Ride Report
Back to Basics
H-D’s Street Glide redefines highway style
“Boy, did I score.”
That’s what I keep thinking as the four of us on the Ride Guide crew (see page 28) point our bikes up the interstate on-ramp, with more than 500 freeway miles ahead of us.
See, I had thought this through. And when we divvied up the loaner bikes for our first travel day on the road from Pennsylvania to the North Carolina mountains, I made sure I claimed Harley-Davidson’s Street Glide first.
Hah!
It is, I knew, perfect for this. The Streeter’s bat-wing fairing, top-shelf audio system, comfortable seat and overall ergos make this a machine for the long haul.
But that should come as no surprise. Harley-Davidson’s new FLHX/I Street Glide is a slammed, stripped Electra Glide (FLHT), designed to entice the less-is-more crowd while still retaining serious mile-munching capabilities.
The true beauty of this bike is how the Street Glide diverges from the core concept of the FLH touring line in both styling and handling.
Starting where the eye meets the chrome, you’ll notice some touring stuff has been removed or redesigned. Gone are the chrome trim tabs on the fenders, as are the auxiliary lamps on either side of the headlight. Fairing-mounted mirrors replace the standard handlebar-stalk type and the bat-wing fairing has been cleaned up with a shorter, tinted windscreen.
In the back, three horizontally slotted LED-lights mark the new, lower rear fender, which includes inserts between the saddlebags that improve the visual flow. New slash-down mufflers, mounted on either side, complete the stylized look.
Also upping the cool quotient is a stretched, chrome console over the tank that features an embossed, diamond-cut nameplate. Other nice touches include new “Streamliner” footboards and passenger pegs.
But there’s more to the new look than different shiny bits. To get the rider closer to the ground, Harley has developed a new “low profile” rear suspension as well as a deeply dished bucket seat. The combination drops your backside to within 26.3 inches of the ground, 3.4 inches lower than on the standard Electra Glide.
OK, looking good is expected from H-D. The surprise comes in road performance, where the Street Glide delivers possibly the best handling of any FLH.
Sweeping through the mountain roads, the Street Glide turned with confidence and agility for a machine with a claimed running weight of 776 pounds. Much of this is due to the Street Glide’s lower center of gravity.
The trade-off comes in suspension compliance. The ride is taut—you’ll notice tar snakes as you run over them—but not jarring.
Of course, Harley doesn’t expect that you’ll spend all your time pitching the Street Glide through the twisties, so for the straight stretches in between, the Motor Company has included a killer sound system.
New for 2006 H-D touring models that come with audio systems is a 40-watt “Advanced Audio System” by Harman/Kardon. Features include the standard AM, FM and Weather Band receiver (the last of which turned out to be incredibly useful, if a little depressing, on the chilly ride back from the Smokies: “Your current temperature is 34 degrees”).
New stuff includes the CD player’s ability to read CD/CDR/CDRW and MP3-formatted discs. Optional components include XM satellite radio, a Bluetooth-based cellphone interface, a CB bike-to-bike communications system, high-output rear speakers and a GPS navigation system.
The sound was great and added a much welcomed soundtrack to the tour—nothing like running through Deals Gap with the Who’s “Baba O’Riley” urging you along.
While the changes integrated into the Street Glide are spot-on for the intended audience, some tradeoffs do affect the touring experience.
Though the seat initially felt stiff, it ultimately proved good enough for all-day cruising comfort. I suspect, however, that the smallish passenger perch may have your touring companion begging for more frequent breaks.
Also, while the fairing does keep heavy highway winds off your chest, I might opt for a slightly taller windscreen to reduce buffeting.
While I wouldn’t compare the new Streeter’s agility to sportier models in the broader H-D kingdom, it is no doubt the sleekest, sharpest and best handling tourer to roll out of a Harley plant. —Bill Andrews
© 2006, American Motorcyclist Association
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Quick List
Engine
Air-cooled,
45-degree V-twin
Displacement
88 cubic inches (1,450cc)
Fuel System
Carburetor or
electronic
sequential port
fuel injection
Brakes
Front: dual 292.1mm discs
Rear: single 292.1mm disc
Seat Height
26.3 (laden)
Dry Weight
745 pounds (claimed)
Price
$17,795-$19,720
Super Glide:
If it ain’t broke...
Factory customs are common these days. But until Willie G. Davidson mated the Electra Glide’s frame and 1,200cc motor to the Sportster’s chopper-style front end in 1971, the genre didn’t exist.
He called this bike the Super Glide, and it’s been in continuous production for 25 years.
The ’06 version exudes boulevard style, thanks to a staggered shorty exhaust, 49mm forks, a 160mm rear wheel, a solo seat and 10-spoke cast aluminum wheels. New for this year is a six-speed transmission mated to the rubber-mounted Twin Cam 88 motor. A 4.8-gallon Fat Bob fuel tank allows for real-world motorcycling.
While no sportbike, the Super was agile on the sweepers of the Cherohala Skyway. But the real payoff on our Ride Guide trip came when we stopped, as the Super drew plenty of stares.—Bill Kresnak
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Harley-Davidson FLHX/I Street Glide
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Harley-Davidson FXDI Super Glide
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