2022–2023 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Factory Hot Rod, Connected
The Road Glide ST is Harley-Davidson's hot-rod take on the big touring bagger, and its identity starts with torque. The 1923 cc air/oil-cooled Milwaukee-Eight, a 45° V-twin, makes 127 lb-ft at just 3,750 rpm and 103 hp at 4,750 rpm, so the engine's whole story is told low in the rev range. Around it sit a steel tube frame, the frame-mounted shark-nose fairing and a 19-inch front wheel. Harley-Davidson describes the styling as factory custom: blacked-out finishes, bronze accents and a slammed profile. You're buying attitude here, not just output. That's the deal.
On paper, this hardware is built for distance with presence. Cruise control, a slipper clutch, ABS, an LED headlight, a factory luggage system and the Boom! Box GTS infotainment with navigation and Apple CarPlay all come standard, and the 6.0 gal (22.7 L) tank backs up long days. Cornering ABS, traction control and heated grips are on the options list. At 842 lb (382 kg) wet, it's a full-size tourer, yet the seat sits only 28.1 in (715 mm) off the ground. The hardware points to a rider who wants the miles and the statement in one machine. Highway by day, rally strip by night!
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 103 hp (76 kW) @ 4,750 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 127 lb-ft (172 Nm) @ 3,750 rpm |
| Displacement | 1923 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air/oil-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 130/60-19 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-18 |
| Wheelbase | 64.0 in (1625 mm) |
| Seat height | 28.1 in (715 mm) |
| Wet weight | 842 lb (382 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
Over the years I've listened to what Road Glide ST owners say in paddock conversations, at club nights, over coffee after group rides, and in the emails and messages riders send me directly. The pattern for this bike is fairly consistent. People like how it goes and how it stops. The complaints gather around comfort once the miles start piling up.
The brakes come up again and again. Owners describe strong stopping power that builds progressively as they squeeze, with ABS behind it. Riders who came off older Harley touring models often say the brakes are a clear step forward.
Three comfort complaints keep coming back, each from a smaller group of riders. The first is the sport-tuned suspension, which owners say passes the hits from rough pavement straight through to the rider. The second is wind. At highway speed, the low, dark screen and the shape of the fairing leave riders of average height and taller in noticeable buffeting, and they say it wears on them over a long trip. The third is the riding position. Many find the stock seat too firm and the handlebars too far forward, and they report fatigue setting in after long stretches in the saddle.
Sudden engine cut-out due to battery terminal issue
One owner experienced complete power loss at speed; traced to a loose/cracked battery terminal connection that intermittently cuts power.
Intermittent limp mode and electrical error codes
Some owners report the bike entering limp mode with multiple error codes (ECM, ABS) at early miles, indicating a possible wiring fault or ECM issue. Dealer diagnosis often inconclusive.
Excessive oil consumption
A reported case of consuming 4-6 quarts of oil every 5,000 miles without visible leaks or smoke; attributed to cylinder/piston defect and repaired under warranty.
Where this Harley-Davidson Touring Road Glide ST 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 ST is actually built for.
Of these three riders, you're the best fit: a 1923 cc V-twin, blacked-out factory-custom looks and real touring kit. It rolls into Sturgis or Daytona as a statement, and cruise control and luggage cover the miles there.
Made for Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
A strong match if you string big days together: cruise control, navigation, luggage and a 6.0 gal tank are standard. When you load it up, only the rear shock adjusts for preload.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
A fair fit if your 200 to 400 mi days are about torque, scenery and presence. Just know it's a bagger at heart: 842 lb (382 kg) of it, not a lightweight sport-tourer.
Made for Highway 1 / Big Sur · Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway
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 ST. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2020
Bagger That Actually Handles
~$4,500 cheaper used than this bike at 4 yr
Competitor · 2022
Silk-Smooth Six in Bagger Skin
~$5,700 cheaper used than this bike at 4 yr
Same Platform · 2022–2023
Big Torque, Serious Electronics
~$500 pricier used than this bike at 4 yr