Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide 2011 — Specifications

Can a Harley-Davidson be both a continental cruiser and a customizable hot rod? With the 2011 FLHX Street Glide, the Milwaukee manufacturer attempts the gamble. Imagine an Electra Glide Ultra Classic stripped of its most conspicuous accessories: goodbye monumental top case, triple headlight, and huge deflectors. What remains is a more taut, more nervous silhouette, where flowing lines and rigid saddlebags define a touring bike with a strong character. We are far from a pure custom, but closer to the road tripper who embraces its origins without unnecessary embellishments.

Under the elongated tank, the Twin Cam 103 with 1584 cm³ delivers 81 horsepower. The sound is typical, the torque of 126 Nm available from 3500 rpm is the sledgehammer argument. It's not about showing off in brutal acceleration, but about covering kilometers with quiet authority. The redesigned and stiffened frame, combined with a new swingarm, provides a certain level of handling, but it is important to remain lucid. At nearly 373 kilograms fully fueled, the Street Glide is not a sportbike. In tight turns, the footpegs scrape quickly, reminding you that its vocation is the straight open road, not alpine passes. The six-speed gearbox has made progress, but it remains sluggish, very Harley. A recognized defect, almost a charm for purists.

Where this machine seduces is in its touring equipment designed for long-distance comfort. The 715 mm high seat is a throne, the oleo-pneumatic rear suspension is adjustable, and the dashboard on the fork tube is a real control tower. Tachometer, fuel gauge, voltmeter, oil pressure gauge… and above all, an integrated Harman/Kardon audio system. Riding while listening to your favorite playlist, the wind deflected by the small windscreen, is the very essence of American cruising. With a 22.7-liter tank and brakes now equipped with ABS, long stages are undertaken in complete serenity.

Who is it for? The traveler who wants the comfort and equipment of a grand tourer, but without the clutter and "caravan" feel of the Ultra Classic. It is a machine for those who travel alone or with a light passenger, and who want a stylish presence. At 23,390 euros, it is not cheap, but it is positioned as an alternative within the Touring range, visually more agile than its big sisters. It doesn't go fast, it doesn't aim for curves, but it devours the asphalt with undeniable class and comfort. A rational choice for the road trip enthusiast, provided you accept its dynamic limitations and fully embrace its philosophy: the road as a spectacle, not as a circuit.