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• Driving pleasure meets style and utility
• Sport Glide only touches down softly
• Correct pressure from 3,000 / min.
• Comfortable feast for the eyes

Harley-Davidson

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The 317-kilo cruiser is certainly only a “sports bike” in Harley-Davidson’s self-image, but the Sport Glide masters the many bends on Tenerife surprisingly well.

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The wide buffalo horn handlebar is not only tailor-made to hand, it also makes turning into an easy exercise.

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Meanwhile, the feet rest far forward on the slim footrests.

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Because the 1745 cubic V2 pushes quite hard. This is especially true beyond the 3,000 tours.

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The footrests make furrows in the tar quite late

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The hidden central suspension strut in cantilever design (hence the rigid frame look) works comfortably on undulating passages and fishes out a lot.

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide at EICMA 2017.

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide at EICMA 2017.

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

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Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, 2018 model year

Driving report Harley-Davidson Sport Glide (2018)

Driving pleasure meets style and utility

Harley brings a new Softail model with the Sport Glide. The cladding and suitcase can be pulled down and back on again. We could already drive it.

The Harley-Davidson Sport Glide is a new model from the Softail range. The Americans traditionally show their new models in summer, but with the Sport Glide they have added a new product at EICMA 2017 in Milan. Its makers characterize it as "Factory custom bike."

In fact, the Harley-Davidson Sport Glide is a chopper. A small handlebar cover, the shape of which is strongly reminiscent of the famous batwing (bat wing) cover of heavy tourers, as well as a small windshield and case make it suitable for touring. The highlight: With the help of quick-release fasteners, both the handlebar cover and the case (volume 25 liters each) can be fitted or removed in next to no time and as required.

The V-Twin with oil-cooled exhaust valves is the current Milwaukee-Eight 107 four-valve unit with 1,745 cubic (107 cubic inches). It is rigidly mounted in the frame, but is kept in check by two balance shafts, so that, according to Harley, its good vibrations only reach the driver as a gentle pulsation. The Harley-Davidson Sport Glide has 84 hp, which doesn’t sound like much; But it is blessed with real pressure from below: 140 Newton meters of maximum torque are available at 3,000 rpm.

On the chassis, the upside-down fork and the "Direction of rotation Mantis light alloy wheels" in the eye. The cast wheels, measuring 18 inches at the front and 16 inches at the rear, with their jagged spokes were only available on a few exclusive CVO Harleys.

The seat height of the new Harley-Davidson Sport Glide is 680 millimeters. The ring-shaped LEDs of the current one light up in front as standard "Daymaker"-Headlights. At the rear, taillights and brake lights integrated into the turn signals are used, including LED technology. USB charging connection, the Keyless Ignition System and the Harley-Davidson Smart Security alarm system are standard equipment.

The new Harley-Davidson Sport Glide will be available from January 2018 in the colors Vivid Black, Twisted Cherry and Silver Fortune. Or alternatively in black, silver and red. From 17,995 euros.

Sport Glide only touches down softly

Harley-Davidson

The footrests make furrows in the tar quite late.

And how does the convertible US iron drive? Very well mannered! A 317-kilo cruiser is certainly only a “sports bike” in Harley-Davidson’s self-image". But the Harley-Davidson Sport Glide masters the many curves on Tenerife, the place of presentation, surprisingly well and calmly. The ninth of the current Softails circles the many narrow radii here – after all, you screw your way from the sea to an altitude of 2,100 meters in no time – absolutely reliable. The wide buffalo horn handlebar is not only tailor-made to hand, it also makes turning into an easy exercise. Meanwhile, the feet rest far forward on the slim footrests. The same ones make furrows in the tar of Tenerife quite late. They touch down softly, hard parts, such as their booms, still have some air under the keel.

Correct pressure from 3,000 / min.

Harley-Davidson

The 317 kilo cruiser is certainly only a “sport bike” in Harley-Davidson’s self-image, but the Sport Glide masters the many bends on Tenerife surprisingly well.

The sturdy upside-down fork stands flat to promote straight-line stability: the steering head angle is a hefty 60 degrees. In contrast, the 150 millimeter long caster ensures stability from the very first roll. If you’ve got the hang of it, you can drive an amazingly quick boot. Even uphill. Because the 1,745 cubic V2 pushes quite strongly. This applies above all beyond 3,000 tours – the on-board computer reports the speed together with the gear engaged in the speedometer housing on the tank. In view of the long overall gear ratio (Tempo 100 is just 2,250 rpm in sixth gear), you have to shift down every now and then. The cable-operated clutch can be pulled easily enough without actually being a pussy clutch. The individual gear steps snap precisely (and quite quietly). Only the cruise control, it usually has a break in the cornering paradise of Tenerife.

Comfortable feast for the eyes

Harley-Davidson

The hidden central suspension strut in cantilever design (hence the rigid frame look) works comfortably on undulating passages and fishes out a lot.

On the few passages of the Atlantic island, on which the asphalt also makes waves, the hidden central suspension strut in cantilever construction (hence the rigid frame look) works comfortably and fishes out a lot. The spring base and thus the vehicle level can be adjusted to the road conditions or a potential passenger in no time at all using a rotary knob. The non-adjustable “invert fork” speaks somewhat coarsely" at the front: springs and compression damping are more at home on the soft side of life. The front dips a long way when the individual four-piston stopper is reached. The chic milled front wheel only comes into its own thanks to the single disc. Because this is how it is with a Harley: The experience continues even after parking: The fat, sloping line of the Harley-Davidson Sport Glide is a real eye-catcher, the crackling of the cooling fins (the oil cooler is discreetly hidden between the frame supports ) inimitable. The company probably operates its own sound engineering for this. Conclusion: driving fun meets style, utility through changeability with plenty of owner pride. Even if we had to give the test bike back.

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