Motorcycle specifications Harley-Davidson1870 Road Glide Limited FLTRK 2023 Bridging distances

Why Limited? On the contrary, it would seem that the luxury of Harley's big tourers knows no bounds! The Road Glide didn't want to leave that to theUltra. Each with its own face, sharing the same territory, the same desire to roam the countryside in a plethora of equipment and opulence.

Replacing the Road Glide Ultra, the 114 Road Glide Limited differs from the Ultra in that it comes with a few extra items, state-of-the-art electronics and the replacement of 17" and 16" rims by a pair of 18" Slicer IIs. The fuel tank retains the same 22.7-liter capacity, while allowing the eye to glide over the glossy 'Pin Striping' on the inside of the fairing. Heated grips come as standard, a touch of glitz is added to the mudguards with the addition of 'Limited' badges, and riding is now a doubly orchestrated rhythm. The huge twin beats time, power and road; RDRS orchestrates the resulting dynamics.

rDRS? What's that? The abbreviation for Reflex Defensive Rider Systems. Harley has gone into overdrive to bring its Touring models up to speed with active driving technologies. With two-stage disconnectable traction control (Standard or Rain), active ABS in curves, angle-sensitive coupled braking, engine torque management anti-drift, tire pressure monitoring and hill-start assist, this ultimate Road Glide boasts a range of aids close to those of a BMW, Ducati or KTM. Let's take a closer look at the RDRS ->.

There's plenty of electronics, both for dynamics and entertainment. Recently, the Boom Box was upgraded to a GTS version, faster, stronger and with better contrast. The 6.5" color TFT screen still allows navigation between radio, music playback on SD card or USB port, iPod and iPhone compatibility, voice recognition for telephone functions, GPS and a host of info on the bike's health. The interface is controlled by touchscreen or dedicated buttons on a comodo.

In 2020, MoCo is adding smartphone app-based monitoring. With H-D Connect, the Limited owner can be informed remotely if someone shakes or picks up the bike, how much fuel is left in the tank, range, mileage, battery charge, updates for on-board electronics, etc. Two constraints on this virtual mate: 1/ there has to be a network; 2/ you have to pay a subscription fee of around 14 euros/month - but it's free for the first year when you buy the bike.

Apps, screens, sensors, wires, 300-page instruction manuals... All to distract us from the essential. The deep passion of the 'Shark Nose' to cut through the miles, its 'Daymaker' lighting to fan the night, its pace to subdue the other GTs. On the Road Glide, the bow is imposing and the seats are large.

You sit on the back of this 400-kg machine, wake up the 1868 cm3 M8, let it heat up its metal, oil and fluid in the path of the hoses and radiators, and then call on its thick torque peaking at 16.3 mkg, rightly or wrongly. A Honda Goldwing Tour or BMW Grand America will give you more, at 4,500 or 5,000 rpm; while the Harley will disgorge it at 3,000 rpm. It's less shaky at idle than the Twin Cam and its predecessors, but still expresses American-style carafon when you turn the handle. Once you've started cruising, you activate the cruise control, chat to your passenger via intercom, think about everything you've packed into the 132 liters of on-board space (the two suitcases + the Tour Pak), and you've already forgotten the hefty cheque you left at the dealership. In the end, the Road Glide is perhaps limited in only one respect: its lust for endless roads.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos