All About Comfort: The Most Comfortable Harley-Davidson Motorcycles
Are you ready to explore the open road but are determined to do so in style without compromising your comfort or overpaying? All too often, touring bikes promise to comfort mile after mile but fail to deliver. While it’s not an easy challenge to overcome, it’s one where Harley-Davidson succeeds. The legendary motorcycle manufacturer accomplishes this incredible feat with its Grand American Touring bikes that blend luxury and capability with classic Harley-Davidson style. Even better, shopping for a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) model can get you a fantastic deal on one of these comfortable bikes.
What’s the most comfortable Harley-Davidson motorcycle? It depends on who you ask because every rider is different. Where one rider wants the comforts of a plush seat and the opportunity to stay connected with an intuitive infotainment system, another needs the ability to ride two-up without compromising ride quality or handling. As your Certified Pre-Owned Harley-Davidson destination, at Republic Harley-Davidson, we understand these distinct needs and can pair you with the motorcycle that exceeds your expectations. Here’s a closer look at two of the most comfortable pre-owned bikes and the features that work behind the scenes to help you enjoy every mile and road ahead.
Best Comfort on a Budget: Meet the Electra Glide Standard
Harley-Davidson built the Grand American Touring segment from the ground up with models like the Street Glide, Road Glide, and Electra Glide. These bikes are designed to go the distance and are ideal for cross-country adventures because they blend comfort and luxury with distinct Harley-Davidson styling and innovative technologies. Among these, the Electra Glide Standard is often praised as the most comfortable and best value.
Performance and Handling
The Electra Glide Standard is powered by the proven Milwaukee-Eight 107 Big Twin engine that delivers 111 lb-ft of torque and the throaty rumble expected of a Harley-Davidson road warrior. The Big-Twin provides exceptional power to the 820 lb bike, but Harley-Davidson does an even better job of helping you harness that power and fully enjoy the ride.
The Electra Glide features a high-performance rear suspension that delivers a comfortable ride, with the preload adjuster making it easy to set as conditions warrant. In addition, the batwing fairing features a split stream vent that smooths the airflow and reduces head buffeting to improve your experience and reduce fatigue. Likewise, the mid-height windshield protects you from the elements.
Rider Comfort and Technologies
The Electra Glide Standard is incredibly comfortable because of its upright riding position. Instead of stretching your arms or awkwardly positioning your legs behind you, the bike’s riding position gives you more control without exacerbating rider fatigue. The plush seat and floorboards allow you to set the cruise control and relax as you explore the open road. Moreover, you can ride confidently, thanks to the Rider Safety Enhancements. These include anti-lock brakes, electronically linked brakes, Hill Hold Control, and Cornering-Specific features like a Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System and Cornering Drag-Torque Slip Control System.
Affordability and Value
The Electra Glide is our top pick for the most comfortable Harley-Davidson touring bike for those on a budget. The bike costs under $20,000 new, and CPO models are even more affordable. This reasonable price gets you in the saddle of a bike with antilock brakes, cruise control, and security features. Finding a bike with the optional Rider Safety Enhancements will cost a bit more, but it’s a valuable investment because these features give you peace of mind and confidence as you explore the open road.
Best Comfort and Worth the Splurge: Meet the CVO Road Glide Limited
How much are you willing to spend on comfort? While the Electra Glide is an exceptional find for riders on a budget, those willing to make a more significant investment will find everything they need and more in the luxurious CVO Road Glide Limited. The rare 2023 anniversary model celebrates the last 120 years for Harley-Davidson, sparing no detail so you can enjoy the momentous occasion from the saddle of an exclusive powerhouse.
Performance and Handling
The 2023 CVO Road Glide Limited, which weighs 963 lbs in running order, is powered by the legendary Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin engine. This is the largest engine Harley-Davidson offers. The precise design, high-flow exhaust, and heavy breather intake optimize its performance to deliver exceptional power to the most luxurious Harley-Davidson bike. The result is phenomenal, with the engine producing 125 lb-ft of torque.
As the ultimate touring bike, Harley-Davidson makes enjoying the full potential of the CVO Road Glide Limited easy. The premium rear suspension is hand-adjustable and simple to tailor to your needs, such as when riding two-up. Additionally, the frame-mounted fairing is priceless when pushing the bike at higher speeds because it reduces buffeting, letting the frame absorb the wind and turbulence to minimize your fatigue.
Rider Comfort and Technologies
The CVO Road Glide Limited exudes comfort everywhere you look. Its upright riding position puts you in complete control of the bike, with the passenger seat sitting higher with an integrated backrest. These seats are truly plush and are outfitted in Alcantara, a suede-like material renowned for its durability. Harley-Davidson enhances the material by adding gold and red contrast stitching that mimics the bike’s commemorative paint palette.
Like the Electra Glide, the CVO Road Glide Limited has floorboards to rest your feet and saddlebags to store all the necessities for your next adventure. However, as a premium Grand American Touring bike, it offers more technology so you can stay connected and informed from the saddle. For example, the CVO Road Glide Limited comes with the Boom! Box GTS infotainment system with a 6.5-inch display, four Rockford Fosgate speakers, a wireless Boom! Audio 30K headset, SiriusXM radio, and Bluetooth capability. The system also offers voice recognition and text-to-speech with compatible smartphones.
Collectibility and Value
Sitting at the top of the Harley-Davidson lineup, a Certified Pre-Owned CVO Road Glide Limited is a celebratory investment with distinct features and exclusive design details. Its commemorative paint of the 2023 model––Anniversary Black and Heirloom Red––immediately distinguishes it. Other unique features include a laser-etched serialized insert on the console and an Art Deco flying eagle on each side of the tank. Along with these details, the bike comes standard with cruise control, anti-lock brakes, and the full Rider Safety Enhancements suite.
What Comfort Means to You
What does comfort mean when you’re chasing the horizon from the saddle? Does it look like a budget-friendly Grand American Touring bike like the Electra Glide, a cruiser-inspired tourer like the Road King, or a commemorative model like the CVO Road Glide Limited? Beyond their price points, how else can you choose between these exceptional Certified Pre-Owned bikes when you visit Republic Harley-Davidson?
Consider your definition of comfort along with your riding style and needs. Next, consider the weight and fit of each bike, evaluating your confidence in the saddle and whether the bike is too large, too small, or just right. As you narrow your options, look at the value that Harley-Davidson often hides in plain sight, like the fairing designs that offer wind protection or rider safety technologies and infotainment systems. Just like a plush seat and an upright riding position, these features are integral to your comfort and the likelihood that you’ll enjoy your time in the saddle.