The M8 114 powered Road Glide Limited is the top spec non CVO touring model in the Road Glide range and comes with some luxurious add-ons plus luggage. We test it out... Photos: Tim Munro
We have tested the 2024 Road Glide and came away super impressed with the M8 117 powered tourer. Now it is time to take the M8 114 powered luxurious sibling, the Road Glide Limited, and see how it performs on some enjoyable Aussie roads…
Looking stunning in Sharkfin Blue, the $47,750 (ride away) Road Glide Limited is the dream touring bike…
Harley-Davidson has been in continual production since 1903. Why? Because they have always built large strong motorcycles that are capable of travelling across countries with ease. Even the earliest of Harleys V Twins back in the early teens were designed and built to travel great distances in comfort. Over the decades different models from the factory were built with touring in mind. From the 1930s the Harley could be accessorised with saddle bags, large protective screens, and two up seats that were state of the art at the time to make the long rides more enjoyable.
“The Road Glide was a variant of the Electra Glide and was first introduced in 1979 as the FLT, the T stood for touring”…
By 1965 saddle bags both hard or soft and screens were the norm for most Harley owners and 1965 was the first year for electric start and the Iconic Electra Glide was born. This model has been in continuous production since then and is still a big favourite with owners. The Road Glide was a variant of the Electra Glide and was first introduced in 1979 as the FLT, the T stood for touring. It featured the Shark nose fairing that mounted to the frame taking weight off the front forks. The Electra Glide has the fairing mounted on the forks (like a Street Glide). Touring hard bags, tour box at the rear of the seat over the guard and touring seat, all added up to a brilliant tourer for the endless miles of riding.
Hard panniers, tall screen, comfort touring seats and a top box are part of the deal with the Road Glide Limited.
Only 19 FLT bikes were built that year but, it became so popular overnight that for the 1980 model year 4480 FLT’s would be built and sold. The new fairing design and mounting system to the frame was an instant hit with Harley buyers and owners. The Road Glide name came about some years later, but the model has been in production since 1979. Many brands of motorcycle have tried over the decades to copy or build their version of the original true touring motorcycle but none are as instantly recognisable as a touring motorcycle as the Harley-Davidson Road Glide or Electra Glide.
I have been testing the latest incarnation of the Road Glide for the past two weeks, it’s a 2024 Road Glide Limited. It is a complete package when it comes to touring. The current version of the shark nose fairing with tall screen, super luxurious rider and pillion seats, Tour Pack and rack behind the pillion with a super comfy armchair style back support, large saddle bags and other storage compartments in the fairing all offer comfort and luxury. There are also heated grips for the coldest of winters and an infotainment system that offers maps, music, intercom, bike settings, BT connectivity, USB and information to keep you busy for weeks.
The Ride
There is no doubt that this is a big motorcycle. It weighs in at 423kg, is 2595mm in length, but, it has a very low centre of mass, a seat height of 735mm and fuel capacity of 22.7 litres. The big news is the engine, the original 1979 model had a capacity of 74 cubic inches, or 1200cc. The current model boasts a capacity of 114 cubic inches, or 1868cc. It is the current M8 design that has four-valve heads, liquid-cooling, electronic sequential port injection and massive amounts of torque. All the ingredients for an easy to use power delivery that will very easily move the big bike along at very respectable acceleration speeds from lights or overtaking traffic on the open road. The Road Glide Limited sits at a very relaxed 2400rpm at 110km/h, right in the torque curve and is happy at that speed or much more if needed.
Paul really liked the feel from the new forks and the 18in front wheel, particularly on the bumpier corners.
Over the years the wheels and tyre sizes have changed, for many decades the touring models sported 16 x 3in wheels with high profile tyres to suit. In recent years the rims have gotten larger as to the width of the tyres. The Road Glide Limited runs 18in rims front and back with 130/70 – 18 front and a 180/55 – 18 rear. These tyres and wheel sizes work very well, in particular the front tyre with its taller profile and 18in diameter, it works a lot better over bad roads than some of the other touring models that have a 19in low profile front tyre fitted. The extra sidewall helps a great deal on our poor condition secondary roads in NSW, the result is a front wheel that feels far more planted and secure in these conditions.
Check out our 2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide and Street Glide Launch Report here, with tech details and accessories information for the tourers…
Harley is now up to speed with brakes. Rotors are now 320mm twin discs up front and 300mm at the rear. The front brakes are floating with four-piston callipers and braided brake lines. Forks are 49mm units with dual bending valve technology and the rear shocks are adjustable by a handy knob tucked in behind the saddle bag. Both front and rear suspension is the tallest available in the Harley Tourers and soaks up poor roads very well and offers very good lean angles, far better than earlier models.
32 degree lean angle is good for a big tourer. Paul had no issues with scraping the Road Glide Limited.
