The Harley-Davidson brand has always gone hand-in-hand with American motorcycle culture. 

Its name is synonymous with a free-spirited lifestyle and raw mechanical performance, and these same qualities have helped position Harley-Davidson as a long-time leader in the motorcycle industry. 

In the 80s, The Motor Company had already cornered the American V-twin market. Stripped-down cruisers—like the FXEF Fat Bob and FXSB Low Rider—maintained the brand’s original cool factor, while big tourers—like the FLHS Electra Glide—appealed to older generations looking to travel the country in style. 

With such a well-rounded lineup already established, Harley’s announcement of the 1985 Street Glide only evoked confusion. The V-twin wasn’t a sportbike, a cruiser, or a luxury tourer, so what was it? 

And most importantly, why was it released?

Fortunately, these questions were answered quickly. Within a few years, the Street Glide took off, paving the way for nearly four decades of success. 

And in 2024, it took over as the most rented motorcycle on Twisted Road. Just check out the Las Vegas motorcycle rental listings, one of our most popular locations. There are Street Glides everywhere. 

We expect this trend to continue through 2025.

But to see the whole picture, let’s start at the beginning: the 1985 Harley-Davidson FLHXStreet Glide.   

1985 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

In 1984, Harley announced the all-new FLHX Street Glide, slated for a ‘85 release. The stripped-down tourer fell somewhere between sport and luxury touring classes, featuring the following as standard: 

• An all-new 1337cc V-Twin engine
• Five-speed manual transmission
• Fork-mounted fairing
• Touring package (Rear seat and backrest) 
• Rear trunk
• Hard-locking saddlebags
• Short windscreen
• Lace-spoke chrome wheels

The bike’s short fairing wasn’t ideal for long rides, although the massive trunk and locking saddlebags begged for an overnight trip’s worth of cargo—what gives? 

The FLHX Street Glide came about through Harley-Davidson’s former senior vice president, chief styling officer, and grandson of Harley-Davidson’s co-founder, Willie G. Davidson. 

Willie, who also created the iconic 1971 Super Glide, designed the bike based on his preferences. This resulted in a sleek and stylish tourer that, while not as luxurious as Harley’s other Grand American tourers, delivered an invigorating yet comfortable ride. 

Still, the Street Glide didn’t take off until its early-2000s revamp. Not many riders even knew about the Street Glide until the turn of the century.

2000 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

The year 2000 brought about a much-needed refresh of the Street Glide. With this new release, the model began positioning itself as a minimalist tourer, ditching the standard passenger backrest and trunk. 

The 2000 H-D Street Glide also received:

• A larger 1449cc displacement engine
• Five-speed transmission
• Upgraded electronics
• New cast-aluminum wheels
• Bat-wing-style fork-mounted fairing
• Locking hard saddlebags
• Passenger footpegs

During this generation, spanning from 2000–2006, the Harley Street Glide started to resemble its current form. The iconic bat-wing fairing, small tinted windscreen, and modest touring offerings are still present today. 

The only significant change across these years came in 2006, as Harley adopted a 1450cc Twin Cam 88 V-Twin. 

2007 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

Several updates to the Street Glide platform for 2007. With popularity soaring ever since the bike’s 2000 redesign, the 2007 model year brought such features as: 

• A larger, 1584cc Twin Cam 96 engine
• Six-speed manual transmission with a Cruise Drive technology
• Redesigned football-shaped air cleaner
• Bat-wing fairing with a smoked mini wind deflector
• Fairing-mounted rear-view mirrors
• Black, slotted-disc, cast-aluminum wheels
• Streamliner footboards
• Low-profile rear suspension

If these upgrades weren’t enough, the 2008 model year brought a performance-oriented Brembo braking system, a larger 6-gallon fuel tank, Electronic Throttle Control (ETC), ABS capabilities, to name a few.

2009 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

A completely redesigned chassis hit the FLHX line for 2009, including over 450 frame updates that improved comfort, handling, and performance. 

Though boasting a new chassis, several other specifications and options remained the same for the 2009 model year, including: 

• 1584cc Twin Cam 96 engine
• Six-speed manual transmission with a Cruise Drive technology
• Low-profile suspension
• Bat-wing fairing with a smoked mini wind deflector
• Performance-oriented Brembo braking system

This model year’s most notable upgrade centered around the new Touring FL chassis, which remains to this day! This chassis transformed the Street Glide into a sportier, more aggressive bagger while increasing comfort. 

Through 2011, this generation received a couple of minor ergonomic upgrades, including a more comfortable sculpted seat and an ergonomic floorboard. 

2012 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

By 2012, Harley-Davidson had cemented the Street Glide recipe. For the next decade, Harley only subjected the model to upgrades rather than redesigns. Still, Harley had work to do. 

The 2012 MY brought about another engine upgrade, bumping displacement to 1690cc with the Twin Cam 103. Other notable features of 2012 model year Street Glides include: 

• Six-speed manual transmission
• Standard bat-wing fairing
• Hard saddlebags
• Custom rear tail light
• Large, 18-in. front wheel
• Hand-finished fuel tank
• High-end audio system
• Air-adjustable rear mono shock
• Performance-oriented Brembo braking system

The 2012 model year optimized an already proven recipe, solidifying the Street Glide’s position as a sporty, minimalist tourer. 

