2021 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special Review

I had one of those perfect riding moments recently on the 2021 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special – you know, when you get that tingle up the spine, all your problems fade from view, and there’s nothing but you, the sun glinting off the bike’s tank, and an empty road stretched out before you.

It was a spectacular autumn day in the Yarra Valley to Melbourne’s east, the temperature had actually climbed into the twenties, and I had a day in which I could fully revel in the Road Glide Special’s many charms. Now this long and large bagger may struggle in the tighter confines of city traffic, but out here on the open road it’s a magic carpet of mile-eating goodness – and it lays on the style in that way that only a Milwaukee Big Twin can.

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The Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special has received a mild update for 2021, in a model year that thus far has been dominated by news of Harley’s first adventure bike, the Pan America 1250, and to a lesser extent the arrival of its Street Bob 114 – an ultra-cool bobber that’s just copped the Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-twin, as opposed to the Milwaukee-Eight 107 of its predecessor.

So what’s new? Let's take a squiz…

Mechanically, the 2021 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special is unchanged, but there’s a new two-tone paint option (Billiard Red/Vivid Black) and buyers can choose between Chrome or Dark styling.

Selecting Chrome sees the shiny stuff applied to the powertrain covers and trim, the front end, the handlebar, the exhaust, and the tank console, among others, and includes machined highlights on the gloss-black Prodigy wheels. Selecting Dark, meanwhile, sees the chrome make way for a black finish, and straight gloss-black wheels.

It’s a neat cosmetic option: the Chrome styling is available with Vivid Black, Billiard Teal, Midnight Crimson, or the two-tone paint, while the Dark styling is available with all those paint schemes plus River Rock Gray Denim.

And our test bike is resplendent in Snake Venom – a pearlescent ‘flip-flop’ hue that changes colour depending on the angle from which you’re viewing it. It’s available with either finish, Chrome or Dark, and incorporates Harley’s #1 graphic on the fairing and on one saddlebag. It's a trick addition, but I will say you really have to see it in person to fully appreciate it. It adds a $1795 premium.

On that note, Vivid Black is the standard finish – the other solid colours add $395 and the two-tone adds $795. So while the 2021 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special is priced from $39,750 ride away, in Snake Venom our test bike is priced at $41,545 ride away.

Beyond the paint and finishes, for 2021 the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special also sports new low-profile engine bars, a new centre console on the tank, a new tank medallion based on the bar-and-shield logo, and a distinctive 'Ventilator' air cleaner.

Sharing aesthetic dominance with that frame-mounted sharknose fairing is Harley’s Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine – an 1868cc (or 114 cubic inch) 45-degree V-twin that Harley says pumps out 160Nm at a low 3250rpm. Now this is a hefty lump of a bike – 387kg wet, says H-D – but that sort of torque is ample to see it spear towards the horizon from a standing start.

That considerable urge is sent to the rear hoop via a six-speed transmission and belt final drive, and at 100km/h the big mill is ticking over at just 2250rpm in sixth.

This is one super-comfy sled. The broad saddle is just 695mm off the deck and it’s nicely shaped – it’s perfect for long days on the road. The standard screen isn’t tall by any measure but I found it did a pretty good job of flicking the worst of the wind’s blast over my shoulders; it has a closable vent too, for added airflow when required.

It’s a modest stretch to the pulled-back handlebars and the bike is equipped with highway boards and forward controls for the rider. Rest assured, it’s tailor made for eating up the miles – for riders, at least.

Pillions get a smaller (but not unreasonably so) perch with footpegs. The seat slopes back a little too, so investigating a genuine accessory backrest would be well worth the investment if you plan on sharing the ride with regularity.

It’s wonderfully relaxed when you’re loping along those country straights, but when the hills beckon it’s actually very surprising just what this Road Glide Special is capable of.

It’s no sportsbike when it comes to fast changes of direction, naturally, but it tips in with confidence and tracks beautifully through the bends at surprisingly healthy angles of lean. You can actually crank it over quite a bit further than the Street Bob 114 I recently reviewed, which was unexpected.

