Harley Street Glide presses right buttons

Harley Davidson's Street Glide recalls the '60s with its looks, but its handling proves it's a modern creature. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

Harley Davidson has wrought a revolution on its mechanicals - the bikes now go, stop and handle straight out of the box. But it hasn't messed with the styling. That still draws heavily on tradition, this Street Glide recalling the 1960s with its smooth lines and cut-down batwing screen.

The black satin paint sets off restrained glints of chrome and it's not until you're aboard and facing an array of buttons and dials that you register this is very much a modern bike.

Not that the soundtrack would alert you. Thumb the starter button to fire the mighty 1.7-litre V-twin tucked between your legs and there's an apocalyptic clunk as the first massive piston stirs, then a rumbling as the pair set up their rich rock-and-rolling idle - an instantly recognisable soundtrack only slightly muffled by modern sound regulations.

The radio isn't, though. Yep, music while you ride - pounding from fairing-mounted speakers, the volume rising and falling with your speed, or lack of. The motor's well capable of muscling through the legal limit, but the too-short screen sends wind buffeting at your helmet; I'm told taller riders aren't immune either, but on the bright side it does keep your speed down ...

Otherwise your torso and hands are well protected, while the mirrors' position mounted within the fairing cuts the vibe that usually blurs rear vision on these big twins.

It helps that this engine generation is smoother than before, and mated to the still clunky six-speed transmission it's more effective, too - the big beast easily controllable at walking pace, while capable of a muscular charge at the limit. The Street Glide is all about torque, hauling away from lights and out of corners with the ostentatious brawn of a charging bull.

It weighs like one, too - tipping the scales at 368kg, though you'll notice only during parking manoeuvres. Otherwise, it carries its weight well, that 1.6m wheelbase and 2.4m length ensuring a lazy approach to bends which suits the Street Glide's persona. It'll never be described as nimble - but proved impressively wieldy for the breed, leaning until those chrome-rimmed footboards skimmed the tarmac, the front forks and coil-over-shock rear suspension ably absorbing bumps.

Harley buyers once had to kit their new bike out with after-market suspension and brake bits to get them to handle as well as their arguably less characterful Japanese equivalents, but no longer; even the brakes worked so effectively I never got the ABS to cut in.

The bike uses keyless running - unlock, and stick the key in your pocket before riding - and includes a set of compact water-resistant panniers, lockable with the same key.

The $32,395 Street Glide is a good looker and as capable a handler as any of the big cruiser breed; it's just a shame the screen doesn't work better, and that the pillion pew will discourage your sweetie from all but shorter rides.

Harley Davidson Street Glide

We like
Custom looks, Harley character

We don't like
Wind buffet around the helmet, too-small passenger pew

Powertrain
Engine, transmission: 1690cc (103ci) air-cooled twin-cam V-twin, belt drive, six speed transmission

Performance
Power not available; 134Nm at 3500rpm

Price
$32,395

Vital stats
2430mm long, 970mm wide, 1625mm wheelbase, 715mm seat height, 368kg wet weight, 22.7-litre fuel tank