Did I buy the wrong Harley Davidson? Road Glide Special vs. Standard! 

I got the standard. I prefer the wheels on it, which was really the biggest thing to me. My buddy has the 114 and we are neck and neck. And I’m gonna do handlebars, 2 into 1, hi flow air cleaner, a better seat and a woods cam, and I’m still gonna be into it for less than the 6k and be done.

Love your videos. I have the same conversations in my head about almost every purchase I make. Love Harleys, but right now the bike I “want” isn’t in the budget. So I’ll stick with my custom boulevard and keep my knees in the breeze. Keep your wheels down and stay safe!

I just got a 22 reef blue road glide standard 2 weeks ago. Amazing bike

I think you nailed it. Which is the better choice just depends on the buyer's priorities and plans. There's value there in the Special, but if it's not the RIGHT value then it's wasted money.

Absolutely throughly enjoy watching your video’s. Great content and information. Keep up good look for new ones everyday👍👍👍👍

Great video man! I am getting a Road king next year and you gave me a lot to think about. Thank you!

To be honest...it's the personal love. I ride a buddy's softail slim 107 and his loaded out road glide special and his street glide special pretty regularly and a bunch of miles. I have a 2020 street glide standard and I am in love every time I get on any of them. Mine is no less or more...just damn good times. Love yalls stuff. Shout out to yall for introducing me to avan black

I picked up my Street Glide Special because it's closer to what I want and I can feel comfortable riding it for a while before feeling the need to upgrade the engine and when I do that, it'll be the 131 upgrade. I spent 6 months going between them all before finally deciding on the Special. Zero regrets.

Been battling with this decision since I sold my '14 Street Glide Special last year. I hate chrome, I want the blacked-out look. Hate the price increase we've seen on everything in recent years, especially on the Road Glides, and don't need anything else the Special offers anymore. My biggest thing is having ABS, maybe that's in my head, but I've fishtailed too many times on smaller bikes because of some idiot pulling out in front of me, I appreciated having the ABS on the SGS before. The standards now come with ABS. I'm about to buy the Standard and just get blacked out before I leave with it. Appreciate the video, I think that's made my decision!

Outstanding overview and comparison. I learned about some differences that I hadn't known before and that I hadn't seen mentioned anywhere else (I already have a Special, personally). Thanks.

I bought the 2022 standard for the exact reasons you bring up. I did the 128CI with a SE cam plate & oil pump. I've done a whole lot of other up grades just for my own desires & it's all covered under the initial 2 year warranty. I'm a happy camper!!!

Great video ProMonk, some solid points for sure!! I like option B that you put down Stage 2 and stereo 🤙🏻🤙🏻

That's a really good question. Everybody is gonna have a really unique angle. I'd probably set it up for long distance touring. When I wrecked a 2015 Ultra Limited headed to Sturgis in 2020, with the insurance payout I was able to buy a used 2017 RoadGlide Ultra with 5k miles and a 107. Plenty of power and it's taken both the missus and I with all our gear back and forth to Sturgis in 2021 and 2022. Looking forward to the videos with this one. Keep up the great work and ride safe.

I bought the 2021 standard street glide with the Boom system, I paid 25.5 K out the door. I am more than happy with my purchase.

First, you enjoy making the bike set up to your own like so many others. That’s a consideration. These bikes are a blank canvas. You get to paint the picture. As far as packages from Harley and cost a buyer has to figure out what they want, what the package comes with, and weather it’s better to upgrade to a package or not. Harley loves selling accessories. Here’s my story… I liked the SGS in 2018 and I liked the blacked out look in the color,” Twisted Cherry”. What did I do with that,”Blank Canvas”? Front to back; LED intelligent headlight, LED running lights, LED strip along upper fairing, Klockwerks windshield, WHIM info module, highway pegs on crash bars, heated grips, Harley big comfy seat, rear crash bars, Tour pack with led rack,passenger arm rests,(got to keep,”The one who must be obeyed” happy),cool fan system, passenger floor boards, LED tail lights on bags, LED round license plate holder, short antenna. I did noting to the engine (107) and nothing to exhaust . I’d say easy I have about $7000.00 in accessories. Should I’ve just gotten an Ultra? Well, maybe but the basic,” blank canvas” was what attracted me (color, seat height, stretched bags, blacked out),etc. What’s my next accessory? Oil cooler fan as it gets hot in Florida. With an Ultra I would have been close price wise to what I put in the SGS but my desire was the original look of the SGS. I have over 53,000 miles of smiles on my ride. When I wear it out I’ll stick a 131 in her. Life is good…

I'm pretty new to your channel. I've been bin watching your videos on RU-vid for the last couple of weeks. I find them interesting, informative and entertaining. Although I have been riding for around 45 years, I learn a little something every time I tune in. So basically, I want to say I appreciate your work and find your sense of humor a lot like mine. I still have a lot of videos to watch but hopefully will get caught up soon.

