A Harley-Davidson bike is always one to reckon with. More so, if it’s a Street Glide Special. We swing a leg over this luxury tourer
Harley Davidson
Riding a Harley is always fun because you can enjoy its massive presence on the road and feel like a king. More so, if it’s a Street Glide Special. This Harley-Davidson bike truly offers you the opportunity to own the road, as it were. It is massive, has one of the most comfortable bike seats in the world and an array of features that will put a small car to shame. Let’s get to know it better.
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Harley-Davidson
This is the crème de la crème of baggers and at first, its massive presence is likely to overwhelm you. The gigantic fairing, jumbo saddle-bags, gleaming chrome and that monstrous V-twin motor is a feast for the eyes. It’s old school (relatively) design, a delight for nostalgia-bikers. But this is a modern-day bagger with an array of features you’d want on those long rides into the distance. The Street Glide Special gets an in-dash touchscreen that features radio, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and also a USB port for your iPad or iPhone. The 5.25-inch speakers produce sound of a great quality, clearly audible even while on-the-go. The best feature of them all is the operability of the touchscreen even with your gloves on. Another thing that impressed me about the Street Glide Special was the pearl-finish paint job and elegant pin-striping that elevates its elegance to a whole new level.
The engine is placed low in the frame, which gives it great centre of gravity. pics/Rommel Albuquerque
The Special is just as impressive when riding too. Its suspension set-up is quite good for Indian conditions and the ride quality is brilliant. The 103 cubic inch (or 1,688-cc) V-Twin is torquey, providing excellent rideability even at low speeds. Linear and smooth power and torque delivery are the highlight of this motor. The ergonomics of the Street Glide Special are also highly commendable. The riding position is natural and, thanks to a comfortable seat and wide handlebars, you can enjoy long rides on the highway without complaining.
The in-dash touchscreen features radio, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and also a USB port for your iPad or iPhone
On the go, the Special doesn’t really feel like a massive motorcycle and that is thanks to its design. The engine is placed low in the frame, which gives it great centre of gravity. So, you don’t feel the bulk of it while riding. Being a long and low-slung cruiser, the Special doesn’t really like corners, but if you ride it gently on zigzag roads, it will reward you with decent handling and superb stability.
At Rs 32.91 lakh (on-road in Pune), it may be an expensive motorcycle, but then you don’t just buy a Harley. You also get the exclusive chance to join the H-D family and enjoy the richness of its tradition.