Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide 2013 — Specifications

Does one still need to talk about Harley-Davidson as a motorcycle brand, or rather as an institution, a rite of passage for a whole generation of riders who swear only by the V twin and miles in a straight line? The 2013 Street Glide, with its 368 kg fully fueled, is a perfect embodiment of this philosophy. It is not the most imposing of the Touring range, far from the Ultra Classic and its cruise ship equipment, but it positions itself as a more refined alternative, almost minimalist for those who want to travel without feeling surrounded by fairings.

Its Twin Cam 103, this 1690 cm3 V-twin engine, delivers 81 horsepower at 5350 rpm and a torque of 133.4 Nm from 3500 rpm. Figures that, on paper, seem modest compared to some European competitors, but which on the road translate into constant propulsion, traction that never needs to be requested. This machine is made to swallow highways, not to thrill on mountain passes. The six-speed gearbox, although characteristic, allows you to find the ideal revs for this long ride, and the 22.7-liter tank guarantees sufficiently long stages between coffee breaks.

The audience for the Street Glide? The hard-core traveler, the one who prefers the feeling of a comfortable seat and a well-calibrated Harman Kardon music system rather than the nervousness of a sportbike. The 715 mm seat offers a dominant position without being overwhelming, and the integrated rigid saddlebags are there for travel, not for style. On the braking side, the 300 mm front and rear discs, coupled with ABS, are sufficient to control this mass, but we are not talking about aggression here, simply safety.

Compared to a Road King or an Electra Glide Standard, the Street Glide is distinguished by its more discreet windshield and the absence of a top case, which gives it a more fluid, less loaded line. It remains, however, a heavy motorcycle, very heavy, which in turns quickly recalls its limits with early friction. But this is not a defect for its target user, it is a characteristic. You don't ride a Street Glide, you drive it, you guide it, you accompany it on wide roads.

At 23,590 euros, it sits in the high-end of American touring bikes, a price justified by its audio equipment, its complete dashboard and its status. It is not for beginners, nor for track riders, but for those who see the motorcycle as a slow and safe means of transportation, a way to cross landscapes rather than challenge them. The Street Glide, ultimately, is a motorcycle that summarizes all of Harley’s philosophy: weight, torque, comfort, and that immutable impression of being part of a very particular club.