TEST – HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE SPECIAL 2020

TEST – HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE SPECIAL 2020

Driving report on the new Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special model year 2020 in the color Performance Orange.

The Harley-Davidson Street Glide is undisputedly the most popular Harley-Davidson tourer in bagger style. Its design is unmistakable and the sporty tourer is particularly admired by non-motorcyclists and is quickly identified as a Harley-Davidson.

As a result, the corresponding words are often used, especially at the gas station: “That’s a nice heavy machine” and in fact it is a really heavy machine ready to drive at 375kg. But who else but Harley-Davidson is predestined for a heavy machine! However, it is only really heavy as long as it doesn't roll. As soon as the built-in Slicer II cast light alloy wheels start moving, the weight literally disappears. Nice straight-line stability and overall you feel more rigidity in the frame than with some models from the 2015 model year.

THE DRIVING REPORT ON THE HARLEYSITE YOUTUBE CHANNEL

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBYosRJ4vZE&width=860&height=484&rel=0[/embedyt]

I really liked the chassis. Before you make your own judgment, you should make sure which setting is on the adjustable damper unit. This basically applies to all models from the Softail series onwards, because they are more or less fast adjustable.

I set the damper on the Street Glide Special to strength 10. With over 100 kilos of dead weight, this is the perfect driving setting for me. Even when I had attached two heavy wheels to the additional, removable luggage rack with sissy bar for a tour, the ride was very comfortable.

If you don't want to try things out yourself to find your ideal setting, you won't go wrong with strength 10. At high speeds on the highway with luggage, it stayed true to the road and it also remained stable in long curves.

She could do more if you let her

With its 114cui (1,868 cc) and 89 hp, it would reach its limits somewhere beyond 200 km/h, but Harley-Davidson has limited it to around 180 km/h. The Americans always ask themselves whether we race in Germany, because in terms of tuning and engine customization we are always very far ahead.

Experiences about the new features of the Street Glide Special 2020

The traction control

My highlight is the traction control, which is activated automatically after each start cycle. In normal mode, it regulates the propulsion on loose surfaces or wet roads. When driving in the rain, I switch directly to rain mode, then the blue rain cloud lights up in the speedometer display.

In normal driving mode, the rear wheel spins slightly when slipping and the drive is limited, especially on unpredictable bitumen strips, it can save you, I've experienced it myself.

The system intervention in rain mode to prevent slipping when driving in rain is inconspicuous and hardly noticeable, but very effective.

This makes driving much safer and you no longer have the feeling of sitting on raw eggs when cornering on wet roads. By pressing the traction control switch for one minute it is possible to switch off the traction control. The system is reactivated during a new start in the last active traction control mode.

The hill start assistant (VHC)

The hill start assistant comes in a close second place, although I don't really think the name is appropriate. Because you can use it anywhere, when loading over a ramp, or simply put, anywhere that is not horizontal. I never thought I would ever need something like that, but when you're driving, situations arise by themselves, you just never thought about it before.

You're just about to drive off and you've forgotten your gloves, up until now you've always had to stop on slight slopes, now you briefly pull the handbrake lever and it stops, the same goes for the foot brake, a firm tap on the brake and nothing rolls anymore.

But you can drive off again without further ado, the brakes release automatically. It deactivates itself after five minutes at the latest, or when you switch off the engine. It's really just a little helper that I've already used in countless situations and wouldn't want to be without today.

Further electronic systems of the 2020 models at a glance

In 2020, driver assistance systems will clearly be in the foreground. With ever more powerful engines, Harley-Davidson has to find a connection somewhere between the old hand and the biker who only rides on the weekend. Safety was at the top of the to-do list, which they have now completed quite well.

In addition to the features already listed above, the Brembo brakes have electronic brake force distribution, which optimally doses the braking forces to the front and rear wheels in every driving situation from a speed of 40 km/h. This works really well, which is probably the case with a heavily packed touring vehicle, possibly with a pillion passenger! The brake system leaves nothing to be desired and is absolutely state-of-the-art with today's available technology.

