Riding into the mountains east of Delta, Colorado, to visit friends on my second night, I was pleased with how effectively the high beam illuminated the road and shoulders. And the instrumentation-speedo, tachometer and fuel, oil-pressure and air-temperature gauges-is well lighted and readable at night. My wish list includes a second taillight/brake-light bulb for backup if one fails. Although I think Harley's two-button turn-signal activation compromises your right hand's more important duties, I'm impressed by how well the self-cancellation system works.
Winding over 8735-foot-high McClure's Pass, nice twisty roads highlighted flaws in the Street Glide's chassis performance. The bike shimmies during high-speed (65 mph and above) cornering with changes in pressure-a bump in the road, steering inputs, a sharp change in throttle setting or a shift in rider position. The faster you go, the more forcefully it oscillates. I deliberately wiggled the handlebar to set it off at speeds up to 100 mph in a straight line, and though it never got out of hand, it took longer to stabilize than most other brands' cruisers in the same situation. I also knew just to hold a steady speed, throttle setting and cornering arc and let it settle down. Additional bumps will make it continue or amplify it, though. In my opinion, the biggest danger this creates is to startle the rider into straightening up, which could cause him to run out of his lane, especially in an off-camber corner. There are some aftermarket kits available to correct this problem, which happens in part because the swingarm attaches to the rubber-mounted engine.
I was worried the FLHX was too low to lean over adequately in corners, but although it doesn't offer as much cornering clearance as an Electra Glide, it leans farther than baggers from most other brands. The sidestand drags first, but has plenty of give. You can keep leaning until the floorboard touches. The floorboard is also the first thing down on the right.
Steering is impressively light and predictable, allowing the Street Glide to steer more responsively than most cruisers-even non-tourers. Low-speed handling is exceptionally good, and the FLHX makes U-turns on narrow roads or threads through tight spots with ease. This is one of the nicest things about the bike.
Topping 11,990-foot Loveland Pass, the temperature gauge warned that the melted snow on the road was near freezing, making me slow down and straighten up. At that altitude, I was grateful for electronic fuel injection, which better adjusts for thin air than a carburetor (which was standard in 2006, but no longer available for 2007). Though power dropped noticeably, it was still smooth and responsive and not as weakened as I'd expected. Passing traffic was still no problem. The locals may remind you that the thin air effectively decreases compression ratio, permitting fuel with lower octane.
The canyons east of Denver were the only place where the XM signal was sketchy for any period of time. It was also blocked under gas-station canopies, in tunnels, etc. It does live up to the promise of listening to the same stations from coast to coast. Above 55-60 mph, wind noise overwhelmed the audio. I could tell what song I was listening to, but I couldn't make out enough words to make news or weather stations worthwhile on the interstates. I'd add the high-output amplifier, and a taller windshield might also help.
Route 6 through the plains of eastern Colorado and Nebraska is unremarkable, and I wished for the optional $340 cruise control as I tried to maintain an even speed. It was hilly enough that the thumbwheel-operated throttle lock wouldn't do it. Throttle pressure is light and comfortable and didn't tire my hand or wrist. Smaller grip diameters would be nice, even for my size-L paws.
When I drove into a heavy rain approaching Iowa, I was thankful for the cut-down windshield, which didn't cloud my line of vision with two layers of water droplets. The rain seemed to hit from the armpits up and somewhere below the knees, but I stayed mostly dry.I learned to leave my helmet on with the faceshield down when unpacking the bike in the dark, as the black antenna is invisible and just at the right height to poke you in the eye. If I owned the bike, I'd put some brightly colored flag or ball on the antenna's end so I and others wouldn't be inflicted with antenna-eye syndrome. After unpacking, I'd bend the antenna under the grab strap to make sure no passersby were poked.
Just into Pennsylvania, I met another Harley rider planning to ride Route 66. His "waterproof" gloves were soaked, making me appreciate how effectively the Street Glide's fairing had been keeping rain off my gloves. I also liked the unique mirrors mounted on the backs of the wings. Besides being cleaner than long-stemmed mirrors, they provide a good view. I didn't have to worry about loosening them at their mounts when I readjusted them, and they seem to be out of harm's way if you tipped over. The only disadvantage I can see is that handlebar changes could block them.