Harley offers new model
Company introduces the Sport Glide as part of Softail motorcycle lineup
Harley-Davidson Inc. has introduced another Softail motorcycle for 2018, called the Sport Glide, with the company’s Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine and a fairing that’s secured with quick-release clamps.
It is the ninth model in the new Softail lineup and the latest bike in a line of 100 new motorcycles that Harley plans to introduce by 2027.
The Sport Glide is scheduled to be unveiled Tuesday at EICMA, the world’s largest motorcycle show, in Milan, Italy.
Harley says the new Softails come with the most powerful engine ever offered on its cruisers. The new bikes, aimed at the company’s 115th anniversary year, are being rolled out as manufacturers of cruiser and touring motorcycles have seen a decline in U.S. sales.
The Sport Glide has new lockable, rigid saddlebags that Harley says can
be opened with one hand by a seated rider. The bags, with a combined storage capacity of about 2 cubic feet, can be removed in seconds with the internal quick-release mechanism.
The new fairing is shaped to deflect wind away from the rider’s chest and is secured to the bike’s fork tubes with quick-release clamps for fast removal and installation.
“You can see the influence of the iconic batwing fairing from Harley touring models, but it’s been trimmed back to create a more compact, sporty shape,” said Brad Richards, Harley’s vice president of styling and design.
Riders seeking more wind protection can exchange the standard windshield for a taller one.
The bike’s seat height is a low 27.5 inches, and Harley included its Daymaker LED headlamp on the Sport Glide.
A USB charging port, keyless ignition and the Smart Security system are also standard equipment.
Harley says the Sport Glide has the company’s new Softail mono-shock suspension with remote hydraulic preload adjustment to accommodate the weight of a passenger or luggage.
The bike has antilock brakes and new Mantis castaluminum wheels — an 18-inch front and a 16-inch rear.
Harley says the spokes sweep from the hub to the rim to create a sense of motion even when the bike is parked, and the look is reinforced with the shape of the fairing and saddlebags.
The Sport Glide comes in three colors: Vivid Black, Twisted Cherry and Silver Fortune. The bike’s suggested retail price is $18,599 in black and $18,999 in the other colors.
Harley says its new Softails are the result of the most extensive research and development program in the company’s history.
As part of the research, the company says it interviewed more than 3,000 riders for their views on cruisers — a versatile style of bike with a relaxed riding position, suitable for long-distance riding but more nimble than a big touring motorcycle.