POWER, DYNAMICS AND VERSATILITY – THE NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORT GLIDE

With the Sport Glide, Harley-Davidson is introducing a new factory custom bike for the 2018 model year that is just as capable of relaxed cruising as it is of sporty cornering fun on the country road, the daily ride into the city and the comfortable vacation trip.

It is reminiscent of the touring models from Harley-Davidson with various features and at the same time presents itself in a completely independent, compact and modern style.

The latest model in the Harley-Davidson Softail series
Chassis with 43 millimeter upside-down fork and central spring strut with hydraulically adjustable spring preload
Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine
Removable fairing and cases
Headlight and taillight unit with indicators in LED technology
Electronic cruise control system “Cruise Control”

Thanks to the successful synthesis of style and functionality, the new Harley-Davidson Sport Glide has numerous talents: With the removable fairing and the removable cases, this dynamic factory custom bike not only guarantees a lot of fun on winding country roads, it also sweetens the way into the country Office, cuts a fine figure on the cruising boulevard and provides the comfort that drivers who love to travel appreciate.

With the Sport Glide, Harley-Davidson presents the ninth model of the recently introduced, all-new Softail platform and the latest of the 100 new models that the company plans to introduce by 2027.

The agile driving characteristics of the new Sport Glide are ensured by the new, light and torsion-resistant Softail chassis and the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, which is rigidly suspended in the frame and promises impressive acceleration and powerful pulling power with its high torque.

The new Sport Glide is available in Vivid Black, Twisted Cherry and Silver Fortune paint finishes.

Dave Latz , Harley-Davidson Senior Product Planning Manager, explains: “The Sport Glide offers the full driving dynamics of our new Softail platform, combined with features that prove themselves in everyday life and when traveling. Their factory custom look gives an idea of their powerful driving performance even when stationary.”

Brad Richards , Harley-Davidson Vice President of Styling and Design, added: “With the Sport Glide, we present a particularly contemporary interpretation of our current design line. The new fairing is unmistakably reminiscent of the classic “Batwing” look of the Touring models, but transforms this style into a more compact and dynamic form. The Sport Glide project gave us the opportunity to use directional cast light alloy wheels on a standard Harley-Davidson for the first time - a style that had previously only been used on CVO types. The wheels give the machine an expression of dynamism even when it is stationary, which is underlined by the design language of the fairing, the side cases and the exhaust.”

The Sport Glide's fairing relieves wind pressure on the rider's upper body while minimizing turbulence in the helmet area. It is attached to the fork with quick-release fasteners, which allow it to be removed and reattached quickly and easily. If you are looking for even more wind protection, replace the flat standard 1.5-inch window with the slightly tinted, 5.5-inch (140 millimeter) high window, which is available as an original accessory.

Harley-Davidson Sport Glide 2019 model year

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The new cases are characterized by their slim hard-shell construction. They are easy to load and unload and can even be opened with one hand from the driver's seat, with cushioned hinges allowing the lids to slide smoothly into the open position. Thanks to the quick-release fasteners on the inside, the cases can be removed in seconds, while the attachment points on the motorcycle are hardly noticeable. Together, the suitcases offer storage space of around 50 liters.

Thanks to the “HoldFast” system developed specifically for the new Softail platform, the owner of the new Sport Glide also has the option of not only quickly and easily attaching a sissy bar, but also using either a luggage rack or a “Tour Pak” mount to carry luggage. To further expand capacity. And just like the Sport Glide's cases and fairing, the "HoldFast" accessories can be removed in no time to transform the machine into a no-frills cruiser.

With its wide seat and front-mounted footrests, the new Sport Glide offers a comfortable seating position for riders of all shapes and sizes. The seat height is just 680 millimeters. LED lighting elements arranged in a ring give the Daymaker LED headlight of the new machine a characteristic light signature. At the rear, tail and brake lights integrated into the indicators are used, which are designed with LED technology. A USB charging port, the Keyless Ignition System and the Harley-Davidson Smart Security System are standard equipment.

The torsion-resistant 43 millimeter upside-down fork with single cartridge damping system guarantees accuracy, maximum driving stability and confident directional stability even during powerful braking maneuvers with the standard ABS braking system. The “Mantis” cast light alloy wheels of the new Sport Glide in 18 inches at the front and 16 inches at the rear have Michelin “Scorcher 31” tires ex works.

The new Softail rear suspension with central spring strut can be conveniently adjusted in spring preload using hydraulics. With an easy-to-reach knob on the right side cover, the chassis can be quickly and easily adjusted to the load and the driver's preferences.

The black powder-coated Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine guarantees the powerful performance of the latest generation of Harley-Davidson Big Twin cruisers. Two balancer shafts reduce its vibrations, but allow a pleasant pulsation to reach the driver while driving. The rigid suspension of the engine in the frame additionally stiffens the chassis. Its exhaust valves are oil-cooled and its 2-in-1 exhaust system with elegantly curved rear manifold and black rear silencer not only gives the machine its sporty touch, but also a surprising freedom of lean angle. The electronic throttle control (Electronic Throttle Control) also enables the use of the standard electronic cruise control system “Cruise Control”.

Numerous original accessory products for the new Sport Glide will be available right from the start of sales.
Further information about the new Harley-Davidson model can be found at www.Harley-Davidson.com.

Sport Glide (FLSB), model year 2018, the most important data and facts at a glance: