Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023)

For decades, Harley-Davidson has been synonymous with freedom, adventure, and iconic motorcycles that capture the hearts of riders worldwide. In their legendary lineup, one model stands out as a true road warrior: the Harley-Davidson Street Glide. With its sleek aesthetics, powerful performance, and undeniable allure, the Street Glide has become a symbol of the open road. In this article, we dive deep into the world of the Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023). From its stunning design to its exhilarating performance, we explore every aspect that makes this model a true road king. Buckle up and get ready to embark on a journey like no other as we uncover the captivating features, thrilling ride experiences, and unwavering reliability of the Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023).

2023 Harley-Davidson Street Glide – An iconic, versatile offering from Harley

Pulling off double duty as a weekend tourer and boulevard brawler, the Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023) is an iconic name in the catalog of the historic brand. This bike is extremely versatile and its Milwaukee-Eight 107 motor cranks out 150.5 Nm of torque at 3250 RPM. It is more than enough for hauling around a passenger with multiple bags filled for a trip. Around town, you’ll be able to enjoy power to spare once the spotlight turns green and the bags are convenient for carrying whatever cargo you feel necessary.

The Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023) will get you into the company’s Grand American Touring family with the gorgeous unmistakable fork-mounted batwing windshield that leads the way. The standard Street Glide features the slammed look because of short rear wheel suspension travel but the ride you get from the 2 inches available will be better than what the spec sheet indicates.

Bikers can choose if they wish the bike to be barebones or add ABS , a premium radio, or the Reflex Defensive Rider System of Electronic Rider Aids. Irrespective of how the bike is outfitted, the Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023) is a head-turning bike that impresses with its capabilities and appearance.

Harley-Davidson Street Glide Review

Harley-Davidson’s Street Glide has long been a US-wide best-seller since the original was launched in 2006 and kicked off the “bagger” phenomenon. Alongside the all-new CVO version is by far the most advanced, ambitious, best-performing, and technically sophisticated version so far. Truly own the open road with the Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023). Iconic looks, premium tech, comfortable design, and chrome finishes combine to make the Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023) an unforgettable Grand American touring bike with the essentials for long-haul riding.

Launched with the equally impressive 2023 Harley-Davison Road Glide, which differs primarily by having a larger, frame-mounted fairing with higher, wider handlebars in place of the Harley-Davidson Street Glide’s Batwing handlebar-mounted fairing and cuter riding position, the new version takes Harley into new territories.

Even though the basic architecture of the tubular steel touring chassis and pushrod V-twin motor remains, everything else seems to have been enhanced, updated, and improved. The bike’s styling is the most modern it has been in decades and there are more than a few Harley “firsts” here as well, namely the first use of Variable Valve Timing, the first usage of liquid-cooling on a Big Twin, and the first riding modes and Brembo radial brakes on a tourer.

In this Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023) review, you will get in-depth information about this masterpiece and then contemplate if you want to spend the big bucks or not.

Engine and performance

Although on face value, there is little more than another update to Harley’s traditional air-cooled, push-rod, 40-degree V-twin, the Street Glide represents the biggest update to the powerplant since it was introduced. It includes a wide variety of technologies that are new to the Milwaukee firm and result in major improvements to performance.

A longer strike takes the swept capacity to 107 ci, both cylinders get all-new heads that are liquid-cooled now with a rod positioned between the frame’s front down tubes. The new heads run a 10.0:1 compression and then together with a larger airbox, new inlet tracts, and bigger diameter exhaust improve gas flow and performance. On top of this, in a Harley ‘first’, there is also the debut of the rudimentary Variable Valve Timing system while a phaser is positioned between the cam sprocket and camshaft, altering the valve timing as per the revs to further improve high and low-end performance. The overall result will be a claimed 115 BHP at 4500 RPM (a 10 percent increase) and a peak torque of 150.5 Nm at 3250 RPM.

These figures are healthy enough and there is a discernible improvement. However, it is enhanced further thanks to the substantial weight loss program that the CVO bikes have undertaken and the uprated electronics package.

The weight loss with the Street Glide 2023 is substantial. By using lighter gauge steel for the new fuel tank, introducing new lightweight triple clamps, cutting around 13 lbs off engine mass, the Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023) is a full 30 lbs lighter than the stock model.

On top of that, the bike is Harley’s first tourer to feature switchable riding modes (five in total – Road, Sport, Rain, and two Custom modes). This will give you the option to have sharper performances. The grant total of this is a distinctly livelier and harder charging and faster accelerating machine.

Ultimately, the Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023) remains a low-revving bagger with a traditionally clunky gear change and is no pure sports machine. With 115 BHP, modes, and a litheness that would have almost been unimaginable with the 2006 original, it is a lively one too.

Handling and suspension

On face value, the new 2023 Harley-Davidson Street Glide’s handling may be the aspect of the motorcycle that has been least affected by the host of updates made to the motorcycle’s powertrain, styling, and equipment but you should not be fooled.

Even though the twin loop frame is largely unchanged, there are new, lightweight triple clamps that hold the front forks. The front suspension units are all-new as the 47mm Showa inverted forks, at the rear and twin shocks are given 50% more travel while the bike also features a neat remote preload adjuster.

The brakes have been improved, with the Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023) featuring Harley’s first radial four-piston calipers on its touring bikes that bite onto 20 mm larger 320 mm dual discs.

You should then take into consideration the aforementioned weight loss you will start getting a picture of how the Street Glide’s handling and ride have been improved over the predecessors. General management is much easier as the braking is sharper, more powerful, and more instant. On the move, through the S-bends, it will be easier to throw from side to side while in a straight line, its ride will be plusher too.

Most of the things, admittedly, you would be able to discern by comparing old and new motorcycles side by side and the Street Glide 2023 remains a hefty tourer. There is also a sense here that it is more modern, controlled, and crafted of more modern materials with up-to-date methods.

The Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023) is more manageable, less imposing, and less intimidating compared to the Road Glide. Where the higher, larger, wider, and more distant fairing of the Road Glide may make it seem roomier, it is more of a handful and more cumbersome than the Street Glide. This is why it feels cute and nimble by direct comparison.

Comfort and economy

Harley-Davidson claims a new, liquid-cooled, variable valve-timed 107 ci engine that isn’t just more powerful but it also has more peak torque. It is also three to five percent more fuel efficient.

What is easy to ascertain is the level of comfort that the new bike offers. With the Street Glide 2023 having the all-new bodywork, the seats are naturally new as well. According to Harley, they have been redesigned ergonomically. Ahead of the fuel filler cap, the Street Glide and Road Glide differ significantly. While the Road Glide has a new, larger, frame-mounted fairing alongside high and wide handlebars, the Street Glide has a newer, smaller, handlebar-mounted Batwing-styled fairing alongside lower and narrower handlebars.

This result makes the Street Glide’s cockpit seem more compact, which might suit smaller riders and it is also less ungainly when traversing through some turns. The low screen and smaller fairing also make the Street Glide seem less protected from the elements, even though a high-screen alternative is also available as an accessory. In terms of pure comfort, this is a full-day riding machine that I felt comfortable driving for hours.

Equipment

The equipment is where things start getting truly impressive in terms of technology. Yes, I’m talking about none other than Harley-Davidson. Aside from the VVT and electronic riding modes added to the engine and the Brembo radial calipers and emulsion forks added to the chassis, the Street Glide benefits not just from all-new bodywork, including fancy LED headlights, larger panniers, and integrated indicators but arguably the most impressive instrumentation, infotainment system, and standard features of a touring bike.

The standout feature of this bike is the new, massive, 12.3-inch TFT touchscreen display, which doesn’t just dwarf most rivals but is also clearly laid out. Three custom designs are available, satnav is built in, and there isn’t just Bluetooth but not Wi-Fi connectivity to your smartphone too. On top of all this is an uprated audio system with a 4-channel 500W amp and four upgraded speakers, two speakers in the dash, and two more into the panniers.

Just as impressive will be the all-new switchgear designed for navigating and controlling all that. The right-hand switch pod is mostly devoted to the audio system alongside the starter and kill switch and right-hand indicator, doubling down as a ride mode selector. The left-hand unit, meanwhile, will be of a pleasingly similar design but there is also time devoted to machine functions and info, alongside the left-hand indicator switch, light controls, and more. It will sound like a mish-mash but it is relatively simple, easy to operate, and intuitive. If this isn’t enough, the Street Glide also features standard heated grips.

Price and availability

There are two ways to look at this as the Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023) is cheaper and slightly less flashier of the Street Glide and Road Glide, making it the more affordable option. When talking about specifics, the new Harley-Davidson Street Glide (2023) is priced at $21,999 alongside the road charger. Meanwhile, the Road Glide 2023 comes at a slightly higher price.

Unfortunately, this is just the starting price, which means there is more to the story. The prices are only for the Dark Platinum with Pinstripe basic color option. If you’re looking to go for the more posh “Whiskey Neat with Raven Metallic”, which involves some hand-applied treatments, it will be another $6,000-$7,000. With that said, plenty of folks can afford it and the Whiskey Neat option regularly gets sold out in the United States.Of course, thanks to the wide variety of finance options presented by the likes of Harley-Davidson of all names, the initial hit does not have to be as hard as many think. Harley-Davidson has a slick finance calculator built in such that you are able to juggle your options and find monthly plans that suit your budget. As a rough guide, the cheapest Harley-Davidson Street Glide 2023 comes with a deposit while costing around a certain sum per month over three years.