Glider on the Storm
The WOrd “gLIde” InstantLY conjures up a picture of the fXdWg dyna Wide glide in my mind, a motorcycle I longed for just as much as the fat Boy; my go-to harleydavidson motorcycle and the answer to the question many ask often, ‘What would you have?’ the street glide is the one with the bat-wing fairing and it looks imposing and not-to-be-messed-with. It packs the 114-cubic-inch big V-twin and, in “special” guise, it brings slightly more power and torque than its softail Cruiser siblings. It has lower, easyreach bars and it looked the most comfortable of the three; which is why it was the most sought after. Initially, anyway.
Like the road King, the fLhXs street glide packs the big twin engine, fat fork and rubber, and the highway touring frame with the added “s” indicating it’s the special version. the blacked-out sections interspersed with the chrome sparkle make for some truly eyeball-grabbing styling, especially with the sun making for an even more dazzling display. the Billiard red paint finish here costs extra. the fLhXs rides on “Prodigy” wheels — 19-inch front and 18 rear. the cross-spoke design of the alloy wheel looks neat and adds an edgy element to an otherwise chunky design. the bat-wing front holding the daymaker Led headlight, big 22.7-litre tank, thick handlebar and engine guard, and the chrome pipes flowing out from the engine and going below the panniers make for one wholesome
sight. this has a lot more kit and it’s on the other side of that fairing; and in the comfortably upright rider’s field of vision.
the kit includes a full-colour tft touchscreen with infotainment that includes audio, radio, navigation, and Bluetooth connectivity for phone functions and streaming audio. Yes, the street glide special packs the “Boom! Box” gts system with two speakers. the handlebar controls also have easy joysticks on either side to navigate the menus and control responding to calls, switching function screens or even adjusting the volume on the go.
and go it does! the street glide special has the larger 114 motor or 1,868-cc in Bike India speak. that’s good for about 95 horses and a sedan-like 163 nm of peak torque, the latter of which peaks at just 3,000 rpm. “Peaks” because more than three-quarters of it is available from just about 1,500 rpm. the surge is consistently relentless and the big twin piles on its revs rather quickly. It will only rev to about 5,000 rpm but, wow, what a rush it is getting there! the 1,625-mm wheelbase is a good 250 mm more than the stuff I usually ride, so it takes a little getting used to the hesitation in making a turn or changing direction on a whim. It can, mind you, but getting to the agility on tap takes time and practice. Initially, it feels like trying to control a massive sailboat during cyclonic winds. You have to be pretty darn good to be a proper captain, so to speak.
even so, h-d offer an optional reflex defensive rider systems technology suite that uses advanced chassis control, electronic brake control, and powertrain technology to help with control — and confidence — in less-than-ideal situations such as when accelerating or braking hard in a straight line or when tackling a turn. It puts the aforementioned dynamic handling characteristics within easier reach; like super mario starting with flower-power. although even he didn’t face the dragon in world 1-1, did he? the 375-kg fLhXs takes some getting used to but, once there, the ride becomes exponentially more enjoyable.
right, time for me to move on and switch to the even heavier road glide special.