Great video! I bought my first Harley ('22 RG Standard in Reef Blue). Though I looked at the Special, I felt that for me, it was more cost effective to be able to build it up myself, as I could afford it, rather than financing the extra $7G (Can). Cheers from Vancouver Island, Canada. Subbed!

Great video Monk. Another plus for the Standard, and someone may have mentioned this, but the suspension is better. Yes, you're probably going to upgrade it anyway, but it's much better than the Special, so it's not immediately necessary....at least in my opinion! Ride safe brother.

You make a ton of valid points. Makes me think a little more about what route to take when I jump into a new bike.

Same way I felt getting my 22 Road Kind standard vs the special. Love everything the FLHR came with stock vs the cosmetics the special came with and things they removed minus the 114 over the 107. Glad I made my purchase of the 22 FLHR Especially since they removed it from the lineup in 23.

mid dec. 2022, i picked up a new '22 HD electra glide for $19,700. i was not interested in an electra glide, but i could not resist the price. this video inspired me to tell you this. i added LA choppers 12" bars, krome werks slip ons, lowers, etc... i am happy.

You know the information about the engine is something I could never figure out as to why people are limited on bigger bores. Thank you

Mrs Monkey I want a shirt like that!!!!! The dull vent bugged me on the special, So I vinyl wrapped it to match the paint. Honestly I bought the paint, snake venom. The Plan was the smaller 107 engine. My girl came out!

Great video! Thanks for the comparison. I bought the 23 RG Standard. I love your Marshall fridge too!

I hate chrome so special was the only option for me but I will say the relocated gas cap is probably my favorite feature. I despise the flip up gas door on the dash in the standard!

I have a special in White Sand Pearl fully blacked out. I got the special as I love the extended bags (they were stuffed on my last trip from central Florida to TN and back). I love the motor. It’s got more grunt than the 107 and was noticeable to me right away. I could go either way in the speakers as I use a helmet with speakers. But, they sound decent? Same with the tank cap location. I could go either way. The bags and the motor sold me. Also, great vid once again!! Loving your laid back content!

I'm glad you broke it down like that. Makes way more sense for the moolah! Thanks!

Good discussion and perspective - another argument is if you go above standard go limited with the 114, add a detachable tourpak kit and small saddle and you are 95% rid of grandpa - albeit you are stuck with lowers you get the twin cooled and heated grips sure its more dough but a tonne more flexibility than going to the Special

22 road glide standard in reef blue is my exact bike. Traded in a 2020 road king special for it, no regrets

I test rode a street glide standard and street glide special back to back. I couldn't tell a difference between the 107 and 114, I went with the special because I really like the snake venom green color. The standard is definitely a better value, but I didn't buy a motorcycle to save money. I didn't want to think there is a better color option every time I looked at the bike.

Up here in Canada, 2021+ Road Glide Specials no longer come with Stage 1 speakers but the price didn't go down. Up here specials come with the lower rear suspension. Great video as usual. Like you say, it's a starting point. I love the look of the old style gas cap position in the specials.

Totally agree with your views on spending the money elsewhere. I had planned on buying the Standard and doing a factory engine swap to the 131, and upgrade suspension to Wibers. I went to my local dealer here in Sydney Australia, to then discover the Standard are not being sold here! For me i really want the shorty bags, as i like the performance look they give, and that when i install a 2 into 1 exhaust that finishes at the front of the bag, i am not left with 2 big burrows under the stretched bags where the cans used to live. So besides forking out HUGE money to buy them additionally, because i cant swap them during the purchase of the special, I will need to by the ST and swap that out. But i dont particularly like the colours of the ST range. I might have to sit on this, and wait to see what happens in MY24. Thanks for your vids. Always enjoy watching your content.

I had the same internal argument on a SG standard vs special.... I went standard and did the tour route to it so I could get to Sturgis a little easier or so I thought.... not into the audio upgrade as I ride full face helmet and use WHIM etc., would love custom wheels, but not on the priority list. I did go stage II though and king tour pack and lowers, new seat, heated grips etc. and love it. I think you did the right thing with the special because I would love to go 131 and would have to crate. thanks for the vids! Appreciate all of your content, info and suggestions.

