Harley Davidson FLHX Street Glide, road test

Who hasn't had a discussion about the largest American motorcycle brand? Usually you either love them or hate them. There are those who would never ride one and those who instead make it a lifestyle and prefer to give up everything but their Harley. A true enthusiast, however, is able to understand that every vehicle equipped with an engine has its own reason, even if everyone, on a personal basis, obviously appreciates one genre more than another. So, after years of driving practically only super sports cars, you find yourself holding 368 kg of motorcycle in your hands in running order, traveling along a motorway comfortably seated and with his feet resting on two large platforms, the wind that barely touches you for the excellent protection of the famous (it has been like this since 1969) Bat-Wing fairing with bat wings, with the radio on, a 70s song, turn on the gas in sixth gear, the sound of the twin cam 103 twin cylinder fills your ears and a shiver runs down your spine. Here, this is what the Harley Davidson customer who buys a Street Glide wants from his bike.

Aesthetics and finishes:

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A legend on two wheels

Esthetically the chrome is king, the engine in particular has an aesthetic with attention to detail. THE cylinders they are indeed powder coated black on the horizontal surfaces of the air cooling fins, contrasting with the shiny edges of the same and with the chrome plating of the engine heads. The painting of the tank, mudguards and bags is equally particular, it is of a pearly yellow of great effect, especially when observed closely. Every detail tells the story of this house and this model. The Dunlop tires are also Harley Davidson specific and branded. The Harman Kardon sound system with 20 watts per channel It's another must-have piece for the Steet Glide. In addition to the radio there is a CD and MP3 player. Optionally you can also have modules for navigator and intercom. On the dashboard we then find the power button for the accessories, which can be connected to a 12 volt socket. The anti-theft system turns on and off automatically when you move away from or near the motorbike. The panel is keyless, you just need to have the remote control in your pocket. The key is only used to lock the ignition lock and for the fuel cap and locking of the two large 64 liter GTX panniers. The opening of these is also spectacular, with a mechanism that avoids scratching the lid and with the large Harley Davidson logo on the fabric that joins the structure to the lid itself.

Engine and performance:

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Classic yes, but technology helps

The classic look is combined with modern and technologically cutting-edge solutions such as cylinder shutdown system, which is activated by turning the throttle in the opposite direction and which allows, in city traffic, to reduce consumption and, above all, engine heat. Or the cruise control for traveling at a constant speed on the motorway, the practical ones pneumatic rear shock absorbers and adjustable, the LEDs on the rear light. Even the engine, in faithfulness to tradition, benefits from electronic injection anddrive by wire accelerator, which allow low consumption and very fluid delivery. Impressive couple at low revs: you can accelerate in any gear and the thrust is practically immediate. Compared to cars, no modern diesel is capable of anything like this. The data says 134 Nm at 3500 rpm and around 84 hp of power. Compared to the past, the system engine anchoring the offer four elastic supports, to the full advantage of vibration reduction and comfort. Only the passenger, practically sitting on the rear mudguard, feels some additional vibrations. The gearbox with double rocker is a six-speed gearbox, with a convenient indicator for sixth gear on the dashboard, certainly not very silent. Each insertion is accompanied by a "stock" sound, which on the one hand is in line with the character of the Street Glide, on the other Engaging neutral when stationary is not very easy, also due to the difficulty of having to give up the support of the left foot on the ground.

Ride and handling:

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The weight is only noticeable when stationary

It was certainly not created for city use, but there are those who use it to go to the office in the centre. Of course you always have to take into account the weight and dimensions, bags included. It's not a bike with which to slalom between cars stopped at traffic lights. On extra-urban roads with the Street Glide, in an unpredictable way given the size, it folds which is a pleasure. Even trying to exaggerate, only once did we manage to "scratch" the ground with the left inside footrest. The allowed angles are in fact slightly different, 32 on the right, 29 on the left. Once in motion, the weight is not noticeable in the slightest, only maneuvers from a standstill inspire a bit of fear given the size. The side stand has a mechanism that prevents it from closing if it is loaded, effectively preventing the motorcycle from falling. L'braking system he is very Italian Brembo, with 4 mm 32-piston calipers and obviously with two front discs and ABS system. You can hardly notice it coming into operation but it is absolutely convenient in case of braking at the limit with such a large mass in play.

Price and consumption:

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It's not cheap, but it's worth the price

We have detected a consumption in the order of 15 km per liter in our test, not bad for a 1688 cubic centimeter and weight motorcycle. The 22,7 liter tank promises mileages in the order of 350 km. The base price is 24.000 € for the black version, 300 more for the color of the sample being tested. Obviously very few specimens will remain as you see in the photo. L'list of customizations è practically infinite and enthusiasts of the Milwaukee house love to make their Harley Davidson unique. We, for example, would already have a small list of essential accessories and modifications: protections for the footpegs to avoid splashes of water when traveling on wet roads, the backrest for the passenger who would otherwise slide inexorably backwards, and finally the mufflers to replace the original, far too silent for a bike like this. There are also ones that can be adjusted with a handlebar control, in order to respect public peace and be able to fully enjoy the sound of the Twin Cam when you are far from population centres.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
It's an icon and with the help of technology it's a really great touring machine for long journeys and beyond.

We do not like it:
The passenger slips due to the seat tilted backwards, this is remedied with an optional backrest.

Harley Davidson FLHX Street Glide: the Motorionline Report Card

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