Harley-Davidson’s touring-focused bagger, the Street Glide Ultra, receives significant upgrades for 2025, with this new offering having been revealed earlier this year. It features a larger powerplant and increased performance.
That’s alongside aerodynamic and technology upgrades that include a new batwing fairing, which reduces head buffeting, as well as a fresh fuel tank, oil tank and saddle bags (or panniers if you prefer).
The entire silhouette of the new 2025 Street Glide Ultra gives an appearance of increased aerodynamic flow too, enhanced by LED lighting, with new lower leg guards on the grand touring model serving not only a functional but aesthetic purpose.
Interestingly, the new top box and pillion seat design is a little more minimalistic than the previous generation. Rear speakers in the armrests are a thing of the past and also gone are top box indicator and brake lighting and aerials.
In their place are an abundance of deflectors which can be tailored to flow air onto the rider’s body, along with a 12.3-inch TFT display running Harley-Davidson’s Skyline IOS system. Introduced on the Road and Street Glide in 2024, it’s loaded with features.
The new display replaces the analogue gauges of previous generations and offers an array of rider information, including speed, revs, fuel and battery charge, tyre pressures, navigation and music. It even supports Apple CarPlay and smartphone integration.
It’s an exceptional system, and the more we use this enhanced telemetry, the more we fall in love with its ease of operation and crystal-clear display. From a usability perspective, simplicity remains key, with buttons that are large and easy to engage.
The infotainment joystick is gone and in its place are easy to use controls. You can also utilise the touchscreen capability of the display. On the road, the Street Glide Ultra does not disappoint.
Performance is impressive form the big 117 Milwaukee Eight motor that produces 80kW of power and 175Nm of torque. That’s supported by four selectable riding modes, including Rain, Road, Sport and Custom.
Offering plenty of power and torque for riding two up, even with lots of luggage on-board, the engine completes its duties beautifully. We even found ourselves having a hoot pushing the Ultra through some tight twisty back roads, such is its capability.
The ride modes we mentioned add to the experience of the big tourer, influencing drivetrain characteristics such as throttle response and power availability. Road mode is the most friendly option, while Sport offers a lot of grin inducing fun.
Rain tempers throttle response in trickier and less than ideal conditions, while Custom allows the rider to select the best of all riding modes. Harley-Davidson’s RDRS is included for added safety functionality.
It utilises advanced chassis control, electronic brake control and powertrain technology to assist you with accelerating and braking in a straight line or while in a turn, which is more than a little handy on this size touring bike.
Handling is also vastly improved, with the Street Glide Ultra scoring an extra 22mm of rear suspension travel thanks to new Showa suspension. It makes a huge different to how the bike performs.
That’s never more evident than in the fact that this bike doesn’t feel as girthy as its 393kg weight might suggest, even when changing directions on tighter roads. The Street Glide Ultra remain obedient to rider inputs and confidence inspiring, which is no easy feat.
Tested here in Blue Burst with Black trim (a standout in the colour range), the 2025 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Ultra represents grand American touring at its finest. It’s comfortable, powerful, and continues the legacy created by its predecessors.
Vastly improved, it’s priced from $48,750 ride away and can also be had with chrome trim, in Billiard Gray, Vivid Black, harlequin-esque Mystic Shift, and two-tone Whiskey Fire/Vivid Black, or Iron Horse Metallic/Vivid Black.
It’s backed by a 2-year unlimited kilometre warranty. You can find out more by visiting the Harley-Davidson website, or by talking to your local dealership.
Our test bike was provided by Harley-Davidson Australia for independent review purposes.
