Ride-enhancing technology is always around us, and if you’re constantly on the go, chances are you’re familiar with them. One such technology that has revolutionized the world of road riding is cruise control.
It has become a must-have feature for road bikes today. However, many don’t know that road glide and street glide are two distinct types of motorcycles that differ in performance and features. So, before making a choice, it’d be ideal to understand the difference between the two.
Both road glide and street glide are popular choices in the market today. The difference between them comes down to their performance specifications and price tags. But before understanding the difference between road glide and street glide, let’s understand what cruise control is and how it helps make riding a road glide easy.
Road Glide Vs. Street Glide: Which One Is Better For Touring
Road Glide and Street Glide offer excellent safety, performance, and infotainment features, making them great choices for touring. The Street Glide has more accessories than the Road Glide, such as cruise control and heated handgrips. The Road Glide is more affordable, with features such as a power windshield and anti-lock brakes. This makes
it easier to mount and dismount than the street glide, making it a great option for riders with difficulty getting on and off their bike. Both bikes offer advanced features to keep riders safe while touring, such as electronic shifting and powerful disc brakes. So regardless of which bike you choose, you can be confident that you’re getting a high-quality ride capable of handling any type of riding situation.
Choosing a road or street glide will ultimately depend on your preferences and requirements. If you want a smooth ride with plenty of comfort and style, go for the road glide! If you’re looking for something more robust and capable of tackling any terrain life throws at it, then opt for the street glide. It’s up to you to decide what kind of bike you want.
Road Glide Vs. Street Glidekey Features
The two motorcycle models share some similarities, but certain features distinguish them. The Road Glide and the Street Glide have advanced features to keep riders safe and secure, such as power-adjustable-saddle height, cruise control, and heated hand grips.
The Harley-Davidson Street Glide has accessories like heated seats and a power-dome hood. Meanwhile, the Road Glide is slightly more affordable, with features like a power windshield and anti-lock brakes. The Road Glide starts at $19,999, while the Street Glide starts at $20,699. These two motorcycle models offer similar riding experiences for riders of all skill levels.
Cruise Control
Road Glides have a cruise control feature, which helps maintain the vehicle’s speed. Cruise control can be helpful for long-distance drivers who want to save time and energy while on the road. Cruise control automatically slows the vehicle when it reaches its desired speed or if it approaches a speed limit. A switch on the handlebar can also activate it.
Cruise control is useful for making long trips more comfortable and convenient. It allows drivers to focus on navigation and steering without worrying about constantly shifting gears or maintaining constant speeds. Cruise control can help make driving safer and more efficient.
Reflex™ Linked Brembo® Brakes With ABS
Road Glide is equipped with Reflex™ Linked Brembo® Brakes with ABS, which provides extra safety features to manage the bike. The Boom! Box 4.3 infotainment system comes standard with two 5.25-inch speakers and Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone capability for easy communication.
Other features include voice recognition and text-to-speech capabilities, an SD card slot for storing music, a flash drive, and an MP3-via-USB connection for playing music from your phone or USB device. Additionally, road glide is equipped with the Reflex Defensive Rider System (RDRS) to improve riding traction and safety. This system includes anti-lock brakes, electronic linked braking, and other safety features to ensure a safe ride.
Security System
The Street Glide is equipped with a security system that ensures safe and efficient lane changes. The system uses the turn signal for lane changes but also has a self-canceling function that prevents drivers from manually signaling their lane changes. This makes it easy and safe to change lanes while keeping both hands on the handlebars. The Street Glide also features a backup camera to aid in turning around safely.
The Street Glide’s security system is designed to ensure that lane changes are safe and efficient. It uses sensors to detect obstacles and automatically brakes the bike if necessary, preventing accidents and saving fuel. By ensuring safe and efficient lane changing, the security system helps reduce fatigue and make riding more enjoyable.
Boom!™ Box 4.3 Infotainment System
The Boom! Box 4.3 Infotainment system comes standard on both the road glide and street glide models and includes two 5.25-inch speakers and Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone capabilities. This makes streaming music from your phone or a radio station from your ride’s media system easy.
Additionally, riders can upgrade to the GTS version of the Boom box 4.3 system if they want additional features such as voice recognition and text-to-speech options. With the Boom Box 4.3 system, riders can access their favorite music without a smartphone or other device, making it perfect for long-distance riding or riding solo. It also includes presets for popular channels such as SiriusXM, allowing riders to listen to their favorite shows and songs without searching for them.
Mobile Phone Connections
The Road Glide and Street Glide can connect to a mobile phone via Bluetooth. The Road Glide has an in-dash audio/infotainment system, allowing for hands-free phone calls or music streaming from the rider’s mobile phone.
The Street Glide also has an in-dash audio/infotainment system but with a more advanced system that allows for easier navigation, music streaming, and a USB port for charging the rider’s mobile phone. The street glide offers more storage space and safety features than the road glide.
The street glide has several safety features, such as ABS, front and rear traction control, and electronic stability control, all designed to make riding safer and more comfortable. Besides these safety features, the street glide has a larger fairing, providing additional protection from wind and road debris. This street glide can handle various riding conditions and provide flexibility for any riding activity.
Road Glide Vs. Street Glide Performance Specs
The 2020 Harley-Davidson Road Glide and Street Glide both feature performance-oriented riding experiences, with the Road Glide having slightly lighter specifications. The Road Glide is powered by a 645-cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine that produces 67 horsepower and 62-foot pounds of torque.
This makes it a capable street motorcycle, accelerating from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and easily handling curves. The Street Glide features a 645-cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine with 115 horsepower and 110-foot pounds of torque. This gives it superb power delivery on the street, making it a capable road bike for riders who enjoy riding fast.
Both bikes have ABS brakes, power windows, and an anti-lock system as standard features. The Street Glide comes slightly more expensive at $20,699 compared to $19,999 for the Road Glide. However, its additional features, such as mirrors, saddlebags, fairing protection panel, and seat height adjuster, may justify that price difference. The Road Glide is worth checking out if you’re looking for an affordable street motorcycle that can handle any riding conditions easily.
Price Comparison – Road Glide Vs. Street Glide
The Road Glide starts at $19,999 and goes up to $25,499, while the Street Glide starts at $20,699 and goes up to $28,899. The Street Glide has standard accessories like ABS brakes, a 5-speed manual transmission, and a digital instrument panel.
Meanwhile, the Road Glide is an options model with features like electric seat warmers and cruise control. The Road Glide is lighter, weighing 796 pounds compared to 821 pounds for the Street Glide. This gives it a better riding position and a more elegant feel on the road.
Finally, the seat height of 26.1 inches for the Road Glide is lower than 29.5 inches for the Street Glide. This gives riders more legroom when riding longer distances. Overall, the Street glide is a great option for riders seeking more comfort and refinement in their motorcycle riding experience.
Differences Between Road Glide And Street Glide
A few differences between road glide and street glide can influence your decision. Road glides are more comfortable and luxurious, thanks to wider tires and suspension. These models also tend to be more nimble and agile, making them a great choice for cruising around the city.
On the other hand, street glides have larger rims and tires, which give them a more rugged look and feel. This can be useful if you want to tackle off-road terrain or don’t mind getting a bit dirtier.
- The Street Glide has a higher-level top case and trunk with lockable latches for safe storage. The Road Glide features covered saddlebags for safety from any items that might spill out.
- The Street Glide features fender-mounted turn signal mirrors, while the Road Glide features a rider’s backrest for additional comfort.
- The Street Glide features cruise control and heated handgrips, while the Road Glide features a power windshield and anti-lock brakes.
- The Street Glide offers more passenger space and a wider seat, making riding more comfortable [104].
- Besides, the street glide has better handling, larger wheels, and lower seat height, making it easier to handle when riding on roadways.
Measurements And Dimensions – Road Glide Vs. Street Glide
Regarding road and street, glides are two distinct types of vehicles that serve different purposes. While a road glide is designed for long-distance travel, a street glide focuses more on short-distance commuting and recreational use.
- The Road Glide has a frame-mounted fairing, while the Street Glide has a fork-mounted fairing which may affect the angle of wind protection.
- The Road Glide is lighter and more agile, making it an ideal choice for road riding.
- However, the Street Glide is a good option if you prefer the street glide’s extra wind protection and stability.
- The Street Glide is about 25 pounds lighter than the Road Glide, with a seat height of 26.1 inches compared to 29.5 inches.
- A lighter bike increases your power-to-weight ratio and may give an acceleration advantage.
- Regarding height, the larger Road Glide may be more comfortable, with more space between the handlebars and the seat.
- Overall, road glides are great for riding any type of road. They’re lightweight and agile, making them great for road riding. However, the Street Glide is a good option if you prefer street glides’ extra wind protection and stability.
Should You Choose The Road Glide Or The Street Glide?
The road and street glides are popular for their responsive riding experience and street-friendly design. The road glide is $300 cheaper than the street glide, has a lower seat height, and is 25 pounds lighter. Both bikes have advanced safety features, such as suspension seat posts, disc brakes, front and rear racks, and Shimano 6-speed gears.
If you want to ride like a pro without breaking the bank, there’s no better choice than a road glide. However, the choice between the two bikes depends on size, weight, and budget preference. A test ride would help you know which bike suits you best.
Conclusion
A road glide is well-suited for long-distance touring due to its low center of gravity and nimble handling characteristics. On the other hand, a street glide has closed-style fairing and horizontal stabilizers that grant stability at high speeds. It may be more suitable for those who plan to travel on highways or backcountry roads.
Both road glide and street glide are great bikes for riding. It depends on your preferences which one is better for you. Test ride both bikes to find out which one suits you best. While road glide works well on highways and city roads, street glide performs better on winding mountain roads.
Road glide offers a smooth and spacious ride with ample space for rear-seat riders, while street glide has a sportier riding position and enhanced handling abilities. So, compare Road glide vs. street glide motorcycles to pick your favorite and enjoy the ride.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.What Is The Difference Between Road Glide And Street Glide?
Ans: The main difference between the Road Glide and Street Glide is the frame-mounted fairing. The Road Glide has a frame-mounted fairing, while the Street Glide has a fork-mounted fairing which may create a difference in the wind protection angle.
2.Do I Want A Road Glide Or A Street Glide?
Ans: Both bikes are great for riding on the road, but the road glide will be better if you have specific preferences. The street glide is cheaper and has a lower seat height, making riding more comfortable.
3.What’s The Difference Between Road Glide And Street Glide?
Ans: The main difference between the Road Glide and Street Glide is that the Street Glide has a lower seat height and different accessories. The lower seat height is a better option for short riders as it will make riding more comfortable.
4.Is A Street Glide Suitable For Touring?
Ans: Yes, the Street Glide is a suitable touring bike. It has a comfortable seat, a windscreen, and lower handlebars, making it suitable for touring. It also has a wider wheelbase than other bikes, providing more stability on steep hills.
5.Which One Is Better: Road Glide Or Street Glide?
Ans: Neither bike is better than the other. Both bikes offer advanced features to keep riders safe, such as a headlight, taillight system, and bell.