Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special

There are people that are simply drawn to Land Rover Defenders. People in Japanese bakkies cannot understand it and yet, the Defender owners know. They know the ride will be bumpy. They live with the cramped cabin and the impossible clutch and they know they will break down or get stuck at some point. And that is probably what makes them love their Landy so much. The similarities between them and the Harley-Davidson crowd is a lot more than you would think.

Harley owners don’t take well to change. They want their bike to shake, rattle and roll. So when Harley introduced the Milwaukee-Eight engine the murmurs in Harley circles were quite audible. It was introduced as a smooth engine with lots of torque. Harley could still sell the torque bit, but the smooth part was a hard sell. But, as with most things, the resistance faded and the loyalty to the brand triumphed over their stubbornness. And yet, despite the advances in technology, Harley stayed true to their roots with the Road Glide Special I had the opportunity of riding.

This is an imposing bike. It tips the scales at 375 kg, even before you put the liquids in. Styled along bagger lines, the bike has a large fairing and from there slopes steeply down to the low-slung backend. The teardrop tank is classic Harley and the plush seat sits a mere 695 mm from the ground. Combining the low seat with the feet-forward controls, your riding position is extremely relaxed. Making bikes for 115 years, they sure know a thing or two about comfort.

The bags are of reasonable capacity, but I would venture to say that the Road Glide was made for solo riding.

The fairing on the Road Glide is not a thing of beauty, but rather of effectiveness. It is attached to the frame of the bike, rather than the handlebars. It houses the Harley-Davidson BOOM! GTS system, speakers and two tiny cubbyholes. One of the cubbies has a USB socket to plug your tunes in. On the handlebars, you have two traditional analogue dials for speed and engine revolutions.

When you start the bike, it still has the familiar Harley rumble, but because of the Europeans and their emission rules, it is rather muted. First gear is engaged with a solid clunk and when you set off, you will be pleasantly surprised that this beast can actually handle a bit. I was not expecting this, but when you point it at a corner, it takes minimal effort to make it change direction. This bike can also go fast if you want, but that would be out of character for the Road Glide. It wants to cruise and allow you to take in the scenery.

So, just like Defenders, not everyone will love Harleys but that is their loss. If I were to choose a bike now for a 1000 mile journey, any Harley with the word Glide somewhere in the name will do nicely, thank you.

Article & Photos: Brian Cheyne