Harley-Davidson 1745 ROAD GLIDE FLTRX 2019 — Specifications

Fifteen years of absence leaves its mark. While its cousins in the Milwaukee lineup were chaining through displacement evolutions — 1584, then 1690, then even the Screamin' Eagle pushed to 1800 cc — the plain and simple Road Glide had vanished from the catalogs, leaving its name to CVO, Ultra, or Special variants that carried its soul without truly being it. A purgatory as long as Route 66 in the middle of August.

Its return in 2018 came with the best possible argument: the Milwaukee-Eight 107, meaning 1745 cc of 45-degree V-twin, four valves per cylinder, two spark plugs as well, and 150 Nm of torque available from just 3,250 rpm. Compared to the Twin Cam 88 it ran with in its early years, the leap is considerable. The 90 horsepower peaks at 5,450 rpm, the six-speed gearbox sends power through a belt drive, and the whole package propels this 388 kg behemoth fully loaded up to 170 km/h. What this engine has also gained is refinement: the idle vibrations, long a somewhat wearing signature of big American twins on long hauls, have been significantly reduced. The muscle is still there, honest and generous, but it no longer shakes its internals quite as much.

The shark-nose fairing remains the styling element that immediately sets the Road Glide apart from its internal rival, the Street Glide. Where the latter sports a fairing mounted to the handlebars, the Road Glide's is frame-mounted, which fundamentally changes wind management at high speed and, above all, steering precision on the highway. It's a choice that long-distance riders appreciate, while urban riders will often prefer the Street. The Daymaker LED headlights complete this front end, functional and modern. On the braking front, 388 kg calls for a serious response: two 300 mm discs up front bitten by four-piston calipers, an identical disc at the rear, all managed by the Reflex linked braking system with ABS. Enough to bring this tourer serenely back to reality.

The infotainment has also evolved. The old Boom Box 6.5 gives way to the GTS version — same screen size but with markedly superior definition and contrast, smoother navigation, and above all, Apple CarPlay compatibility. For a motorcycle at €27,410 targeting the seasoned long-distance rider, it's a legitimate expectation and Harley-Davidson delivers on it adequately. The low seat at 695 mm also makes it accessible for a range of builds, even if 388 kg remains 388 kg the moment you're maneuvering at walking pace.

Facing a BMW R 18 Transcontinental or an Indian Challenger, the Road Glide plays a different card: it doesn't try to convince through figures or overwhelming technology, but through overall coherence and an immediately recognizable visual identity. Its audience is that of long ribbons of asphalt, riders who want to swallow miles without urgency, carried by that thick torque that makes sixth-gear roll-ons feel as natural as they are effortless. This is not a motorcycle for the impatient. It's a motorcycle for those who know exactly why they call it the Road Glide.