Motorcycle specifications Harley-Davidson1745 Sport Glide FLSB 2023 Envers et Convert' tous

Harley-Davidson returns to transformist territory with the Sport Glide. A motorcycle designed to combine the joys and precepts of several worlds, to the sound of a big, torquey engine. The "convertible machine" concept is not new to Harley. From time to time, a model has appeared that can be transformed at will. Is this what customizing is all about? Well, not quite. Let's get one thing straight:

the difference between adding accessories and configuring a convertible model

A grinding wheel can be accessorized. Within the limits of homologation and the imagination of accessory designers, certain elements can be added or removed. And sometimes, the result, in terms of aesthetics, leaves something to be desired. Doubtful? Take a look at a Street-Bob with a windscreen: effective but not very harmonious...
the convertible concept takes this to the extreme by proposing an opposite alternative: we don't start from the accessory you can put on the wheel, but build a wheel that can perfectly integrate this or that accessory. The aim? There are three: to be able to transform your motorcycle at will, to keep a fluid and acceptable line when these accessories are fitted or not, and to have access to great versatility.

In short, to make something useful and not ugly when you add unsightly appendages, while retaining the advantages of each proposed configuration. A real headache, isn't it?

Ah, Harley's Touring models... The carrying capacity of an ocean liner, and the ability to swallow kilometers at elephant height. Just curl up in your lounge chair, put on a little music in the background and let yourself glide along the big ribbon. The superlatives are there. But...

yes, but here's the thing: when it comes to fetching bread on a Sunday or tackling a mountain pass, it's a real pain in the ass. The monster shows its limits. So what about a Softail? Why not, but then it's the distance covered that brings you back to reality. The wind in your squash, the firm saddle, the total lack of protection and the impression after two hundred kilometers of highway that an A380 has taken off in your helmet. And let's not forget the fact that you couldn't take your rain jacket because there wasn't enough room and you had to ride through a thunderstorm worthy of the name! Personally, I like it, but you've got to admit that once you're back home, with your ears ringing, your neck cramping and your buttocks in knots, it takes a little getting used to before you're able to chat with your mates again. Some will say that, after all, it's an extension of tranquillity. But back to the Sport Glide.

For this machine, it seems that the engineers took the opposite approach: not to start with a Dyna and put it in Softail sauce, but to start with a Softail base and put it in...Softail sauce! That's right, because the Dyna frame has disappeared, so we can no longer use the term "Softail" to describe it, but it's easy to see the new "Dyna" look, despite the presence of the Softail frame.

So, we take the playfulness of the last frame, the strong character of the Milwaukee Eight engine and create something that looks like a touring bike. The only difference is that the Softail comes with accessories that integrate well and can be disassembled at will (bat-wing and saddlebag). Theoretically, this means that the new Softail's handling and touring capabilities are close to those of a Touring.
On the technical side, we have a 107-cubic-inch M8 (with a torque of 145 NM) mounted in the deceptively rigid frame. The whole unit weighs 304 kg and has a pretty black engine and exhaust muffler. The bat-wing (the fairing above the headlight) is removable, as are the lockable panniers. On a more technological note, there are LED headlights, keyless ignition and a USB port.

So, yes, the bat-wing is less prominent than that of a Street Glide, and the saddlebags are smaller, but then again, this isn't a big tourer. Don't forget that it's almost impossible to have two real bikes in one, and still have an easy conversion. On the other hand, you can take two models and try to retain as many of the qualities of each as possible. A difficult gamble to win, but who knows?