2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard First Look

In the cyber-connected world we live in, it's good to take a step back and unplug sometimes. Harley's think tank undoubtedly tossed that idea around with the launch of its 2019 Electra Glide Standard. While the Standard sports a familiar Street Glide face, it's sans the distraction of a big screen and a bounty of buttons to push in its batwing fairing.

Braking duties are placed back in rider’s hands as luxuries like Reflex linked brakes and ABS have been relegated to option status. A solo seat replaces the two-up arrangement on Harley’s other baggers, and the Electra Glide Standard’s front wheel has been scaled down to 17 inches compared to the 19-incher on the front of a fully loaded Street Glide. Doing away with the electronics package in the fairing and removing the ABS cropped 9 pounds off the curb weight compared to the Street Glide, and a little less heft to deal with when steering is always a good thing.

At $18,999, the Electra Glide Standard is the most affordable of Harley’s tourers and baggers, undercutting its Street Glide stablemate by $2,290.

While select extraneous features have been done away with, emphasis has been dedicated to the ride. It starts with the engine as the 2019 Electra Glide Standard is powered by Harley-Davidson's commanding 1,746cc Milwaukee-Eight 107. The big V-twin pumped out 101.46 pound-feet of torque and 77.34 hp when Cycle World threw it on the in-house dyno last year. The Standard's Milwaukee-Eight 107 has been dressed up with chrome rocker, cam, and derby covers, which provides a little shine to the powertrain on a bike that comes in one colorway, Vivid Black.

The big bagger’s signature Harley soundtrack will be played out of a 2-1-2 dual exhaust likewise gussied up in chrome. Stout 49mm fork legs with Showa’s bending valve technology inside flex their muscles against broken pavement up front while a pair of emulsion shocks battle brutal road conditions on the back. Four-piston Brembos handle braking duty all the way around, dual calipers fore and a single aft. The Electra Glide Standard rolls on a set of stylish Impeller cast aluminum wheels shod in fresh Dunlops. While techno-gadgets have been minimized, the bike at least comes with the convenience of electronic cruise control and hand-adjustable rear shocks.

Scanning Bonnier message boards for first impressions of The Motor Company’s latest offering, I found Matthew Kirn opining, “I used to ride Harleys between 2002 and 2006 and the Standard was my favorite. It seemed lighter, and it felt to me like it handled better.” We have a suspicion these traits will portend to the new Electra Glide Standard as well.

Another poster, William Reed, is a fan of the less is more theme: "I am really digging this. I am all about no electronics on a bike. I ride a RKC right now, and am looking to purchase new in a couple years. My heart was set on the new Heritage Classic, but I really like the design of this. If I need nav, and don't use a paper map, I have my phone. I see no need to have the infotainment system and a smartphone."

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Reed surely isn’t the only one with this sentiment. Harley’s banking there’s plenty others ready to unplug and enjoy the simplicity fewer distractions provides.