Harley-Davidson 1745 STREET GLIDE SPECIAL FLHXS 2018 — Specifications

What sets a Harley-Davidson Street Glide apart from a Street Glide Special? One letter—an S—slipped onto the end of the FLHXS code. But behind that typographical nuance lies a radical aesthetic shift. The 2018 model year pushes the dark custom slider all the way to the end: the chrome has been almost entirely swallowed by black. Fork tubes, handlebar, mirrors, turn signals, engine covers, heat shields—everything gets the treatment. The saddlebags, stretched downward, come to kiss the exhaust outlets and give the rear end a more aggressive, almost menacing look. The 19- and 18-inch Talon wheels finish the job of setting it apart from the standard Street Glide, which suddenly looks quite tame next to its sinister cousin. You'll find this blacked-out treatment on the Road King and Road Glide from the same family, but the FLHXS wears the outfit with a particular elegance.

Beneath the steel double-cradle frame beats the Milwaukee Eight, a 45-degree V-twin displacing 1746 cc that changed the game across the Touring lineup. With its 4 valves per cylinder, a 10:1 compression ratio, and a bore/stroke of 100 x 111.1 mm, this engine delivers 89 horsepower at 5450 rpm and, more importantly, 149 Nm of torque from just 3250 rpm. Compared to the old Twin Cam 103 High Output, the torque gain is clear. Roll-on acceleration in sixth gear, transmitted through a belt drive, comes with an authority that riders familiar with the previous model will notice immediately. Another major improvement: a redesigned counter-balancer reduces vibrations at idle by 75%. The V-twin keeps its throaty voice and big-cube temperament, but it shakes far less in traffic. A smart compromise that sacrifices nothing of the Harley character.

On the chassis side, the Special has swapped the old air-ride rear suspension for two Showa emulsion shocks, simpler to adjust for preload and more consistent in their behavior. Rear wheel travel remains modest at 54.6 mm, but that's standard on this type of bagger where ground clearance is intentionally limited. The 49 mm telescopic fork benefits from SDBV technology for better damping control, with 98 mm of travel. Braking duties fall to dual 300 mm front discs gripped by 4-piston calipers, backed up by a 300 mm rear disc. The whole setup is linked through the Reflex system. For a machine weighing 379 kg fully fueled, it's adequate without being sporty—but nobody buys a Street Glide to carve mountain passes.

The Special version also stands out with its Boom! Box 6.5 GT infotainment system, a 6.5-inch touchscreen that centralizes GPS, Bluetooth, voice-recognition telephony, and radio, all powered by 75 watts per channel. You can connect a smartphone, USB drive, or SD card. It's a true onboard command center, well above the 4.3-inch screen found on standard versions. The Batwing fairing integrates a ventilation duct, the saddlebags feature One-touch opening, and cruise control rounds out the equipment list. Harley has managed to raise the spec level without stepping on the toes of the Electra Glide, positioned one notch above.

At €27,790, the 2018 Street Glide Special doesn't do half measures on price. Against an Indian Chieftain Dark Horse playing on the same aesthetic turf, or a BMW K 1600 B that's significantly more powerful but also colder in character, the Harley bets on emotion and belonging to a universe. Its low 690 mm seat height, 22.7-liter tank, and top speed capped at 160 km/h are reminders that this machine is built to cruise, not to devour the highway at full throttle. It's aimed at touring riders who want to travel with style and sound, at those for whom the journey matters as much as the destination. An unapologetic bagger, black from head to toe, that leaves no one indifferent as it rolls by.