Harley-Davidson motorcycles carries its proven Road Glide base platform over into the 2023 model year. The mechanicals are all the same as last year, but the King of Paint treats us to two new colorways this year.
2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide
- Floorboards
- Frame-Mounted Fairing
- Milwaukee-Eight 107 Engine
- Boom!™ Box 4.3 Infotainment
- Optional RDRS System
- Model: Road Glide
- Engine:: 1,746 cc V-Twin
- Power Output: 86 HP @ 5,020 RPM
- Torque: 111 LB-FT@ 3,250 RPM
- Transmission: Six-Speed Manual
- MSRP: $21,999
- Classic Design
- Powerful Engine
- Low-Down Torque
- Limited Color Selection
- Lack Of Stock ABS
- Exposed Radio Whip
2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Performance And Capability
The MoCo powers the Road Glide with its 1,746 cc Milwaukee-Eight 107 which is still fairly new on the scene, relatively speaking. It runs with that classic V-Twin layout with a 100 mm bore and 111.1 mm stroke. It has a mild, 10-to-1 compression ratio that prefers at least mid-grade gas.
The 2023 H-D Road Glide produces 86 horsepower and 109 pound-feet of torque. That's at 5,020 rpm and 3,000 rpm respectively, so you can count on plenty of tractable power fairly low in the rev range. That is one of the benefits of the common-crankpin V-Twin powertrain.
Each head bears a quartet of poppets, hence the “Eight” component in the mill's moniker. This engine abandons the Twin-Cam layout. It returns to the single cam that actuates the rocker arms via hydraulic lifters, which allows the nosecone design to return to what was normal before the Twin-Cam. All-in-all, it's a nice-looking engine.
The base model is very basic in the electronics department, but at least you can upgrade to the full spectrum of Rider Safety Enhancements for only $1,100. That package includes:
- ABS
- Linked Brakes
- Hill Hold Control
- Cornering Enhanced ABS
- Cornering Enhanced Traction Control
- Cornering Enhanced Drag Torque Slip Control
Power flows through a six-speed transmission with a carbon-reinforced belt drive. The Road Glide's top speed is 96 mph (155 km/h), governed, of course since the Mil-Eight engine is a beast unleashed, ensuring mile after mile of enjoyable riding.
Engine & Drivetrain | |
|---|---|
Engine | Pushrod-operated, overhead valves with hydraulic, self-adjusting lifters; four valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 1,746 cc (107 cu in) |
Bore x Stroke | 100 mm x 111.1 mm |
Compression | 10.0:1 |
Power | 86 HP (64 kW) @ 5,020 RPM |
Torque (J1349) | 111 LB-FT (148 Nm) @ 3,250 RPM |
Fuel System | Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) |
Exhaust | Chrome, 2-1-2 dual exhaust with tapered mufflers |
Final Drive | Belt, 32/68 |
Clutch | Mechanically actuated 10 plate wet, Assist and Slip |
Gearbox | Six-Speed Cruise Drive® |
Design
With its classic touring design, it's hard to beat the genuine article, and this bagger sports all sorts of Easter eggs that draw on the “FL” family's deep historical roots. The shape of the front fender looks a lot like the old full fender, just without the chrome skirt and piping. Fat front forks look fatter yet by the classic chrome beercan fork skirts below the bottom triple clamp.
The fixed, frame-mount Sharknose fairing mounts dual Daymaker LED headlights with the filament-style blinkers mounted behind and to each side. A pair of analog gauges join with a battery of idiot lights and a color TFT screen that bundles all the infotainment goodies into one location. H-D's Boom! Box 4.3 drives a pair of 5.25-inch speakers in the front fairing with 25 Watts of “sharing your music with everyone around you.”
If you spring for the rider aid package, you'll dial all that stuff in on the same touchscreen display. Further to that, you get hands-free mobile phone connectivity via Bluetooth. These phone functions facilitate voice recognition for the tuner /media/ navigation and text-to-speech functionality.
The six-gallon fuel tank gives the Road Glide some serious legs, but I'm no fan of the chrome console and would find some way to be rid of it. The laden seat height rides at 25.9 inches off the deck, providing you weigh at least 180 pounds to compress the suspension. Stock passenger footpegs and pillion pad join with the hard sidebags to complete the gear in the rear. Overall, the Road Glide offers the perfect balance of bagger performance and style.
Harley-Davidson Road Glide Specs | |
|---|---|
Length | 95.7 in |
Width | 38.6 in |
Height | 51.6 in |
Seat Height, Unladen | 27.4 in |
Wheelbase | 64 in |
Ground Clearance | 5.5 in |
Luggage Capacity | 2.3 cu ft |
Fuel Capacity | 6 gal with 1 gal reserve |
Curb Weight | 855 lb |
Dry Weight | 820 lb |
Chassis
The classic “FL” frame on the Road Glide relies on a strong rectangular backbone and the tubular-steel members for its strength. It comes in the double-downtube/dual-cradle arrangement that cups and supports the engine rather than using it as a stressed member to replace some of the framing. Mild steel also makes up the yoke-style swingarm. The steering head establishes a 26-degree angle, but the final rake figure is actually 29.25 degrees. Combined with 6.8 inches of trail make the Road Glide quite stable indeed, even at speed, and makes it track like it's on rails.
