In the bag

Harley's latest baggers have gained power, lost weight and had a makeover. The result is a winner, says Geoff Hill

- Geoff Hill

Harley-Davidson Street Glide and Road Glide

Every motorbike comes with its own fantasy.

On a Royal Enfield, you're puttering home from the family tea plantation in Darjeeling for tiffin with your wife Cynthia, a fragrant English rose who befriends small animals and children alike.

On a Norton, you're Geoff Duke soaring to victory in the 1950 Senior TT in black and white, since colour hadn't been invented then.

On a Triumph, you're Steve McQueen, poised forever in hope and dusty glory above a tangle of pesky German barbed wire.

And on a Harley, you may be a chartered accountant called Reg from Milton Keynes during the week, but when you climb aboard and fire up your machine on any given Saturday, you're Rebel Reg, king of the road, riding west into the sunset on Route 66 for a few beers with a lonesome cowgirl in the Last Chance Saloon at the end of the trail, followed by... well, whatever you do with lonesome cowgirls. That's Reg's business, and good luck to him.

Which made me wonder what I was doing in the South of France.

Ah yes: at the launch of the new Harley Street Glide and Road Glide; and walking up to them, it was obvious that it's not only humans who make New Year resolutions.

These two obviously woke up on New Year's Day with a WD-40 hangover, took a bleary look in the mirror, and decided to lose weight, go to the gym and treat themselves to a makeover while they were at it.

For the makeover, the Harley style dudes redesigned the fairings and tanks for a more aerodynamic look, making both bikes look sleeker than the previous 2023 incarnations. The indicators are also integrated beautifully into the front fairing and rear bodywork.

They're also lighter, by 8.2kg for the Street Glide and 7.3kg for the Road Glide, by shaving off a bit here and a bit there from the triple clamps, fairings, fuel tank and wiring harness.