2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special
Harley-Davidson has always defied convention, building its reputation around its innate rebelliousness and successful attempts to challenge the status quo. The standard touring bike wasn't enough for America's beloved motorcycle brand. Instead, Harley-Davidson knew riders deserved more luxury and capability and tasked itself with delivering. The result was the phenomenal Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring lineup, which includes powerhouses like the 2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special.
Although the Grand American Touring lineup traces its roots to the early 1940s, the Road Glide and its more powerful counterpart, the Road Glide Special, are relatively young members of the family. Harley-Davidson introduced the Road Glide in 1998 as a long-distance bagger with an urban aesthetic, boasting sleeker lines and a unique fairing that distinguished it from siblings like the Electra Glide. From there, the Road Glide Special lives up to its name with a larger engine that promises more capability and solidifies the bike's position as a potent two-wheeled powerhouse destined for adventure.
The 2023 Road Glide Special is legendary, delivering the iconic rumble of a Harley-Davidson road warrior courtesy of its Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin engine. Its sharknose fairing gives it a distinct look and unique ride, which Harley-Davidson complements with a long list of amenities that enhance your experience in the saddle. Moreover, the 2023 Road Glide Special looks the part of an urban adventurer, from its signature rumble to new two-tone paint schemes that ensure the world always takes notice.
But what else can you expect from the Road Glide Special in 2023? With a starting price of $27,999 and an extensive list of standard and available features, the 2023 Road Glide Special promises one of the best rides money can buy.[a] Here's a closer look at how Harley-Davidson accomplishes that feat, making the 2023 Road Glide Special an outstanding model.
MSRP: $27,999[a]
Horsepower (hp): 97
Torque (lb-ft): 118
Cargo Space (cu.ft): 2.7
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Design
Built to Stand Out
The 2023 Road Glide Special is one of the most appealing touring bikes in the segment because of its unique aesthetic. While most baggers are recognizable by their bulky saddlebags, Harley-Davidson does something different with the Road Glide Special by streamlining the bike's design to give it a sleek and modern profile. The Road Glide Special offers 2.7 cu.ft. of storage space but does so subtly with its saddlebags integrated with the silhouette rather than positioned as an afterthought or add-on. This gives the Road Glide Special a more urban feel, which Harley-Davidson complements with an extensive color palette.The 2023 Road Glide Special offers ten color options, including three two-tone paint schemes and the 120th-anniversary Heirloom Red Fade that will undoubtedly turn heads. You can opt for classics like Vivid Black with Chrome Finish or put the bagger in stealth mode by swapping the chrome details for Black Finish. Harley-Davidson also pairs its signature Chrome Finish with Baja Orange and Gray Haze. Or you can enhance the Road Glide Special by blacking out its details and opting for Atlas Silver Metallic or Prospect Gold. Finally, Harley-Davidson gives the Road Glide Special a genuinely distinctive aesthetic with all-new two-tone combinations that pair Industrial Yellow and Vivid Black or Bright Billiard Blue and Billiard Grey.
Whatever color you choose, you can rest easy knowing the 2023 Road Glide Special is one of the most stylish bikes in its class. Its sleek profile gives it a distinct appearance, with Harley-Davidson designing the bike so that it's functional, comfortable, and capable. These characteristics are apparent in every design detail, from the upright riding position and floorboards that enhance your control and comfort to the frame-mounted fairing that gives the Road Glide Special its eye-catching sharknose front end, enhances rider comfort, and houses advanced features like the Harley-Davidson infotainment system.
Performance
Power to Go the Distance
The 2023 Road Glide Special is a Grand American Touring bike that's just as comfortable on long-distance journeys as it is navigating busy city streets. With a bike that weighs 853 lbs in running order, this versatility is rare and showcases why Harley-Davidson is one of the most revered motorcycle manufacturers in the country. Harley-Davidson is in the business of defying the odds and giving riders everything they want and more in their bikes.The Road Glide Special lives up to that reputation, rolling off the production floor with a Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin engine that delivers 118 lb-ft of torque and offers the most standard displacement in the touring lineup. The V-Twin's torque delivery is exceptional and is one of the main reasons the heavy-weight Road Glide Special is agile and responsive even at low speeds. In addition, the engine delivers incredible, authoritative power to give you confidence at any speed and in every condition.
Designed for Comfort and Safety
Harley-Davidson heightens that confidence by putting you in an upright riding position with a 26.1-inch laden seat and wide-set handlebars that offer outstanding leverage over the bagger. This position ensures the handlebars give you adequate control over the bike without forcing you to stretch your arms or work tirelessly to turn the 95.7-inch long tourer. The motorcycle's sharknose fairing is also integral to this design, protecting the handlebars and featuring triple split stream vents that reduce head buffeting to optimize your comfort and minimize fatigue when traveling at highway speeds.While power is often a priority when shopping for a touring bike like the Road Glide Special, stopping power and ride quality are just as important. Harley-Davidson recognizes as much, outfitting the 2023 Road Glide Special with a high-performance front and rear suspension. In addition, the hand-adjustable rear shocks give you total control over the quality of the ride. As far as stopping power goes, there's no question the 2023 Road Glide Special will respond in urgent situations since it rolls off the production line with Reflex Linked Brembo Brakes and a standard anti-lock braking system. The technology links the brakes for heightened responsiveness, with the anti-lock brake system operating to prevent wheel lockup in emergencies.
Technology
A Modern Marvel on Two Wheels
The 2023 Road Glide Special is a modern marvel that answers every need to chase the horizon without compromising your safety, connectivity, or experience in the saddle. Harley-Davidson ensures as much by equipping the touring bike with one of the best infotainment systems in the segment. The Boom! Box GTS infotainment system is accessed through a 6.5-inch display between the handlebars. The display is built specifically for motorcycles, meaning it's rugged and features a unique screen that enhances your visibility in even the brightest conditions.Harley-Davidson pairs the infotainment system with dual 5.25-inch speakers that, like the display, are built into the sharknose fairing. The speakers deliver a premium entertainment experience, whether you're listening to the bike's AM/FM radio, one of the 20 SiriusXM presets, or streaming music via USB or Bluetooth. Moreover, the speakers and the bagger's intuitive technology work seamlessly with your phone, offering voice recognition and text-to-speech. These tools ensure you never miss a message or call but also make it easy to keep your focus and eyes on the road ahead.
Beyond connectivity and entertainment, the 2023 Road Glide Special also offers an expansive suite of safety and rider-assist tools that improve your experience in the saddle. This Grand American Touring bike comes with electronically linked brakes and an anti-lock braking system, two vital components for any rider. Harley-Davidson gives you the opportunity to expand the bike's features with optional Rider Safety Enhancements. This suite includes tools like Vehicle Hold Control and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System that makes tire maintenance straightforward. You can also benefit from the Cornering Enhanced suite, which consists of a Cornering Enhanced Anti-Lock Brake System, Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking, a Cornering Drag-Torque Slip Control System, and a Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System for optimal stability in slippery conditions.
Welcome to Your Harley-Davidson Dealership in Houston
Are you excited to climb in the saddle of the 2023 Road Glide Special? As your Harley-Davidson dealer in the Houston metropolis, we understand your excitement and are ready to help you bring your Harley-Davidson dreams to life. Just as Harley-Davidson works diligently to set new benchmarks of excellence, we've built our reputation for delivering an unparalleled customer experience anytime you're here.
Republic Harley-Davidson is your Road Glide Special destination. As a full-service motorcycle center, we are dedicated to handling all your riding needs. Our unmatched selection of new and used bikes ensures the perfect motorcycle is on our showroom floor, with our transparency leaving no doubt that you're getting a great deal. Even our finance experts work to ensure you get the best deal possible by walking you through your purchase and explaining every detail to ensure complete transparency.
Our work continues even after the sale is final. As a team of riders, we know buying a motorcycle is only the first step in making a lifetime of memories. We're here to kickstart your next adventure by helping you find the right accessories and gear. We're also dedicated to helping you protect your investment and will oversee all your routine maintenance and repair needs from the convenience of our state-of-the-art service center. Whatever you need, Republic Harley-Davidson is here for you!