Harley launched the 2024 $46,495 Road Glide and Street Glide 117 models recently. We test both bikes and explore updates and variations on the models... Photos: Incite Images

Harley Australia recently held a launch of the new Road Glide and Street Glide models on the Gold Coast. We went along and got a lot of time on both the models. The updates are many and there was plenty to learn about the two top touring models…

Paul on the Vivid Black Street Glide, a $750 premium paint, it looks great with the $505 optional blacked out components and trim but you can also opt for chrome.

We stayed at the Rydges Motel at the Gold Coast Airport, a short walk off the plane and you were in the motel in your room very quickly, smart thinking. Harley put on a very luxurious dinner that night and had one of the new model Road Glides at the head of our table for the evening. The food was fantastic as were the beverages but kept to a minimum as we were all riding the next morning.

Check out our 2024 Road Glide & Street Glide Launch Gallery here...

2024 Harley-Davidson Street Glide in Sharkskin Blue ($1465 extra) and Black Trim ($505 extra). The Street Glide is now 8.2kg lighter than last year.

The next morning there was a presentation on the two new models that was detailed and informative. There are so many changes to the previous year’s bike that it took a while to get through all of the improvements. Temping us all in the foyer of the motel were two new model’s in the touring family apart from what we were going to ride, one was the Ultra Limited in the beautiful Enthusiast Collection Tobacco Fade colour, a real standout of not just colour but pin striping and shading. The other bike was the all new CVO Road Glide ST, this is such a departure from the normal touring models it is just a sensation, can’t wait to get my hands on one of these to test.

After the presentation it was time to ride. Out the front of the motel sat a dozen new Street Glides and Road Glides ready for us for the day. We had a quick briefing of where we were going and what we needed to do and know. We chose our rides for the first stint, there was going to be plenty of swapping bikes during the day. We didn’t ride the Ultra Limited or CVO ST, but we will test the latter shortly.

2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide in Whiskey Fire ($1465 extra) with Black Trim ($505). The Road Glide is now 7.3kg lighter than last year.

Harley Australia had set the bikes up with different levels of accessories such as seats, exhausts, air cleaners, screens, handlebars and choices between $505 optional blacked out trim and no cost chrome trim. The ride was just over 300km through some the hinterland of the Gold Coast and stopping at some of the nicest spots imaginable for refreshments and lunch.

“One surprise for the day was a Road Glide set up with the new CVO Road Glide ST risers and ‘bars”…

The two models have had a fairly major overhaul; both models now have the 117ci engine with redesigned heads for better cooling from the liquid-cooling system. Both models are now running the CVO styled fairing from the 2023 CVO models, these are a fair departure from what we have known for decades as the typical Harley Street Glide and Road Glide fairings.

Freshly designed fairing, tank, panniers, wheels… a lot to look at with the new Road Glide and the Street Glide.

The Skyline OS digital infotainment system is as seen on the CVO’s as well and is fully integrated into the motorcycles with navigation, three different screen options, connectivity to phones and even wireless Apple CarPlay (so long as you connect a headset or BT ear buds). Android Auto is not available but Android users can still stream music and take/make calls.

Read more tech info about the 2024 Road Glide and Street Glide models here…

There are new switchblocks and grips straight from the CVO models, better styled and finished seats as well which just add to the better look of these models. Both the Street Glide and the Road Glide also come in either the chrome pack option or the blacked out option. I like this, to have the choice is fantastic. There is also a very neat usable glovebox on both models just below the infotainment system that can easily hold smaller items such as wallet or phone. It also houses the phone/media player head set that comes with the bike, very neat stuff.

The exterior of the two models is also different with all-new tail light and blinker systems on the rear of the bike and both models have the front blinkers and driving lights integrated into the fairing. The fuel tank has lost its traditional shape and now has two distinct sharp lines/creases in the design, personally I am not a fan of this tank, it takes away from one of the most iconic shapes that Harley-Davidson ever produced, everyone that has any idea of what a Harley is will always say the Teardrop Tank.

There are still the lovely smooth lines of the front and rear guards and to compliment them is the new shaped saddlebags which have done away with the flat sides and gone for a more convex shape to the sides of the bags, the lower rear edge of the bags has also been changed with a chop or scallop at that corner. The tank console and the half crash bars and the larger oil cooler are also new.

The 2024 Harley-Davidson Street Glide in White Onyx Pearl ($1465 extra) with Black Trim ($505 extra).

Wheel sizes and brakes remain the same from the 2023 models, the wheel design is new and very nice with the five spoke design, simple sharp and clean. The handlebars on the Street Glide are the same I feel, but the Road Glide ‘bars have finally been changed to something that is far more comfortable and still offers that high custom look that is all the rage at the moment. Paint options are also excellent with eight colour choices and then the choice as mentioned of black or chrome for the trim of the motorcycles, lots of choice here.