And that big V-Twin just churns out the grunt – it’s a delight to wind it on through the bends, and slingshot your way from apex to apex while surfing that surging wave of torque.

As for slowing the show, the linked Brembo braking package works fine. Don’t go looking for race bike power or feel, mind, but when the twin-disc front is used in conjunction with the rear, as is the usual case for bikes of this style and geometry, it pulls up as well as you’d expect. And of course it’s backed by ABS.

And the Road Glide Special has that typical Harley substance to it – big, chunky handlebars, heavy-ish controls, and an all-round solidity that promises it will stand the test of time. I think it’s beautifully put together – as it should be at this price point.

And it has excellent touring credentials. Comfy ergos and protective fairing aside, the stretched saddlebags swallow a heap of gear (but not helmets – they’re not that wide). I like the simple lever to open or close them, and they’re lockable too (but no central locking).

And the Boom Box GTS infotainment system is nicely done, with a large touchscreen that is easy to use even when wearing gloves.

There's a thumb-controlled joystick on each switchblock to navigate the menu system, although I take a medium in gloves and I found it a little awkward to use the right-hand one unless the cruise control was on. Those with bigger mitts won't have an issue.

The system has a heap of features though, like integrated sat-nav, comprehensive audio, a trip computer and more, and it adds to the bike’s polished feel.

It has Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility and voice commands too, when paired with the accessory H-D headset.

There’s a USB charging outlet for your phone in one of the two (non-lockable) glove compartments, plus a 12-volt outlet on the left side of the cockpit.

And this bike’s range is actually worthy of its comfort. The Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special has a 22.7-litre tank, and we achieved an average fuel economy of 5.4L/100km. That’s a safe range of something approaching 400km.

And a special note regarding its LED Daymaker twin headlights. They’re well named – they do a superb job, throwing a low and broad spread of clean, white light. They head a full LED set-up, with combination twin stop/turn/brake lights at the rear.

As for gripes, given the choice I'd prefer a locking fuel filler cap, and at this price point it wouldn't hurt to have some heated grips too. And, surprisingly, there's no ignition cut-out on the sidestand – as I found out rather abruptly on one occasion after riding off and taking the first left-hander!

Look, you either get the Harley Big Twin thing, or you don’t. If you don’t there’s probably little I can say or write to tempt you aboard this muthaship of the open road. But if you do – or even if you’re a bit curious about these all-the-bells-and-whistles baggers – book a test ride on a Road Glide Special. For covering big distances in comfort and style, it’s a tough act to follow.

ENGINE
Type: Air/oil-cooled, SOHC, four-stroke, four-valves-per-cylinder, 45-degree, Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-twin
Capacity: 1868cc
Bore x stroke: 102mm x 114mm
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: N/A
Claimed maximum torque: 160Nm at 3250rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Clutch: Wet, multi-plate
Final drive: Belt

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Tubular steel
Front suspension: 49mm dual bending valve fork, non-adjustable, 117mm travel
Rear suspension: Monoshock, adjustable for preload, 54mm travel
Front brake: Twin 300mm discs with four-piston calipers, ABS equipped
Rear brake: 300mm disc with four-piston caliper, ABS equipped
Wheels: Alloy, gloss black Prodigy – 19-inch front, 18-inch rear
Tyres: Dunlop D408/D407; front 130/60B19, rear 180/55B18

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 387kg
Seat height: 695mm
Wheelbase: 1625mm
Rake: 26 degrees
Trail: 173mm
Fuel capacity: 22.7 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: from $39,750 ride away ($41,545 ride away as tested)
Colours: Vivid Black, Billiard Teal (add $400), Midnight Crimson (add $400), Billiard Red/Vivid Black (add $795), River Rock Grey Denim (add $395) or Snake Venom (add $1795). A Choice of Chrome or Dark finishes available.
Test bike supplied by: Harley-Davidson Australia
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres