What year did the road glide come out

It’s no surprise that motorcycle touring has piqued the interest of enthusiasts at some point in life. Irrespective of age, cruisers are almost always the choice for anyone who prefers long-distance highway touring. While there are many cruisers available in the market, there is only one brand that is synonymous with the notion - Harley-Davidson.

Harley has been around for a century and is one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in the world. Widely regarded as the king of cruisers, Harley-Davidson ventured into multiple genres like street and muscle bikes over the years.

A part of their Grand American Touring range, one of their promising cruisers is the Harley-Davidson Road Glide. An old-school laid-back mile muncher often praised for being the best out there. The Street Glide also fits the bill for continent crunching and is a favorite from Harley’s stable of cruisers.

Updated April 2022: This article has been updated to focus on the 2022 models of the Road Glide and the Street Glide. There are many variants of both models, but we will stick to the base models. Let's find out which of the Grand American Tourers is right for you.

Let's Get to Know Harley's Road Glide And Street Glide

Via Harley-Davidson

The Road Glide and the Street Glide are essentially the same motorcycle, and they share a lot in common. There are, however, a few design and ergonomic differences that will appeal to different riders.

Both the Road Glide and Street Glide share the same platform. Powering both motorcycles is the 107 cu.in Milwaukee-Eight V-twin that generates 111 pound-feet of torque; which is enough to hit highway speeds in a matter of seconds. Furthermore, being a tourer, you get saddles, cruise control, a proprietary audio system with multiple speakers, and a lot more.

Via Harley-Davidson

In terms of chassis, both share the same unit with exact dimensions. The Road Glide and Street Glide equally provide a smooth and responsive riding experience. Though largely tuned for long-distance travel than stop-and-go traffic, the Road Glide and Street Glide offer exceptional levels of rider and pillion comfort that are second to none.

If you are in the market for one, you can expect a pretty high price tag for this premium cruiser. The Harley-Davidson Road Glide will set you back $22,249 before options, and the starting price for the Street Glide is exactly the same. As for extras, Harley offers a set of upgrades including their $995 Reflex Defensive Rider System (RDRS) which gets you cornering sensitive traction control, ABS, vehicle hold control (VHC), electronic braking, and tire pressure monitoring. Customers can upgrade to a premium radio worth $895 and Californian residents can get a $200 emissions pack making them compliant with state laws.

What're The Key Differences Between The Road Glide And The Street Glide

Via Harley-Davidson

Let’s dive into what differentiates the Road Glide and the Street Glide. For starters, the Road Glide gets a ‘Shark-nose’ fairing mounted on the frame, meaning the fairing does not move with the handlebar. The Street Glide on the other hand has a fork-mounted ‘Batwing’ fairing, which is a signature design cue seen on other Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Via Harley-Davidson

Another noticeable difference lies in the weight. At 829 lbs, the Street Glide is slightly lighter than the 855-lb Road Glide. This in turn helps with slightly better acceleration, owing to a slightly better power-to-weight ratio, and a nimbler steering feel. The seat height is adjustable on both, which means all riders can enjoy these motorcycles.

Although both cost the same, what you may want to factor in is which one fares better on a long, relaxing ride. At the end of the day, both are marketed as cruisers, and as a potential buyer, it’s important to know what suits you the best.

Road Vs Street: Which One's Better For Touring

Via: Visordown

The Street Glide is in fact one of the best-selling Harley bikes since its inception in 2006. Widely regarded as the young yet responsible man’s Harley, the Street Glide has received oodles of ‘street’ rep. As mentioned, the slightly shorter and lighter bike aims to be a bit more agile than its sibling. However, the Road Glide offers a lot more space between the handlebar and the seats, an important criterion if you’re a tall rider. But the most significant detail that sets both of them apart is the Road Glide’s ability to deflect wind.

While both of them are equipped with a fairing, the Road Glide’s frame bolted setup helps reduce stress on the rider’s arms. It’s estimated that, at highway speeds, a weight of around 60 pounds is exerted on the fairing, if it’s the Street Glide then weight transfers to the handlebar since it’s bolted to the fork. The Road Glide takes care of this by channeling the air resistance to the frame, dramatically reducing rider fatigue; an important trait when it comes to touring.

So, there you have it. Both bikes are almost the same as they get the same engine, transmission and suspension. Even the storage space is the same, The Road Glide is just a slightly bigger and more spacious cruiser better suited for longer riding, and the Street Glide is a lighter, and more practical option for crusing and daily riding as well.

Sources: Cycle World, Visor Down