Having taken the company down some blind alleys in recent years, with the still-born Bronx and electric LiveWire coming to mind, Harley-Davidson is back doing what it does best with the 2024 Street Glide.
Baggers, as these types of motorcycle are known, are big business, especially in Harley’s native America where they are even raced as part of the MotoAmerica superbike series. They’re less commonplace in Europe, but still Harley’s second best selling line over here. If you’re looking for the classic H-D style, they’re about as Harley as it gets.
Harley-Davidson gave us a glimpse at this 2024 model last year, with its ‘CVO’ version of the latest Street Glide and the closely related Road Glide. CVO, or Custom Vehicle Operations, is Harley’s custom bike division – known for modifying the base products with fancy paint, extra spec and (usually) more power. In the case of the £38,595 CVO Street Glide, which we reviewed last year, the tricked up version came first.
So now comes the standard version. The Street Glide is very closely related to the Road Glide, and we rode both for our video review, even if we focus on the Street Glide here. The Street is a little bit cheaper (£26,795 to £27,295) and 12kg lighter (368kg to 380kg) although the numbers attached to both machines are still pretty hefty. Incidently, the Street Glide costs a good few thousand pounds less than the bike it replaces, and weighs over 8kg less, so Harley are definitely going in the right direction, especially when you consider almost all the other specs have been upgraded.
And the Street Glide is a key model for Harley-Davidson. We first saw the name appear in 2006, adorning a trimmed down version of the full dress Electra Glide. It proved a popular addition to the range and has evolved in its nearly two decades of existence, not least seeing the replacement of the somewhat agricultural old 88ci (1450cc) V-twin with the more modern 103ci (1690cc) unit as part of the radical 2014 ‘Project Rushmore’ and, more recently, the twin cam Milwaukee Eight unit.
The latest incarnation features an updated version of that Milwaukee Eight design, which was first introduced in 2017. Where the outgoing versions had a 114ci (1868cc) variant producing 93bhp and 158Nm of torque, and last year’s CVO ran a bigger and more powerful (115bhp) 121ci (1977cc) version, the new Street and Road Glides sit in the middle with a 117ci (1925cc) lump pushing out 107bhp and a very healthy 175Nm of torque.
Visually there is a big change too. Where the Road Glide has always had massive frame-mounted fairings, the Street Glide’s key design element has been its slimmer and arguably more distinctive handlebar-mounted ‘Batwing’ fairing, an evolution of a design which debuted on the 1969 Electra Glide and has changed little since. The 2024 version still sports handlebar-mounted bodywork, although there’s no doubt the overall look has changed quite significantly.
And for those who still hang on to the stereotype of Harley-Davidsons being agricultural old iron horses, The Motor Company has a real surprise in store for you. The technology on the 2024 Street Glide could easily be found on a high end adventure tourer. For example, you’ve got a (huge) 12.3” TFT dash, which controls the swanky ‘Infotainment’ system comprising Apple CarPlay, AM/FM/DAB radio, WIFI, Bluetooth and satnav options, it’s a bigger and updated version of the old one, and very good indeed. We also get sophisticated new switchgear and even a natty storage area for your phone, as well as a huge suite of rider aids which includes cornering ABS and traction control, hill hold, ride modes and dynamic drag slip control.
While the 368kg Street Glide is still a massive bike, it does look and feel a bit lighter than its predecessor. While the wind tunnel developed fairing is new, the frame itself is little different. That said, there are uprated forks, significantly lighter triple clamps, a new wiring loom and more which, all told, result in the 2024 Street Glide being 8.2kg lighter than the old one. The 22.7 litre fuel tank is also lighter and leaner, the seat and panniers smoother and the wheels are new too. Add that to the performance increases from the bigger engine and its clear the Glide is lighter, livelier and lithelier in every way.
And that is the experience on board. The updated look may not be to all Harley afficiandos’ tastes but characteristically it is still very much a Harley V-twin cruiser, with bags of torque and that distinctive ‘potato-potato’ exhaust note. There’s no doubt the new Glides have an extra punch – especially in sharper Sport mode – and liveliness, with no compromise to its traditional cruising comfort. If you want to just tour, little has changed: stick it in ‘Road’ and rumble and ride. But if you want a little bit of sport, it’s in there too.
Through the turns the reduction in weight makes itself noticed. Both new Glides are far easier to throw through a switchback and less of a hernia-inducing haul to man-handle at low speed. It’s no sports bike, but the Street Glide is a little more agile than the Road Glide, thanks to the reduced weight and different ergonomics, which sees the narrower handlebars also placed lower down – resulting in more direct steering. It is ultimately still a cruiser style machine, with feet forward footboards and limited ground clearance, but it handles well within those recognized boundaries. Tyres are made by Dunlop, specifically for Harley-Davidson and, typically for a cruiser, you also get a low (715mm) seat height, which makes it accessible and easy to ride for a wide variety of customers.
The level of specification and luxury has stepped up just as much as the performance and looks. The much-improved new dashboard is key to that – as is the new, sophisticated switchgear. And that’s before you even delve fully into all the functions and frills available.
But most impressive of all is that Harley-Davidson has managed to give all that ‘more’ at actually less money than before. The new Harley-Davidson Street Glide is better than its predecessor in every measurable way. It will undoubtedly be a huge success in its homeland, while satisfying the needs of those who appreciate American baggers over here as well. Good work!
2024 Harley-Davidson Street Glide specification
Price: £26,795
Engine: 1923cc V-Twin, pushrod, two valves per cylinder, liquid/air cooled
Power: 105bhp (78kW) @ 4600rpm
Torque: 176Nm (130lb-ft) @ 3250rpm
Transmission: Six-speed, belt final drive
Frame: Tubular steel double cradle frame
Suspension: (F) Showa non-adjustable 47mm USD fork, (R) preload-adjustable twin shocks.
Wheels: Cast aluminium, 18”/17”
Tyres: (F) Dunlop Harley-Davidson series 130/60 x 19, (R) Dunlop Harley-Davidson series 180/55 x 18
Brakes: (F) 2 x 320mm semi-floating discs, four-piston calipers, (R) 300mm disc, 4-piston floating caliper. Bosch Cornering ABS as standard equipment
Weight: 368kg (kerb)
Wheelbase: 1,625mm
Seat height: 715mm
Fuel tank: 22.7 litres
Fuel consumption: 44mpg (claimed)
Service intervals: 5000 miles/12 months
Warranty: 24 months unlimited mileage
Contact: www.harley-davidson.com
