Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special 2023 — Specifications

Since 2021, the 'Special' lineup has benefited from a style resurgence from its parent company, or rather, the marketing team. The Road Glide stands out, catching the eye of the most curious. They won’t have missed the presence of a 'Bar & Shield' badge on each side of the tank. But it’s only when getting on board that one will appreciate the relocation of the filler neck. Positioning oneself on the right allows for a redesign of the central console.

Things get more complicated when it comes to colors. More choices with more nuances, as some black components can be replaced with chrome parts (optional). A series of elements that are enough to take this hot-rod bagger from a dark tone to the light: exhaust pipes, handlebars, engine, forks, mirrors, footpegs, wheel rim machining, foot controls, levers, turn signals, air filter, and crash bars. These last two pieces have also changed. The height of the protection tubes has been reduced by 28 cm. The air filter is now a Ventilator model, giving more presence to the large engine. It just goes to show that you can write paragraphs about something that doesn't require breaking three duck bones...

These small additions reinforce the idea that the 'Special' designation is perhaps the one that moves around the most at Harley. This isn't to say that the motorcycle evolves very regularly, as if it always needed that little something extra. In 2019, the large 114 twin took its place. Replacing the 107, which had only been installed for two years, this Road Glide sees a jump from 150 to 158 Nm (Euro5 took a bite out of it). Enough to offer more force at all levels and to dismiss the 387 kilograms of weight.

More muscle only!? Not quite. Evolving mechanically, the Road Glide Special didn’t hesitate to join the top of Harley entertainment. We're talking about the Boom Box GTS. What about it? A significant evolution of the multimedia console, allowing for a greatly improved user comfort.

Its 6.5-inch color TFT screen is more resistant, more intuitive to the touch, offers more contrast and better resolution. Navigation between functions has been simplified while the processing power and memory are boosted. The Boom Box starts much faster, calculates routes more quickly, and dynamizes the wide range of functions it provides: GPS, Bluetooth, intercom, music playback via USB / SD card / iPhone / iPod, 25 watts per channel, voice recognition system, and Apple CarPlay. In 2020, connectivity is a priority with the installation of the H-D Connect. The motorcycle is linked to an app on a smartphone via the cellular network. This allows you to have information about your machine (location, kilometer trips, autonomy, battery charge, vehicle shock or displacement, fuel level, etc.) and monitor it remotely. The service is offered for one year, then a subscription is required - about 14 euros per month.

Just before all of that, in 2018, this ship had already wanted modifications. The appearance, the spirit, its vision didn’t change much, but a few elements placed it in the clan of the dark ones. It began with a pair of 'Talon' rims, 19 and 18 inches, now replaced by 'Prodigy' rims. The saddlebags were more stretched in their lower part, bisecting the exhaust pipes from a visual perspective and making the rear end more flowing - a design trait that appeared with the Road King Special. A whole series of chrome parts disappeared, in order to blend into the black: the engine protection, the fork tubes, the handlebars and controls, the mirrors, the turn signals, the tank console, the engine covers, the air filter cover, and the exhaust heat shields. A more aggressive echo, for a Touring motorcycle that doesn't hide its ambition. 2020 brings a technological leap in driving assistance. ABS is now coupled with a system that adapts braking pressure based on the angle taken by the motorcycle. Coupled braking also benefits from this sensitivity by modulating the force between the front and rear.

Who would have thought that this imposing Tourer also knows how to work its motor skills with a host of electronic chips!? The RDRS platform not only optimizes braking but also includes a two-mode TCS anti-wheelie - Standard for dry surfaces and Rain for wet conditions. Disconnectable if it suits the rider, and also sensitive to the lean angle. An anti-dribble also comes as standard, intervening on the engine torque when the rear wheel sends back too much energy, for example, during an overly optimistic downshift. Finally, a hill-start assist and tire pressure monitoring complete the technology package.

Genesis

After attempting travelers in CVO version and then in a more affordable version, the Road Glide took a new step in 2017 with the grafting of a heart full of displacement, twice as many valves than usual, and a good dose of evolution: the Milwaukee Eight. Returned to the French market in the same momentum as the Rushmore project, the Road Glide is appreciated in our country in the Special version. Why Special? For the few carefully added equipment. But would that obscure the charm of the Bog Block? Surely not.

Fewer vibrations at idle and more efficiency in suspension performance. Forks and shock absorbers come from Showa, ensure more consistency in damping, and gain ease of adjustment for the rear. Recently, the Road Glide has benefited from the Rushmore project. The experience of all for the benefit of tomorrow's Harleys. The brakes benefit from ABS and the Reflex coupled system. A surveillance for the benefit of safety guaranteeing the 3 300 mm discs, all supported by 4-piston calipers.

The look of the Road Glide has somewhat changed. Normal, its eyes are Daymaker LED headlights that are much more efficient. The brand affirms it loudly in numbers: 85% wider and 6% more power in low beam, 35% wider and 45% more power in high beam.

But what you will appreciate most is the optimization of the fairing upper, the famous Shark Nose. Very subtly revised after numerous wind tunnel passages and road tests, it features a triple vent to equalize pressure in front of and behind the windshield. The rider can thus slice through the air with an unknown tranquility on a Harley while tasting an improved driving position. Indeed, the handlebars had moved their grips 22 cm closer to the driver. Comfort also includes saddlebags with "One-touch" opening, a cruise control, better instrumentation readability, and more ergonomic controls.

M.B - Manufacturer photos