This touring nameplate first appeared for the 2011 model year as a factory-built long-distance version of the fixed-fairing Road Glide family. It was positioned as a premium, fully equipped bagger for riders who wanted the Road Glide’s frame-mounted batwing-style fairing concept adapted into a more comfort-focused, two-up touring package. From the outset, it was aimed at riders covering serious miles, combining hard saddlebags with a large rear tour trunk, passenger-oriented amenities, and Harley-Davidson’s top-end touring convenience features of the time.
The first production run lasted through the 2013 model year, after which the nameplate disappeared from the lineup for several years. Harley-Davidson then brought it back for 2016 as part of the refreshed Road Glide era, giving the model a second production period. The revival kept the same core mission—maximal wind protection and long-haul comfort—but updated it to the newer touring platform and modernized touring equipment. In this later era, it served as the most passenger-friendly, fully dressed version of the Road Glide family rather than a stripped-down performance bagger.
The model remained in production through the 2019 model year before ending again. Because it has two separate production periods, its history should be treated as a discontinued-and-revived nameplate rather than a single uninterrupted run. Among Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles, it occupies an interesting niche: less minimalist than the standard Road Glide, but more purpose-built for cross-country travel and two-up luxury touring than the sportier Road Glide derivatives.