2019 Harley-Davidson Softail Sport Glide

It might be a small niche, but the 2019 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide virtually owns it: convertible cruisers with touring amenities. The Sport Glide was the ninth model introduced in the overhauled 2018 Softail lineup, and it combines lightweight long-haul elements—a removable fairing and saddlebags—with performance upgrades like the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, a re-engineered Softail frame, and an inverted single-cartridge fork. The Sport Glide owes its existence to a long line of previous chameleon-like H-Ds, such as the FXDXT and Dyna Switchback, which delivered a cruiser riding experience along with touring capability.

The Sport Glide comes with a low, broad seat and a wide handlebar to suit a range of rider preferences and sizes, but the real headline here is the ability to remove the fairing and bags. In seconds, with no tools required, you have a classic hardtail-style cruiser. The Sport Glide's ride quality is vastly improved thanks to a 43mm inverted Showa fork with single-cartridge damping control and the new Softail-spec single-shock rear end, preload for which is adjusted by hand using an easily reached dial. Another bonus: Cruise control and ABS are standard equipment.

Likes: Goes from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde in a matter of seconds

Dislikes: Passenger seat is narrow and rearward sloped—hang on!

Verdict: A terrific-looking, great-riding light-duty touring cruiser

So what exactly is a touring-cruiser riding experience? In this case, it involves a small fairing, forward controls, and locking, clamshell-style saddlebags. When the Sport Glide was introduced last year, it received positive reviews, even within the revamped Softail line, with testers giving high marks for versatility, handling, and styling.

2018 (And A Half) Harley-Davidson Sport Glide

2018 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide Gallery

The Sport Glide is a touring-minded entree to H-D's Big Twin line, clocking in at 1,746cc. Direct competition is, well, nothing. The Yamaha V-Star 1300 Tourer, though smaller, could be a threat, but it doesn’t have detachable touring components. Here are other models with similar pricing, specs, and intended use:

2017 Star Motorcycles V Star 950 Tourer

2017 Star Motorcycles V Star 1300 Deluxe

2015 Honda Interstate ABS

With its relaxed ergonomics and quick-change capability, the Milwaukee-Eight 107-powered Sport Glide appeals to riders looking for versatility. The $18,649 base price is for black, while colors cost $19,049. Custom colors run from $19,599 to $19,799. ABS, a security system, and cruise control are standard.