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2017–2018 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Connected Torque In A Fairing
The Road Glide Special's identity starts at the front: the sharknose fairing is mounted to the frame, so the handlebars don't carry its weight. That's the defining hardware choice on this bagger. Behind it sits the Milwaukee-Eight 107, a 1745 cc 45° V-twin rated at 89 hp and 111 lb-ft, driving through a six-speed gearbox and a belt. The Special trim adds a 6.5-inch touchscreen with navigation and smartphone connectivity. Cruise control, an LED headlight and ABS come standard. Harley-Davidson says the look is a factory custom straight from the showroom: a black powder-coated engine against chrome exhaust and bag supports, on a slammed profile. Torque first, horsepower second.
Read the spec sheet and the purpose is plain. At 853 lb (387 kg) wet, with a 64.0 in (1,625 mm) wheelbase, a 6.0 gal (22.7 L) tank, a factory luggage system and cruise control, this is hardware for long highway days and big touring loops, not quick errands. The seat height is a low 27.0 in (685 mm), and that figure matters on a bike this heavy. The rear shock takes preload, so you can set it up for a passenger or full bags. The fork isn't adjustable. All of it points to a rider who buys a Harley for presence and sound, then wants to cover real distance on it. Distance is the point.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 89 hp (66 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 111 lb-ft (150 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1745 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twinMotorcycles With V-Twin Engines → |
| Cooling | Air/oil-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | BeltMotorcycles With Belt Drive → |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 130/60-19 |
| Rear tire | 180/65-16 |
| Wheelbase | 64.0 in (1625 mm) |
| Seat height | 27.0 in (685 mm)Motorcycles With a Seat Height Under 30 Inches → |
| Wet weight | 853 lb (387 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
Over the years I've gathered what owners tell me: in the paddock, over coffee on club nights, and in the emails and messages riders send once they've lived with their bike for a season. On the 2017–2018 Road Glide Special the pattern is clear. Owners love the torque, the look and the long-day comfort. Their complaints center on weight at low speed, heat, a firm ride and limited lean.
The thing riders mention most is how the Milwaukee-Eight pulls from idle. Owners say passing a line of cars or carrying a passenger rarely needs a downshift. The styling comes up just as often: the slammed profile, the black engine against chrome covers, the chrome 2-1-2 exhaust and the chrome saddlebag supports. People turn to look, and owners enjoy the attitude that comes with it. Long days get strong marks too. Riders say the plush seat, relaxed position and wind protection leave them fresh after a full day. Many call the touchscreen, with its GPS, Bluetooth and strong audio, intuitive and a reference point for tech on a motorcycle. Some owners add that this engine runs with less vibration and noise than earlier Harley twins while keeping the familiar feel.
The most common gripe is weight at walking pace. Owners describe the bike as cumbersome in tight city maneuvers and say it takes real effort at low speed. Heat is the next recurring theme. In stop-and-go traffic, the air- and oil-cooled twin puts a lot of it onto the rider's right leg. A number of riders find the stock suspension firmer than they expect from a tourer, with broken pavement coming through more than it should. Riders who push the pace say the low stance and peg placement start scraping fairly early. Several owners also say glare makes the display hard to read from certain angles.
Secondary clutch actuator failure (Recall 18V734)
The secondary clutch actuator cylinder may leak fluid internally, causing loss of clutch disengagement and potential control issues. Affects 2017–2018 models.
Premature lifter or oil pump issues
Some early 2017 Milwaukee-Eight 107 engines suffered lifter noise or oil pump failures, potentially leading to top-end damage. Later years largely resolved.
Infotainment screen visibility in sunlight
The 6.5-inch touchscreen can become unreadable in direct sunlight, a common complaint among owners.
Where this Harley-Davidson Touring Road Glide Special FLTRXS pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Touring Road Glide Special FLTRXS is actually built for.
This is the best fit for you: an air/oil-cooled 1745 cc V-twin, Harley's slammed factory-custom look, and enough luggage to ride to Sturgis instead of trailering it.
Made for Florida State Road A1A · Black Hills · Main Street, Daytona Beach
A strong match. Cruise control, navigation, a factory luggage system and a 6.0 gal tank are built for big days between national parks. For two-up, the rear shock takes preload. The fork doesn't adjust.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
A partial fit. The luggage, cruise control and tank suit long day stages, but at 853 lb this is a bagger first. If tight curves are the main event for you, weigh that.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2015–2016
Sound, Style, Highway Soul
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 Touring Road Glide Special FLTRXS. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2021–2023
The Bagger That Knows Everything
Competitor · 2014
Thunder Stroke Touring Bagger
~$3,400 cheaper used than this bike at 6 yr
Same Platform · 2017
Milwaukee-Eight Wrapped in Full Luxury
~$4,000 cheaper used than this bike at 9 yr
Compare it with every bike that shares the same spec or equipment.