Summary

• The 2024 Road Glide & Street Glide bought a serious improve, from fairings to efficiency, setting new requirements in Harley touring bikes.
• A 12.3-inch touchscreen sprint, Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine, and enhanced driving expertise make these bikes vital for Harley followers.
• Improved aerodynamics, digital options, and top-notch security enhancements make the 2024 Road Glide & Street Glide the way forward for touring bikes.

For the longest time, Harley-Davidson riders have been locked in a debate over which touring model is the superior motorcycle. While a few of you would possibly say all are equally common amongst avid Harley followers, there is not any denying the Road Glide and Street Glide maintain a particular place within the lineup. Throughout the years, each have obtained equal upgrades in energy, technological options, and efficiency.

But their largest replace got here not too long ago at first of 2024. The Motor Company took the motorcycling world unexpectedly with the discharge of the revamped versions of the Road Glide and Street Glide, utterly totally different from their predecessors. Following within the footsteps of the ground-breaking designs of the 2023 CVO duo, the 2024 variations took on a extra modernized method that made them superior to the earlier technology in almost each side.

That included a full redesign from entrance to again, extra high-tech options, improved security, enhanced efficiency, and an total heightened driving expertise. So let’s take a more in-depth take a look at the methods the following technology of Road Glides and Street Glides set the usual for Harley-Davidson’s touring class, and the way they differ from earlier fashions.

In order to provide the newest and correct info potential, the info used to compile this text was sourced from Harley-Davidson and gross sales reps from native dealerships.

More Aerodynamic And Flow State Design

Given the Road Glide’s Shark Nose fairing and the Street Glide’s Bat Wing fairing, wind safety has all the time been an enormous issue for riders of both mannequin. The 2024 redesigns of the Road Glide and Street Glide feature more evolved versions of their fairings, all whereas staying true to their DNA that makes them recognizable. Following the efforts of the R-and-D workforce with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel evaluation, each bikes’ fairings have enhanced the rider’s consolation for these lengthy stretches of the freeway by decreasing helmet buffeting by 60 % and utilizing adjustable air vanes to redirect airflow. This design improve is very very important to loyal Street Glide riders, who’ve needed to cope with disagreeable handlebar vibrations at excessive speeds.

The redesign did not simply cease on the fairings. Those similar visible parts might be discovered from the entrance to the rear. Body traces seen within the fenders, gasoline tank, and saddlebags all observe the identical dynamic theme because the fairings. This serves as a reminder these touring bikes are the new-and-improved variations of their predecessors, which adopted a extra curved and rounded design method. Some would possibly even say these new physique types observe a design just like the Pan America Special 1250.

This contemporary tackle the Road Glide and Street Glide might not come as an enormous shock to main Harley-Davidson followers, as the corporate not too long ago revamped its Sportster line to favor technology and performance over affordability and straightforward dealing with. If something, this new tackle the duo might pave the best way for the long run for different members of the touring class, together with the Road King Special, Road Glide Limited, and Ultra Limited. That’s one thing solely time will inform, however we’re certainly trying ahead to it.

The Fully-Digital Touchscreen Dash

High-tech upgrades are always a huge selling point for brand spanking new autos. So the 2024 Road Glide and Street Glide bear an enormous improve right here. Harley-Davidson has tossed out the analog dials in favor of a 12.3-inch touchscreen TFT (Thin Film Transistor) that takes up the middle stage now. Even although the earlier generations had been additionally outfitted with touchscreen shows, this can be a new totally customizable infotainment system with detailed specs, turn-by-turn navigation, Bluetooth compatibility with smartphones, and 5 selectable trip modes (Road, Sport, Rain, two Custom) to set a brand new benchmark. By transitioning over to the totally digital sprint, the shortage of bodily parts contained in the fairings really assists in decreasing the general dry physique weight of the bikes by 31 kilos (amongst different issues, after all).

This push into an much more technology-focused touring line is harking back to Harley-Davidson’s method to each the Adventure Touring class and the newer Sportster class. Given that just about everybody on the planet owns a smartphone, and that they’re seen as very important equipment in our vehicles, vans, and SUVs, it solely is smart that Harley-Davidson established itself to be extra tuned in to the digital age. The remaining members of the Touring class ought to undertake related programs within the coming years, proper?

The Mighty Milwaukee-Eight 117 Powers The Tourers

In the 2023 touring line, the Road Glide and Street Glide had been accessible in 4 trims: Standard, Special, ST, and CVO. Each of those fashions was outfitted with a Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin ranging in displacement from 107 cubic inches to 117 cubic inches. Rather than have too many fashions taking on an excessive amount of area on showroom flooring, Harley-Davidson did away with the Specials and STs and saved it easy by holding the CVOs round and elevating the bar for the “base” mannequin. Accordingly, the torque-heavy centerpiece of the brand new technology Road Glide and Street Glide is the mighty Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin engine.

It’s the usual engine for these two touring bikes going ahead, and prospects are already singing praises. Aside from having extra horsepower and torque than the 114, the 117 has liquid-cooled cylinder heads to actively regulate the engine temperature. This characteristic is exceptionally helpful in driving situations that contain low-speed journey in heat climates. It also needs to be famous that whereas 117 cubic inches is the engine’s default displacement; Harley-Davidson does offer a 135 cubic-inch Stage 4 upgrade if you wish to go overboard.

In the meantime, each the CVO Road Glide and Street Glide characteristic the Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 ​​​​​V-Twin engine, which options liquid-cooled cylinder heads and variable valve timing (VVT). This, together with a brand new airbox, an improved shift drum, a brand new consumption tract, and a brand new exhaust system, offers it even higher efficiency. Given the heightened quantity of displacement and torque over the Milwaukee-Eight 117, the VVT helps widen the general powerband and be sure you get as a lot mileage as you’ll be able to out of those bikes.

Engine Specs

Improved Riding Experience

Let’s be trustworthy, a serious purpose a large majority of Harley-Davidson riders love the touring class is due to how they deal with themselves, how comfy they’re, and the way properly they carry out in any setting. It is due to this type of adaptability that touring bikes just like the Road Glide and Street Glide have remained so common over the many years. With the lengthy listing of enhancements that the 2024 iterations have seen, riders are in a position to sort out turns and curves with confidence, in addition to take it straightforward and regular for these lengthy stretches of freeway.

Of course, stopping energy can also be necessary, and it has been addressed, too. This is obvious by the brand new 1.3-inch 4-piston brake calipers situated on the entrance wheel–an enchancment revamped the 1.25-inch 4-piston calipers used within the 2023 fashions. Likewise, the rear shocks have progressed past the earlier low-height hand-adjustable suspension system, now that includes a 3-inch Dual Outboard Emulsion shock with preload adjustability. This modification ends in a notable 50 % journey enhancement, elevating the rear-wheel stroke from 2.1 to three.0 inches.

Meanwhile, one large benefit the 2024 Road Glide and Street Glides have over their predecessors is the intensive rider safety enhancement package included as commonplace gear. The 2023 Road Glides and Street Glides solely listed Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) and Electronic Linked Braking (ELB) as commonplace gear, whereas extra options like Vehicle Hold Control (VHC), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and Cornering Enhanced Anti-Lock Brake System (C-ABS) had been optionally available. In 2024, new Road Glide and Street Glide riders will not have to fret about bringing their bikes in to have these security options put in, as a result of they’re already there out of the field. While 2024 prospects are greater than thrilled at this prospect, 2023 prospects could also be kicking themselves for not ready an additional 12 months to have the complete security bundle included. With these dramatic enhancements being made to the touring class, let’s hope Harley retains the pattern going into 2025!