Absolutely agree with all your points and this why I bout standard and I put stage 4 and new wheels, stereo is next

this was surprisingly informative. thank you.

Love my 22 RG standard, I just put an advan king tourpack on it and I love it. I have about half of dozen things I want to do, but the special would need them as well.

Great video and appreciated it very much. In the market and trying to decide between the two and this was great food for thought. I have a Fatboy 114 and love the engine but have heard good things about the 107. Take care.

So much great information!!! I would totally grab the standard 107 with the stage 4! Wayyyy more cost effective

Depends on your pocket book. I would probably get the standard for the lowers the other things probably wouldn’t matter much. Like your channel thanks

Great video I made a similar one! Missed that for 6 grand you get black gauges instead of white on the standard!

Very good information. Thank you.

Great question! Great way to break it down too!

Great information thank you for sharing this!😊

I get what you mean. I think some people get Specials to buy a bike that's already fancy without having to do anything. Plus there are some extra nice paint jobs on some of them. I thought the 2020 Road Glide and Street Glide in Zeppelin (Or maybe it's zephyr) Blue was just beautiful. I myself don't have a very big budget for my bike. But I bought a Road King. Piece by piece, I am building my dream bike. I got a fairing, quick release tour pack, just got my stage 1 done, upgraded my stereo this winter, put some lights on it last year, and numerous other small upgrades. I even thought about trying to paint my bike 2020 Special blue. I do dig your new bike. There's something about black and chrome. And I do really like them prodigy wheels. I've been looking for some pull offs of them wheels. Can't wait to see what you do with that bike.

It just doesn’t matter what you start with; we all have the same disease and will customize and change it to make it our own. I have a 2021 RG CVO Black Hole and have upgraded the stereo, added 9 inch bars, hi way pegs, added a chopped tour pack, changed the exhaust, changed the cam and added a Thundermax tuner. It’s a disease.

When I picked up my '21 SG I selected a Standard. I've since made it my own with LEDs all around (including a run/break tri-bar) - I really couldn't get my brain around HD providing non-LED lighting on a bike for over $20K, though. Good points on taking it up to a 128 but since I'll never ride 2-up, the 107 has plenty of power for me and my luggage. Also, I didn't love the colors, so got vivid black and may add pinstripes and/or some sort of detail in the future. The Special maybe a blacked-out engine too (check me on that) but I'm a chrome guy, so that's another point for the Standard. Since I'm in the Northeast, a heated road sofa and/or heated grips may extend my riding season too (something you probably don't have to worry about in Fla.) Net-Net: For $6K you can do an awful lot to "Make it your own". STAY SAFE & Keep up the great content!

Love your channel!!! I have a 2022 street glide standard and with the extra money I saved from the special I’m doing the stage 1 and Audio as well andddd still have money left to do other things 😂 I think in my opinion buying a standard is good enough and with the extra money I customize it my way ❤

This video was very helpful. I have a BMW Sports Touring Bike, which I love, but you learn forward when you ride. I have never been a Harley fan until I sat on the Road Glide Special

When I bought my 21 RGS I wasn't even looking at Road Glides but they had a Billiard Teal Black finish and I fell in love right there. I rode it and that was it, had to have it. Upgraded the suspension, lights, docking kit, luggage rack, Khrome Werks 4.5 HP slip ons. About to add Ciro3d Frame mounted highway pegs and the fairing spoiler. Couldn't be happier with the bike and enjoying putting my personal touch on it. The 114 has plenty of power for me right now, maybe that will change with time.

Here I am, just buying a 2016 Street Glide with a 103 and feeling like it's enough (for now) and eventually looking at what I can do with it. No, I'm not trading it in since I just got it, maybe someday but not anytime soon.

Thank you for this video! When I am able to afford a new bike I was wanting a Street or Road Glide. My issue is I usually wear a helmet anymore and never really cared for the radio options on these bikes, I think I would rather spend the $21,000 and upgrade over spending $27,000. Besides, if anything that extra $6000 would soak up the "freight fees," x)

I'm a standard buyer - reason being is I'm into the performance bagger look so non stretched bags and rear fender plus i run a full face helmet with Bluetooth audio so no need for extra stereo. Finally the 107 stage 2 is usually right about 100hp at the wheel so if I need more I just buy a crate motor. The specials have stuff I don't want so why spend extra on them.

That’s why I just went with 22 street glide with 107, I’ve completely added full chrome works exhaust front to back with stage 2 screaming eagle kit with torque cam might go 128 kit later but right now very happily with performance. Put 21 inch wheel on front, bars and full advanblack everything on it made it mine very happy with how it come out👍

I bought a SGS 2022. I am happy I did.

I didn't even know they made the special with chrome. That was the reason why I went with my road king special. All black with that beautiful shiny motor.

The 2 reasons I went special were the blacked out option and the paint (knew the wife would never let me do a color swap and it wasn't an option then either)

LOVE the Marshall fridge! Thats badass, now please tell me it turns up to 11 ;)

Really liked the video, bikes and topic

VIN with trade in will always be a standard. Doesn’t matter how fancy the wheels are and all the upgrades. It’ll still be a standard on trade in to the dealer. Great points made on deciding

Mate, shorter bags on the Standard means you can go 2 into 1 exhaust without changing the bags, add a 475 S&S cam (or similar) and a tune - the thing will be much more reliable (than beefing it up to a 128) for long distance riding and will have pretty good and plenty of power. You can then spend the left over money on a detachable tourpak for those overnight rides so the Mrs riding on the back can bring the air dryer, extra make-up and the kitchen sink.

I like the creative opportunities that the standard presents. A blank slate to customize the way I want.

Great video. 👍 interesting topic. I just bought the 23 standard and that was exactly my thinking. The factory stuff is coming off anyway.

Very well explained. Thank you.

When I got my 2019 RG special the big deciding factor for me was that I got the denim grey paint. Was not available in anything but the special.

You also could've kept the 131 and given me the dooshbagger, and we'd both be better off. 😅😅🤣 Lookin forward to see what's gonna happen to the new bike.💪

This was an awesome video, detailed and fair. I've had a VRSC, then have gone between sportbikes, but tired of the shit ergos, and the new Road Glide ST has caught my eye. This was very informative for some of the small details I've been wondering about. Thanks for your work.

I would have loved to spend less and get the standard but I personally don't like chrome on my bike and to do everything I did to it along with getting it blacked out it would have been a harder sell to the wife compared to getting the special where it's blacked out already lol. I do agree with the seat dyno that I never could really feel much of a difference from the 107 to the 114 except when I was loaded down and my wife was with on the way to Sturgis. My buddy and his wife had the 107 and he wasn't able to pass as well as my 114 on the interstate, both just being a stage 1 at the time.

Ok for the longest time since I have been watching your channel I always thought that was a real speaker/amp @ 11:40. 😂 it’s a fridge what!!!???? That’s sooooo sick! I love it 😍

I like both, but let’s be honest we all end up spending thousands over the years on any bike we buy. Personally I prefer the standard as a building block. No matter which one I bought I would have a pile of stock parts laying in my garage after one winter. I own a 2002 road king and a 2022 road glide standard. Lots invested in my road king and is my favorite bike for sure. But love my road glide for trips with my wife.

So far I have no regrets buying the 21 Road Glide standard. After doing the stage 1 with a good tune and after market headers with slip ons, the bike runs great. I am even considering just leaving it alone and not bothering with a stage 2 cam install. The special was $5000 more with a 114 and a glossy inner fairing, different wheels and stretched bags, pretty much the only difference from my Road Glide.

I mean I test road a few different bikes before I upgraded and one of the main things I looked at was engine size. I loved the ride of the low rider s and not gonna lie the 117 helped a lot

I bought a ‘22 Street Glide Special in June. I debated the standard vs special. My issue came down to color. Since I had decided on the SG and not the RG, the only colors in chrome were black, maroon, and white. Didn’t like the colors (black is good, just too many of them) so went with the gunship gray SG Special. I felt my ‘17 Road King (trade in)with stage 1, 107 was just as good of performance as my new 114 with slip-ons (butt dyno).

You could have gotten the standard. Taken the 107 out. Put the 114 from your living room in it and put the 107 in your living room.

Bottom line, everyone has different priorities. The key is to know in your heart of hearts what YOUR priorities are...then go from there. That was a great breakdown between the two. We'll done sir!

That Redline with the blacked out motor would be worth it to me. That is a sweet looking bike!

I literally bough a Special over an RG Limited because of the wheels. The difference in price was under 1k, but the Special spoke to me when I rode it, and the Limited simply didn't. 10/10 would do it again. I still want a tour pack though, but I may get a slammed one.

