There is no shortage of American touring motorcycles in the market. After all, charting through freeways arguably defines the American motorcycling culture. But when you bring the $25,000 limit into place, the options reduce quite sharply. It’s genuinely surprising how, even with such a large sum of money, you can only get merely a handful of American tourers today. A big name in the market is trying to capitalize on this, however, thanks to a sharp price reduction. This not only helps it beat its rivals in the value-for-money game, but also makes it more attainable. Let’s dive in.
Every Harley-Davidson Touring Bike Available In 2025
Harley-Davidson has impeccable touring bikes on sale in 2025
The Harley-Davidson Street Glide Is The Most Bang-For-Your-Buck American Touring Bike Under $25,000
In a sea of American tourers, it is the Harley-Davidson Street Glide that takes the cake by offering the most bang for your buck under $25,000. The decisive bit is the price here, as neither of its true rivals comes remotely close to its MSRP. Speaking of which, it currently sells for $24,999, down from the previous price of $27,749.
What’s the catch, you ask? Well, for the $24,999 model, you get a rider-only saddle and one livery (Dark Billiard Gray). If you want the two-up variant, the price rises straight to $26,999. Plus, any color other than Dark Billiard Gray raises the MSPR further and further (the top Teal Thunder with a blacked-out finish will cost you over $30,000).
The Road King Special And Low Rider ST Offer Good Value Under $25,000 As Well
That might be a deal-breaker for many, but nothing else comes close to the base model Street Glide under $25,000. Your next best pick from Harley’s Grand American Touring range in this price bracket is the Road King Special. As good as that is, the Classic seems like a classic indeed, with the now-dated 114ci engine. There’s no wind protection, either.
Then, we have the Low Rider ST. For $23,999, there is quite a lot of value here. However, this belongs to the “cruiser” segment from Harley-Davidson, so it’s not a true American tourer. That is very much evident from its overall appeal, saddlebag size, and bolt-on fairing, too. Oh, and there’s no TFT instrument or Apple CarPlay here, either. That seems like a crime in 2025.
Indian’s Only Tourer Under $25,000 Is The Springfield
Finally, the only tourer from Harley’s arch-nemesis–Indian Motorcycles–that falls in this budget is the Springfield. It’s a Road King Special rival, though, so there’s no fairing here, either. Yes, you do get ape-hangers and plenty of swanky old-school design bits, but we don’t think these make it a better (or more VFM) tourer than the Street Glide. The lack of technology and major upgrades over the years further hurt its appeal.
An Army Of Tech Features Elevates The Street Glide’s Comfort Quotient
While the base variant only has a one-up saddle, Harley-Davidson hasn’t cut corners anywhere else. You get a tech suite that can embarrass four-wheelers, all as standard equipment. For starters, Harley-Davidson has thrown in its full electronic aids safety package here, all of which work via a six-axis IMU. This comprises:
- Cornering ABS
- Cornering traction control
- Drag-torque slip control
- Cornering linked brakes
- Ride modes (Road, Sport, Rain, Custom)
Creature Comforts Sweeten The Pot Further
Then, there are the creature comforts. Be it cruise control or speakers with an amplifier, the Street Glide has it all to make your journey comfortable. At the same time, there’s a massive 12.3-inch TFT at the center of the cockpit. This comes standard with Apple CarPlay, so you can enjoy your phone notifications or a full-size map right on the screen. A cubby storage with a USB Type-C port rounds things off.
The Street Glide Has Class-Leading Performance Via Its Milwaukee-Eight 117 Engine
Why all those rider aids? Well, because this is the most powerful Street Glide to date. That’s courtesy of the Milwaukee-Eight 117 at heart. It’s good for 105 horsepower and 130 pound-feet, all of which reaches the wheel via a six-speed transmission. Both figures come in low in the RPM, with the torque particularly low at just 3,250 RPM. In case you’re curious, no other American tourer offers such performance at this price point (Indian’s Thunderstroke 116 engine has considerably lower power and torque).
A Large Tank Enables Over 250 Miles Of Riding Range
Thanks to that tractability, you can eke out 44 miles per gallon fuel efficiency (claimed). It equates to a total range of over 250 miles in one tank (with a capacity of six gallons). That is plenty for your cross-country tours, although the realistic range can vary quite a bit depending on the traffic and touring speeds.
10 Harleys That Still Punch Above Their Weight
The most affordable Harley-Davidson on this list packs the smallest V-twin engine in the stable and is priced at under $13,000.
Harley-Davidson’s Touring Frame Joins Hands With Showa Suspension On The Street Glide
Last but not least is the underpinnings package. Being a part of the Grand American Touring range, you get Harley’s double-cradle touring chassis, made from steel. It ties up with Showa 49 mm telescopic forks and Showa dual outboard shock absorbers, where the rear has preload adjustability. The former mounts onto a 19-inch alloy wheel, while the rear on an 18-inch wheel. Braking is via dual front disc brakes and a single rear rotor.
The Street Glide Weighs Over 800 Pounds
Weight has never been Harley’s strong suit, and it’s the same here. The Street Glide weighs a sizable 811 pounds fully wet, backed by its massive dimensions (94.9-inch length and 38.4-inch width). However, you do get a low 26.4-inch saddle height, which should make life easy in slow-speed scenarios.