A Blank Canvas for Riders: The 2023 Street Glide Special

Harley-Davidson surprised many in 2022 when it discontinued the Electra Glide from its lineup, leaving riders to turn to models like the Street Glide and Road Glide or better-equipped and more capable models like the Street Glide Special. While the Street Glide has always been likened to a stripped-down version of the Electra Glide, the Street Glide Special is an entirely different road warrior. It offers incredible value and outstanding appeal. 

We see this in the 2023 Street Glide Special, which maintains its niche in the Harley-Davidson lineup as a factory-built custom bagger that delivers the signature style and iconic rumble forever associated with the Harley-Davidson name. The 2023 Street Glide Special is a blank canvas, with you as the artist and Republic Harley-Davidson, your The Woodlands Harley-Davidson dealer, serving as the studio to help you bring your Grand American Touring dreams to life. But what about the Street Glide Special makes it so appealing to adventurers looking for a bespoke bike? It's time to find out. 

Ten Color Options

Few bikes can match the palette you'll find when you start building the 2023 Street Glide Special of your dreams. The paint options pair hues like Vivid Black, Baja Orange, and Gray Haze with the signature chrome finish found on most Harley-Davidson bikes. However, the options don't stop there. You can also put the Street Glide Special in stealth mode by blacking out the mechanical details with a Black Finish, which is especially striking when paired with Vivid Black paint.

The Black Finish is available with other hues, like Atlas Silver Metallic, Heirloom Red Fade, and Prospect Gold. While these pairings offer a distinct appeal, Harley-Davidson introduces new two-tone paint schemes for 2023 that give the Street Glide Special a unique aesthetic. For example, you can customize the bike with Bright Billiard Blue and Billiard Gray or opt for Industrial Yellow and Vivid Black, likening the motorcycle to a golden bumblebee worthy of Transformers fame. 

Step Up Your Style

If you've ever heard "the devil is in the details," then you know what to expect from the 2023 Street Glide Special and its seemingly endless array of accessories. Harley-Davidson genuinely thinks of everything, making it easy for riders to customize the Street Glide Special down to even the smallest details. 

Harley-Davidson celebrates its 120th anniversary in 2023 with special edition models like the 2023 Street Glide Special Anniversary Edition. However, production numbers are limited, meaning not everyone will get in the saddle of one of these celebratory road warriors. Fortunately, Harley-Davidson gives every Street Glide Special rider a chance to celebrate by offering anniversary-specific design upgrades. For example, you can add a 120th Anniversary Timer Cover that features a red fade finish with black and gold accents. There's also a 120th Anniversary Flag Kit that can proudly display your enthusiasm for the Harley-Davidson legacy, or you can opt for subtle details like the 120th Anniversary Air Cleaner Trim. 

Riders who aren't necessarily looking for anniversary-related details will find plenty of other options. For example, Harley-Davidson makes it easy to enhance the Milwaukee-Eight engine with accent kits that match the body color and include painted tappet covers, pushrod coolers, and lower rocker box covers. You can also give the Street Glide Special a different aesthetic by adding Adversary details, like an Adversary Timer Cover, Adversary Mirrors, an Adversary Shifter Peg, and an Adversary Derby Cover. 

Functional Enhancements

Functional enhancements are plentiful and include options like the color-matched Chopped Tour-Pak Luggage Carrier. The carrier features a streamlined profile that doesn't take away from the overall aesthetic of the Street Glide Special. Moreover, it adds another 1.9 cu.ft. of storage space to complement the 2.5 cu.ft. of cargo space in the bike's stretched saddlebags. Harley-Davidson adds another layer of functionality to the upgrade by giving you the option to add passenger backrest pads to ensure the addition doesn't compromise comfort. 

Many riders are quick to upgrade the seat on the Street Glide Special, opting for the low-profile solo touring seat when they aren't riding two-up. The solo seat is designed to distribute your weight evenly, reducing pressure points and minimizing rider fatigue. In addition, Harley-Davidson tapers the nose of the seat to give you a more confident and controlled riding position without compromising the design or overall style of the Street Glide Special. This seat is a prime example of functional sophistication with its custom diamond-pleated surface featuring double-row accent stitching. 

Because the Street Glide Special is destined for longer journeys, Harley-Davidson offers many functional features that most manufacturers ignore. For example, you can outfit the bike's batwing fairing with a three-pocket fairing pouch. The best-selling kit fits snuggly to the fairing, is made from sturdy plastic and vinyl, and features magnetic closures that ensure smaller items, like your smartphone, sunglasses, and keys, stay safely tucked away. 

Tech-Savvy Features and Accessories

The 2023 Street Glide Special is one of the most tech-savvy bikes in the segment because it makes staying connected and informed intuitive and easy. Harley-Davidson accomplishes this feat by equipping the Street Glide Special with the Boom! Box GTS infotainment system. The system is centralized on a full-color TFT display designed to withstand the elements and reduce glare to optimize visibility. But what makes the system so unique? 

Harley-Davidson knows riders rarely leave home without their smartphones, so the manufacturer offers seamless smartphone integration via the Boom! Box GTS system with Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth capability. This integration gives you access to your apps, navigation, and other tools. Still, Harley-Davidson doesn't stop there and offers an array of tech-savvy features that enhance your connectivity beyond what the standard infotainment system provides. 

Instead of storing your phone in your pocket, you can outfit the 2023 Street Glide Special with accessories like the batwing fairing pouch or a universal handlebar phone mount. The mount is attractive because it installs on the handlebar and keeps your smartphone within immediate view. Additionally, the mount is compatible with almost every smartphone and doesn't require a special case or an engineering degree to use. Instead, you can twist your phone in, rotate the display to view it horizontally or vertically and remove it using one hand. It's that simple, and, just as importantly, it matches the classic style of a Harley-Davidson road warrior.

Many riders complement the phone mount by adding the Harley-Davidson Anti-Vibration Module. Excessive vibrations can damage your smartphone, which Harley-Davidson remedies with this unique feature. The module works with the Harley-Davidson Universal Phone Carrier to dampen up to 60% of vibrations. Once installed, you never have to think twice, as it works behind the scenes to protect your phone during every ride. 

The World Is Your Oyster

You can go anywhere and do anything you set your mind to, especially when you're in the saddle of a Grand American Touring bike like the 2023 Street Glide Special. Harley-Davidson knocks it out of the park with the Street Glide Special by creating a customizable bagger that serves as a blank canvas to fulfill all your Harley-Davidson riding dreams. With the Street Glide Special as your muse, you can travel the roads of The Woodlands in style, chasing the horizon and satiating your need for adventure around every turn.