In 2018, Harley-Davidson will celebrate its 115th year in the motorcycle industry. Ahead of this milestone, the company has rolled out a plan to revamp its image and attract a younger generation of riders. As part of their plan, Harley-Davidson is renovating their Softail lineup of cruiser bikes. In late August, eight new models were announced. On November 7th, news broke of a ninth motorcycle.
What do we know about the Softail Sport Glide?
A City Cruiser with Touring Style
The Sport Glide is being described as a cross between the Sportster – a stripped down cruiser- and the Electra Guide – a bulked up touring motorcycle. Harley-Davidson hopes this new bike will be attractive to up and coming riders who are intimidated by touring models.
Since touring bikes are designed for long trips, they need to fully dressed and have a large frame. Such features can translate to more difficult handling, which is why these bikes can be daunting to many beginners.
The Sport Glide comes with lockable saddle bags, cast aluminum wheels and forward-mounted foot controls. It’s new fairing is designed for ultimate wind resistance, keeping gusts away from the rider’s chest. Sporting a 107-cubic-inch V-twin engine, the Sport Glide bike is powered with the same “Milwaukee Eight” engine of the other 2018 Softail models.
Inspiration for the Sport Glide
As mentioned, this latest motorcycle in the Softail lineup is meant to be a lightweight cruiser with touring attributes. The overall goal of the new 2018 collection is to introduce versatile, comfortable bikes to the market. Also, they want to change the image that Harley is a brand for older generations only.
David Latz, senior product planning manager at Harley-Davidson, says, “The Sport Glide offers the thrilling dynamic capability of the new Softail platform with features that make it suited for both commuting and light touring. Its factory-custom design speaks to modern performance and contemporary style.”