2014 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

The 2014 model year brought another round of upgrades, codenamed “Project Rushmore,” blending modern features with vintage styling. The model year’s most notable improvements include:

• High-output Twin Cam 103 engine
• Reflex-linked Brembo Brakes
• LED lighting
• Standard ABS
• New ergonomic hand controls
• Redesigned hard saddlebags and bodywork
• Modern inner fairing design with standard cruise control
• All-new Boom Box 4.3 infotainment system with 5.25-in. speakers and USB port

The 2014 model debuted a more powerful and feature-packed version of the minimalist tourer. Over the next few years, Harley maintained most of the Street Glide’s significant features, except for a new 6.5-in. full-color, touch-screen infotainment system, a 19-in. front wheel, stiffer front forks, and the feature-laden Street Glide Special, which was introduced in 2015. 

2017 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

In 2017, Harley-Davidson announced the shift to its new, oil-cooled Milwaukee V-twin engines, including the Milwaukee-Eight 107 and Milwaukee-Eight 114. These next-generation powerplants launched the Street Glide into the current generation of motos, providing smooth, efficient, and reliable performance. 

Notable features include:

• Milwaukee-Eight 107 or Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine
• Six-speed manual transmission
• Big piston front forks
• Adjustable dampening
• Reflex-linked Brembo Brakes
• LED lighting
• Standard ABS

Aside from the new engine and some slight suspension tweaks, like big piston front forks and adjustable dampers, the 2017 model remained relatively unchanged from the previous few years.  

2024 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

The Street Glide retained this recipe through 2023 when Harley announced a completely reimagined Street Glide for 2024, which carried into the 2025 year. 

The new Street Glide features completely redesigned bodywork, a larger Milwaukee-Eight 117, new suspension, and more.

Notable features include: 

• A larger Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine
• Six-speed manual transmission
• Redesigned “Flow State” aerodynamic bodywork
• Redesigned bat-wing fairing
• Signature LED lighting
• Embedded navigation
• Selectable ride modes
• 12.3-in. TFT display with SKYLINE OS

Though seemingly far from its humble beginnings, the 2024 Harley-Davidson Street Glide serves as both a generational update and an homage to the bike’s roots. Though laden with current-gen tech, the Street Glide’s soul, V-twin powerplant, and modest touring aesthetics remain. 

After nearly four decades of production, the Street Glide remains one of Harley’s most popular models—and if the 2024 redesign indicates the model’s future, we’ll be riding Street Glides for decades to come. 

And we expect this bike to remain a top rental on Twisted Road for years to come. 

FAQs

What is the Harley-Davidson Street Glide?
The Street Glide is a touring-class Harley-Davidson motorcycle, commonly referred to as a bagger, featuring hard saddlebags, a batwing fairing, and a large-displacement V-twin engine designed for long-distance road riding.

When was the Street Glide introduced?
The Street Glide was introduced in 2006 as a more aggressive, streamlined take on Harley-Davidson’s traditional touring motorcycles.

Why is the Street Glide considered iconic?
Its batwing fairing, low stance, and unmistakable profile helped define modern bagger culture and made it one of the most recognizable touring motorcycles on the road.

How has the Street Glide evolved over the years?
The model has continuously evolved with improved engines, updated chassis and suspension, modern electronics, and refined ergonomics while maintaining its core design identity.

What engine does the Street Glide use today?
Current Street Glide models are powered by Milwaukee-Eight V-twin engines that deliver strong torque, smoother operation, and improved heat management.

What is a batwing fairing?
A batwing fairing is a fork-mounted front fairing that reduces wind fatigue, improves aerodynamics, and houses the bike’s instrumentation and infotainment system.

Does the Street Glide have modern technology?
Yes. Modern Street Glides feature touchscreen displays, integrated navigation, Bluetooth audio, ride modes, LED lighting, and rider-assist features depending on model year and trim.

What Street Glide models are available?
The lineup typically includes the standard Street Glide, Street Glide Special, performance-focused ST variants, and occasional premium or limited-edition versions.

What’s the difference between the Street Glide and the Road Glide?
The Street Glide uses a fork-mounted batwing fairing, while the Road Glide uses a frame-mounted fairing. This creates different handling characteristics and wind management preferences.

Is the Street Glide good for long-distance riding?
Yes. It is designed for touring with a comfortable riding position, wind protection, strong highway stability, and ample storage capacity.

Is the Street Glide suitable for beginners?
No. Due to its size, weight, and power, it is better suited for experienced riders comfortable handling large touring motorcycles.

What should buyers look for when purchasing a used Street Glide?
Buyers should check service history, electronics functionality, suspension and brake condition, fairing integrity, and the quality of any aftermarket modifications.

Can the Street Glide be customized?
Yes. It has extensive aftermarket support, allowing riders to customize performance, comfort, audio, and appearance.

What does “bagger” mean in motorcycle terms?
A bagger is a motorcycle equipped with hard saddlebags and built primarily for road travel, combining touring capability with a lower, more aggressive stance.

Why is the Street Glide one of the most rented baggers?
Its comfort, recognizable design, touring capability, and classic Harley experience make it a popular choice for riders looking to rent a premium bagger without ownership commitment.