2025 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide® Ultra near Greenville, SC
The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide® Ultra is designed specifically for two-up touring, combining proven performance with technical refinements that address the demands of extended rides. This model integrates a powerful V-twin engine, advanced aerodynamic solutions, significant storage capacity, and modern safety and technology features to provide a comprehensive touring experience. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide® Ultra prioritizes functional engineering choices developed over decades, offering a motorcycle that supports long hours on the road without sacrificing control or comfort.
Engine Performance: The Milwaukee-Eight® 117 Powertrain
The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide® Ultra runs on the Milwaukee-Eight® 117 engine, a high-displacement V-twin delivering 105 horsepower and 130 foot-pounds of torque. This setup is tuned for strong acceleration, consistent cruising, and dependable performance under two-up touring loads. Power delivery remains stable across varied riding scenarios, contributing to predictable throttle response and ride quality. With an estimated fuel economy of 44 miles per gallon, the engine aligns well with the demands of long-distance touring.
Engine cooling and exhaust tuning contribute to a smooth, reliable power output. The engine’s torque characteristics support confident throttle response, essential for overtaking and maintaining highway speeds with added passenger weight and cargo. Its integration with the chassis and suspension also helps manage the forces generated during acceleration and braking to maintain rider stability.
Design Innovations: Aerodynamics and Rider-Passenger Comfort
The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide® Ultra features design elements focused on aerodynamics and ergonomic comfort, crucial for long-distance riding. The motorcycle employs the classic Batwing fairing, which has undergone extensive refinement using computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnel testing. The fairing’s shape and the taller windshield, which is four inches higher than on other Street Glide® variants, reduce wind buffeting by up to 60 percent. This reduction directly improves rider and passenger comfort by minimizing helmet turbulence and wind pressure on the upper body during extended highway cruising.
The two-up seat has been redesigned to improve posture by rotating the rider’s hips forward, aiming to reduce spinal strain over long periods. This seat is made to accommodate both rider and passenger, with sufficient padding and contouring for prolonged comfort. Heated grips are standard, providing functional warmth for hands during cooler conditions, which is a practical feature for extended rides.
Storage capacity on the 2025 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide® Ultra is notably enhanced compared to standard models. It includes a King Tour-Pak® luggage carrier with a passenger backrest and armrests, hard-shell saddlebags, and fairing cubbies. The combined storage volume totals 4.9 cubic feet, more than twice the capacity found on the standard Street Glide®, enabling riders to carry necessary gear securely. Additional design details, such as saddlebag guards, help protect bodywork in the event of a tip-over, while the fuel tank features a medallion in chrome or black that complements the bike’s trim, maintaining a cohesive aesthetic without compromising functionality.
Technology Integrations: Infotainment and Rider Assistance Systems
The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide® Ultra incorporates a 12.3-inch TFT touchscreen display running the Skyline™ operating system. This interface allows clear and straightforward access to navigation, ride modes, and infotainment controls. The system supports Apple CarPlay®, enabling integration with smartphones for calls, messaging, and music. The display is designed to remain legible in various lighting conditions, a practical consideration for daytime and nighttime touring.
Navigation is enhanced by a hands-free voice recognition system, allowing the rider to interact with the GPS using simple conversational commands. This reduces the need to interact manually with the display while riding, supporting safer operation.
Rider Safety Enhancements: Advanced Control Systems
Safety technologies in the 2025 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide® Ultra are focused on improving control and stability in diverse riding conditions. The motorcycle features an advanced Rider Safety Enhancements suite that adjusts braking and traction control based on real-time inputs such as lean angle and acceleration. This includes a Cornering Anti-lock Brake System (C-ABS), which modulates brake pressure during cornering to prevent wheel lock without sacrificing intended line control.
The Electronic Linked Braking (ELB) system applies coordinated braking to both front and rear wheels when the rider uses the front brake lever, improving braking stability and stopping power. Its cornering variant (C-ELB) modifies brake pressure distribution while leaning to maintain stability.
Traction Control System (TCS) is active to prevent excessive rear-wheel spin during acceleration on various surfaces. The system is enhanced by Cornering TCS, which adapts traction control input based on the motorcycle’s lean angle, helping maintain grip through turns.
Drag-Torque Slip Control System (DSCS) addresses rear-wheel slip caused by engine braking during abrupt downshifts or throttle closure, especially on slippery or wet surfaces. The cornering-enhanced DSCS (C-DSCS) further refines this control based on lean angle.
Vehicle Hold Control (VHC) is a functional feature that maintains brake pressure after the rider releases the brake lever or pedal at a stop, particularly useful on inclines to prevent roll-back during hill starts. This is not a parking brake replacement but facilitates smooth restarts on slopes.
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) continuously checks tire inflation levels and alerts the rider if pressure deviates from optimal ranges, which supports tire longevity and safe handling.
Performance and Suspension: Handling and Ride Quality
The 2025 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide® Ultra suspension includes SHOWA® dual outboard emulsion shocks at the rear with three inches of travel. These shocks provide consistent damping characteristics that absorb road irregularities while maintaining control. Hydraulic preload adjustments can be made remotely by hand, allowing quick suspension tuning to accommodate load changes or rider preference without requiring tools.
The front suspension is complemented by fork-mounted air deflectors that are larger than those on standard models. These deflectors are adjustable to redirect airflow either away from the rider to reduce wind chill or open to increase ventilation, offering customizable comfort in different weather conditions.
New fairing lowers work in conjunction with the fairing skirt to optimize aerodynamic flow and comfort. These components enhance stability and reduce wind turbulence, supporting control at higher speeds.