Riding The Harley Road Glide ST - 131, Stage 4 - SHOCK

Riding the Harley Road Glide ST. I was SHOCKED. Should I apologise for calling the Harley Davidson Road Glide a "girls" bike? Join me as I “accidentally” ride this 131, Stage 4 Harley Davidson Road Glide ST up Arthurs Seat. Great bikes and sinister music as the boys ride their Harley Davidson baggers to the Crib Point bike show and pig out on burgers whilst discussing overeating. Hang in till the end of the video and I'll give you my "honest john" opinion on the Harley Road Glide ST

When I swapped my Street Glide Special for Blake’s 2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST, I felt like I was upgrading to the big brother of my ride. The Road Glide feels bigger and longer, but the two bikes are actually pretty similar in size and mechanics. Even so, I couldn't help but enjoy my time on this big bagger.

The Road Glide ST has a larger and more imposing front fairing than the Street Glide batwing. It's got twin front headlight bars and aggressive styling that really caught my eye. As a taller rider, I appreciated the solid-mounted fairing and the extra space it created between me and the front wheel. The only downside is that the gauges and touchscreen display are a bit of a reach, so smaller riders might find it less comfortable.

This bike had 14 inch “Thrashin Supply” T bars which were narrower than standard apes and surprisingly the most comfortable bars I have experienced. A perfect fit.

I’ve mentioned this before in my video’s - one thing I loved about the Road Glide ST is the amount of storage it offers. The front fairing has two deep flip-up lids that are perfect for holding your phone, wallet, and keys. While a locking mechanism would be a nice addition, I found them useful for stashing my gloves. It's a shame that the 2022 model in standard form lacks a pillion seat, but you can always add an aftermarket option if you need one.

On the freeway, the Road Glide ST was a dream to ride. The solid front fairing cut down on wind buffeting more than my Street Glide does and made the trip to Arthurs seat a breeze. Up the mountain the bike felt light and nimble, thanks to the static mounting of the fairing. It was easy to maneuver at slow speeds and eager to lean into corners at higher speeds.

The Milwaukee-Eight 117ci engine has plenty of torque anyway but this 131 stage 4 upgrade was awesome. It was easy to get this big bike going both on the freeway and around the twisties. While the torque and horsepower numbers could have been better, with a non - Harley Davidson tune, I think this Road Glide ST had more than enough torque and grunt for most people. With a few more upgrades, it could easily be turned into a serious performance bagger.

The bike sits a bit higher than the Specials, which made for a more comfortable ride, especially on bumpy roads. The factory suspension setup was more than enough for my needs, and I didn't feel the need to make any adjustments.

Overall, I had a fantastic time riding the Road Glide ST. It's got style, presence, and not surprising, performance. It suits my 6’4 frame and while it might be better suited for taller riders, anyone can appreciate the power on tap, solid build and smooth ride.

Specifications

Colours: Vivid Black or Gunship Gray
Service: 1600km then every 8000km
Claimed Torque: 168Nm@3500rpm
Wet Weight: 382kg
Fuel capacity: 22.7L

Standard Engine: Air-cooled Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin, 1923cc, 103.5 x 114.3mm bore x stroke, 10.2:1 compression ratio, ESPFI, two-into-one-into-two exhaust
Gearbox: Primary drive: 34/46. Six-speed ratios – 1st: 9.593, 6.65, 4.938, 4.0, 3.407, 6th: 2.875 Final Belt 32/68 Clutch: Wet multi-plate, cable actuation

Chassis: Mild steel; tubular frame; two-piece stamped and welded backbone; cast and forged junctions; twin down tubes; bolt-on rear frame with forged fender supports; MIG welded.
Rake: 26° Trail: 173mm
Suspension: 49mm dual bending valve forks, Premium standard height hand-adjustable rear suspension
Brakes: 300mm rotors, Four-piston fixed calipers (f), 300mm rotor, two-piston floating caliper (r), ABS
Wheels & Tyres: Bronze Prodigy wheels, 130/60 – 19in (f), 180/55 – 18in (r), Dunlop

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 1625mm
Seat height: 715mm
Ground clearance: 140mm
Overall Length: 2405mm
Lean Angle: 32/31 degrees

Instruments: Multi-language multi-function touch screen digital full colour TFT display, handlebar mounted controls, Central Screen, BOOM! Audio System with GPS and touchscreen, charging port in fairing, LED lighting all around.

STAGE 4 131 Cubic Inch Kit (Harley Davidson Description)

Go big or go home. With the largest displacement of any Harley-Davidson Stage Kit, this 114CI to 131CI Stage IV Kit was designed to deliver maximum horsepower – all the way to the redline. Packaged with patent-protected cylinder technology, it allows for the largest bolt-on engine upgrade to any Milwaukee-Eight motor.

Features new CNC-ported heads with 1mm bigger valves and fully machined combustion chambers. Coupled with the kit's high-lift SE8-517 cam, high compression pistons and a 64mm throttle body and intake manifold, this combination delivers a thrilling 131 ft-lb of torque and 121 HP rear-wheel output when paired with Screamin' Eagle Street Cannon Mufflers.

It’s designed to run wide open at high-end RPMs and provide a significant boost of torque from cruising speed. You’ll feel the difference as soon as you twist the throttle. When installed by an authorized Harley-Davidson Dealer within 60 days of the vehicle purchase, compliant kits do not impact the vehicle’s limited warranty.

Kit includes: CNC Ported Cylinder Head with CNC machined chamber and 1mm larger valves, Stage IV Timer Cover, SE8-517 High-Lift Cam, Forged High Compression Pistons, High Performance Cam Bearing and Tappets, 4.31" Steel Sleeve Cylinders, 64mm Throttle Body and Cast Manifold and High Flow Injectors (5.5 g/sec).

• Stage IV Kit - 114CI or 117CI to 131CI for Oil Cooled models

• Delivers increased response throughout the entire RPM range

• Provides thrilling acceleration when twisting the throttle

• Maintains flat torque curve from cruising RPM to redline

• Can be installed without removing the engine from chassis

• Retains Original Equipment Factory Warranty