Spending 2023 on the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST! The cruiser that can do it all? | Long-term test
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ม.ค. 2024
- #harleydavidson #lowriderst #cruiser
Reporter, Saffron Wilson spent 2023 aboard the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST. Find out how she got on in our latest long-term test video. Read our full review here: www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-r...
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What a great interview, the lady knows her bike!
As an American, it’s cool to see/hear an HD review from abroad. You see many of the same things we do…except the number plate issue…LOL! I have a 2011 Ultra Ltd with 42K miles and love it. I plan on riding more when I retire in a couple months! Ride on and be safe on those UK wet roads!
Shame theyre so expensive in the uk £20k is a hell of a lot of money, when triumph and indian are knocking on the door, with more capable bikes
Took a Harley around Death Valley road trip...rode it into the California sunset off the desert roads...nothing beats it.
To other TH-cam motorcycle channels - this is how you do a bike review.
Her comment about speed is so right on. My first Harley experience was on a Buell and, on the freeway I thought “my god, this is slow.” Then I looked at the speedometer and saw I was doing 90 miles an hour. The engine lacks the urgency of other brands-it SOUNDS like it’s barely working-but the power is there.
I've only ridden two harleys in my 55 year riding experience and it amazes me that a person who loves the capabilities of modern bikes would be satisfied with such a coarse block of iron. Isn't it wonderful that we all like such different things?
The M8 is a bit different, still no R1 but having toured Europe on a Harley and an R1, I take the HD every time, but then I'm getting older 😁
Great review from someone who has done the miles, I was impressed. If I had the space and money I'd love that bike in my garage.
These reviews of the daily life with a bike are very good. Thank you all in the team who let us know about different bikes. Keep up your good work! 😊👍
I really like the Lowrider ST, but like Saffron said “for the price, I expect more bits”.
As I get older ( 68 ) the huge weight of my Harley Davidson Electra-Glide could create a problem in future, so this ST could be a alternative for the big HD touring models. Thanks for the review !
The rust issue so soon seems quite a negative. She was very detailed and honest in her reports. Excellent video.
The stock exhaust is incredibly cheaply made. Theres very few people that keep it anyway. I think (I’m sure others will correct me) the stock exhaust is mild steel. She said about the fairing keeping “snow” off so I assume it’s been ridden through salt. Mild steel won’t old up to that. The exhaust I changed mine with is stainless and night and day better. The rest of the bikes pretty well made.
@@cornishreptiles I guess a lot of Harley owners will change it but I fail to see why they can’t do something better for £20k. maybe I’m being too harsh and it’s just accepted ?
@@theonlyredspecial known as the Harley tax. Fact of the matter is generally, although not everyone, generally the first thing to go is the exhaust to make it louder and “sound like a Harley”. Harley can’t do this themselves because it has to conform to all noise and pollution regulations at the point of sale. So these days they make them as cheap as possible. However, once you have bought your new bike Harley dealers will willingly oblige to sell you a new exhaust and “stage 1” so it’s also big business.
@@cornishreptilesour local Harley dealer had an pan American when I was in with my friend and there was rust on the demo bike too I noticed around the brake lever and clutch lever calipers and bolts. I figured it was unusual but perhaps was having a rough life. I quite like Harley but haven’t bought a new one so wasn’t aware of all of this upselling. I guess if you have the money and enjoy them all makes sense In The end
@@theonlyredspecial Harley’s are renowned for rust. I’ve had my Low Rider S for 2 years, two winters, and looked after it. It’s still rust free. If you buy one with absolutely no intention to wash it and protect it then you’ll be incredibly disappointed. Demo bikes at dealers I think do have hard lives but also they have zero protection on them from factory.
I have had mine nearly a year. As for the storage I added an Advanblack Chopped tour pack and it solved all my storage needs. It is a very agile bike considering its weight, sounds very nice, and has a comfortable ride. Suffers the same problem all Harleys do which is you need a different windscreen for local riding and highway riding otherwise you suffer buffeting and noise at speed.
Great to see a Harley on long term review after doing 10k in a year. Its come out ok really considering. Never had one but would try this model. And would no longer have to bother waving or nodding to non HD riders.
Hey Jim, Agree on all this. I was trying to be self deprecating 😂 being a GS rider (at the mo)
Very insightful!
Great video!
Great stuff, thank you. Tank range and mpg data might have been useful, especially for a touring bike.
5 gallon fuel tank, and should be close to 50mpg
Lighting is another aspect that too often gets overlooked. I inevitably ride in the dark when touring - good lighting is important.
@@MadChalet That's a good point.
