2023 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special
Harley-Davidson has always been at the forefront of the American motorcycle industry, building a loyal following of riders passionate about chasing the horizon from the saddle. Along the way, Harley-Davidson has also proven that the status quo isn’t enough, showcasing a penchant for overachieving and introducing a new class of motorcycles known as Grand American Touring models. These aren’t your traditional touring bikes. Models like the 2023 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special make every long-distance journey an epic adventure by delivering exceptional power and comfort mile after mile.
The 2023 Street Glide Special is an outstanding example of everything Harley-Davidson gets right in the industry. While the Street Glide officially debuted as a stripped-down version of the Electra Glide, modern models like the Street Glide Special have replaced the Electra Glide altogether. Today, riders reap the benefits by getting in the saddle of a factory-custom bagger that delivers the performance expected of a Harley-Davidson bike, from the iconic rumble of the V-Twin engine to the signature style. The 2023 Street Glide Special is everything you imagine a touring bike should be, but better.
Starting at $27,999, the 2023 Street Glide Special is the better-equipped sibling of the Street Glide and offers more options for customization, premium features, and rider enhancements.[a] The basic Street Glide is a stripped-down bagger with the heart of a hot rod, but it’s only available in three colors and relies on the Milwaukee-Eight 107 V-Twin for its power. In contrast, the Street Glide Special has ten color options and the Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin engine, which delivers a throaty rumble along with more horsepower and torque for exceptional handling and responsiveness. Here’s a closer look at that power and everything else that makes the 2023 Street Glide Special a must-have for adventurers.
MSRP: $27,999[a]
Engine: Milwaukee-Eight 114
Torque (lb-ft): 118
Cargo Space (cu.ft.): 2.5
Styling and Specs
A Custom Bike From the Factory
The Street Glide Special is a factory-built custom bagger that introduces new levels of customization for 2023. This bike is an iconic Harley-Davidson road warrior that sits on a 64-inch wheelbase and stretches 95.5 inches long. As a Grand American Touring bike laden with stretched saddlebags that offer 2.5 cu.ft. of cargo space, the Street Glide Special isn’t what many consider a lightweight motorcycle, weighing 827 lbs in running order.Even with its heavier weight, the 2023 Street Glide Special isn’t difficult to manage on the road, thanks to its upright riding position and a 26.1-inch laden seat height that perfectly positions the rider for optimal control. When cruising along the highway, Harley-Davidson gives you every opportunity to rest your feet with integrated floorboards. Moreover, rider fatigue is minimized because of the bike’s fork-mounted fairing, which reduces head buffeting and makes traveling at higher speeds more enjoyable and comfortable.
Beyond these integral design components, one of the most appealing aspects of the 2023 Street Glide Special is the introduction of new two-tone paint schemes. Unlike the Street Glide and its three-color palette, the Street Glide Special is like a blank canvas and offers ten unique color combinations. The two-tone color combinations pair Bright Billiard Blue with Billiard Gray and a Chrome or Black finish and Industrial Yellow with Vivid Black and a Black finish. Additionally, you can pair the Chrome finish with solid-tone Vivid Black, Baja Orange, or Gray Haze. Or you can put the Street Glide Special in stealth mode and opt for the Black finish with Vivid Black, Atlas Silver Metallic, Prospect Gold, or Heirloom Red Fade.
Performance
An Exceptional Ride at Any Speed
The 2023 Street Glide Special relies on one of the most advanced Big Twin engines in the history of Harley-Davidson: the Milwaukee-Eight 114. Harley-Davidson made headlines in 2016 when it introduced its first Big Twin redesign since the late 1990s. The Milwaukee-Eight immediately garnered acclaim for its higher torque output, translating to improved acceleration and responsiveness in town and at highway speeds. By refining the design of the engine and exhaust system, Harley-Davidson answered many other issues, ultimately minimizing unwanted engine vibration and moving the exhaust heat away from the rider and passenger for a more comfortable ride.You’ll reap these benefits in the saddle of the 2023 Street Glide Special. This Grand American Touring bike offers more responsive acceleration thanks to the added displacement of the large 114 cubic-inch engine. Its two-one-two exhaust with tapered mufflers delivers the iconic Harley-Davidson rumble while the engine produces 118 lb-ft of torque at just 3,250 RPM. With more torque down low, the Street Glide Special performs exceptionally well at any speed, ensuring it offers the best road manners in the segment.
The Street Glide Special also relies on other components to deliver a smooth and responsive ride. For example, Harley-Davidson equips the bike with a hand-adjustable rear suspension that’s easy to tailor, whether riding solo or two-up. This custom factory bagger also offers exceptional stopping power, courtesy of dual floating brake rotors at the front, a fixed rotor at the back, and four-piston fixed front and rear calipers. The standard anti-lock brake system is integral to your safety in the saddle, but Harley-Davidson takes the bike’s stopping power further by electronically linking the brakes. This electronically linked braking system gives you more control over the motorcycle and ensures you have the necessary stopping power in any situation.
Technology
A Tech-Savvy Bike
As one of the best-equipped touring bikes in the segment, the 2023 Street Glide Special is also one of the most tech-savvy. Harley-Davidson recognizes the need for tech-centric features, especially with the growing reliance on smartphones and our need to stay connected. Instead of forcing riders to stow their phones, Harley-Davidson makes it easy to stay connected, informed, entertained, and aware on every journey. How does the manufacturer accomplish this feat on the 2023 Street Glide Special?This Grand American Touring bike rolls off the production line with a Boom! Box GTS infotainment system that includes a 6.5-inch TFT display and two 5.25-inch speakers. The infotainment system is one of the most intuitive and durable in the industry. Harley-Davidson equips the display with a scratch-resistant surface that minimizes glare and reflections to ensure you can see even in bright sunlight. Beyond its rugged design, the display offers an array of features, from AM/FM radio to SiriusXM. You can also pair the system with a Harley-Davidson Wireless Headset or another compatible headset to take advantage of Bluetooth capability and voice recognition, which ensures your focus stays on the road.
Apart from staying connected and entertained, Harley-Davidson also outfits the 2023 Street Glide Special with advanced rider-assist technology that gives you more control and confidence in the saddle. These tools, known as Rider Safety Enhancements, include standard features like the anti-lock brake system and electronic linked braking. However, you can extend the suite with optional upgrades like a Tire Pressure Monitoring System and Hill Hold Control, which minimizes the risk of rolling backward on a hill. Harley-Davidson also offers cornering-specific technologies that take the Grand American Touring bike’s standard safety features even further. These tools include a Cornering Enhanced Anti-Lock Brake System, Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking, a Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System, and a Cornering Drag-Torque Slip Control System.
Your Grand American Touring Destination
Republic Harley-Davidson is your destination for the 2023 Street Glide Special. Although the Street Glide debuted as a stripped-down version of the Electra Glide, it’s taken on a more prominent role over the last few years after the Electra Glide faded into oblivion. The 2023 Street Glide Special fills that gap, earning its place as one of the most customizable and tech-savvy baggers in the segment. Of course, the iconic Harley-Davidson rumble makes it that much sweeter.
You can experience this rumble and so much more at Republic Harley-Davidson. Like you, we are passionate riders and loyal Harley-Davidson fans. We appreciate the influence that Harley-Davidson has had in shaping the American motorcycle landscape and are proud to continue that legacy today by welcoming every customer into our family. This unique approach has earned us a stellar reputation as your go-to Harley-Davidson dealership in Houston.
Unlike some dealerships, Republic Harley-Davidson takes a laid-back approach to the customer experience because we know that buying a motorcycle can be overwhelming, even intimidating, for riders. Our goal is to eliminate those negative associations by letting you set the pace and tone for your experience. We follow your lead, walking you through our inventory, answering your questions, and navigating the purchase process with integrity and transparency. At the end of the day, it’s all about you.
Once you find the perfect Street Glide Special or any other model, the real work begins. You don’t have to face the road alone when you invest in the team at Republic Harley-Davidson. We’re here for all your motorcycle needs, from helping you find the best bike and MotorClothes to ordering accessories and parts for customization and overseeing all your maintenance needs. There’s nothing we can’t handle from the convenience of our stunning, centrally-located dealership and service center.