Road Glide

1998 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Built around Harley-Davidson's touring motorcycle platform, the 1998 Harley-Davidson Road Glide utilizes a 1338 cc (81.6 cu in) air-cooled v2, four-stroke layout. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 60 HP (43.8 kW) at 5,000 rpm while maximum torque reaches 104 Nm (76.7 lb-ft) at 3,000 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and belt final drive. With a specific output of 44.8 HP per liter and a 2,000 rpm working window between peak torque (3,000 rpm) and peak power (5,000 rpm), the engine character is prioritizing low-RPM tractability, mechanical longevity and relaxed throttle response over peak redline numbers.

On the scales, the Road Glide measures 324 kg (714 lbs) dry, translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.19 HP/kg (5.4 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 684 mm (26.9 in) seat height — giving shorter riders and urban commuters confident flat-foot reach at traffic stops.

Within MotoLibrary's Harley-Davidson archive, this model family spans 15 indexed model years from 1998 to 2026, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.