HD Connect

Unfortunately, I wasn't able HD Connect , it has something to do with data protection regulations, so I wasn't allowed to activate the APP during my test drive. Unfortunately, that all became difficult today.

APPLE CARPLAY

APPLE CARPLAY has now entered the Boom! Box GTS infotainment system was introduced. GOOGLE AUTO will follow in the next few months or in 2021.

It's really cool to be able to use some APPS from the iPhone directly, not all APPS from the connected iPhone can be run via CarPlay. Apple checks the programs in advance and if all requirements are met, it will be included in the CarPlay section and the respective program will appear on the Boom! BOX GTS if the APP is installed in the iPhone.

Apple Carplay only works in conjunction with Bluetooth

Calimoto, for example, is one such case. Apple still testing the program, but soon the successful start-up company with its APP for motorcyclists will also be available in Apple CarPlay and you could easily record your most beautiful tours and share them with others.

However, Apple CarPlay only works in conjunction with a Bluetooth headset, which is a security-related requirement from Apple. If the headset's battery is empty, Apple CarPlay switches off. This could be counteracted with a battery pack or with the Harley's USB power supply to recharge the Bluetooth unit.

However, the helmet's battery lasted over 6 hours with full activity. On a Road Glide Limited, for example, there is still a cable connection for the analog headset and no Bluetooth; you have to order the module separately.

When you place your order, you need to know exactly what you want to order.

Apple Carplay is an accessory that must be ordered separately. With the Road Glide Limited the Bluetooth radio module be ordered. If you want to operate your helmet directly with it, you should do so. Otherwise it doesn't really work, there is Bluetooth, but not specifically for pairing the Boom! Box GTS and the headset. And of course you need the headset itself, from Harley-Davidson there is the Boom! Audio 30K headset, or the helmet version I prefer. The CVO models already have one, so the math starts again. If you're interested in a special and a CVO, you should do the math, the CVO has a lot of added value included.

Boom! Audio Full-Face Helmet, or the Boom! Audio 30K headset

Now comes the boom! Audio Full-Face Helmet (98208-20EX, RRP: 621 euros) comes into play, in contrast to the Boom! Audio 30K headset for around €428, everything is already built into the helmet, the buttons are fixed, no microphone hanging around and with a difference of around €200, it is certainly a good decision to go straight to the helmet.

On long tours only the full-face helmet

There is another version of the helmet, the full face helmet is something sensible, I also like riding with the half shell, but I don't want to be without it, especially on long tours and in the rain. The helmet has anti-fog protection and has a tab on the nose and chin, so hardly any wind gets past them, even in bad weather a simple scarf is enough.

Especially on long journeys, the entire communication in the network is noticeable, no more fiddling, it is very clear and can be controlled blindly via the controls.

You should have read the manual

You really have to get to grips with the new technology, the Bluetooth devices can also be paired for communication with the passenger or others in a MESH group. It's really crazy what can be done these days, like making a phone call while driving or giving Siri any commands.

The question of questions is, do you need all of this?

I'll put it this way: if you just want to go to the ice cream parlor and don't plan any tours, you don't need any of that, the BOOM! BOX GTS. What the infotainment system alone can do without the Apple Carplay module is already too much for some. But if you are technically savvy and want to prepare your tours on your PC, you can do this either with the HD-Connect APP and the Ride Planner from Harley-Davidson , or with Google or Apple Maps and, of course, in the future with Calimoto via Apple CarPlay.

You don't know how the future will develop; sometimes it's better to have something than to need it .

It's hard to give a recommendation, you shouldn't allow yourself to be distracted too much while driving, it's no different than driving a car. If you're more of a mono type, you should concentrate on driving.

It's all a question of attitude

However, once everything is set up and configured correctly, things start to get better. Navigation in particular can be very useful as long as you use it correctly. It is an advantage to deal with it in order to at least partially exploit it.

