Let’s face it, the hype around relaxed motorcycle engines is real. You don’t have to rev these to the moon to enjoy, they don’t burn your gonads, and they let you enjoy your thoughts rather than egg you like the devil to break speed limits. Large-capacity V-twin engines do this particularly well, which is why nearly all your favorite bikemakers have tried to whip one up at some point. Only a few have truly stood the test of time, though, and we have one such example for you. To no one’s surprise, it comes from America’s favorite bikemaker.
The Number Of Modern And Torquey V-twin Engines Is Shrinking
If you look at the market, the number of V-twin engine motorcycles hasn’t risen much. It’s as if most bikemakers have decided to focus on other engine configurations, particularly parallel-twins. It makes sense, too, considering 270-degree parallel-twin mills come really close to promising a V-twin-like experience without the manufacturing complexities. This is a particularly common trend amongst Japanese and European companies.
Japanese And European Bikermakers Favor Other Engine Types
Regardless of the type of motorcycle, Japanese and European bikemakers clearly favor other engine types over V-twins. For instance, most modern cruiser bikes–the usual bearers of V-twin engines–from Japan favor parallel-twin engines. Sure, there are V-twin examples like the Honda Shadow and Suzuki Boulevard, but neither of these has had engine updates in almost (or over) a decade. As for European giants, Ducati and KTM have a V-twin engine each. They are all high-strung mills, though.
Harley-Davidson And Indian Lead The Way In The V-twin Space
So if you want a modern and torque-rich V-twin engine, you’re inevitably left with Harley-Davidson and Indian. The two giants have several engines that meet this brief, but it is H-D, which has shown more innovation with relaxed V-twin engines in recent times. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that the V-twin that feels relaxed, torquey, and easy to ride all day comes from America’s favorite bikemaker.
The Biggest Harley-Davidson Engine In 2026
The biggest Harley-Davidson engine came out in 2024 and it displaces nearly 2,000 cubic centimeters
The Milwaukee-Eight 117 Is Easy-Going And Full Of Torque
If you look at Harley-Davidson’s current lineup, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine is the most common sighting. This is thanks to a proper overhaul last year, where the engine gained:
- New four-valve cylinder heads
- New engine oil
- New contoured aluminum intake manifold
- New muffler and intake
- Dual counter-balancers
For 2026, this mill powers six Softail cruisers, four Grand American touring bikes, and two trikes. The state of tune differs across the board, largely spread between three trims: Classic, Custom, and High Output. While all justify the “relaxed, torquey, and easy to ride” brief, our pick is the state of tune on the Street Glide and Road Glide duo. After all, these are the long-haul models, so they should be the most relaxed and ready for all-day riding. Let’s dive deeper.
Milwaukee-Eight 117 Models In 2026
- Street Bob
- Fat Boy
- Low Rider S
- Low Rider ST
- Breakout
- Heritage Classic
- Street Glide
- Road Glide
- Street Glide Limited
- Road Glide Limited
- Road Glide 3
- Street Glide 3 Limited
The Street Glide Has Over 100 HP And 125 LB-FT
This generation of the Street Glide debuted in 2024. And it debuted the updated Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine. This is a V-twin engine displacing 1,917cc while being air and oil-cooled. The engine also has new exhaust and intake flow to boost performance. Speaking of which, the output is 105 horsepower and 130 pound-feet, making this the most powerful base Street Glide model in H-D’s history. The former peaks at 4,600 RPM, while the latter kicks in at 3,250 RPM.
Promises Over 250 Miles Of Riding Range
Thanks to the low-end oomph, you can eke out 44 miles per gallon (claimed). So with the six-gallon tank fueled up, you have over 250 miles of riding range at your helm. The Cruise Drive six-speed transmission (driven by a belt) further lets you enjoy the highway with ease.
Official Giveaway
🔥 Limited Time
Enter The Weekly Giveaway
Win Car Guy Gear
Sign up to our newsletter to enter. Follow on socials for more entries.
New giveaways every 2 weeks
No purchase necessary. Open to US residents 18+. Full giveaway details on the page.
Modern Electronic Aids Watch Your Back
While the engine is simple and retro at large, H-D has thrown in a proper electronics suite to keep the rubber side up. A six-axis IMU and electronic throttle are both included, which enable safety aids like cornering ABS, cornering traction control, cornering drag-torque slip control, and cornering linked brakes. A set of ride modes rounds things off, namely Road, Sport, and Rain. A Custom mode lets you fine-tune each rider aid.
Low Service Internals Can Be A Pain Point
For something meant to carve highways, the service intervals are a bit low by modern-day standards. The first service comes up in 1,000 miles, and then you need to visit the shop after every 5,000 miles. For reference, European cruisers like the Triumph Rocket 3 and Ducati Diavel V4 have considerably longer service intervals of around 10,000 miles.
The V-Twin Cruiser That Balances Style, Comfort, And Everyday Rideability
While you’d expect a Harley-Davidson here, there’s an Indian Scout waves the American flag
Paired With A Double-Cradle Chassis
Housing the engine is a Harley’s Grand American Touring double-cradle chassis. It has a steel construction, and the engine sits nestled inside the two cradles for full support. The chassis works in tandem with Showa suspension. 49 mm dual-bending forks are present up top, while the rear has dual shock absorbers behind the saddlebags. There’s no adjustability other than rear preload.
The Street Glide Starts From $24,999
Finally, there’s the price. As part of its aggressive pricing strategy, Harley-Davidson has slashed the base price of the Street Glide to just $24,999. That makes it more accessible to the masses and helps it undercut its arch-rivals like the Indian Challenger. There is a small catch, though. The $24,999 base model comes without any pillion accommodations. If you want those, the price rises to $26,999. A further $1,400 is added if you want blacked-out mechanicals. Oh, and all other colors except Billiard Gray come at an extra cost, too.
2026 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Specifications
|
Engine |
Milwaukee-Eight 117 |
|
Power |
105 HP |
|
Torque |
130 LB-FT |
|
Transmission |
Six-speed |
|
Chassis |
Double-cradle steel |
|
Front suspension |
49 mm dual-bending forks |
|
Rear suspension |
Dual shock absorbers (preload adjustable) |
|
Wheels |
19/18-inch alloys (F/R) |
|
Weight |
811 pounds (wet) |
|
Tank capacity |
6 gallons |
|
Seat height |
26.4 inches |
Source: Harley-Davidson