Harley-Davidson: The Highway Star

The 2017 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special is why the open road was invented.

I strongly suspect that the 2017 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special has a gravitational field of its own. And not because it’s the size of a small moon. It’s because its ability to gather a crowd is second to none. Toll booths, parking lots, bike wash stations, traffic signals – you’d have better luck slinking away unnoticed on a flaming Pegasus. In the eyes of all who behold it, the Street Glide is much more than a motorcycle; it’s a seismic event. And it’s a complete embodiment of what’s made Harleys so popular in India – motorcycles that announce their presence long before they’re in your line of sight. That leave you gobsmacked, perplexed, infuriated, envious and enthralled – without ever having swung a leg over one.

Despite its hulking proportions and that stealthy matte black paint job, this bike isn’t a foreboding vision. On the contrary, it’s a very inviting one, just like any grand touring motorcycle ought to be. Because any aches and pains you’ve acquired over the course of a busy work season can be shaken off completely after clocking sufficient time on that divinely cushioned saddle. Everything about this bike has been set up for comfort – right from the large moth-like fairing, designed to deflect wind for long-distance journeys, to the Barcalounger-like wide berth and relaxed riding position.