10 Things To Know About The Harley

May 28, 2023

The Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST is the ultimate weekend escape machine

These days almost every motorcycle is designed to fit a specific purpose. Some models are primarily designed for speed. Some motorcycles are designed for comfort for long-distance touring. Others are designed with more performance aspects in mind. But very rarely is there a bike that is able to check off all the boxes, and excel in almost every area. That is where the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST comes in to play. A perfect balance of laid-back cruising, high performance, speed, style, and long-distance touring, the Low Rider ST is a model with mass appeal and a place in the spotlight. It isn't easy to be able to satisfy everyone, but this bike is very good at satisfying riders with more than one kind riding style. Especially the more experienced riders that would prefer not to be stuck on a bike that is a "one trick pony" kind of motorcycle. Because with its Milwaukee-Eight 117 cubic-inch engine, frame-mounted fairing, blacked-out interior, removable saddlebags, and optional traction control, the Low Rider ST is a bike with many tricks up its sleeve. Whether you are a rider that prefers to be able to shift from casual cruiser to a conquerer of the highway, the Low Rider ST is a motorcycle that does it all.

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These days, sport touring motorcycles are becoming more and more popular. More riders are in the market for Swiss Army knife models that are lean and mean, but can also hang with the big dogs at Sturgis. Generally, when someone intends on making a big cross-country road trip on a motorcycle, they will typically go with a larger touring bike like a Harley-Davidson Road King or an Indian Chieftain. While your traditional touring bike can handle those kinds of trips no problem, not everyone is a fan of how bulky and oversized they are. Some riders can find these large bikes intimidating, and are likely to veer away to something more suitable to their personal taste. That is where the Low Rider ST comes to the rescue. While still built on a medium-sized softail frame, the Low Rider ST provides more distance touring ability similar to that of the Harley-Davidson Heritage, but in a more modernized way.

The "ST" in Low Rider ST and other Harley ST models stands for "Sport Touring"

The most obvious feature on the Low Rider ST is its recognizable, fixed fairing. With a design very much similar to the "shark nose" fairing of the Road Glide, the Low Rider ST's fairing provides optimal wind resistance with the added benefit of not sending any unwanted vibrations to the handlebars. Because if you are on the highway doing at least 90 mph, a little shakiness in your hands can be a little off-putting. Not to mention that in addition to its windshield, the fairing is able to provide protect against any kinds of road debris, dirt, rocks, and bugs. Plus, it also houses a LED headlamp that can brightly illuminate even the darkest of roads with plenty of light coverage. Basically, Low Rider ST riders have all the benefit of a Road Glide, but with 100 fewer pounds.

Because the amount of experienced riders continues to grow every day, the need for an all-powerful engine has also grown exponentially. Thankfully for the Low Rider ST, its beating heart is none other than the mighty Milwaukee-Eight 117 cubic-inch engine. This air & oil-cooled engine was once reserved only for CVO models. But as time moved on, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 is now available as the stock engine for this sport touring bike. And it is not the kind of engine to be taken lightly. It is the new high standard when it comes to torque and displacement from a factory-installed powertrain by being able to produce 103 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque. This is the kind of power any experienced rider can be satisfied with from a stock engine. However, for those that are starving for extra power, they can go the extra mile by adding the Milwaukee-Eight 135 Stage 4 upgrade!

The top recorded speed on the Low Rider ST is 120 mph

Riders that start out of sport bikes like Kawasakis, Hondas, and Suzukis are typically young in their teens and twenties willing and eager to hone their riding skills. But because sport bikes are generally not the kind of motorcycle riders aim to stay on long-term, these riders are often faced with the same decision: sell their bike and move on from this phase in their lives, or continue to ride by moving on to a Harley-Davidson. Because the latter happens more often than not, many former sport bike riders are typically drawn in by models like the Sportster S, Nightster, Street Bob, Fat Bob, Low Rider S, and Low Rider ST. Because each of these motorcycles are able to deliver that rush of speed, power, and performance that they are so used to, many of Harley-Davidson's high-performance cruisers have helped brings smiles to a significantly large customer base.

