Meet Harley-Davidson's Street Glide

This series of articles we're doing on the factory Harley-Davidson models are not so much road tests as they are "dealer reports." I figure lots of magazines get a bike and run it over the road and compare it to the different models in the Harley line up. But what I thought we could do differently is give some insight gleaned from actually selling the bikes and meeting the customers who buy them.

We can start with a description. Looking at the bike you can tell if it's a stripped dresser of sorts: no truck, no trim on the fenders or saddlebags, no passing lamps, no sissy bar, no lowers. You then notice the painted saddlebag latches, mirrors integrated into the fairing, ground effects addition to the rear fender, lowered overall stance and shortened windshield. You can see that the appearance of the bike is that of a customized, cleaned-up and simplified dresser. The factory has made a bike similar to what it found customers doing to bikes of their own.

Upgrades for '06 across the dresser line are of course included on the Street Glide. There's a hugely improved radio package, a 50-amp charging system and reduced effort clutch. These refinements, along with the general idea of making an "in town" customized dresser, have launched the Street Glide into second place in dresser sales here at Barnett Harley-Davidson, second only to the Ultra that comes with everything and then some. The Motor Company has definitely found a new niche.

And what exactly is that niche? Many people like the rubber mounted FL frame but want to ride the bike in town a lot. So stripping off someweight makes the FLHX much easier to handle in stop-and-go riding. Ditto for lowering the bike an inch. It becomes easier to touch the ground at stoplights and hides the weight a little since your body has a better grip on the bike when it is lower. The FLHX/I gives a rider all the versatility of a dresser but in a stylized package that looks good parked out in front of the hangouts as well. This isn't your father's dresser.

As far as the ride goes, the Motor Company lowered the bike correctly. Nothing hits, it is balanced and the suspension is properly calibrated. You get the inch out of the seat height with no penalty until you double up and load it down. The bike we had serviced here in El Paso had the big 120-inch JIMs motor installed so my feeling was pretty much clouded by all the torque of that monster (it sold before we could photograph it, though). But this bike works as advertised. It is much easier than the standard dresser to get on and off, ride at parking lot speeds and run short errands on. It isn't a Sportster, but it's noticeably less work than the Ultra in tight quarters. Overall, I'd say the buyer of this bike is a person who is close to buying a Road King but knows he'll be doing some weekend trips and wants a little more fairing and a radio. You can't beat the Harley integrated sound system. Budget-minded buyers aiming for the same type of riding will find the Electra Glide Standard attractive since it is about $2,000 cheaper with its silver-finished motor and simple appointments. Needless to say, if you can't quite make up your mind, try to negotiate a test ride. Try a Road King, an FLHX and an Ultra. You should be able to tell in 15 minutes which one is for you.

--Mark Barnett

Let the Motor Company Dress Up Your FLHXI

The FLHX/I Street Glide can be customized even further with the dozens and dozens of accessories available at your local Harley dealer. Buying them with the bike gives the parts the same two-year warranty that the bike has and lets you finance them. Harley Insurance will take these parts into account when insuring your bike so if it gets pinched or wrecked you won't be out so much. Call 1-800-588-2743 to order your accessory catalog straight from the factory. There are over 144 pages of touring bike products available. Another thing to keep in mind is that factory Harley-Davidson engine modifications are all well sorted and will offer excellent reliability and all but the most extreme modifications keep your warranty in place.