Long Term Review of 2017 Road Glide Special

2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra Review

Touring is synonymous with motorcycles; it'southward an integral part of the riding feel. Naught is equally satisfying as simply grabbing a light pocketbook, turning the primal, and aiming in a management. The destination, known or unknown, isn't the virtually critical attribute – it is most how you're getting there.

These thoughts percolated as I sat under the cloud-covered sky of the Pacific Northwest, eyeing down the silver-tinged 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra.

Commanding and iconic in lineage, the Road Glide is 1 of the most venerable touring platforms that the Bar and Shield brand has to offer. I'm in Washington for the latest addition to the storied touring lineup—the Milwaukee-8 engine series, the first major powerplant redesign since 1999.

It's difficult non to be enamored with the Road Glide Ultra's air- and liquid-cooled, four-valve heart, with its claimed 114 ft/lbs of torque at 3250 rpm. The Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 107 powerplant is the centerpiece of a truly capable automobile, and the improvements don't merely extend to the performance end. Those improvements trickle downwardly into aspects of the bike that many riders might take for granted.

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Let's start with the most of import attribute of an American twin—the power. Spec sheets are deceptive, and the Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 107 is undeniably lion-hearted in nature. From the depths of the rpm range, torque can be felt, pulling all the way through to a rev-limiter that I, despite my all-time efforts, plant more than than once.

2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra engine horsepower Appropriately spaced gears let yous to push the Road Glide Ultra through your favorite batch of corners with ease, driving out of the apex without a stumble in any regard. Power commitment is flawless, no matter the rpm.

Roaring through all six gears of the assistance-and-sideslip clutch is remarkable. While clutch pull has been reduced this year—and information technology is lighter—it still takes a expert corporeality of endeavor.

Undoubtedly, Harley-Davidson engineers put an incredible corporeality of attempt into the new engine platform, and they had a tall order to fill—meet modern consumer and EPA standards while even so satisfying their core audience, and the core audience for any sub-culture tin exist vocal.

That'southward quite a conundrum, 1 that many manufacturers struggle with when attempting to advance their lines. H-D seems to have satisfied all of the points that the market didn't but ask for, but demanded.

The rubber-mounted, balanced twin retains all of the qualities that y'all'd wait from the American twin stalwarts. Big-inch Harley-Davidsons have long been associated with a cacophony of gearhead joy—in fact, it is what turned me on to the thought of motorcycles in the first place.

Harley toiled over the balance of satisfying marketplace demands without alienating its base—those who preferred the unrefined qualities that H-D offered. Engine vibration has been dramatically reduced, which many not-Harley riders found to be limiting. However, the Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 107 remains incomparably accurate.

Engine noise has been reduced, allowing engineers to further assist the more than hearty exhaust note pouring out of the two-1-2 pipes. I encourage dedicated brand enthusiasts, besides as those who have stood in staunch opposition, to try out the new engine platform. Your perspective volition be inverse, no matter which side of the fence you bandage stones from.

Touring is a staple of American riding. Nosotros certainly have the landmass for it. Even better, we take the ever-changing scenery. When the idea of gobbling up thousands of miles comes to heed, at that place aren't a whole lot of bikes that fit the bill. Certainly, whatsoever bicycle volition do, simply if you're going to do something, at least brand the effort to exercise it correct.

The 2017 Harley-Davidson Route Glide Ultra is, without a doubt, i of the premier touring platforms. A plush 29-inch seat meets any passenger who crosses its path, along with comfortable swept bars and an upright riding position that isn't taxing in the least. Subsequently spending 2 days roaming the Washington back land, it became apparent that its touring chops are intrinsic to the platform.

2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra suspension

One of the chief sources of contention regarding the previous Harley platforms was that the broad engine bottom end conflicted with those who take shorter statures. Flat-ground at lights and maneuvering the 929-pound (claimed wet) Road Glide Ultra seemed like more than than merely a precarious prospect to the uninitiated.

However, thanks to a slimmed downward main encompass, as well every bit a redesigned 55mm throttle body that utilizes a lower contour air-cleaner, my 5' eight'' cocky was happily propping upwardly the Route Glide with some sure footed conviction that was only upset by slick, pelting covered roads.

I've certainly sung the praises of Harley'due south dedication to its engine. That's all well and good, but Harley also has solved one of its worst offending blueprint qualities—the break. All of the 2017 touring models are making use of the commendable Showa Dual Angle Valve forks featuring 4.half dozen inches of travel on the Road Glide Ultra. In the rear, emulsion shocks with adjustable spring-preload is available—no tools necessary.

For many, the complaint from cruiser critics was how bereft the rear shocks were. Those days, I tin proudly proclaim, announced to be a thing of the past. Easily adjustable when the numberless are removed, the rear shock features plenty of spring-preload adjustment, depending on the model in question. This tweak has solved the problem of lower dorsum penalisation. During my scenic routes, I actively sought out rough spots, areas of the route that I previously would have avoided like the bubonic plague. For a rider of my weight, there isn't a fearfulness of running out of pause and bottoming them out when put to the examination.

The Road Glide Ultra truly lives up to its name with suspension that is suited for a wide variety of styles and weather. Nether heavy braking, the front stop soaked up inputs with ease and kept me true.

Additionally, the iconic shark-nose fairing does an impeccable job of deflecting both wind and rain. A rider might be exposed to the elements, specially when that passenger is traveling from country to state, but rest assured, you lot'll take a lot more in the way of brute comforts than most other two-wheeled enthusiasts.

