2018–2023 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
The Planted Sharknose Bagger
The Road Glide's identity hangs on one decision: the fairing is bolted to the frame, not the fork. That sharknose shell with its twin headlights stays put when the bars turn, and that's what sets this bike apart from fork-mounted baggers. Behind it sits the Milwaukee-Eight 107, a 1746 cc air/oil-cooled 45° V-twin with 93 hp and 111 lb-ft, driving through a 6-speed box in a steel tube frame. ABS and cruise control are standard. Navigation and the Boom! Box 6.5GT audio are options or come on higher trims. Add a 6.0 gal (22.7 L) tank and roomy saddlebags, and the brief is clear. Distance!
On paper, this hardware is built for the big open middle of a trip: long interstate stretches, crosswinds, full days between fuel stops. The 111 lb-ft matters more here than the 93 hp, because this engine is laid out for steady low-rev pull in a tall gear, not for being wrung out. The fixed fairing points straight at this generation's two strongest riding qualities, high-speed stability and wind protection. Luggage room is generous, and the aftermarket for it is practically bottomless, so the bike you buy is rarely the bike you keep. It's for the rider who measures a ride in states, not corners. Simple as that.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 93 hp (69 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 111 lb-ft (150 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1746 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air/oil-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Front tire | 130/60-19 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-18 |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Safety
Early Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine oil pump and sumping issues
Early models can experience oil pump scavenging failure leading to sumping, where engine oil accumulates in the crankcase and creates severe drag on the flywheels, resulting in significant power loss and elevated operating temperatures.
Where this Harley-Davidson Road Glide FLTR pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Road Glide FLTR is actually built for.
For the run to Sturgis or Daytona, this is the best fit of the three: sharknose presence, a big Milwaukee-Eight V-twin and an aftermarket deep enough to make it unmistakably yours.
Made for Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
A strong match for big-mile days between national parks: frame-mounted fairing, standard cruise control, generous saddlebags and a 6.0 gal (22.7 L) tank all point at coast-to-coast work.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
A workable fit, with limits. It's built for relaxed miles at highway pace, so Blue Ridge or Highway 1 at an easy rhythm suits it. If sport-touring sharpness is the point, look further.
Made for Highway 1 / Big Sur · Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2015–2016
Factory Custom, Wired for Miles
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Harley-Davidson Road Glide FLTR. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2020
Bagger That Actually Handles
~$1,200 pricier used than this bike at 5 yr
Competitor · 2017–2021
Digital Bagger With Inline Six
~$1,800 cheaper used than this bike at 5 yr
Same Platform · 2018
Factory Luxury, Milwaukee Soul
About the same used price as this bike at 8 yr