Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide

 In the engine department, we have the much-upgraded 96 Twin Cam, with fuel injection. No power figure is offered (though it's a more willing unit than its predecessor), but the company does offer a torque figure of 125.5Nm at 3500rpm. Redline is 5500rpm.

Clutch operation is by cable, while the gearshift for the six-speeder is a heel-toe unit. Final drive is by belt.

The fuel tank holds a claimed 18.9l and the company says it weighs 350 kilos in ready-to-ride form.

In the saddle
I have some reservations about severely lowered road bikes and this confirmed many of them. This particular example is actually too low to be comfortable for tall people. At 190cm, I found it awkward to get on and off, and somewhat cramped in the riding position. Shorter folk are likely to have a very different experience, so I can recommend at least sitting on one before you buy.

Another issue is the handling front, which at slow speeds is a little odd. The combination of the lowered setting and the heavy handlebar fairing can make tight manoeuvres a little challenging. However get the machine up to road speeds and it all comes together.

But, again, the lowering comes into play. While the suspension actually does an admirable job, the short travel can only do so much and bigger bumps will catch the bike out, particularly in corners when you're already dealing with quite limited leaning clearance.

 It's stable and entirely predictable out on the highway, so long as you're prepared to take it easy through the turns.

Harley's Twin Cam 96 powerplant is a sweetheart, proving to be willing, smooth without being boring, and crisp on the throttle. It's by far the best in the series so far produced. Of particularly interest is the two-stage exhaust system, which opens up a secondary pipe at the higher end of the rev scale, giving the machine a significant boost in performance while remaining legal on the noise front. This means you don't necessarily have to resort to aftermarket pipes as a matter of course, which has previously been the case. 

The stock stereo is a good quality unit and can be expanded to incorporate sat-nav, while the pilot is kept amused by a comprehensive set of six gauges. Its top-loading panniers seem strong, though I think I'd be looking for an alternative seat (there are numerous types on offer) if a pillion was going to be a regular part of the picture.

Whether or not this appeals is going to come down to what you want out of it. Priced at $30,995 (plus ORC), the Street Glide scores 10/10 for presence and looks, but you make some compromises to get that super-low stance. If cornering is more important, you would be much better off with a similarly-priced Road King.

By Guy Allen