Harley-Davidson 1690 ROAD GLIDE SPECIAL 2016

Certainly, the Road Glide has been present in the French market for a while, but this mainly under the guise of the exception of its CVO version. Apart from this confidential distribution, it was a good ten years since the Road Glide had left the Harley France offer. The Rushmore project blew away this Touring to make it cross the Atlantic again in 2015. And not just any: in the USA, it is available in two versions, standard and over-equipped. Guess which one is proposed for our routes? The 1690 Road Glide Special.

Why Special? For the few carefully added equipment. Starting with the BOOM Box 6.5 GT multimedia console, which is the best of what Harley offers, with GPS, 6.5-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, USB, 25 watts per channel, voice recognition system, etc. entertain if you feel like listening to something other than the Twin Cam 103 ci. However, isn’t it partly this engine that guided you in your choice?!? On the road Glide, the version chosen is the High Output optimization. With a revised camshaft and airbox, the 1690 pushes 5% more torque. This will not be too much to ensure the cruise of a machine flirting with the 400 kilos. For such a beast, and of this personality, perhaps the liquid solution of the innovator (for the Harley world) Twin Cooled would have been more adequate and rewarding. For the next evolution or another vintage ?

Do not anticipate because the developments related to the Rushmore project are already there. Everyone’s experience to benefit the Harleys of tomorrow. The brakes benefit from ABS and the coupled Reflex system. Safety watchful eye-catching 300mm rotors bitten by 4-piston calipers.
The look of the Road Glide has changed somewhat. Normal, his eyes are new Daymaker LED headlights much more efficient. The brand says it loud and clear in figures: 85% wider and 6% more power in low beam, 35% wider and 45% more power in high beam. But what you will appreciate the most is the optimization of the top of the fairing, the famous SharkNose. Very subtly revised after multiple passages in the wind tunnel and road tests, it now sports a triple vent to equalize the pressure in front of and behind the windshield. The pilot can thus cut through the air with a calm unknown on a Harley while enjoying a new riding position. Indeed, the handlebars advance its handles 22 cm closer to the driver.
Comfort also means more easily adjustable pneumatic rear suspension, suitcases with opening "One-touch", cruise control, better readability of the instrumentation and new, more ergonomic controls. Braking is entrusted to a large team: ABS, coupled Reflex braking, 2 discs of 300 mm at the front and one at the rear, all supported by 4 piston calipers

For his return to the Touring H-D clan "General public", the Road Glide did it right, with poise, serenity, confidence, class. She is sure of herself; Harley-Davidson is sure of that too. Doesn’t the MoCo shout lightly? "Will you be up to the task" ?