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Before, riders would have one primary motivation behind their choice of motorcycle. Some wanted power. Others wanted comfort. Some wanted their bike to have performance. But these days, many riders are in the market for a motorcycle that offers a lot of versatility. Some riders want a nimble bike with storage. Others want a less-bulky touring bike. Thankfully for those customers, the Low Rider ST happens to be one of those bikes that appeal to almost everyone. Whether you plan on going out for a casual weekend cruise around the neighborhood, venturing into the tight confines of the city, or embarking out on a big road trip with friends for hours on the highway, the Low Rider ST can satisfy those needs, plus more.

Since 2019, Harley-Davidson's Low Rider S was probably one of the most desired motorcycles on the market. Sport bike riders loved it. Experienced riders loved it. Hardcore Harley fans loved it. There was something about a high-performance cruiser that could leave Kawasaki Ninjas and Honda CBRs in the dust, as well as being able to go out for a nice casual stroll around town. But over time, many Low Rider S riders would feel the desire to go out on the road and explore the country. That is why we now have the Low Rider ST. Fully capable of doing everything that the Low Rider S can do, the Low Rider ST comes equipped with a travel package that has everything one could need when venturing out of the wide, open highway, while still keeping things light and compact.

Don't be fooled by the Low Rider ST's ability to double as a compact touring bike. While it can definitely do the distance on the highway, it still stays true to its roots as a high-performance cruiser. Equipped with a tuned heavy breather intake, a high-flow exhaust system, and a little extra kick stemming from its Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine, every twist of the throttle is an exciting opportunity. The suspension system is a single cartridge 43 mm inverted aluminum forks in the front, and a rear 56 mm monoshock with hydraulic preload adjustment hidden underneath the seat. So you can really feel this bike working every time you take advantage of every deep lean. So if you really want to see what this bike is made of, take it through the twistiest route you know and be amazed!

The 2023 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST has a factory-installed anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Before, the only other softail model that Harley-Davidson had with removable saddlebags was the now-discontinued Sport Glide. It was a low-profile cruiser with some adequate touring ability, but its time has come and gone. However, those same hard removable saddlebags are back with the Low Rider ST, and it doesn't seem like this model will be going away anytime soon. Outside of the Heritage, the Low Rider ST is the only softail model that comes with storage. You can use them to carry extra riding gear, luggage, clothing, snacks, and anything else you might need on the road. And the added benefit to these is that for riders that are more performance-focused that don't want any extra drag, these bags can be easily removed with the twist of a handle, sending this bike into "sport mode."

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Even though Harley-Davidson's Heritage Classic model represents a modern-day version of the old-school long-distance cruisers that have cemented themselves as part of American history in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, newer models are looking towards the future by forging their own legacy. That means doing away with the chromed-out interior and replacing it with all-black. A blacked-out interior gives off a darker, more aggressive attitude that perfectly reflects the mission statement behind the Low Rider ST. It's a reminder that this is not your dad's or grandfather's Harley-Davidson. This is yours. Not to mention that blacked-out engine parts are lower-maintenance and easier to clean than their chrome counterparts.

With an MSRP starting at $22,199, the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST has a price tag a bit on the higher end when compared to the rest of the softails. But compared to the rest of Harley's touring class, you are getting a bargain. For reference, the Road Glide ST, which also comes with a fixed shark nose fairing, Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine, saddlebags, and blacked-out engine parts, has a starting MSRP of $29,999. A clear difference in bikes that both offer the same features. But as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for." And the Low Rider ST is certainly a motorcycle that many experienced riders will have all kinds of fun on, especially in the long-run. Because a good thing never gets old, and you can't really put a price on memories that last forever.

Anthony has been a longtime motorcycle enthusiast for ten years where he doubled as one of the top sales associates for Harley-Davidson in New England. Aside from motorcycles, Anthony moonlights as a stand-up comedian and amateur bodybuilder. A Swiss Army Knife of a human being.