Looking for a capable cruiser but don’t want to get locked into just around-town trips? In that case, the 2019 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide is your huckleberry: It’s a long, low cruising machine that also happens to come equipped with lightweight touring amenities. The Harley Sport Glide was the ninth bike to be announced in the overhauled 2018 Softail lineup, and serves up touring elements like bags and a windscreen, along with upgrades found on some of the more performance-oriented Softails, like an inverted single-cartridge fork. It’s the heir apparent to a long line of chameleon-like Harleys like the FXRT, FXDT, and the more recent Dyna Switchback.

The stylish Harley Sport Glide kicks out its handsome 18-inch Mantis wheel 30 degrees and wears a mini-fairing (almost a 7/8-scale Batwing) which can be quickly removed without tools, and along with the lockable saddlebags (also detachable) gives the Harley-Davidson Sport Glide some touring capabilities but also great versatility. If you want a cleaner cruiser look, the saddlebags and mini-fairing are a cinch to swap out.

The Sport Glide’s low, broad seat, wide handlebar, and forward-based footboards will fit a wide range of riders, and the Glide’s ride quality is vastly improved thanks to a 43mm inverted Showa fork with single-cartridge damping and the new Softail-spec monoshock rear end, which is preload adjustable via an easily reached dial. The Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine propels that hardtail-looking, Softail-spec chassis with gusto, kicking out 108 pound-feet of claimed peak torque. And let’s not forget that cruise control, the H-D Security System, and ABS all come standard on the Harley Sport Glide. For a do-it-all, Jekyll-and-Hyde machine, it’s tough to beat.

Pros: Go from touring to cruiser in seconds; good looks in a lighter, stiffer chassis, powered by a supremely smooth and powerful Milwaukee-Eight engine.

Cons: Not much of a passenger pillion back there; more front brake would be nice.

Harley Softail Sport Glide Specs & Pricing

With its kicked-out front wheel, mini-Bat fairing, staggered mufflers, and torquey M-8 powerplant, the Sport Glide combines a dose of classic style with light touring amenities and updates for a very cool chameleon-like cruiser.

The 2019 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide costs $18,649 in Vivid Black, while color options cost $19,049. Custom colors cost $19,599, while two-tone custom colors on the Harley Sport Glide are priced at $19,799. The H-D Factory Security System comes standard, as does ABS.

Softail Sport Glide Parts & Accessories

Even though the standard Harley Sport Glide is easily transformable with removable parts, there is still a lot of room for customization. It’s a Harley, right? Which means you have hundreds of ways to remake the Harley Sport Glide into your own version of a convertible tourer. You can check out hundreds of Softail Sport Glide parts and accessories at Harley-Davidson, or dive into the mind-boggling number of aftermarket companies offering their own custom pieces.

First changes to the Harley Sport Glide generally include comfort and riding positions—think handlebars and controls—though performance upgrades as well as more storage are also popular. We just happened to address all those areas when we first got our 2018 Sport Glide.