Harley powers up new 2022 models

Harley-Davidson has announced four new and updated models will be joining its 2022 range, with the Road Glide ST, Street Glide ST, Low Rider S and Low Rider ST all boasting the firm’s biggest volume-production engine, the Milwaukee-Eight 117. 

Unveiled via the brand’s ‘Further. Faster.’ online premiere (above), the four newcomers build upon a range of recently announced paint and cosmetic changes rolled out across many of Harley-Davidson's Cruiser, Grand American Touring, and Adventure Touring families, along with a range of stunning new paint schemes through its 2022 CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) line. 

Continuing with the performance theme evident in Harley-Davidson's latest all-new model, the recently released Sportster S, the new Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST and Street Glide ST are said to provide “a shortcut to your performance bagger dreams”, and amp up the performance while retaining their mile-eating, long-haul potential (for solo riders, in any case).

Both model are powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin, marking the entrance of what was previously only available as a CVO powerplant to Harley-Davidson's non-CVO ranks. A solo saddle further underscores these bikes' corner-carving ability, as does the fact they’ve been raised a little to deliver additional cornering clearance. 

Looking for even more ability from your bagger? Harley-Davidson is also offering a Performance Bagger Trim Kit, spanning everything from a 131-cubic-inch V-twin with Stage IV kit, to a high-flow exhaust system and top-shelf Ohlins suspension, among others. 

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The 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S also scores an upgrade to the Milwaukee-Eight 117 powerplant with Heavy Breather intake, up from its previous Milwaukee-Eight 114. The model, which most recently reappeared in the Motor Co’s line-up in 2020, has also been raised slightly for better cornering clearance, while its instrumentation has moved from the fuel tank to just above the bike’s handlebar, where it’s far closer to the rider’s typical line of sight. 

The updated Low Rider S has also been joined by a new, equally performance-oriented sibling, with the 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST bringing a new fairing and hard saddlebags to the Low Rider S equation. 

Effectively billed by Harley as a ‘lightweight bagger’, the Motor Co says the Low Rider ST has come about due to a current SoCal (southern California) trend it had noticed that blended the Low Rider S look with more touring potential. The end result is a distinctive bagger with an all-new fairing with side ducts, plus high-mounted saddlebags that can attach or detach in seconds, and which don’t hamper the bike’s potential for generous lean angles. 

The Low Rider ST also comes with electronic cruise control as standard, and can be fitted with a dedicated sound system said to be loud enough to be enjoyed even when using a full-face helmet. 

According to Harley-Davidson's President and CEO, Jochen Zeitz, there are more developments in the pipeline... 

“Harley-Davidson has a rich and storied history tied to racing and performance,” he said. 

“From board track to flat track, top fuel drag racing and now bagger racing, we’ve been there, and we’ve stood at the top of the podium. 

“The bikes we’ve shared with you today are directly connected to that lineage, and there’s much more to come. In the coming months we’ll share the next chapter for the Sportster story, and there are few more surprises to come in 2022. It’s going to be an exciting year full of incredible adventures.”

Harley-Davidson is also gearing up for its 120th anniversary, which will see a homecoming celebration take place in Milwaukee in 2023.