2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST - The American Sport Tourer

The 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST adds versatility to H-D’s winning Low Rider S platform in the form of saddlebags and a new but familiar fairing. In creating the new 2022 Low Rider ST, Harley-Davidson has accomplished the momentous task of doing a lot with a little. This is not because no more was available, but because no more was required. The new bike is little more than a new fairing and some reworked bags added to the updated Low Rider S, but the heritage this styling evokes will meet the needs of countless FXR and Dyna enthusiasts who have been looking for functional, traditional style on H-D’s modern heavyweight platform. With added storage and wind protection, the ST adds a large dose of versatility to H-D’s hot-rod Softail without sacrificing a great deal of performance. The star of the ST show is the new frame-mounted fairing, inspired by the FXRT Sport Glide. This fairing’s aerodynamics were developed through computational fluid dynamics analysis, and it shows in sharper creases and adjusted proportions compared to the FXRT. It’s robust and wide enough to cover most riders, with small deflectors at the lower outside edges to help direct wind away from riders’ knees. The original FXRT fairing had no center vent, but one has been added to the existing side vents on this new design. I did experience some buffeting of my helmet at highway speeds. These three large openings on the fairing are not closable, but when I installed my Harley-Davidson Overwatch Handlebar Bag to block the center vent, the turbulence was greatly reduced. These vents are often designed to help with aerodynamics and alleviate low pressure zones in the rider’s cockpit, but installing a closing mechanism into the vents, as we see on touring models, would give riders the option to see for themselves. There is also a lot of room around the triple trees; it seems this could have been managed better, perhaps used for storage, but leaving it open leaves that choice up to the customer. Like the FXLR S, the Low Rider ST is powered by the 117ci Milwaukee-Eight, H-D’s largest production engine. Power delivery is smooth but immediate. As the Cycle World dyno chart shows, the torque curve shoots straight up from idle. The M-8 produces over 100 pound-feet for nearly the entire usable rev range, hitting its peak of 114.79 pound-feet at 3,470 rpm. With no ride modes or traction control, this power is surprisingly clean and usable. It ramps up steadily, matching the throttle action, which gives the rider great control at low speeds. As we’ve come to expect from Harley-Davidson, throttle and clutch feel are both exquisite, which also contributes to the high level of control. But with all that torque available from such a low engine speed, there is plenty of power on tap. Grab a handful of throttle and spin the tire at will, or take off slow and smooth; both are easy. The leather solo seat on the ST is steeply backed to lock the rider in during hard launches, and it works well. It’s a key element in the West Coast style that Harley-Davidson is after, but with plenty of padding and an efficient design, it’s nice and comfortable as well. A passenger seat and footpegs are available from the factory. The ST’s instrumentation consists of a small digital “tech gauge” integrated into the handlebar riser’s top clamp, which keeps things clean and simple at the handlebars. The display is laid out clearly, but it’s not incredibly bright, and it can be hard to read in the sun or while wearing a tinted helmet visor. When I asked Lead Designer Dais Nagao if there were any plans to add a touchscreen display or more of the comfort features typically equipped to full touring motorcycles, he said no; that is not what H-D believes the ST customer is after. But as this bike walks the line between cruiser and bagger, I imagine preferences will be split. Cruiser riders who just want wind protection and storage will be happy to see things remain uncluttered. Bagger fans seeking a more lightweight platform can add aftermarket components to scratch that itch, but that’s not the same as having these features available from the factory. H-D worked with Rockford Fosgate to develop a speaker system that fits the ST’s fairing. Without handlebar-mounted media controls or any readout of what you’re listening to, it’s hard to see how the factory’s involvement in this development benefits the product, aside from the fact that it was available immediately at the time of launch. Riders using the system will still need to control music on their phone or buy an aftermarket bluetooth controller. Full story here: https://www.cycleworld.com/story/motorcycle-reviews/harley-davidson-low-rider-st-first-ride-review-2022/ Subscribe to Cycle World Youtube: /c/cycleworld Read more from Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com/ Buy Cycle World Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/cycleworld

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