Road Glide Special · the shark-nose tourer
In the 2022 Grand American Touring lineup, the Road Glide Special was the sharper-dressed sibling of the Street Glide — same mission, but with the frame-mounted 'shark-nose' fairing that Road Glide loyalists insist is the only correct answer.
Our take: The thinking rider's bagger. Frame-mounted fairing means the wind fights the frame, not your arms.
Somebody used this exactly as Milwaukee intended. We imagine two saddlebags that learned to pack themselves, a Bluetooth headset with one earpiece more worn than the other, and a standing Saturday appointment with a road that leaves town. It has seen state lines. It would like to see more.
A LOVINGLY IMAGINED HISTORY · THE MILES ARE REAL, THE ROMANCE IS OURS
The Road Glide rider has opinions and mileage to back them. They chose the frame-mounted fairing on purpose, will explain why unprompted, and measure trips in fuel stops. Their group chat is other riders. Their dog is named after a highway.
The touring press has long crowned the Road Glide the stability champion of American baggers — the fairing feeds wind into the frame instead of the bars. The M8 114 drew consistent praise for effortless two-up passing power.
Born in a Milwaukee shed in 1903, Harley-Davidson outlived two world wars, the Depression, and every rival of its era to become the definitive American motorcycle. The rumble of a 45-degree V-twin is the sound most people hear in their head when they hear the word 'motorcycle.'
Every rating on this page comes from a real inspection sheet. Text us and we'll send walkaround photos and video of this exact machine.