A competent touring motorcycle needs to exist more than powerful and comfortable; it besides needs to handle well. Describing a bike as large as the 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra as nimble might seem like a chip of a misnomer, but for its grade, it can lean into corners beautifully.

The long 64-inch wheelbase aids in true feeling of confidence, even for the uninitiated. While trotting through one of the many national parks in the Pacific Northwest, ingesting the evergreen scenery, I was more than content. Though, a spirited passenger will exist dandy to note that they'll still be whittling away at the comfy floorboards.

Ample storage space allows whatsoever rider to carry a number of property, making sure that you're well prepared on whatsoever trip, though the radiators practise take up a bit of what used to be storage area. This year, Harley took the time to update the mounting systems for the side bags. On the 2017 models, you'll now detect much more intuitive mounting fixtures.

Harley states that the Ultra'south collective luggage capacity is 4.7 cubic feet. Information technology is worth noting that all luggage is waterproof, something much appreciated for touring.

2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra price In the Washington dorsum country, you're privy to some interesting sights. Some come up in the form of inebriated individuals that refer to you strictly as "blood brother" while simultaneously making lurid comments aimed in your general management. The others come in the form of homemade political signs that take been nailed to trees.

On some level, I accept to applaud that degree of dedication because I'thousand fairly certain political campaigns manus that stuff out like a van full of candy. While all of that is engaging, I besides realized that I needed to break down racial barriers while testing the Boom! Box half dozen.5GT audio system. For that task, I blared the ballads of Mexican singer, Vincente Fernández.

On the proud multicultural Road Glide Ultra I rolled, with Chente helping me along and, on some level, America. All joking aside, the touchscreen dashboard is incredibly user friendly. This is quite rare in the performance motorcycle earth where carte du jour screens are often a identify full of mystery, confusion, and rage until yous've mastered the non-intuitive process. Both the touchscreen and handlebar buttons brand for a pleasant feel all around.

The 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra also features an upgraded charging organization that can support numerous other devices, should you choose to use them. The standard navigation system, not unlike the rest of the dash functions, is quite easy to utilise.

For a cycle of its size, I must give kudos to the engineers that have created a touring machine that can come up to a halt in a hurry. The 300mm dual rotors up front, and the 300mm disc out back, do some serious heavy-lifting when bringing the mighty Ultra to a halt. Brake feel is firm, but in no way undesirable.

At the lever yous'll observe a more than precise experience, and it doesn't require that much input to begin slowing. More importantly, I didn't feel I ever rode the Ultra beyond its braking potential. It took considerable effort to engage the ABS while riding on dry surfaces. The front and rear brakes are linked, pregnant that the bike will react to your braking efforts, even if y'all fixate exclusively on the restriction pedal.

Touring bikes are in a class of their own—they're the juggernauts of the moto world. They are the motorcycles congenital to last, and built to see more than in a year than well-nigh riders see in a lifetime. With upgrades—both smart and major—that have had the intended consequence, the 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra continues to improve with age.

Photography by Riles & Nelson

Riding Manner

Helmet: Shoei RF-1200
Jacket: Held Harvey 76
Gloves: Bout Master Summer Aristocracy 3
Jeans: Pando Moto – Karl Indigo
Boots: TCX X-Blend Waterproof

2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra Specifications

ENGINE

Motor: Single cam, pushrod V-twin; 4vpc

Bore ten stroke: three.937″ x iv.375"

Displacement: 107 cubic inches (1746cc)

Maximum torque: 114 ft/lbs @ 3250 rpm

Compression ratio: 10.0:1

Cooling: Air and liquid

Fuel system: Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection

Lubrication: Dry sump

Transmission: 6-speed Prowl Bulldoze

Clutch: Hydraulically actuated aid-and-slip

Primary drive: Concatenation

Concluding drive: Belt

CHASSIS

Frame: Balmy tubular steel w/ two-piece stamped and welded backbone

Forepart pause: Showa 49mm Dual Bending Valve

Rear suspension: Emulsion shock w/ hand-adjustable spring-preload

Front tire: 130/fourscore-17; Dunlop Harley-Davidson D408F

Rear tire: 180/65-xvi; Dunlop Harley-Davidson D407T

Wheels: Cast aluminum Impeller

Front brakes: 320mm floating rotors due west/ four-piston calipers

Rear restriction: 320mm stock-still rotor w/ iv-piston caliper

ABS: Standard

DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES

L x H x West: 101.ii x 56.5 x 36.3 inches

Wheelbase: 64 inches

Seat summit (laden): 27.2 inches

Seat summit (unladen): 29.0 inches

Rake: 26 degrees

Fork angle: 29.3 degrees

Trail: 6.7 inches

Correct lean angle: 31.9 degrees

Left lean angle: 31.eight degrees

Fuel chapters: half-dozen gallons

EPA estimated fuel consumption: 43 mpg

Curb weight: 929 pounds

Colors: Vivid Blackness; Black Quartz; Billet Silver/Bright Black; Mysterious Ruby Sunglo/Velocity Ruby-red Sunglow; Black Hills Gilt/Blackness Quartz; Bonneville Blue/Fathom Blue.

2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra Prices MSRP: $26,299 (Bright Black); $26,899 (Black Quartz); $27,399 (ii-tone); $27,599 (Bonneville Blueish/Fathom Bluish).