The handlebars have been around now for a couple of years on the Road Glides. I’m not a real fan of the shape and pull back when riding around town but, get out of the city and relax on the bike, and enjoy the rider comfort they offer on a long ride and I’ll have to admit they do the job well. With the seat that just does a brilliant job of supporting you on the long stints and the relaxed ‘bars, it’s a very comfortable and enjoyable ride. Interstate trips would be a pleasure.
The 2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited cockpit… a happy place to be on a long haul. Say hi to Tim in the mirror!
This particular Road Glide Limited only comes in three colours, Vivid Black an extra $750, Shark Skin Blue an extra $1465 and Billiard Grey no extra cost, and all have black trim. I find this a shame; many potential owners would be turned away by the black trim only (exhaust, engine, frame parts) and the lack of brighter colours and lack of two tone paint. I think Harley could do much better by having a chrome option and more colour options. But that is just my opinion.
Comfortable ergonomics, particularly the traditional Road Glide laid back handlebars, especially on the long haul.
I suppose I’m used to the big Harleys having owned a fare few over the years. The size and weight doesn’t phase me, yep it’s big, no doubt about that, and loaded up with gear and a pillion it’s even bigger. What it does do very well, and this is one of the secrets of Harley Davidson, the weight is low to the ground and very well centralised, so the centre of mass works in the riders favour by making it feel much lighter than the spec’s would indicate.
Extremely comfortable rider and pillion touring seats with speakers. Now that is what we call luxury!
An advantage to this low centre of mass on the road is that the bike doesn’t have to be leaned over as far as another bike would with a higher centre of mass. It’s just physics really, for any given corner speed, with a lower centre of mass there is need for less lean angle, along with geometry to suit. All the things that may have touched down in a corner on older models have been raised up to also improve the lean angle of the tourer. In all honesty, not once did I touch anything down, even in such places as the bends just south of Kiama, a notorious section of road for tight corners that can catch many riders out.
Every Kilometre travelled on our country roads was pleasurable, with confidence in all aspects of the bike. The big pluses for me were the much taller screen on this model which did a fantastic job of putting me in an envelope of turbulent free air at highway speeds and the higher profile front tyre which did such a great job of absorbing those sh#tty sections of road we have in NSW. Is it a commuter? Well, yes it can do that fine as well, but it’s a bit big for lane splitting!
“Every Kilometre travelled on our country roads was pleasurable, with confidence in all aspects of the bike”…
Conclusion
Could I see one in my garage? I have had them before and enjoyed them, if I was doing bigger trips more often than I do now, yes it would be a fantastic bike for that type of riding. Weekend rides with the partner on the back and a bit of gear is where this bike and you as the rider would be most at home and happy. I suggest you go a test one for yourself. For more info on the engine character and in-depth ride, check out my launch report on the range earlier this year here… Keep an eye out for my Road Glide CVO test and Jeff’s Road Glide Special test coming up.
2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited Specifications
Price: From $47,750 (ride away)
Colours: Billiard Grey (std), Vivid Black ($750), Sharkskin Blue ($1465).
Warranty: Two-years unlimited km
Service: 1600km then every 8000km
Claimed Power: 65kW[107hp]@5020rpm
Claimed Torque: 160Nm@3000rpm
Wet Weight: 423kg
Fuel capacity: 22.7L
Claimed economy: 6.3L/100km
Engine: Air-cooled Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin, 1868cc, 102 x 114.3mm bore x stroke, 10.5:1 compression ratio, ESPFI, two-into-one-into-two exhaust
Gearbox: Primary drive: 34/46. Six-speed ratios – 1st: 9.593, 6.65, 4.938, 4.0, 3.407, 6th: 2.875 Final Belt 32/68 Clutch: Wet multi-plate, cable actuation
Chassis: 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.
Rake: 26° Trail: 170mm
Suspension: 49mm dual bending valve forks, 76.2 mm Dual Outboard Emulsion with Preload Adjustability
Brakes: 300mm rotors, Four-piston fixed calipers (f), 300mm rotor, two-piston floating caliper (r), ABS
Wheels & Tyres: Cast Alloy wheels, 130/60 – 19in (f), 180/55 – 18in (r), Dunlop™ Harley-Davidson Series, bias blackwall front and rear
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 1625mm
Seat height: 735mm
Ground clearance: 130mm
Overall Length: 2595mm
Lean Angle: 32/32 degrees
Instruments & Electronics: Multi-language multi-function Skyline OS touch screen digital full colour 312mm TFT display with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Blutooth Phone, , handlebar mounted controls, Central Screen, Audio System (2x50w speakers), charging port in fairing, LED lighting all around, Ride Modes, ABS (C-ABS), Traction Control (C-TCS), Linked Brakes (ELB), Drag Torque Slip Control (DSCS), Vehicle Hold Control (VHC), Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPMS).
Ratings | Bike Review | 2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited
1st Class
We take the new 2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited touring bike and put it to the test in Australia. Check out our review.
2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide LImited.
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