Driving report – Harley-Davidson Sport Glide 2020
As part of the Harley-Davidson Triple S event, I was able to try out the 2020 model year Sport Glide on Spain's winding roads. In 2019, Harley-Davidson sold 817 Sport Glide models, putting it in second place in the Harley rankings after the Street Bob. I was all the more curious in anticipation of the successful sports tourer with the 107 Milwaukee-Eight engine.
It has been in the Harley-Davidson range since 2018 and its price starts at €17,995 in the color Vivid Black (as of February 2020). In terms of price, this is a very affordable entry into the tourer class; it offers a lot off the shelf for those who don't feel like converting , or has any bells and whistles, you've come to the right place, just sit up and off you go.
The first driving impression
It makes a good impression when driving, the first thing I noticed was the good seating position and the perfect straight-line stability. I really liked both, but I couldn't really explain what the good straight-line stability had to do with it, because the wheelbase is in the middle of the range; the Fat Bob is just 10cm less and the Heritage is 5cm more. It can be driven sportily through the curves, but not in the same way as a Fat Bob, it is more sedate and provides a safe driving feeling.
The chassis and the seating position
The chassis does a very good job, an upsite-down fork is installed at the front, and a central spring strut with a hydraulically manually adjustable spring works at the rear.
The spring can be adjusted on the right side using the rotary wheel, so it can be quickly adjusted to the circumstances, such as passengers or heavy luggage, without tools. On my trip I set the shock absorber to 5 and with my own weight of just over 106 kilos I found it to be very comfortable.
The seating position is very comfortable; personally, I would probably have running boards installed on the Sport Glide. The ones from the Softail Slim should fit, a different gear lever, holder for the running boards and a different brake pedal would be the solution. This gives you a lot more comfort on your legs on long tours.
It has cruise control, which is ideal for long tours, the removable windshield is only a light protection and should be seen more as a design element.
It is not a weather windshield, but Harley-Davidson's accessories range includes a slightly larger and slightly tinted window that can be retrofitted. If you want to ride without a fairing at all, you can quickly remove or put it on for the respective tour.
The Sport Glide has good equipment
The Sport Glide LED headlights
The LED headlight is particularly striking; it not only looks good, but its luminosity ensures that you are clearly seen. The lighting output is generally enormous with the new LED generation installed by Harley-Davidson.
The 107 Milwaukee-Eight engine
The Milwaukee-Eight engine and performance
The Sport Glide is only available with the 107 cui (1745ccm) engine, which puts 84 hp on the road. In contrast to the other Softail models, the 2-in-1 exhaust system takes a few horsepower away from it, but this is only noticeable in a direct comparison because it does put pressure on demand.
If you really give it a push, you will only be slowed down at 190 km/h, which is pretty fast for a Harley and actually not the normal speed range of typical Harley riders. Its power development is easy to control and even inexperienced bikers will be able to handle it very well.
The big advantage of the 107 engine is that it responds earlier than, for example, the 114 engine. Its torque of 145 Nm is available at 3000 rpm. It is more agile at the bottom, while the 114 only really develops its pressure around 500 rpm later.
The 107 engine is a great fit for the Sport Glide, it is economical and runs very smoothly. Harley-Davidson gives it a consumption of 5.3 liters of premium petrol per 100 km. I have already had the experience during other test drives that the engine can actually consume less; the 5.3 L can definitely be seen as realistic. I still don't understand why Harley-Davidson calls it Sport Glide, it's more of a versatile all-rounder.
The suitcases on the Sport Glide
The Sport Glide has been given a few removable cases. Anyone who has ever had cases on their machine will be sorely missing something if they no longer have them. Whether rain gear, or quickly stowing away your jacket during a tour break, drinks, FIRST AID KIT , or whatever.
When traveling, it is advisable to use the saddlebag travel pack; it is particularly ideal for a ferry crossing. Everything is stowed away in no time and we can continue. You could also take the entire suitcase with you, but unfortunately the one holder is a bit annoying, so the travel pack is definitely a better solution.
The cases are lockable, the lock can be operated with gloves and the lid opens slowly and is held in place by a lifter.
You push the lid back on with your knee and it is locked again with your hand. This can all be done with one hand, you know it yourself, usually only one hand is free when you're on the suitcase.
They are hard-shell cases, visually they match the Sport Glide and are not too big.
What counts for the Sport Glide
Your sportiness and other reasons that count for the Sport Glide.
It can be driven in a sporty manner, but I would like to say that corner chasers don't buy a Sport Glide. The confident driver can be found on it, a Harley under €20,000 that can do everything is the argument for the Sport Glide.
Whether you're a beginner, a returner or an up-and-comer, the female faction is also keen on her. It has ABS, clearly readable instruments and you won't find any nonsense on it, as we would say in the north. It has already installed forward footrests, which is not the case with the Street Bob ex works, for example. LED combination indicators at the rear, the indicators at the front have not yet made it into LED, which I think is phenomenal if the lighting concept is otherwise converted to LED, but they generally reset themselves automatically after a flashing process and can also be used as hazard warning lights .
There is a USB port under the tank at the front, for example to power external navigation or a cell phone. Cruise control, immobilizer and keyless ignition, which means that the driver only needs to have the key in order to drive off. A good thing is the connection for the battery charger to battery happy during the winter break.
