2020 Harley Davidson Street Glide Special

Get ready to rumble with this ride review of the 2020 Harley Davidson Street Glide Special. Rev that engine and experience the ultimate in touring motorcycles with the Street Glide Special. This sleek and stylish machine stands out from the crowd with its all-black finish and competition-style GT-inspired Prodigy rims that will definitely turn heads.

Twist the throttle and feel the rush of power from it’s 114ci (1,868cc) air/oil-cooled engine that churns out a massive 111 pound-feet of torque. You'll be launched forward with a surge of power that will have you feeling alive on the open road. I found the six-speed gearbox to be smooth and precise providing a flawless shifting experience, while the signature Harley-Davidson exhaust note adds a touch of refinement to the ride. That won’t be for long because - of course you are going to change at least the mufflers, if you own this bike.

But the Street Glide Special is not just about raw power and style. It's also packed with advanced safety features, thanks to Harley's newly developed RDRS (Reflex Defensive Rider Systems). This electronic suite includes cornering ABS, wheelspin (traction) control, vehicle hold (to keep the motorcycle from rolling backward during launches), and drag-torque slip control (to mitigate rear wheel instability). And, with a tire pressure monitoring system, you'll have peace of mind knowing your tires are always at the correct pressure. I thought this would be a useless feature but it turned out to be very handy.

Get ready to experience a new level of control, even on wet or slippery roads. The system employs an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) chip, similar to those found in modern smartphones, giving the motorcycle positional awareness on the road. It's like having a personal assistant keeping you safe on your journey.

But, don't worry, if you're looking for some extra thrills, the traction control can be manually disabled for a little extra fun. The remaining electronic countermeasures, however, cannot be turned off, ensuring your safety at all times.

For a motorcycle of its size, the Street Glide Special handles surprisingly well, thanks to the Showa Dual-Bending Valve fork and a rear suspension with a preload adjustment knob. The fit and finish of this motorcycle are second to none, with attention to detail that is a hallmark of Harley-Davidson. I’m a big guy, I can throw this bike around easily.

ENGINE 114ci (1,868cc), air/oil-cooled V-twin; 8-valve

BORE x STROKE 4.016 x 4.5 in.

COMPRESSION RATIO 10.2:1

FUEL DELIVERY Fuel injection

TRANSMISSION/FINAL DRIVE 6-speed/chain

FRAME Steel

FRONT SUSPENSION 49mm fork; 4.6-in. travel

REAR SUSPENSION Dual shocks, adjustable for spring preload; 2.2-in. travel

FRONT BRAKE 4-piston calipers, 300mm discs

REAR BRAKE 4-piston caliper, 300mm disc

TIRES, FRONT/REAR Dunlop American Elite; 130/60-19 / 180/55-18

RAKE/TRAIL 26.0°/6.8 in.

WHEELBASE 64.0 in.

SEAT HEIGHT 26.1 in. (“laden”)

FUEL CAPACITY 6.0 gal.

CLAIMED CURB WEIGHT 827 lb.

If you're looking for the ultimate in comfort, performance, and style from a heavyweight V-twin touring bike, look no further than the 2020 Street Glide Special from Harley-Davidson. It may not be cheap, but it's worth every penny for those seeking the best of the best in the touring motorcycle class.

Find out what I did to my 2020 Street Glide Special in this video, 9 essential mods for your Harley Davidson.