2025 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Ultra: Luxury on two wheels
Harley-Davidson knows better than anyone how to pack comfort, luxury, and American flair into a single motorcycle. With the new 2025 Street Glide Ultra, the brand is launching a heavyweight that proves its worth, especially on long highway rides. Think: the American equivalent of the Honda Gold Wing – only much more stylish.
2025 Harley Davidson Street Glide Ultra
We drove it for a while, from highway cruising to city driving, and came to a clear conclusion: on the right road, it’s a dream, but in the wrong environment… it becomes work.
Engine & performance: power all the way to the rev limiter
Under the comfortable touring seat sits the Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin engine. With a displacement of 1,923cc, liquid-cooled cylinder heads, and a compression ratio of 10.3:1, it produces 105 hp at 4,600 rpm and 176 Nm of torque at 3,250 rpm. These figures speak for themselves: it pulls smoothly from low revs and remains incredibly powerful right up to the rev limiter.
The experience? Right up to the limit, you feel a constant sense of pulling power. But that high eagerness also means you quickly reach the rev limiter—a noticeable, almost minor motorcycle issue on such a big touring bike.
Sit like a king (front and back)
On the highway, the driving position is simply fantastic. You’re relaxed, arms at the perfect height, legs slightly bent. The wind protection is excellent, so you often don’t even realize you’ve been driving at illegal speeds.
The rear seats are just as comfortable. With the wide top case as a backrest and the generous saddle, the passenger literally feels like a king on a throne. This is touring at its finest.
But put it in the city or show it off in a crowded village, and the reality of 386 kilos of steel and luxury hits home. Then the Street Glide Ultra becomes large, heavy, and above all, awkward. Turning? Plan ahead. Driving at walking pace? Hold on tight.
Equipment & finish: stylish and spacious
We drove the Black Trim version in Whiskey Fire / Vivid Black, and that combination is simply stylish. No chrome glitter, just subtle black details – chic and rugged at the same time.
No complaints about storage space. Under the large TFT screen is a handy drawer for your phone (with charging facility), two additional compartments by your knees (be careful not to kick them open), a huge top case that easily fits two helmets, and of course, the side cases.
These are identical to the standard Street Glide: spacious enough for clothes and gear, but their narrow, deep shape makes them unsuitable for a full-face helmet.
Ease of use: finally, good buttons
This is a breath of fresh air after the disappointingly spongy buttons on the Pan America ST we rode before. The buttons on the Street Glide Ultra feel solid, with clear feedback.
The 12.3-inch TFT infotainment screen, based on Harley’s Skyline OS, is spacious and uncluttered. It can be operated via both these buttons and touch controls, and the interface is more logical than that of the Pan America.
The navigation can be a bit slow to respond, but the screen is large enough to display both your route and meters simultaneously. Cleverly done.
Entertainment on the go
The built-in speakers are powerful and automatically adjust the volume to your speed. You can still hear your music perfectly at 100 km/h with a closed helmet. However, how loud that is for other road users remains a mystery. Tip: turn it down at traffic lights, otherwise it quickly feels antisocial.
CarPlay gate
Apple CarPlay on a large motorcycle touchscreen? Fantastic, especially since the built-in navigation can be slow at times. But Harley-Davidson wouldn’t be Harley-Davidson without an expensive workaround: CarPlay only works if you also buy their own headset. Even if you only want to use Google Maps or Flitsmeister. And the worst part is that the headsets are actually Freecom headsets, rebranded with a Harley-Davidson logo. So, if this is your first Harley and you’re using your own helmet with a Freecom headset, you’ll have to buy the same headset again before you can use CarPlay.
For a bike that costs around €45,000, that really feels like a customer-unfriendly cash grab.
Conclusion: a king of the highway
The Street Glide Ultra is a luxurious, comfortable, and impressive touring machine. It thrives on the long, straight stretches of American interstates—that’s what it’s made for.
The Street Glide Ultra 2025’s suggested retail price starts around €39,395. Please note that this is the base price—depending on color and trim options, the final price can increase considerably.
The Whiskey Fire / Vivid Black version we drove, with black trim, is clearly a step above the entry-level model. With all the options included, the price of our test model came to around €43,000—a hefty sum, but in line with the luxury, appearance, and touring capabilities you get in return.
Got the space, the long distances, and the budget? Then this is one of the most relaxed, luxurious touring motorcycles on the market. Just bring your muscle, though. Or well, you’ll get it soon.