Great review as always
Not knowing much about HD at first I was like "oh that's quite nice", then I heard the price and I was like hahahahahah absolutely not
The problem with Harley Davidson is if you’re not truly set on owning a Harley, you can get a bike with equal features for a lot less money if you look to other brands.
That’s true. I’ve owned Japanese bikes and European bikes for decades. But I just recently bought my first Harley. I’ve ridden them in the past but never dropped the cash for one. I’m getting older and decided this was likely going to be my last bike before I give up riding for good and get a car. So I bought a Road King because I figured one of my kids or a grandkid will inherit it. The thing I realized about Harleys is that with all the aftermarket companies and Harley itself. You can always rebuild an old bike or modify a bike to be whatever kind of bike you want to ride. You can’t really do that with many of the other brands. That’s the plus to buying a Harley. You will be able to keep it on the road essentially forever.
@@FriedPi-mc5yt that’s a very valid point. It’s funny how hard it can be to find aftermarket support for any of the Japanese brands, yet you do a quick google search for Harley parts and find a half dozen companies that offer a variety of each item. I love Harley’s, just haven’t found it worth the money for me just yet.
I’m here in Ca. I’ve never been to Europe. I’d love to ride in Scotland. I have a 19 Road Glide Special. I sat on an ST today while getting a repair done. So light but I am 6’1” and would have to put some parts on to make it so I can stretch out. I’d imagine it’s fun to ride.
2019 HD Ultra Limited owner, purchased new. I ride 18K + miles every year. Transmission oil transfer to the primary problem from day one. Engine oil sumping from day one. Low compression in front cylinder. It’s currently on the third go around to fix the oil transfer problem. It’s been sitting at the dealership for three months waiting on HD to decide how to fix their problem. and this is after working directly with the factory representative prior to dropping it off to be fixed.
For $31K+ ? And a motor company that tries to ignore their defects. Nobody should by this brand!
I’ll never have another one! !
£21 grand ? Jesus , i was thinking it was going to be around £12k to £13k , where on earth are they getting the £21 grand from ? 😵💫 how can anyone afford this ? but apart from that great job from Saffron and Neevsey
If the Euro isn't that strong against the US dollar you're gonna pay big $$s for a Harley! I'm in Canada and when our dollar isn't strong the exchange difference causes a huge price jump. When I worked at a HD dealership in 2004 thru '06 I saw prices drop nearly $10000 based on the currency.
Work hard, you can do it!
Easy, work hard,and smart.
Brilliant review. I loved the engine but even as a shorter rider (5ft7) I wanted the seat to be higher and the bars to be closer to me. I might go with the Fat Bob with Road Warrior fairing
Serious rider right there!
It does look clean and trim for a Harley.
Saffron was a blast at Thunder. A great ambassador for MCN
Good review and I agree with her summary. I’d quite like this bike but it’s too expensive. Think I’d struggle with the little display. Harley owners tinker and add mods, so exhaust etc would all get replaced (at great expense)
Got the fxlrs 👌😎
So amusing how HD is probably considered exotic there like triumphs are here. I want Harley to succeed but I wouldn't spend the coin on one.
fixed it for you
They’re not though, they’re considered more like a fetish. A distinct group of people go nuts for them, most find them irrelevant, expensive and a bit silly
happy for you@@jimdoar2546 , not sure how your tale relates to my comment, but I'm glad you're enjoying your rides
I have a 21 Low Rider S with the 114, and a stage one involved some slip ons. That's it. It comes with a free flowing breather or air cleaner (which ever you prefer) so there's no need for that. It also comes with a good tune from the factory. Meaning the M8 bikes don't run too lean with the air to fuel ratio, so you really don't need a tune for a stage one. Now im going to be getting a stage 2 pretty soon, which is an upgraded camshaft, so I'll definitely need a tuner with that. Yeah. Great bikes! I test rode it for 5 minutes and knew it was the one!
Recommend the torque cam unless you like to rev it out then go with the high performance cam. The Pro Street and Auto tuner works very well and keeps from voiding the warranty. Exhaust is up to your preference.
@@mojomanmurph1925 hey thanks. I was leaning towards the power cam because both Harley cams provide extra torque and that 114 already makes a lot, but that extra HP would be helpful on the interstate where speeds of 100+ are not uncommon by these crazy Oklahoma drivers in their raised pickups and Landrovers.
No Harely Fan here, in American we use somerhing called WD40 and you spray it down the exaust and stop that rust in its tracks.
Interesting, but no mention of MPG! And range on a tank. Very relavent info for touring!
I get 400klm out of a tank on my lowrider st if travelling at basically legal speeds.
