Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST 2024 — Specifications

Can a Harley-Davidson really be a fast and efficient touring motorcycle without sacrificing its iconic character? The Low Rider ST answers yes, and it does so with a conviction that might surprise those who think Milwaukee only produces beautiful statues. Launched in 2022, this machine crystallizes a long-standing underground movement, the "club style," a philosophy born in West Coast gangs and popularized by series like Sons of Anarchy. The idea is simple: a custom that must be ready to ride far, fast, and in groups, without frills but with a serious dose of performance.

To meet this specification, Harley brought out the heavy artillery. Under the twin-spar tubular frame lies the Milwaukee-Eight 117, the largest twin in the standard range, with its 1923 cm3. The numbers speak for themselves: 105 horsepower at 4750 rpm and a torque of 169.5 Nm from 3500 rpm. On paper, this might elicit a smile from a track rider accustomed to Japanese four-cylinder engines, but on the road, this rotating mass is a revelation. The engine pulls with sovereign authority, propelling the 327 kg fully fueled with a disconcerting ease, especially when exploiting the six-speed gearbox and its belt final drive. The announced fuel consumption of 5 L/100 km is almost a feat for such a displacement.

The real transformation, compared to a Low Rider S, comes from the touring kit. The fairing attached to the frame, inspired by the FXRT of 1983, is an aesthetic and functional success. It houses an LED headlight and frees the handlebars from any parasitic mass, improving maneuverability. At the rear, the high-mounted rigid saddlebags with a total volume of 53.8 liters are easily removable. This is the equipment that the S was lacking to become a credible touring machine. The chassis has also been sharpened: the monoshock rear suspension gains in travel, the ground clearance reaches 150 mm, and the 43 mm inverted fork with a rake angle of 28° promises greater agility than other Softail models. The 686 mm seat remains accessible, even for a rider of average height.

Who is the audience for this Low Rider ST? The Harley touring rider who refuses monumental baggers like the Electra Glide, but who wants more capacity than a Sport Glide and more versatility than a Street Glide. It is a machine for those who travel in small groups, who value raw style and the raw mechanical feel. The minimalist instrumentation – a small digital screen in the handlebar riser – and the absence of an integrated infotainment system reinforce this purity. As an option, a Rockford Fosgate Bluetooth audio system can add the sound ambiance, and traction control is available, but cruise control is already standard.

At €24,590, it sits at the top of the Softail range, but it justifies its price with its exclusive equipment and engine. Faced with an Indian Challenger or European power cruisers, it does not compete on the grounds of absolute performance, but on the grounds of authentic experience and biker culture. Its flaws? The weight remains considerable, the maximum speed of 180 km/h is not dizzying, and the absence of a two-up seat as standard may deter some. But its qualities – this omnipresent torque, this aggressive look with its Heavy Breather air filter, this surprising agility – forge a strong identity.

In conclusion, the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST is not just a custom with saddlebags. It is the embodiment of a lifestyle, a machine that allows you to devour the miles without losing its soul of a chic adventurer. For a test ride of the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST, prepare to discover a motorcycle that rehabilitates the idea of touring on an American, with an efficiency that commands respect.