Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1519162
There is so much information available, and it all looks so nice, and it's all easy to read in both sunlight and moonlight. And if that wasn't enough, you have several display options. Of course, there's a learning pro - cess for operating all this stuff, but I figured out the important ones rather quickly. I never tried the stereo system, probably be - cause I wouldn't use it if I owned either of these bikes. In-helmet audio systems are so good nowadays, and they don't annoy everyone around you (and, yes, I generally like to be considerate of other people, especially when I'm on a motorcycle). It's about time to ditch external audio systems for motorcycles. This would also save on costs, space and weight. I rarely used the touch- screen option to navigate the infotainment center. It's a bit of a reach, so I found myself using the handlebar switch pods 99.9 percent of the time. To make your life a little nicer, the Street Glide features a slick USB-C-equipped pop-out smartphone holder that fits a phone better than previously. The Road Glide's smartphone holder equivalent is simply a small compartment with a pop-up lid that isn't nearly as slick as the Street Glide's. The new Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine is terrific. The counter- balanced engine is ultra-smooth, delivers excellent power and has tons of midrange torque. It also has that traditional Harley sound without being obnoxiously loud. Harley claims the Street and Road Glides make 105 horse - power with 130 lb-ft (at 3250 rpm) of mouth-watering torque. The bikes hum along nicely and effortlessly in top gear while showing an indicated and steady 70-75 mph. They will go much faster, of course, and will do so willingly. The Glides accel - erate impressively at speed, so highway overtakes are a breeze. A light and well-modulated slipper clutch makes the big Glides easy to launch from a standstill, and their six-speed transmissions change gears with little fuss. I played a bit with the three preprogrammed modes and clearly noticed the differences. Rain mode, which I actually got to use in the rain, chills everything down significantly, giving you peace of mind when road conditions suddenly tank. ABS is noticeably more sensi - tive, throttle response is more gradual, and engine braking is reduced. All good stuff in crappy conditions. Road mode is nice for urban riding, but Sport mode was my mode of choice for most of the riding we did, even in traffic. I enjoyed the Sport's quicker response and overall snappier feel. I found the brakes to be strong and they do a good job slowing such a big, heavy mo - torcycle without much thought. For 2024, both Glides received upgraded Brembo brakes with larger 320mm discs paired to radial-mount calipers up front and a 300mm disc in the rear. The brakes are electronically linked, which works well enough to bring the bike down from speed with just the "rear" brake P120 RIDE REVIEW I 2024 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE AND ROAD GLIDE