I rented a 2022 RG Standard for a couple of days, same color. It had almost 20K miles on it and it ran great. The 107 was peppy, bike had nice flickability, but I didn't find it very comfortable. At 6', I'm not the tallest fella in the world but I still felt kinda cramped on it. Beautiful bikes though and very customizable.

I did the Stage II cam on my 107 Road King, and a 2-into-1 Rinehart exhaust. No complaints at all. I bet a 128 would be fun, but I ain't interested in spending that kind of dough. My wife and I could go to Sturgis with that.

Awesome breakdown and details. Still sticking with my 11 SG. And no dealer sells MSRP these days, all over pricing now.

Great Video, I am looking at upgrading from a 2014 (Non Rushmore) SGS to a Road Glide, this Video is making things a bit harder from what I was looking at, though with that price difference and my accessories, Budget, I could take the 6k and paint it any color I want. Was already looking at the engine upgrades, and the numbers are minimal enough for what I want to do. Thank you for spending the money before I did :)

Really wanted the 2022 Special in gunship grey but saved the money and got the standard reef blue. No regrets

On my 2019 road glide special the whole inner faring is gloss black. The top vent and behind the gauges. They quit doing that in 2020 and also in 2020 you lose the vents that you can open and close on either side of the headlight

Only thing I would add is that the RGS has RDRS and the standard doesn’t. That’s one of the reasons I chose the RGS in Snake Venom. I put a stage 3 on it, exhaust, and a Avanblack Chopped Tour Pack… just added Dakota Digital Gauges and better speakers. Great video!

Exactly why I bought a reef blue standard and put a Bassani road rage 2 into 1 black mid length and a zippers redshift 468 cam in it. And bars

🤔 Brother you're killing me. Now I have to re-think EVERYTHING! Great points.🤘🏻🤘🏻

I didn’t look as in depth but bought a 2020 street glide with a few dealer added things and have went the suspension upgrade, stage two, and some other stuff. Still not at price of the special. All preference for sure. Loves this video on make an honest assessment of what it’s worth to you. And for some it may be worth buying the CVO. Like what you put out. BS along with reality. 😜

You can go past 128ci on a 107 by doing the bottom end but it would probably be more cost effective to just get the crate depending on how crazy you want to go. And of course, the 135's are coming out soon from HD.

Dude, here where you're coming from. I've got a 128cuin Breakout and a 130cuin Roadking (both 4.5" stroke). Just bought a softail standard with a 1 3/8" stroke specifically for the reduced stoke which will make it a quicker revving engine when I put big bore cylinders on it.

Good Video. Very informative.

That's what I did got a standard and 107 RG and tossed the 128 kit on it. It ultimately lead to even greater financial decisions but I regret nothing!!!

I prefer a more secure gas cap. Some may be surprised how many ppl find it funny to mess with your bike. I know of folks finding that someone poured stuff, including sand in their tank. Standard sounds fine to me. 👍🏽 I'd just want the nicer engine guards. I hate those huge ones.

I can see where you are coming from . It's a hard decision . My self I would go with the Special . Hope Mrs. Monkey Is feeling better . And God Bless and ride safe .

Dude your wife likes to come out in your videos. That’s cool and funny as hell. I personally prefer the special but that’s just my personal preference.

Thanks for the comparison.

Got the 21 RGS as my first ever new bike after 26 years of riding used, haven’t regretted it for a moment

When I bought my 2021 RG Special in Feb ‘21, the price difference was $4k. The Special also included RDRS.

I have a 107 2021 road glide standard.. black , put on reinharts, led signals, tri bar running, brake light, sissy bar, pad, leather covered bags for around $2,500. Very happy, that’s in Canadian money

I love my 21 Geezer Glide Limited. It’s Stock except for the lighting and Tab slip ons with zombie baffles. Excellent on trips. My only beef with the bike is the stereo system. Rear shocks could be better but not terrible.

I just bought a 22 RG Standard in Vivid black. It sat next to a Special at the dealer that was $6500 more. I found the low crash bar and the 114 Special intake used but mint on Face-market place. Cost me less than $200. Already sold my huge hoop crash bar online. Not worth the extra $6500 in my opinion. You can find Special wheels used all over for $1000, thanks for the video!

The real question is (on the performance side of things) what is the overall butt Dyno difference between the 128 and the 131? Side note this could make one hell of a video or a topic for Friday night live.