Road Tripping the Bar & Shield’s Popular Tourer

“Oh yeah, I remember this well.”

Such was my reaction upon taking the Harley-Davidson Street Glide out for a check ride, once I got it back home. On loan from our friends at EAGLERIDER, the 2025 Street Glide would be my steed for our trip to the spring Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City Beach, Florida. Having ridden the 2024 model down at Daytona Bike Week two years ago, I felt instantly familiar with Harley’s popular touring motorcycle.

Good thing too, evidenced by how our trip began the following morning.

Our travel day began with the threat of heavy showers. The forecasts told us if we got out early, as in 7:00 AM, we could possibly outrun the storm front down to central Georgia, and have clear skies the rest of the way. Not only was that overly optimistic, but our group found ourselves in heavy showers, with abundant lightning and chest pounding thunder, almost immediately upon departure in north Georgia. All properly suited up, it was still a struggle for hours, socked in and soaked almost all the way to the bottom of the state. The rain let up in Albany, and by the time we hit the Florida state line, we had shed our rain gear and we’re finally riding in abundant sunlight.

Through it all, the Street Glide rode solid, planted, and without a hitch in the drenching, driving rain.

Under shelter as the rains came down hard. Right after this photo was snapped, lightning struck just beyond that tree line, nearly making me jump out of my REV’IT! Pacific 4 H2O Rain Suit.

My first experience with Harley-Davidson‘s quintessential touring motorcycle came in 2024, when Harley had pulled out a Street Glide and a Road Glide for Phil and me to use during our coverage of Daytona Bike Week. I’d not ridden many large tourers since selling my 1999 Yamaha Royal Star Tour Classic back in 2021, but I remember being pleasantly surprised at how similar, and hence familiar, the rider triangle of the Street Glide felt to my old Royal Star. Any intimidation quickly evaporated, and I loved riding that Harley for the short three days we spent on the bikes in and around Daytona Beach.

This was going to be a much more intensive and protracted ride and review of the Harley tourer, appropriately beginning under such adverse conditions. And so far, the Street Glide was endearing itself to me already. “I think we’re going to get along just fine, you and me,” I muttered in my helmet to the big bike as we rode into panhandle Florida. The SG had effortlessly gobbled the miles of rain-soaked Georgia, and now was rolling me hard and fast by acres and acres of sun-bathed north Florida farmland.

Yeah, I’m liking big bikes again.

Packed and ready, the day before we left. The rains would come…

Unchanged from the 2024 model, Harley-Davidson‘s 2025 Street Glide comes with three ride modes, each of which I would sample during the course of the trip. During hours and miles of rain soaked riding on two different occasions, I obviously utilized the rain mode, which meters out throttle and braking more measured and methodical. Road mode gives the bike a noticeable bump in throttle response and quicker brake grip feel. Sport mode actually makes the throttle response somewhat jumpy, and braking a bit grabby. I must admit, most motorcycles I’ve ridden with several ride modes don’t really feel a lot different from each other. The differences between Harley‘s three ride modes are very pronounced, and I find that a good thing.

I also noticed that 6th gear feels like an overdrive. It’s almost unnecessary until at highway speeds, this 117 c.i. v-twin engine makes so much power. Rolling up and down Panama City Beach’s Front Beach Road and US 98/FL 30a, I often just made it to 5th gear out on the streets. The bike loped along so effortlessly, I only used 6th on occasions we were riding above 75–80 mph, the gearing felt so well tuned/timed. It’s a clunky transmission by the way, whether up or down shifting, but it’s a Harley, right? Maybe solid is a better term. Nah, clunky pretty well captures it.

Riding US 98/FL 30 east of Panama City, Florida.

Another element I really appreciated was the whole software package in the dash. The TFT screen is well lit, and holds an abundance of information that is easily navigated via the left and right switches on the handlebars. Of particular note, Harley utilizes Apple CarPlay, so for the first time with any motorcycle I’ve ever ridden and reviewed, my iPhone 16 instantly paired with the bike upon my first attempt. Never had a problem, the rest of the trip. Impressive. From the sound system, to the GPS, toggling between ride modes, and the super easy cruise control, kudos to Harley for a fantastic electronics package.

Such a great display and electronics package.

As a caveat, I did notice by my second day with the bike, that the clear coat was peeling widely across the front fender. I snapped a picture and sent it to the EAGLERIDER folks, who noted that they were aware of it, and that Harley was having problems with that particular paint scheme run last year. For how premium priced these bikes are, I certainly hope Harley does right by all of their customers concerning this. I’ve no doubt they will.

Another caveat with Harley’s big tourers, is how much they vibrate at idle. Sitting at stoplights and in traffic, Phil‘s and my Harley bikes shook and vibrated at the handlebars, the fairing, in the seats, everywhere. Looking over at the three Indians and 2017 Victory our crew rode, they sat perfectly still, no noticeable vibration. I know this is an engineered Harley-Davidson distinctive, and they smooth out once throttle is applied, but I have to ask, why? I’ll just leave that right there.

Clear coat peel. No excuse for this on a premium priced motorcycle.

Another element I do like about Harley‘s Street Glide is how cavernous the hard cases are. In comparing them to Phil‘s 2017 Road Glide, I noted these new ones are considerably wider, a little bit longer, with a noticeable increase in carrying capacity. The cases are easy to open and shut, simple to lock, and look simple to remove, even though I did not. Very well engineered luggage on these bikes. I really could have stuffed everything I needed into those two cases, without having to strap a small bag to the passenger seat like I did for this trip.

Rolling for our homes in north Georgia, this time in abundant sunshine and cool temps. Perfect way to end the trip.

I logged a little over 1200 miles in the time I had this bike, and felt very confident on it. From starting in the rain, to riding beautiful coastal panhandle Florida, this 2025 Harley-Davidson Street Glide was the ultimate touring machine. Low and well balanced, surprisingly maneuverable, and supremely comfortable out on the open road, it’s the bike that could lure me back to large motorcycles, if I had the inclination. No wonder Harley-Davidson sells thousands of these bikes, year after a year. It’s one of the most popular motorcycles in their lineup, and it’s easy to see why. As I stated earlier, it’s the quintessential two wheel touring machine, with lots of customization and personalization available for it, to make it distinctly your own.

Rob

Huge thanks to EAGLERIDER for granting us a chance to ride and review this bike.
For more on EAGLERIDER, click HERE.
For more on the Harley-Davidson Street Glide, click HERE.

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