Great review,. But would've loved to see how easy them there panniers came off,. just a quick demo of certain positives or negatives things during these long terma's think would go a long way, thanks for the time out,. Take care,.👍
I'd love Neevsey to have a go, and hear his thought's
You really wouldn’t want his feedback better left unsaid and probably the reason he doesn’t test things like that haha
$24k here in the US. I love them, but ~$19k is more a realistic MSRP… wake up HD.
21 grand for this no way…
Nice video! What’s the name of that seat?
It looks like the Saddlemen touring seat
Bloody hilarious bike. What was HD thinking when they came up with this. 😂 USB socket location is a joke. Tourer but some with no back seat and rack. So many other “features” and all for that price. I never did get it with these bikes. 😊
After this video, I had to get your shoes, Neevsey!
Engine is great. After riding it, the rest of the bike feels like it was thrown together. My boots were at too high of a bend relative to the seated position and the fairing does nothing for wind since the buffeting is horrible. Great concept, poor execution honestly. Just get a Road or Street Glide if you want a Harley Tourer.
Great looking bike it's just that ridiculous number plate.
That would be a really nice bike for £13,995.......
that would be a stretch. No tech whatsoever, cheep quality. It's a 10k bike at best.
UK Motorcycle number plates are one of the largest in the world! 🤣🤣🤣
Fairings not very good in rain down pour, first down pour my crotch gets wet due to openings in fairing.Harleys are not good at areo, hence the reason they put openings in fairing. Otherwise a fabulous bike.
Walked around a HD dealer the other day and was surprised by the lack of build quality of the bikes, the dealer also did Triumph and Ducati which were so far ahead for a similar budget.
Nice but too expensive.
Has safron done the most miles out of anyone on these reviews, i think ahe might have
21k ? So a pangale v4 or this lump 😂
I'd pick this thing over the red bike without a single second of doubt
@@jsleeio Funny
Po-ta-to po-ta-to po-ta-to po-ta-to po-ta-to po-ta-to po-ta-to po-ta-to po-ta-to po-ta-to po-ta-to po-ta-to po-ta-to
LOL, the number-plate gate is an age old ignorance from Harley, I mean it, shovelhead old and maintained by Harley, by ignoring bigger plate compliance, like in Germany before, now in UK, seems the blind officers from germany got older and moved to UK before retirement, as in Germany the plates became smaller, not small, yet.
I’m looking forward to HD being built in HongKong Phooey, should see a x10 increase in build quality 😂
sadly, these softail are all built in Thailand. Which may explain quite a lot.
21 k? No way.
That's the rub isn't it? £15k bike at a stretch, even taking the badge prestige into account. Great bike though I bet, just not £21k great.
@@Teatimeted In the USA you'd walk out of the dealer with about $25K worth of bike after all the fees and Harley Tax
@jimdoar2546 Well, I bought a '22 1250 GSA new, instead of a Low Rider S. The finish is superb, way beyond the finish on a Harley (I know because I have owned one). The electronics are spot on, I use them all the time. Don't knock electronic semi active suspension till you have tried it. Heated grips, heated rider and pillion seat. A headlight that follows the road. Need I go on? All for the price of a what Harley Davidson thinks an engine, a frame and basic suspension is worth on one of their bikes.. Additionally... I did all my own work on my Harley, and once I'm out of warranty I'll be doing the same on my BMW. My 2016 Harley needed a code reader, just like my BMW does. Modern Harleys use a lot of electronics behind the scenes, just like any other modern bike does. I will caveat all of the above by stating as fact that I absolutely am a Harley fan boy... I'm not a hater. I miss one of these awesome bikes in my garage, but these prices now are insane. Anyone can see that.
I hate Harley. But the girl is super cool. The first time I see Neevsy well impressed.
I don't know how you can 'hate' a motorcycle, it is what it is, and you can either like it or not. Seems to me that if you can do 10k miles in 6 months without any problem, it can't be too bad.
Odd bags couldn't live with that
You can take them off in a few seconds !
@@jimdoar2546 yeah always had the propipe on my HDs.
Over £21k! hahaha
You could buy so many better bikes for far less!
The thing is, 10 years from now, the Harley will still be going and worth something.
@@onecookieboy So will my Kawi
A bike journalist who doesn't know this bike can be a touring bike. 🤔🤔
Buying a Harley is a cry for help. There should be some sort of counseling service provided.
The dealers are ruining Harley Davidson all they care about is taking advantage of the biker.
U.K number plates are without a doubt the ugliest in Europe for sure! 😂🤣
Harleys look ridiculous with fairings.
Harley Davidsons are nice girls' bikes and the lovely Saffron only proves it. I laugh every time I see some big, tattooed dude flexing his arms and trying to look like a bad ash, on a girl's bike. I had a HD for 2 years when my license was hanging by a thread. Couldn't wait to get back on a "real" bike.