Harley-Davidson 1690 STREET GLIDE SPECIAL FLHXS 2016 — Specifications

A single suffix, and everything changes. The small "S" appended to the Street Glide name is no mere cosmetic marketing exercise: it signals a machine that moves up a notch in Milwaukee's Touring hierarchy, without encroaching on the Electra Glide's territory. Harley-Davidson has always known how to calibrate its lineup with watchmaker precision, and the 2016 FLHXS confirms that talent. The silhouette remains instantly recognizable: Batwing fairing, low stance, that profile stretched toward the horizon that has defined the Street Glide's reputation for years. The fairing skirt now matches the bodywork color — a subtle detail, but one that refines the overall visual coherence.

It's aboard the Special that the bike justifies its name. Forget the 4.3-inch screen of the base Rushmore version: the FLHXS comes equipped with the Boom! Box 6.5 GT system — a 6.5-inch touchscreen connected to just about everything a long-distance rider might carry in their saddlebags. iPhone, SD card, USB, Bluetooth, GPS, radio, voice recognition for phone calls, 75 watts per channel — all packaged in a multimedia unit that holds its own against what some premium sedans offer. For a long-haul traveler eating up miles on American interstates or French national roads, this level of equipment genuinely changes everyday life on the road. The one criticism that could be leveled is the price: €26,050 out of the dealership, a sum that gives even the most dedicated devotees pause.

Beneath the 22.7-liter tank beats the 1,690 cc Twin Cam High Output, a 45-degree V-twin that has never pretended to play the raw power card. Its 86 horsepower peaks at 5,010 rpm, which remains modest for this displacement — but that's not the point. This engine speaks torque, and it does so from as low as 3,500 rpm with 137.3 Nm on tap. The specific camshaft and dedicated air box give it a more assertive character than the base 103-inch unit, and on the road, you feel it in the way the bike pushes effortlessly, smoothly, with that deep, throaty rumble that is Harley's true signature. The 6-speed gearbox and belt drive complete a package designed for long-distance efficiency rather than acceleration figures.

The chassis has also benefited from the refinements accumulated since the Rushmore project: 49 mm telescopic fork, Reflex linked braking with dual 300 mm front discs and four-piston calipers throughout, adjustable rear air suspension. All of it tasked with moving 372 kg of fully loaded motorcycle — saddle sitting 695 mm from the ground — to a top speed of 160 km/h. This is not a track machine or a bike for the impatient city rider. It is an American-style grand touring tool, built for the long-distance rider who takes the time to arrive, who chooses routes for the pleasure as much as the destination. Against a BMW R 1200 RT or a Honda Gold Wing, the Street Glide Special plays a different tune: less technological in its rider aids, but unmatched in the culture and sonic emotion it conveys. That extra soul comes at a price — and clearly, buyers continue to pay it.