 60-watt, 1660 lumen high beam
• Tail/Stop Lights (8W/28W)
• Turn Signal Lights 28W self-canceling
• Rear Tail/Stop/Turn Signal Lights – Fender mounted incandescent stop/tail/turn light bar
• Front Signal Lights 8W/28W
• Indicator Lamps: High beam, running lights, front fender running lights, directional lights, low oil pressure, neutral, engine diagnostics, battery, cruise control, speakers, accessory, security system, gear indication, low fuel warning, ABS, miles to empty display, fog/aux lamp indicator
Electric Power Outlet Electric power accessory port in fairing
WARRANTY
Warranty – 24 months (unlimited mileage)
Service Interval – First 1000 miles (1600 km), every 5000 miles (8000 km) thereafter
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