Harley-Davidson 1870 Street Glide Special 120ème anniversaire FLHXSANV 2023 — Specifications

A hundred and twenty years of V-twin, chrome, and American asphalt. To blow out its candles, Milwaukee doesn't settle for a cake: the firm rolls out an anniversary edition Street Glide Special, limited to 1,600 units, draped in a gradient red livery dubbed "Heirloom Red Fade" that shifts to dark crimson along the flanks. Two-tone seat with gold stitching, gold-plated eagle emblem on the tank, dedicated badges on the twin: the commemorative package is complete. You either love it or find it over the top, but you have to admit the result looks damn good, sitting there at its 375 kg wet weight.

Beneath the fins, the Milwaukee Eight 114 remains the beating heart of the machine. A 45° V-twin displacing 1,868 cc, four valves per cylinder, putting out 93 horsepower at 5,250 rpm. The figure seems modest next to a BMW R 1250 RT or a Gold Wing, but at Harley they don't chase horsepower. They cultivate torque. And with 157.9 Nm available from just 3,250 rpm, the Street Glide Special pulls like a freight train at the slightest twist of the throttle. That kind of availability turns every highway passing maneuver into a moment of raw satisfaction. The V-twin pulses, the belt drive absorbs the jolts, and the six-speed gearbox slots into gear without any harshness. The engine still vibrates—that's its signature—but the Milwaukee Eight's dual counterbalancer has considerably tamed the shakes compared to previous generations.

On the chassis side, the steel double-cradle frame houses a 49 mm telescopic fork offering 117 mm of travel up front, while the twin rear shocks make do with 54.6 mm. Suffice to say that on rough roads, the rear end transmits every imperfection. The 690 mm seat height reassures shorter riders, and the bagger ultimately handles with a certain ease around town despite its heft. Braking relies on 300 mm discs front and rear, clamped by four-piston calipers, paired with ABS and a linked braking system. Traction control, tire pressure monitoring, and hill start assist round out an electronic arsenal that has closed much of the gap with the Japanese and European competition.

The cockpit integrates the Boom Box GTS, a multimedia system with a 6.5-inch color TFT screen, compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, equipped with Bluetooth, a USB port, GPS navigation, and radio. Four channels of 25 watts each let you listen to your playlist at highway speed without cranking the volume too hard. For a touring bagger, that's the bare minimum in 2023, and Harley checks every box with due diligence.

Then there's the matter of price. At 37,900 euros for a limited edition, the Street Glide Special 120th Anniversary plays in a category where you'll also find fully loaded GTs from BMW or technology-packed Honda Gold Wings. The difference is that nobody buys a Harley to compare spec sheets. You buy it for the bagger style, for the rumble of the V-twin at idle, for that unique way of devouring miles without ever rushing the pace. The 22.7-liter tank allows for decent legs between fill-ups, and the top speed capped at 160 km/h says it all about the program: here, you cruise. Track junkies and sportbike enthusiasts need not apply. This Harley is aimed at touring riders who want to travel with panache, collectors drawn to the rarity of a numbered series, and anyone for whom riding an American bagger remains a form of freedom that nothing else can replace.