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2014–2016 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Factory Bagger, Connected Cockpit
The Street Glide Special runs the 1690 cc air-cooled 45° V-twin, and the two numbers tell you exactly what kind of touring bike this is: 86 hp against 105 lb-ft. Nearly all of that torque lives low, goes through a 6-speed box and a belt, and turns highway work into one long roll of the wrist. Around it sits the full flagship touring package. Batwing fairing, hard bags, cruise control, ABS, and a touchscreen infotainment unit with built-in navigation worked by thumb controls on the bars. The blacked-out wheels and gloss-black inner fairing are the Special part.
On the road it behaves like what it is: 818 lb of long-wheelbase American iron that settles at 70 mph and stays there without asking anything of you. A 6.0 gal tank at 42 mpg puts roughly 250 miles between stops, which is a genuine touring number. Build quality holds up, and the parts supply behind these bikes is effectively bottomless, so a high-mile example is rarely a dead end. The honest caveat is the motor's nature. This is an air-cooled big twin with a heartbeat you feel at idle and a low-frequency thrum at cruise, and these Touring years carried real recall history worth checking before money changes hands.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 86 hp (64 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 105 lb-ft (142 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1690 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front tire | 130/60B19 |
| Rear tire | 180/65B16 |
| Wheelbase | 64.0 in (1626 mm) |
| Seat height | 27.4 in (696 mm) |
| Wet weight | 818 lb (371 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
| Fuel economy | 42 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Safety
Hit the starter and the whole bike rocks on its mounts before it settles into that off-beat idle. The seat sits low at 27.4 in, so both boots go flat on the pavement, and you want that, because at walking pace you are managing 818 lb with your hips as much as your hands. Once it rolls, the mass sinks into the wheelbase and stops being your problem. Behind the fairing the blast goes over your chest and shoulders, hands sit relaxed on wide bars, boots move freely on the floorboards, and the joysticks fall under your thumbs without hunting. There is a steady pulse coming up through the grips and the boards that never fully leaves. Twenty minutes in, you stop registering it and just listen to the exhaust instead.
Front brake line pinch, front wheel lock-up (Recalled)
On ABS-equipped 2014 Touring models the front brake line could be assembled so that it gets pinched between the fuel tank and the frame, raising front brake fluid pressure and potentially locking the front wheel. Harley recalled affected 2014 FLHX/FLHXS and other Touring models (NHTSA 14V319000) built July 1, 2013 - May 7, 2014. Dealers inspected and replaced damaged lines and fitted cable straps.
Saddlebag mounting receptacles can release the bag (Recalled)
The saddlebag mounting receptacles may not hold the saddlebag securely, so a bag can separate from the motorcycle while riding and become a road hazard. Harley recalled 2014-2015 Street Glide Special (FLHXS) and other Touring models (NHTSA 15V427000); dealers replaced the receptacles with an updated part from July 30, 2015.
Hydraulic clutch master cylinder failure (Recalled)
Gas bubbles in the clutch master cylinder could cause a loss of disengagement, especially after being parked for extended periods. This could result in unintended bike movement when starting in gear. Harley recalled 45,901 units (NHTSA 15V-216-000) built April 28, 2014 – October 24, 2014. The remedy was a flush and rebuild of the master cylinder.
Clutch master cylinder component failure, creeping in gear (Recalled)
A component inside the clutch master cylinder can fail and bleed off the pressure that keeps the clutch disengaged, so the bike may creep forward while the rider is stopped in gear. Harley recalled 2014 Street Glide Special (FLHXS) and other Touring models (NHTSA 14V537000); dealers rebuilt the master cylinder from September 17, 2014.
Clutch master cylinder gas build-up, 2016 models (Recalled)
On 2016 models the clutch master cylinder can lose the lift needed to disengage the clutch, especially after the bike has been parked for a long stretch, so it may move unexpectedly when running in gear. Harley recalled 2016 Street Glide Special (FLHXS) and other Touring models (NHTSA 16V471000); dealers inspected for gas in the fluid, then flushed and rebuilt the cylinder from July 19, 2016.
Air in clutch system and wrong release plate (Recalled)
The clutch master cylinder could let air into the clutch system, and some bikes left the line with an incorrect clutch release plate; either fault can stop the clutch from disengaging. Harley recalled 2014 Street Glide Special (FLHXS) and other Touring models (NHTSA 13V515000) built May 3 - October 14, 2013. Dealers rebuilt the master cylinder and fitted the correct release plate from late October 2013.
Premature compensator wear
Some owners report compensator (primary drive) failure around 35,000 miles, causing a loud clunk and starting difficulty. The issue is well-known among Twin Cam 103-powered Touring models built during this period.
Upper rocker box gasket leak
A slow oil weep from the upper rocker box seals has been documented by some owners, often appearing after 60,000 miles. It is considered a cosmetic leak and typically does not cause major issues if left unaddressed.
Where this Harley-Davidson Touring Street Glide Special FLHXS 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 Street Glide Special FLHXS is actually built for.
This is the bike the ritual gets built around. Sound, presence, and a complete touring rig from the factory, ready for the run to Sturgis or Daytona with the bags already mounted.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
It will do the big weeks. Around 250 miles a tank, cruise control, navigation and luggage standard, and it carries a passenger properly. Accept the pulse of an air-cooled twin and it earns its keep.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
A 300-mile day of open sweepers suits it fine. Tight, technical roads are work at 818 lb, so buy this one for its character and its comfort, not for changing direction quickly.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2010–2012
Chrome, Thunder, Factory Prestige
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 Street Glide Special FLHXS. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2017–2020
Milwaukee-Eight In Its Element
Successor · 2021–2023
Factory Custom, Highway Ready
Competitor · 2014–2016
Smooth V4, Surprisingly Low
Same Platform · 2015–2016
Sound, Style, Highway Soul