The Sport Glide accessories
Once you've caught the Harley fever, you'll find a number of accessories in the Harley-Davidson range. The Sport Glide is easy to adjust. Below you will find a list of accessory ideas for the Sport Glide:
Sport Glide Type: ST1 Model FLSB from 2018
| Windshield 5.5″ | Item no. 57400360 approx. €200.00 |
| Saddlebag travel packs | Art. No. 93300110 approx. €85.00 |
| HoldFast Two-Up Tour-Pak Carrier | Art. No. 50300192 approx. €260.00 |
| Tour-Pak Suitcase – Smooth Vinyl | Item no. 53000570 approx. €870.00 |
| Engine protection bar | Art. No. 4900014 approx. €370.00 |
| Cover for engine protection bar | Art. No. 57100366 approx. €140.00 |
| Premium touring case system | Art. No. 93300003 approx. €400.00 |
| Additional belt kit | Art. No. 93300015 approx. €20.00 |
| Sissybar kit and luggage rack | |
| Docking Hardware Kit Chrome | Item no. 52300378 approx. €65.00 |
| Docking Hardware Kit Black | Art. No. 52300379 approx. €65.00 |
| Hold Fast Sissybar Bar Chrome | Art. No. 52300432 approx. €260.00 |
| Hold Fast Sissybar Bar Black | Item no. 52300434 approx. €260.00 |
| Pillion back cushion | Art. No. 52300560 approx. €100.00 |
| Sport luggage rack chrome from 2018 with Hold Fast Sissybar Upright | Item no. 50300130 approx. €235.00 |
| Sport luggage rack black from 2018 with Hold Fast Sissybar Upright | Item no. 50300131 approx. €235.00 |
The Sport Glide service intervals
The initial inspection is due after 1600 kilometers, which is also very important. Harley-Davidson then claims to have a service or oil change carried out once a year or every 8,000 kilometers.
The Michelin tires
The Michelin Scorcher 31 on the Sport Glide ex works
The Michelin Scorcher 31 is factory-fitted at the front: 130/70 B18 63H and at the rear 180/70 B16 77H. Tire pressure: Front 2.5 bar and rear 2.8 bar. Tire air pressure is a very important issue; be sure to check it regularly to keep the tire working optimally.
That's not just an empty phrase; during a visit to the Michelin factory, the developers repeatedly pointed out to me that tire air pressure is fundamentally important for the tire to function properly.
The tire performs quite well in dry conditions, but has weaknesses in wet or light wet conditions. When asked by Michelin, they are looking into making the Scorcher behave better in the wet.
The colors of the Sport Glide 2020
The Sport Glide will be available at Harley dealers in six different colors in 2020.
Colors: Vivid Black, Midnight Blue / Barracuda Silver, River Rock Gray Denim, Performance Orange, Tahitian Teal, Scorched Orange & Silver Flux
The conclusion to the Sport Glide 2020
The Sport Glide is not so successful for nothing, it can do a lot, the saddle, seating position, clarity and handling are great.
In Spain, the Sport Glide showed me that it can also be sporty, but I had the most fun when I was able to enjoy the beautiful nature with it while driving calmly.
The price makes them very attractive. The conclusion is short and I think everything has already been said, a great bike with no frills for all conditions. Due to the demand and its placement in the ranking, it will certainly remain stable in value and attract a lot of friends.
how do you see it?
Are you already riding a Sport Glide? What are your experiences, write to me, or leave a comment below.
Technical data according to the manufacturer, the prices of the accessories list may vary depending on the retailer. Transparency note: Some of the recordings were made in Malaga in cooperation with Harley-Davidson. There was no obligation to publish or influence my report. Thank you.
I've been riding the Sport Glide since the beginning of May 2020. My first Harley. My first motorcycle ever. I still congratulate myself on the purchase. However, I would like the 114 engine. During a re-entry training session from Harley in mid-June 2020, I was able to experience the difference to the 107. Another house number! I would also be impressed by a double window at the front. The front wheel brake does its job, but I think a little more bite would make sense given the over 300 kilos. I can confirm the clicking noise from the front brake every now and then. However, I don't find it annoying. I find the front indicators with the bulbs a bit poor. Here I immediately switched to LED. As well as the larger windshield for the fairing. A clear difference. All in all a great motorcycle. I love the classic look without the fairing and case. That's how I travel most of the time. A little Fat Boy light. And in just over a minute it's ready for touring. My conclusion: Still a motorcycle but already a Harley.
Nice article. A Harley like this is still a dream of mine 🙂
Thank you for your test report. I'm a newbie and have always dreamed of a Harley. I'm also very happy with my Sport Glide. However, when I brake with the front brake, I often hear a metallic noise - a clunk - which is annoying. The Harley dealer says this is normal for Harley and is due to the brake discs. It's like that for everyone. Did you have that too?
Hello Klaus,
I have never heard a sound when braking, which I often hear with other models when they are still fairly new, that there is sometimes a slight grinding noise where the disc comes into contact with the block.
Otherwise I didn't notice anything. Greetings Volker
I also have the “klong” noise on my SG (2020), but my dealer was able to explain it to me and reassure me. He thinks it has to do with the floating brake calipers. It can be provoked when you brake and move the Harley backwards, and when you brake for the first time after moving forward, this noise occurs because the brake caliper assumes a different position.