TIP: When practicing, always set the ON/OFF switch to the far left to ACC to save power.

I stumbled a few times myself when suddenly all the streets in the country were no longer shown to me, but again that's up to the operator. If you don't zoom in properly, something like this happens. If you do it right, every little dead end will be displayed.

The 114cui engine and the sound

The 114cui engine has become even livelier, you can't tell from the technical data, but the 2020 114cui engine pulls noticeably better and more evenly than the 2019 one. This slight change was confirmed to me by Harley-Davidson, the mapping was done adjusted a bit and the exhaust flow from the exhaust was also optimized, which resulted in a duller sound.

Personally, these days I'm more in favor of spending money on useful accessories, such as the removable luggage rack with sissy bar.

You can fit a lot into your suitcase, but it's ideal for tying down a roll or bags for a big tour. The luggage rack comes with these magnetic caps that you can put on the holder to make it look nicer if you don't want the luggage rack to be mounted.

What also seems to be good are the suitcase-sized bags, just pull them out and away, which is a good long-term solution.

The longer caps are apparently difficult to get, I have now seen two solutions where you paint the chrome black or simply cover it with black insulating tape, both are possible, of course it is nicer with paint.

The wind and the disguise

I originally wanted to mount the slightly higher windscreen before I set off on the Street Glide Special. But it wasn't at hand and to my surprise I didn't have any turbulence on my helmet.

Visually, only the additional flap and the switch have been omitted. The airflow tapers a little and at a certain speed it creates a real wall in front of you. The airflow may have been adjusted slightly in the 2020 model, I don't have any further information about that at the moment. In any case, the narrow window was completely ok for me, but everyone has to find out for yourself.

The color performance orange

This model is in the color Performance Orange, the color really pops. Of course, she stands out in a row of black Harleys. Harley really succeeded in the color combination with the matt black; I only received positive feedback about it.

The conclusion to the Street Glide Special

The conclusion to the Street Glide Special 2020 is very good. First of all, the two features traction control and brake hold assistant, the surprise is the new sound from the exhaust. At the beginning I was a little overwhelmed by the entire combination of Boom! Box GTS, Apple Carplay and the Bluetooth helmet.

After a few thousand kilometers of driving and my tour through the Westerwald, I had the situation under control and was prepared for everything. It works, it's possible to pair them with each other, you just have to follow the included instructions meticulously. That's very clear, in addition to driving, you have a little more to do before driving, welcome to the 21st century! Nowadays, adolescent customers expect such features from a motorcycle.

What I do not like

What I didn't particularly like is the light design and the front indicators. Sure, Harley-Davidson would like to be the distance from the CVO , but nobody wants light bulbs anymore, the light is ok, but there's no comparison to the Road Glide with the reflector LED lamps . That would be another reason to take another look at the accessories catalog. I would like to see illuminated switches, it's only a small thing, but a slight backlighting of the symbols would be useful, especially when driving at night.

Harley-Davidson doesn't really have a way to do this online yet, so that you can configure your bike at home on the screen and then order it from the dealer with a code, but who knows, it will come at some point. The accessories are really extensive and it is best to order them directly. Sometimes it's really simple things, like heated grips, if you know it and don't forget it.

Street Glide Special is a very nice motorcycle , it has stable value and a beautiful appearance. Absolutely suitable for touring and sporty at the same time, I'm now really a fan of the 114 engine , powerful and economical, very responsive and full of pressure in every situation. So far I have driven well over 25,000 kilometers with the 114 engine in various models from Softail to Tourer. A very reliable companion that I now like even better in combination with the new features.

And if the Street Glide Special had a little more LED lighting, it would be perfect, but there is still the CVO .

Recommended accessories

Street Glide Special 2020 Podcast

Text & image credits: Harleysite 07/2020

---

Affiliate links October 5, 2024