First Ride: 2018 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide

LAGUNA BEACH, California – Harley-Davidson must be feeling some heat. Maybe it’s the softening of the cruiser market. Perhaps, it’s the renewed competition from long-time arch-rival Indian. Certainly, the flattening — and, more recently, even a slight decrease — in its global sales has put a fire in its belly. Whatever the case or justification, though, we the motorcycle-consuming public benefit.

For instance, it was just six months ago that The Motor Company unveiled its biggest market shift in years, the combination of Dyna and Softail into one lineup, highlighted by eight brand-new or completely revised models. And, yet, unlike previous unveiling of all new lineups, there has been no standing on laurels, Milwaukee taking the wraps off a ninth new model in the rejuvenated Softail platform. And being late to the party might have given the new Sport Glide a leg up, the extra six months of development perhaps the reason that the new semi-touring big twin is the best of all the 2018 Softails and one of my favourite Harleys of all time.

You know something is seriously wrong with the world when a Harley Softail’s saddlebags are more accommodating than a Honda Gold Wing’s. Now you’ll note that I didn’t say commodious, for as you’d suspect, even the 2018 Wing’s newly downsized luggage carriers are larger. But, while the new Harley luggage — with damped lids, no less! — is definitely smaller, they are better shaped inside than the misshapen side bags on the new Wing. For instance, I could fit my lap top case easily inside the Sport Glide’s bags; not so on the new Wing’s. More importantly for the intended audience — that would be those looking for stylish weekend getaways if I am reading Harley-Davidson’s marketing drivel right — I easily fit an entire airline carry-on’s clothing and the aforementioned MacBook into the two saddlebags and had room left over for rain gear. Practical, lockable and stylish — well, done Harley!

2018 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide saddlebags.

Like Convertible models past, said luggage and the “Batwing” fairing are easily removable. Two minutes and a couple of latches and the Spot Glide is, well, naked as a Softail. Harley implies that removing the bodywork makes the Sport Glide more stylish though I, for one, found it much more attractive fully dressed. Considering that previous “convertible” models have not proven popular with Harley loyalists, it’s probably a good thing the new Sport Glide looks so good with its clothes on.

MY18.5 Campaign Imagery

That Batwing fairing provides passable protection. Deliberately sized to minimize wind pressure to the rider’s chest but leave the head in an unobstructed breeze, the fairing does both while producing very little turbulence around the helmet. Yes, you will get colder in a stiff breeze, but you won’t go deaf without earplugs.

You can convert the Sport Glide into a full-boat tourer. Harley will offer a taller windscreen, a luggage rack and even an Electra Glide-like Tour-Pak rear topcase. I’d avoid all of it, the taller screen trading turbulence for protection and the Tour-Pac likely making the Sport Glide look like a Paul Teutul, Orange County Choppers abomination.

Milwaukee’s, well, Milwaukee-Eight engine really is a gem. Dual counterbalanced with, in this guise, 107.6 pound-feet of torque — and, judging from the other eight-valve 107s we’ve tested, about 78 or so horsepower — the rigidly-mounted big V-twin is smooth when it needs to be, throbby when you’re looking for personality and responsive enough, especially with just one on board, to make the 114 version of the Milwaukee-Eight unnecessary. And, indeed, there is no “114” version of the Sport Glide as there is for the Fat Bob and Heritage, but you can order a Stage IV upgrade from the Screamin’ Eagle accessory department that pumps things up to 114 cubes. The Sport Glide weighing in at a comparatively light — for a Harley — 304 kilograms, I suspect it’s largely unnecessary.

2018 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide

Harley’s latest suspension is up to the job. There may be only one cartridge damper in the two fork legs — both have springs — but the inverted front fork is compliant enough over all but the largest bumps for serious roadwork. Ditto for the rear, which is Milwaukee’s top-line edition of its recent monoshock, complete with a frame-mounted hydraulic preload adjuster. Neither end has damping adjustments but for the intended use, the suspension is well-calibrated right out of the box.

It could use more brake. Like so many — too many! — Harleys, the Sport Glide leaves the showroom with only one disc brake. That, according to Harley’s stylists, is so we can have an unobstructed view of the new Mantis front ‘directional’ wheel, “the first of its style to come out of the Harley-Davidson factory on a non-CVO model” says Harley. Dude, who in H-E-double-hockey-sticks give a rat’s you-know-what about a wheel when they can’t stop in time to avoid the front grill of an 18-wheeler? Yes, the single disc is gripped by a four-piston caliper, but we want two of ‘em.

2018 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide

The Sport Glide is the best steering of all the new Softails. You’ll notice, again, I didn’t say “finest handling.” It lacks the ground clearance to make it a truly effective backroad weapon. But, unlike the Fat Bob that, despite its sport bike-ish styling runs on stupidly-sized cruiser tires, the Sport Glide’s 130/70-16 front and 180/70-16 Michelin Scorchers steer perfectly neutrally. Things may start scraping early, but you’ll have fun till you get there.

The Sport Glide is comfortable enough for weekend tours. The rider’s seat, at least, is broad and flat, the reach to the handlebar — a semi-sweptback affair — reasonable and the seat height a lowish 673 millimetres. Were it not for my lopsided lower lumbars — which make any foot-forward controls uncomfortable after an hour — I’d be happy to while away the hours on the Sport Glide. And, if you’re not so afflicted, that basically negates my only criticism of the new Sport Glide.

The 2018 Sport Glide costs $22,299, about mid-pack in the 2018 Softail lineup, which makes it, considering it superlative all-round performance, something of a bargain. It’d be the Softail I’d own and is, short of the Road King, the best Harley I’ve ever tested.

Hopefully, it catches on.

2018 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide