2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® near Greenville, SC
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The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® presents a carefully engineered combination of design, powertrain, technology, and safety features. This model focuses on delivering optimized on-road performance with an emphasis on handling, rider interface, and control. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® integrates traditional styling with contemporary engineering improvements that affect both long-distance touring capability and everyday usability.
Engine Performance: The Milwaukee-Eight® 117 V-Twin
The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® utilizes the Milwaukee-Eight® 117 V-twin engine, engineered with liquid-cooled cylinder heads to manage heat under extended load. With an output of 130 foot-pounds of torque and 105 horsepower, it provides steady, responsive power across a broad rpm range. The integrated radiator and cooling system support optimal operating temperatures, especially in warmer climates or during prolonged rides. This setup allows the 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® to maintain reliable performance under varying conditions.
This cooling system helps reduce heat buildup, which can affect both rider comfort and engine efficiency. The displacement increase in the Milwaukee-Eight® 117 engine compared to previous versions contributes to improved throttle response and power availability. The combination of power and cooling control enhances reliability and reduces engine stress over long rides.
The chassis incorporates cast-aluminum wheels sized 19 inches in the front and 18 inches in the rear, contributing to reduced unsprung weight and improved handling. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® also features adjustable rear shocks with asymmetric emulsion technology, allowing the rider to tune suspension stiffness quickly and precisely. These suspension components improve ride quality and traction on a variety of road surfaces.
Fuel economy is rated at approximately 44 miles per gallon, an efficient figure for a motorcycle of this size and power level. The seating position places the rider at a height of 26.6 inches when loaded, supporting ergonomic control and comfort.
Design Innovations: Aerodynamics and Rider Comfort
The defining feature of the 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® remains its frame-mounted Sharknose fairing. This component has been developed using computational fluid dynamics to enhance aerodynamic efficiency. By channeling airflow around the rider and bike, the fairing reduces helmet buffeting and wind resistance. This reduction in turbulence contributes to decreased rider fatigue over long-distance travel and improved high-speed stability.
Lighting on the 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® uses fully integrated LED units. These lights provide clear illumination and reliable signaling with low energy consumption. The LED setup is designed to align with the bike’s aerodynamic lines without adding drag or compromising aesthetics.
The wheels on the 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® come with a cast finish available in both chrome and black trims. The one-piece seat design is intended to offer sustained comfort on long trips, combining form with functional support.
The handlebars can be adjusted through 27 degrees of rotation forward or backward. This feature allows riders to customize hand positioning to optimize comfort and handling dynamics. The available factory paint finishes include seven options, such as the Factory Custom Mystic Shift, which changes color dynamically in sunlight due to its unique finish properties. These paint options provide visual customization without altering the bike’s technical attributes.
Advanced Technology: Display and Connectivity
The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® is equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen color TFT display that serves as the central interface for navigation, ride information, and infotainment. This display provides a bright and clear view even under varying light conditions and presents information without clutter.
The touchscreen operates on the Skyline™ OS platform, offering smooth responsiveness and intuitive menu structures. Riders can access embedded navigation, control audio functions, and monitor key vehicle data through this interface.
Ride modes on the 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® allow for quick adjustment of throttle response, traction control, and anti-lock braking settings. There are three preset modes and an additional customizable option that enables riders to tailor settings to specific preferences or road conditions. This flexibility enhances adaptability across different environments.
The audio system includes in-fairing speakers designed for clear music projection. The quality is maintained at various speeds and ambient noise levels, and control is integrated into the touchscreen system, reducing distraction.
Bluetooth® connectivity enables riders to link smartphones and other compatible devices for hands-free communication and media streaming, contributing to convenience without compromising focus on riding.
Rider Safety Enhancements: Integrated Control Systems
Harley-Davidson® has incorporated multiple electronic safety systems into the 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® to support stability and rider control in diverse conditions. The Anti-lock Brake System prevents wheel lock during abrupt or strong braking, maintaining traction and directional control.
Electronic Linked Braking automatically distributes braking force between the front and rear wheels when the front brake lever or rear brake pedal is applied. This system optimizes braking balance, improving stopping power while maintaining control, particularly in emergency situations.
The Traction Control System limits rear wheel slip during acceleration to maintain grip and reduce the likelihood of loss of control. Drag-Torque Slip Control intervenes to reduce rear wheel slip during sudden deceleration or downshifts, especially on slippery or uneven surfaces.
Vehicle Hold Control assists with hill starts by maintaining brake pressure after the brake lever or pedal is released, preventing rollback until the rider is ready to accelerate. This system facilitates controlled starts on inclines without additional manual input.
Tire Pressure Monitoring alerts the rider to deviations from recommended tire pressure values. Maintaining proper tire pressure is critical for safety, handling, and tire longevity.
Additional cornering-specific versions of these safety systems use data from lean angle sensors and lateral acceleration measurements. These cornering-enhanced systems adjust braking pressure and traction control based on the bike’s lean to maintain stability and rider intent during turns. Cornering Enhanced Anti-lock Braking, Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking, Cornering Enhanced Traction Control, and Cornering Enhanced Drag-Torque Slip Control all contribute to precise control through bends and variable road surfaces.
Functional and Ergonomic Details
The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® provides a low seat height combined with adjustable handlebars to accommodate a range of rider sizes and preferences. This combination supports ergonomic posture and reduces fatigue during extended rides. The frame-mounted fairing reduces buffeting and wind noise, contributing to rider endurance.
Cast wheels reduce rotational mass, improving acceleration and braking responsiveness. The asymmetrical rear shocks provide easy preload adjustment without tools, allowing riders to quickly respond to load changes or road conditions.
The liquid-cooled engine configuration is designed to maintain consistent operating temperatures without requiring rider intervention. This cooling system increases reliability and allows for sustained performance in a wider range of environmental conditions compared to air-cooled counterparts.
The overall reduction in bike weight, combined with aerodynamic improvements, results in a more responsive ride and easier handling at low speeds and in tight maneuvers.