A set of 49 mm forks float the front end. Even though they aren't adjustable, they benefit from Showa's Dual Bending Valve technology that delivers a self-adjusting ride that's far superior to plain vanilla stems. Out back, the coil-over shocks come with handwheels for the adjustable preload feature. Cast aluminum makes up the Enforcer II wheels to keep them reasonably light with a 19-inch front wheel front and an 18-inch wheel out back. Dual four-bore calipers bite 300 mm front discs with a third pair out back, and together, they provide considerable brakeage. ABS is an option.
Chassis & Suspension | |
|---|---|
Frame | Mild Steel; Tubular Frame; Two-Piece Stamped And Welded Backbone; Cast And Forged Junctions; Twin Downtubes; Bolt-On Rear Frame With Forged Fender Supports; MIG Welded. |
Swingarm | Mild Steel; Two-Piece Drawn And Welded Section; Forged Junctions; MIG Welded. |
Front Suspension/ Travel | 49 mm Dual Bending Valve/ 4.6 in |
Rear Suspension/ Travel | Premium Low Hand-Adjustable Rear Suspension/ 2.1 in |
Rake | 26 |
Trail | 6.8 in |
Lean Angle, Left/Right | 31°/ 29° |
Front Wheel | Enforcer II Cast Aluminum 3.5 in x19 in |
Rear Wheel | Enforcer II Cast Aluminum 5.5 in x 18 in |
Front Tire | D408F 130/60B19 61H Dunlop Bias Blackwall |
Rear Tire | D 407T BW 180/55B18 80H Dunlop Bias Blackwall |
Front Brake | Dual 300 mm Floating Rotors, 32 mm 4-Piston Fixed Caliper |
Rear Brake | 300 mm Fixed Rotor, 32 mm 4-Piston Fixed Rotor |
2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Price And Availability
Harley typically prices by color, and this is no different. The 2023 Road Glide costs $21,999. It excludes the $850 freight and destination charges. That's for Vivid Black. If you want the Redline Red or Atlas Silver Metallic you will have to shell out another $750.
Pricing & Features | |
|---|---|
Features | Security System, Cruise Control |
Warranty | 24 Months (Unlimited Mileage) |
Colors | |
└ 2020 | Vivid Black, Barracuda Silver, River Rock Gray Denim, Spruce, Stiletto Red, Tahitian Teal |
└ 2021 | Vivid Black, Gauntlet Gray Metallic, Billiard Red |
└ 2022 | Vivid Black, Reef Blue, White Sand Pearl |
└ 2023 | Vivid Black, Redline Red, Atlas Silver Metallic |
Price | |
└ 2020 | Vivid Black: $21,699, Color: $22,199, Custom Color: $22,899 |
└ 2021 | Vivid Black: $21,699, Color: $22,199 |
└ 2022 | Vivid Black: $22,249, Color: $22,824 |
└ 2023 | Vivid Black: $21,999, Color: $22,749 |
Competitors
As far as touring models go, after a long time with no domestic competition, Harley-Davidson once again finds itself locked in a race for customers against the resurgent Indian Motorcycle marque and its Challenger model. Like H-D, Indian has its own deep historical roots to draw upon.
Indian Challenger
Those roots show up here and there, like the War Bonnet fender ornament and full-length fender that runs with high-cut sides in a custom-culture nod. Like a brother from another mother, it pushes a similar frame-mount fairing, but the Challenger mounts the front blinkers in the fairing rather than on it.
Infotainment is a wash, but Indian gains its biggest advantage in the power figures with 122 ponies and 128 pounds o' grunt. The color options are a bit of a snore with nothing but monochromatic colorways, and only two of them at that. Indian prices its Black Metallic at $24,499, and the Titanium Smoke package at $25,249 to considerably overprice by comparison. The legendary Honda Gold Wing is another touring model that takes on the Harley Davidson Road Glide.
He Said
“The H-D bagger is about as iconic as it gets, even with the newish Shark nose front fender that is such a departure from the Batwing and old Barndoor. Even if you add the electronic fandanglery to the package, the H-D still comes in under the Challenger and is a lot more bike at that point.”
She Said
My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “The wind-tunnel-tuned fairing from the 2015 update reduced that wearisome head buffet that riders complained about before. I'm not a fan of the shark-nose fairing, but being frame-mounted means wind doesn't interfere with steering. The Road Glide is a nice touring bike, comfortable and powerful with a premium sound system.”
FAQ
Q: How much does a new Harley Road Glide cost?
For 2023, the Harley-Davidson Road Glide starts at $21,999 for the base Vivid Black model. Picking a color other than black adds $750 to that price. The cruise-control option adds $950 and if you spring for the RDRS electronics package, tack on another $1,100.
Q: How much CC is a Road Glide?
The Milwaukee-Eight 107 V-Twin engine in the Road Glide is 107 cubic inches. That converts to 1,746 cc.
Q: How many miles per gallon does a Road Glide get?
Harley-Davidson claims fuel economy of 43 MPG for the Road Glide.
Q: How fast is a Road Glide?
Top speed on the Harley-Davidson Road Glide is governed at 96 MPH. Zero-to-60 time is under 5.5 seconds with a
13.5-second quarter mile.