Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special – What else can you buy

Harley-Davidson has recently launched the Street Glide Special in India at a price of Rs 30.53 lakh. Based on the standard Street Glide, the Street Glide Special is a full-size tourer which looks modern owing to the blacked-out components. Now, around its price range, there are seven other motorcycles which can serve you the same purpose but in a different style and manner.

Starting with the Harley-Davidson itself, the American bikemaker offers the jazzier-looking Road Glide Special at Rs 32.99 lakh. Just like the Street Glide Special, this is a modern-looking version of the standard Road Glide. The motorcycle flaunts an elegant styling with twin headlamp set up wrapped around a bulbous fairing and the massive tilted saddlebags. However, the main highlight of the bike is the 'Boom! Box infotainment system' which connects with mobile devices and gets features which are useful while touring. The Road Glide Special is powered by an 1868cc, Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine which produces 163Nm at 3000rpm. 

Besides Harley, Indian is yet another American bikemaker which offers two motorcycles suitable for long-distance riding. You can either choose the Indian Chieftain or the Springfield which are priced at Rs 32.33 lakh and Rs 33.83 lakh, respectively. Both the bikes are quintessential tourers with slow-slung stance, huge seats and easy-to-reach handlebars. For maintaining the brand’s theme, they get oodles of chrome, round headlamp and curvy front fender. Both the bikes are powered by the same 1811cc, twin-cylinder engine that makes 72bhp and 138Nm of torque.

However, if you want something more exotic than these, opt for the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse, priced at Rs 30.28 lakh. The motorcycle, as the name suggests, carries an all-black theme around its body panels which make it look more menacing. The Chieftain Dark Horse shares its engine and cycle parts with the standard Chieftain.

The classic-styled motorcycles might not entice many riders. For them, there are a few modern alternatives. First up is the Honda Gold Wing which has recently been launched in its new 2019 avatar. It is powered by a behemoth 1833cc, six-cylinder motor that churns out 122.5bhp and 170Nm. This unit comes mated to a seven-speed DCT (dual clutch transmission) for a seamless ride experience.  Moreover, it’s loaded with electronics such as ABS, hill-hold assist, electronically adjustable windscreen, keyless ignition and remote-locking panniers.

Now, Honda Gold Wing faces competition from the BMW K1600 GTL which is a similar, heavy-weight modern tourer, priced at Rs 28.65 lakh. Apart from the enormous looks owing to the fairing and storage boxes, it also gets electronic aids such as reverse gear for easy manoeuvre and self-levelling xenon headlamp. Powering the bike is a 1649cc, six-cylinder engine which produces 158bhp and 175Nm. Meanwhile, you can also opt for the BMW K 1600 B which is a differently-styled version of the K1600 GTL. With its more compact fairing, different seat and smaller panniers, the K 1600 B retails at Rs 28.45 lakh.

(All prices are ex-showroom)