Check out the Touring Pack on the Street Glide on the left…

The suspension has also seen some improvement with longer rear shocks that offer 50 per cent more travel, a very good and long overdue improvement, plus the front forks are 49mm SHOWA items with Dual Bending Valve technology. The ride improvements are immediately noticeable with these two models, harsh bumps were soaked up way better than on earlier models, a real improvement here.

“The ride improvements are immediately noticeable with these two models, harsh bumps were soaked up way better than on earlier models”…

Riding the two models over the day was eye opening, especially the particular bikes that had different seats fitted. It changed how that same bike felt with the stock seat. Some of the seats were very different and some similar but with a different reach to the ‘bars, it was nice to experience this in real world conditions rather than in a showroom.

The Road Glide in Vivid Black looks awesome with Chrome Trim also. Changes to the triple-clamps, wheels, weight and suspension have contributed to a really good steering package.

There was even one bike set up as a tourer complete with the Tour Pack top box.  The handlebars on some although stock were set in different positions; this again changed how the bike felt to ride, some on the Road Glides were back way too far for my frame, but they suited some of the other riders on the day. One surprise for the day was a Road Glide set up with the new CVO Road Glide ST risers and ‘bars, apparently a straight swap with no need to change any wiring or cables or brake lines.

This bike also had mufflers, airfilter and the stunt style crash protection fitted, all genuine Harley parts. This particular bike was my pick; the ST bar set up was really nice! And with the exhaust and airfilter upgrades it complimented the 117ci M8 engine perfectly. There was ample grunt everywhere and it was a real sweet thing to ride…

Over the course of the day with the swapping of bikes between all of us, it was very apparent which model I preferred. For me I had a soft spot for the Road Glides that were on offer, I like the idea of the fairing being mounted to the frame rather than the forks. I liked that the fairing was further away from me, it opened up the front area in front of me giving me a feeling of more room. I especially liked the fairing at speed, the bike felt more stable and far less prone to being moved around by turbulence from trucks either in front of you or passing them.

The Street Glides just felt a little bit less settled when in these type of situations, and it did feel that the fairing was way closer to me when riding the bike. It really gets down to a person choice on the style of fairing you like in both the appearance and appeal of that fairing and its practical nature. The Road Glide fairing has been around since the late 1970s so it’s not a new concept.

“For me I had a soft spot for the Road Glides that were on offer, I like the idea of the fairing being mounted to the frame rather than the forks”…

Well, 300km of mostly winding roads that required a high level of attention plus a very nice lunch at a winery did take its toll, many of us were happy to get back to the Rydges motel and put our feet up at the end of the days ride. It was a far easier day on these bikes than it could have been on some other cruisers. A great days ride on Harley-Davidson’s new Street Glide and Road Glide, nothing but class and comfort with performance to match, you wouldn’t expect anything less from Harley-Davidson…

Keep an eye out for Jeff’s Road Test on the new Road Glide, he just had it for two weeks, and we will follow that up with a test on a nice slightly modified 2024 Street Glide…

2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Specifications

www.harley-davidson.com

Price: From $46,495 (ride away)
Colours: Billiard Grey (std), Vivid Black ($750) – White Onyx Pearl, Whiskey Fire, Blue Burst, Alpine Green, Atlas Silver Metallic, Sharkskin Blue – all $1465 extra. Trim: Chrome (std), Black ($505). 
Warranty: Two-years unlimited km
Service: 1600km then every 8000km
Claimed Power: 80kW[107hp]@5020rpm
Claimed Torque: 170Nm@3500rpm
Wet Weight: 368kg
Fuel capacity: 22.7L
Claimed economy: 6L/100km

Engine: Air-cooled Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin, 1923cc, 103.5 x 114.3mm bore x stroke, 10.3:1 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: 720mm
Ground clearance: 145mm
Overall Length: 2410mm
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).

2024 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Specifications

www.harley-davidson.com

Price: From $46,495 (ride away)
Colours: Billiard Grey (std), Vivid Black ($750) – White Onyx Pearl, Whiskey Fire, Blue Burst, Alpine Green, Atlas Silver Metallic, Sharkskin Blue – all $1465 extra. Trim: Chrome (std), Black ($505). 
Warranty: Two-years unlimited km
Service: 1600km then every 8000km
Claimed Power: 80kW[107hp]@5020rpm
Claimed Torque: 170Nm@3500rpm
Wet Weight: 368kg
Fuel capacity: 22.7L
Claimed economy: 6L/100km

Engine: Air-cooled Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin, 1923cc, 103.5 x 114.3mm bore x stroke, 10.3:1 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: 173mm
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: 715mm
Ground clearance: 140mm
Overall Length: 2410mm
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).

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