Highway 101 and a Harley ... living the American dream
Ask bikers what their bucket list road trip would be and riding the legendary Route 66 in America, which runs from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, is probably the top answer. But there is another coveted route that features high on the to-do list of UK and European motorcyclists for many reasons; Highway 101 runs north-south along the west coast of the USA and the Californian stretch is usually blessed with sunshine and stunning vistas, with a rugged coast backdrop on one side and mountains or woodland scenery on the other.
In fact, the Pacific Coast Highway, as it is also known, is considered by many to be the ultimate two-wheeled road trip in the USA. The most scenic stretch starts just south of Crescent City where stunning redwood forests give way to a wild coastline, before the route winds its way down to the sun-drenched beaches of San Diego.
The idyllic coastal resort of Santa Barbara lies along this section of Highway — an ideal location for Harley-Davidson to set up camp for the first media rides of its limited production ‘Special Anniversary’ models, which celebrate the US brand reaching its 120th year of continuous motorcycle production.
After packing evening gear into the QD panniers of the Street Glide Anniversary, I got the opportunity to sit down and speak with Bill Davidson, the great-grandson of William Davidson, who along with his two brothers Arthur and Walter Davidson plus lead engineer William Harley, started the now-legendary motorcycle company in in 1903.
To many in the US and around the world, Bill is a living legend. But he’s also a biker through and through, and immediately warm and welcoming to any fellow motorcyclist. He’s also well-briefed.
“I’m so pleased that The Times of London came all this way to join us,” he told me. “You know, I thought we were doing well hitting 120 years in business, but you guys have been going 200 years right? Wow!”
If that was a line from the PR guys, though, it doesn’t come across as such; Davidson seems humble, friendly, and deeply interested in history and heritage.
And so we chat… for almost an hour, about how it all started in 1903 with bike Serial No 1; the early struggles to keep the business afloat; the cash-injection that funded the “V-twin” engine that still lies at the heart of most Harley-Davidson models today.
Without doubt the engine is the centrepiece of the Street Glide Special Anniversary. Looking at the bike from the side, it’s the imposing chrome and black 114 cubic-inch (1,869cc) engine that draws the eye.
A 1.9-litre engine is big for a car these days; for a motorcycle it’s enormous. “It’ll put a big smile on your face,” says Bill before waving me off.
He’s not wrong. Within a couple of miles I find the famous ‘Milwaukee-Eight’ V-twin beating away beneath me mesmerising. The constant thrum of two huge pistons delivering lazy but strong torque is a smile maker.
How strong? Just the smallest twist of the throttle unleashes a surge of acceleration, giving the rider a strong sensation that they are King of the Road.
Although the power output of 93bhp is modest for the size of the engine, the Street Glide produces a walloping 117 lb ft of torque; a stunning figure for a motorcycle. The Harley is outdone by Honda’s GL1800 Gold Wing (125bhp and 130 lb ft) but the way the power is delivered, along with the drama, noise and sense of occasion, are all uniquely, seductively Harley-Davidson.
It’s this huge wave of torque that accelerates the Street Glide up to the highway speed limit in seconds (0-60mph takes around 4.4sec), and then a flick of the cruise control button sees the engine settle into a steady low beat; enough to waft this rider and packed gear along effortlessly.
The distinctive shape of the handlebar-mounted ‘Batwing’ fairing instantly distinguishes the bike as a Harley. I noticed quite a few cars pulling over to let us pass, their drivers giving admiring looks as we cruised by.
The ride is luxurious; a plush seat and wind-cheating fairing creates a supremely comfortable ride at highway speeds. For the first time ever on a motorbike, I switched on the in-built stereo via the handlebar-mounted controls and settled into an ultra-relaxed motorway cruise.
My luggage for the four-day trip fit easily into the two large detachable panniers, and within a few miles I was lost in biking utopia.
An easy one hundred miles later, I still had the same affection for the Street Glide, despite some clear areas that could be improved. The engine — although magnificent in its presence — is relatively basic and low tech by modern standards. The ride is fantastic on the highway, but the handling becomes somewhat ponderous on more twisty roads. And the brakes are perfectly adequate but certainly aren’t class-leading.
Yet the Street Glide Special Anniversary is most definitely, well, a very special machine. Why?
Just as I was pondering that question, my senses were scattered by the blaring horn of a 16-wheel rig that I was overtaking. As I looked up to the cab, the driver raised his baseball cap. And there you have it, folks: this is a bike that elicits such positive reactions from complete strangers across America. They bloody love this brand, and that’s reflected in the fact that one in every two new motorcycles sold in America carry the Harley-Davidson motif. For American bike enthusiasts, owning a Harley represents part of the American dream.
The appeal, in large part, then, is in the heritage of the brand. The 2023 Street Glide Special Anniversary model is part of its latest chapter and represents a celebration of 120 years of production. For sure the Pacific Coast Highway is indeed a stunning road, but it’s the Street Glide that made the journey such a fantastic and memorable experience.
2023 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special Anniversary specifications
- Price £32,995
- Engine Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-twin (1,868cc)
- Power 93hp
- Torque 117ft-lb
- Luggage capacity (with panniers) 71 litres
- Equipment Cruise control; full-colour 6.5” TFT screen; Boom! Box GTS Infotainment system; Rider Safety Enhancements system
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Keyword: Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special Anniversary review: Glorious slice of Americana