This Harley-Davidson touring nameplate first appeared for the 1998 model year as the FLTR/FLTRI Road Glide, joining the brand’s long-distance Touring family with a distinctive frame-mounted fairing and a more wind-cheating, highway-focused character than the traditional fork-mounted batwing touring bikes. It quickly became known as a rider’s bagger: visually aggressive, built for miles, and aimed at customers who wanted classic Harley-Davidson touring style with a slightly different attitude and cockpit feel.
The nameplate’s early run continued through the 2009 model year, after which the Road Glide disappeared from Harley-Davidson’s main lineup for several seasons. Harley-Davidson brought it back for the 2015 model year as the FLTRX Road Glide, effectively reviving the model with updated touring hardware and a fresh interpretation of the original sharknose fairing. That return marked the start of a new production period rather than a simple continuation of the earlier series.
Since its revival, the Road Glide has remained an important part of Harley-Davidson’s Grand American Touring lineup and has expanded into multiple variants and performance-oriented trim levels. Its appeal lies in the combination of long-haul comfort, strong road presence, and the signature fixed fairing that defines the model’s look and riding experience. For many Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, the Road Glide stands apart as one of the brand’s most recognizable modern baggers, with a history that includes an early production era, a gap in availability, and a successful revival in the mid-2010s.