2015 Harley-Davidson Road Glide / Road Glide Special Preview
Following a year hiatus from the Harley-Davidson lineup, the Road Glide returns for 2015 with customer-led input from the Project Rushmore developmental effort.
The Motor Company is offering two versions in 2015 – the standard, and, as it did with the 2014 Street Glide, the Road Glide Special, which features a handful of upgrades. Both models arrive with Harley’s High Output Twin Cam 103 V-Twin mated to the 6-Speed Cruise Drive transmission.
The 2015 Road Glides features sharper body lines that were created following hours of wind-tunnel testing, and a revamped frame-mounted “sharknose” fairing featuring the model’s signature double headlights. The fairing was designed with a new triple-slipstream vent that “significantly reduces head buffering while providing comfortable airflow around the rider.” For 2015, lighting arrives from Dual Daymayker Reflector LED headlamps.
Both the Road Glide and Road Glide Special arrive with many touring amenities, including One-Touch hard saddlebags, cruise control, adjustable air-ride rear suspension, and new ergonomic hand controls with “intuitive design and improved tactile feel.”
The 2015 Harley Road Glide Special receives further premium features, including a Boom! Box 6.5GT infotainment system with touch screen and GPS Navigation (upgraded over the standard’s Boom! Box 4.3 infotainment system without GPS), Reflex Linked Brakes with ABS, and hand-adjustable low-profile rear suspension.
The Road Glide Special also gets a painted inner fender, and hand-applied pin striping.
“Road Glide has always had an incredibly passionate following, which is why its return to the model line-up is exciting for our customers and our company,” said Matt Levatich, President and Chief Operating Officer of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “With Project Rushmore technology, intuitive features and great new styling, we’re delivering an improved ride for the Road Glide faithful and the many others looking for more cool Project Rushmore motorcycle options.”
Both Road Glides, which vary in price from $20,899 to $23,699, will be available for test riders at Harley-Davidson locations during the 74th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which runs Aug. 2-9.
Following are the features, specs, color options and prices for the 2015 Road Glides.
2015 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Features:
- Premium Paint color options
- Rubber-mounted, Air-Cooled 1690 cc High Output Twin Cam 103 engine with Integrated Oil-Cooler; finished in Black with chrome covers
- 6-Speed Cruise Drive transmission; Hydraulic clutch actuation; Electronic Cruise Control; Low-maintenance belt drive
- Wind tunnel-tested shark-nose fairing with open/close triple Splitstream vents for reducedhead buffeting; low smoked windshield and redesigned inner fairing
- Dual Daymaker Reflector LED headlamps
- Boom! Box 4.3 audio system with 25-watt per channel amplifier and two speakers
- Jukebox media compartment with USB connection and One-Touch access door
- Silver-faced gauges
- Ergonomic handlebar offers reduced reach and comfortable wrist angle
- Ergonomic hand controls with intuitive design and tactile feel
- 49 mm forks, stiffer triple clamps and larger steering bearings
- Streamlined, low-profile front fender
- Injection-molded hard saddlebags with One-Touch design latch
- Enforcer Cast Aluminum wheels; 19-inch diameter front wheel
- Chrome 2-1-2 dual exhaust with tapered mufflers
- Air-adjustable low profile rear suspension
- Two-up sport seat
- Streamliner rider footboards and passenger foot pegs
- Stop/tail/turn LED rear lighting
2015 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special Additions to Base Model:
- Boom! Box 6.5GT audio system with 25-watt per channel amplifier and two speakers, integrated GPS and color Touch screen
- Hand-Adjustable Low Profile Air Ride rear suspension
- Reflex Linked Brakes with ABS
- H-D Smart Security System with proximity based fob
- Painted inner fairing
- Factory pin striping
2015 Harley-Davidson Road Glide / Road Glide Special Specs:
Engine:
- Engine: Air-cooled, High Output Twin Cam 103 with integrated oil cooler
- Valves: Pushrod-operated, overhead valves with hydraulic, self-adjusting lifters; two valves per cylinder
- Bore x Stroke: 3.875 in. x 4.374 in. (98.4 mm x 111.1 mm)
- Displacement: 103 cu. in. (1690 cc)
- Compression Ratio: 9.7:1
- Fuel System: 3 Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
- Air Cleaner: Paper, washable
- Lubrication System: Pressurized, dry-sump with oil cooler
- Drivetrain: Primary Drive Chain, 34/46 ratio
- Final Drive: Belt, 32/68 ratio
- Clutch: Hydraulically actuated, 9 plate wet, with high performance spring
- Transmission: 6-Speed Cruise Drive
Chassis:
- Frame: Mild steel; tubular frame; two-piece stamped and welded backbone; cast and forged junctions; twin downtubes; bolt-on rear frame with forged fender supports; MIG welded
- Swingarm: Mild steel; two-piece drawn and welded section; forged junctions; MIG welded
- Front Forks: 49 mm telescopic
- Rear Shocks: Low air-adjustable low profile air ride rear suspension
- Wheels: Enforcer Cast Aluminum – Front 19 in. x 3.5 in. (483 mm x 89 mm); Rear 16 in. x 5 in. (406 mm x 127 mm)
- Brakes: 32 mm, 4-piston fixed front and rear Dual floating rotors. Front roders, 11.81 in. x .2 in. (300 mm x 5.1 mm); rear rotor 11.81 in. x .28 in. (300 mm x 7.1 mm)
- Anti Lock Braking: ABS standard on the Special
- Suspension Travel: Front – 4.6 in. (117 mm); Rear – 2.13 in. (54 mm)
Dimensions:
- Length: 95.6 in. (2428 mm)
- Overall Width: 38.5 in. (978 mm)
- Overall Height: 52.3 in. (1328 mm)
- Seat Height: Laden – 26.1 in. (663 mm); unladen – 27.4 in. (696 mm)
- Ground Clearance: 5.3 in. (135 mm)
- Rake: (steering head) 26°
- Fork Angle: 29.25°
- Trail: 6.8 in. (173 mm)
- Wheelbase: 64 in. (1625 mm)
- Tires: Dunlop Harley-Davidson Series, bias blackwall front and rear). Front – D408F (130/60B19 61H); Rear – D407T (BW 180/65B16 81H)
- Fuel Capacity: 6 gal. (22.7 L) (warning light at approximately 1.0 gal.)
- Oil Capacity: (w/filter) 4 qts.(3.8 L)
- Transmission Capacity: 1 qt. (.95 L)
- Primary Chain Case Capacity 1.4 qts.(1.3 L)
- Weight: As Shipped – 813 lbs. (369 kg); in Running Order – 849 lbs. (385 kg)
- Luggage Capacity Volume 2.3 cu. ft. (0.064 m3)
2015 Harley-Davidson Road Glide / Road Glide Special Performance:
- Engine Torque: 104.7 ft. lbs. @ 3250 RPM (142 Nm @ 3250 RPM)
- Lean Angle: Right- 32°; 31° Fuel Economy
- Fuel Economy: 42 mpg (5.6 L/100 km)
2015 Harley-Davidson Road Glide / Road Glide Special Color Options/MSRP:
- Vivid Black: $20,899 (Road Glide); $23,199 (Road Glide Special)
- Amber Whiskey: $21,399 (Road Glide); $23,699 (Road Glide Special)
- Black Denim: $21,399 (Road Glide); $23,699 (Road Glide Special)
- Mysterious Red Sunglo $21,399 (Road Glide only)
- Superior Blue: $23,699 (Road Glide Special only)
