Harley Rolls Out The Undressed 2019 Electra Glide Standard

Low-key touring riders rejoice—you now have a new choice in the Harley Touring line. But keep it quiet, will you? The new Electra Glide Standard isn't here to tout the latest tech or scream about the newest knick knacks. No, The Motor Company's latest tourer is being called the "Dressed-Down Dresser," which is really just another way of saying stripped Electra Glide Ultra Classic. Or even a slightly tweaked Street Glide. Sure there are different wheel sizes (than the Street Glide, anyway) and a reshaped solo seat along with revised finishes and distinctive new covers, but that's still a batwing fairing, standard cargo carriers, and cast aluminum wheels dominating the form here. Identifying marks on the EGS include carefully placed chrome accents and a trio of polished rocker, cam, and derby covers. Solidifying the minimal theme are choice blacked-out components to provide contrast.

Mid-year releases don't usually result in game-changing designs, so it's not all that surprising to see the unassuming Electra Glide Standard in this scenario. And despite—or maybe because of—its emphasis on the "raw, fundamental riding experience for touring riders but with a foot firmly planted in Harley's Grand American Touring roots," the EGS will have its share of fans. No doubt there's a solid clutch of riders looking for a touchscreen-free, blissfully Bluetooth-less riding experience, and the Electra Glide Standard is apparently aimed at those guys and gals wanting to disconnect from the day-to-day world. We can relate.

So where's the disconnect on this new model? The Electra Glide Standard makes its case by rolling without the ubiquitous Boom! Box infotainment system and touchscreen (there's a big gap where it once was) populating much of Harley's Touring bikes, and deleting the top trunk from the Electra Glide Ultra Classic. It looks like there's space to easily add speakers and an aftermarket audio unit to the bike, though we're not sure if H-D will offer those as accessory options.

The new EGS keeps the same wheel sizes as the bigger Ultra too—a 17-inch front and 16-inch rear—and actually retains most of the other good stuff too. After all, ride quality is still important to touring riders so you’ll still find standard cruise control, adjustable rear shocks, the Showa Dual Bending Valve suspension up front, and Brembo brakes. Reflex Linked features and ABS for the brakes are optional, but the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine is the standard powerplant. Harley’s Vice President of Styling & Design Brad Richards puts the design brief in a nutshell this way: “To express the stripped-back essence of the Electra Glide Standard we focused on finishes that were simple, timeless, and fundamental to the Harley-Davidson’s touring line.”

What it all comes down to is that the Electra Glide Standard now commands the lowest price in Harley’s Touring line. The $18,999 MSRP is less than even the Road King, and a full $2,290 less than the similar Street Glide. It’s $5,500 less than its full-boat Electra Glide Ultra Classic big brother too. Sounds like a compelling argument for the “less is more, but really it’s less” theory.