Why You Should Check Out the 2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST

For many people, spring is a time of growth and new experiences where they seek out pleasures both familiar and new.

That’s especially true of Harley lovers this year. With the release of the new edition of the Harley-Davidson Road Glide, Harley-Davidson is taking a first step toward adding some impressive performance features to its already legendary group of touring bikes.

Let’s break it down a little further to better understand what Harley-Davidson is up to here. We’ll start with design goals for the new 2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST, and we’ll delve more into its features and who Harley-Davidson is targeting with this impressive new bike.

The Design Goals and Target Riders

Simply put, the goal of the new Road Glide ST is to add a little more “sport” to the concept of sport-touring—hence the ST.

To do that, Harley-Davidson has drawn from its racing experience. Specifically, the 2022 Road Glide ST represents an obvious nod to Harley’s King of the Baggers racing series, specifically the Screaming Eagle. It embraces the legacy of those bikes, but the idea is to stay true to the touring features while doing so.

The racing features on the new Road Glide add some flamboyance, and they do represent some change. Still, they deliver Harley-Davidson‘s unique experience of motorcycling Americana on a grand scale, a concept that should be familiar to everyone who’s owned a Harley-Davidson touring motorcycle.

These bikes are also worthy additions to a fairly unique family. The Road Glide ST joins the Street Glide and the Street Glide Special, along with the Road Glide and the Road Glide Special in the 2022 Grand American Touring category. 

To get a little more down and dirty with the basic concept, the new Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST is a performance touring bike, or what they call a “performance bagger,” in aftermarket parlance. The emphasis is definitely on going faster, so let’s take a closer look at how Harley-Davidson is bringing that goal to fruition.

The Engine

Any attempt to emphasize sports performance in a touring bike starts with power. And rest assured, the new Road Glide ST has it in spades.

If you know Harley engines, you’ve probably guessed that we’re talking about Harley-Davidson‘s classic Milwaukee-Eight engine. Specifically, the 117 cubic inch version.

It’s an old-school powerhouse that’s been updated and added as the factory-installed engine for the new Road Glide ST, which means this bike is the first mass-produced Harley to incorporate the 117 ci as standard from the factory. Before that, you had to turn to the CVO series to get your hands on that engine and power train as factory equipment.

That means that the new Road Glide is in part an updated version of an existing machine, but boy has it been updated impressively. At 106 HP and up to 127 pound-feet of torque at 3,750 RPM, this bike’s power output is top of the line.

Exhaust-wise, the Heavy Breather intake is also matched with the system to ensure optimal performance, which translates to a smooth, powerful ride out on the road.

The Visuals and the Complements

The visuals have been enhanced to make a difference, too. The wheels have been bronzed for an extra touch of style, and the engine trim and detail also have some bronze-style touches.

The rest of the powertrain is a sleek black, and there’s a low-profile tank console and engine guard to separate it visually from Harley-Davidson‘s other touring models. The console sports a side fuel fill, and the mileage averages around 40mpg, which is impressive for any touring ride.

The Dual Bending Valve fork provides up to 4.6 inches of travel, and riders can adjust the standard suspension for ride height to provide up to three inches of suspension travel. That makes it slightly higher than the Low units, which provided 2.1, but aftermarket options are available for those who want to add even more.

The Ride

The new Road Glide ST is a single-seat bike with no passenger pegs, making it a solo ride that does, however, have top-loading saddlebags that are easy to open and close.

Experienced Harley riders will recognize the frame-mounted sharknose fairing that comes complete with dual headlamps. Eagle fans will also notice the trimmed-down bodywork along with the free-flowing intake and exhaust.

The triple-vented fairing also stands out, and it’s topped off with a low-profile dark windshield that can hold dual Haymaker LED headlamps. The low-profile engine guard and tank console keep the Road Glide’s profile sleek and trim.

Another small but serious change in this Road Glide is the weight. It’s been trimmed down on that front, weighing in at 842 pounds compared to 853 pounds for the base Road Glide and 855 pounds for the Special. There are two paint options, Gunship Gray or the more standard Vivid Black.

You’ll get Bembro brakes with ABS, but if you’re a fan of Harley-Davidson‘s Cornering Enhancement Package, keep in mind that that’s an extra.

Performance additions aside, the new Road Glide ST is also an entertaining ride. It features a Boom! Box GTS information and entertainment system with a color touchscreen and navigation controls, along with cruise control and those Haymaker LED headlamps. There’s also a USB plug you can use for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, so there’s no shortage of entertainment options here.

Riders can control the color dash with a touch screen or joysticks and buttons on the handlebar, so you can scan for your favorite FM stations or use the readout to get your tire pressure or navigation. That means you can get a 3D rendering of the terrain you’re traveling through, along with an analog readout of how the charging system’s doing.

Unlike the base model, the antenna is hidden internally, and the formerly low-slung rear taillight has been transformed into an LED unit that’s mounted higher on the rear fender.

So what’s the ride itself like? Think powerful and steady, with as much extra oomph as you need. There’s 43% more wheel travel, which makes a big difference when you lean into a turn and want to safely anticipate when the floorboard touches down.

If you’re interested in cruising speed and more power specifics, you’ll get 2,400 RPM at 65 MPH and 3,000 RPM at 80 MPH, so you definitely won’t have to worry about engine stress. The larger fairing provides better weather coverage, which will make a difference at high speeds when the wind kicks up a little.

In short, it’s what you’ve come to expect from a high-end touring bike, but with some small performance enhancements that make a big difference out on the road.

Test Ride the 2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST at Harley-Davidson of Kingwood

Starting at $30,000, the new 2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST is an impressive addition to the Harley touring club, and the performance enhancements look to be just the start of a new direction that has a lot of Harley riders very, very excited. 

Come check out this incredible new ride, as well as our full inventory of new and pre-owned bikes at Harley-Davidson of Kingwood. We have everything you need to get out on the road in style this spring, and our team of Harley experts is here to answer any questions you might have—they’ll even teach you to ride your new bike through the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy. So, what are you waiting for? Come visit us on Northpines Drive in Kingwood!