Customized H-D FLHX Street Glide - Rode Test
Maverick - Nov 12, 2010

Intro and First Impressions:

This customized 2011 Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide (FLHX) is striking to motorcycle enthusiasts, and casual observers alike. Perhaps enough said. This bike is a traffic stopper with it’s White Hot Denim mat finish base and purple flames bordered in pink that begins on the front fender and bat-wing and end on the sides of the hard bags. Dark blue ribbons are “ghosted into the paint” throughout the flames, and a pink scripted Harley-Davidson on the fuel tank finishes the look.

Sun Harley-Davidson then blinged this bike out with Harley-Davidson’s rhinestone trim packages on gauges, the fuel cap, and air filter cover, to clearly set this bike apart and appeal to lady riders. 

But, the Sun Harley-Davidson design team, made up of women and men, wasn’t finished. Utilizing the Fat Baggers Inc. (FBI), Drop Seat Kit, they lowered the FLHX by 3 inches. Read more about the FBI Kit in the Performance section of this Rode Test.

This 2011 Harley-Davidson has been customized to appeal to a female rider and to provide the future owner with a way to express herself. 

Appearance:

Custom paint by award winning Motorsports Concepts of Denver…

This motorcycle is all about appearance. Motorsports Concepts of Denver completed the custom paintwork. 

Jarod Swantkoski, owner of Motorsports Concepts, and the Sun Harley-Davidson design team worked together to come up with a custom paint scheme that would connect with the Harley-Davidson brand and culture, while attracting a female rider audience. The final product also carries a subtle cancer awareness message accentuated by approximately 60 ribbons “ghosted into the paint,” according to Swantkoski.  

Jarod described the colors as H-D’s 2011 White Hot Denim, Pavo Purple by House of Color, and the scripted Harley-Davidson in pink.

Using Motorsports Concepts’ award winning process, the bike has a brilliant and attractive finish.

Harley-Davidson Bling…

Harley-Davidson calls it the Diamond Ice Collection. 

Crystal-clear rhinestones are set within a Bar & Shield medallion placed in the center of a mirror-polished chrome console door, a fine line of glimmering rhinestones around the perimeter of six inner fairing gauge faces, and the air cleaner trim add a bold and bright rhinestone-encrusted bar & shield logo to the profile of your bike.  It all adds sparkle to the motorcycle and, trust me, women pick up on these things. 

Women who asked for genuine Harley-Davidson rhinestone-studded motorcycle accessories inspired the Diamond Ice Decorative Collection. Each item is accentuated with glimmering rhinestones and finished in high-luster chrome to deliver the greatest visual impact.

FBI Drop Seat Kit…

The 3 inch dropped seat provides a subtle change in the appearance by giving the motorcycle and rider a lower profile.

Appearance Features:

• Custom paint by Motorsports Concepts
• Harley-Davidson Diamond Ice Collection
• Fat Baggers Inc. Drop Seat Kit…
• Also:
  • Willie G. Davidson fork mounted Bat-Wing fairing with lower profile smoked windscreen.
  • Injection-molded hard bags with 2.26 cu. Ft. volume. Latches and hardware are painted to match the bike’s color.
  • Tri-line fender lights.
  • Base paint is two times thicker than the competition.
  • Fuel tank manufacturing process finished by hand.
  • Black powder-coated heads and cylinders highlighted with machined cooling fin tips and chrome rocker covers.

Instrumentation:

Electronics and controls on the FLHX are standard for Harley-Davidson motorcycles: technologically advanced, convenient, intuitive, easy to operate, and reliable.

Electronics and Instrumentation Features:

• Speedometer with odometer, clock on CD player/stereo, dual trip meter, low fuel indicator light, mileage countdown, engine diagnostics readout, and 6-speed indicator light.
• Indicator lights: high beam, running lights, front fender light, directional light bar, neutral, low oil pressure, turn signals, and low fuel warning.
• High output charging system that provides an electrical capacity robust enough for your add-ons: e.g. heated clothing, seats, handgrips, lights, communication, GPS, iPod, and/or other media.
• Security system with hands-free fob that automatically arms and disarms the motorcycle’s electronic security functions as you approach and walk away from the bike.
• Electronics are hidden: the wiring harness, or brain, is routed behind the tank, engine, and other visual features providing a clean and simple look.
• Self-canceling turn signals based on speed and lean angle.
  

Performance:

Sun Harley-Davidson, being ever mindful of all of their customers, added the FBI 3” drop seat bolt-on conversion for this FHLX. The kit includes: powder-coated subframe assembly, left & right side- covers, battery box, turn signal mount, fuse box mount & custom two up seat. This bike has the narrow version with shorter side panels and seat tapered to allow narrower seat area for riders 5’-6” and under. 

The FBI kit drops the stock seat height without altering clearance or suspension.   As such, the motorcycles performance potential through turns and corners, does not change. 

The real benefit is to provide the rider with more stability for starting, stopping, and maneuvering the motorcycle in and out of parking spaces while providing more confidence when riding and managing the motorcycle in urban high traffic situations. If, as a rider, you can put your feet firmly on the ground to balance and manage the weight of the bike, you not only have a feeling of more control…you also have more control!

The host bike in this Rode Test is a standard Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide before the customizations discussed in this review. As such, it is a superior touring motorcycle in ease of handling, power to weight ratio, technological design and operation, and reliability.

Performance Features:

• Twin Cam 96”engine with low end torque (92.6 ft. lbs. @ 3500 rpm. Power delivered by lightweight piston design.
• Low aspect ratio wheel on the front to maintain tight turning radius, balanced feel and superior low-speed maneuverability.
• Six-Speed Cruise Drive Transmission with low cruising rpm.
• Rigid and strong frame and swingarm introduced in 2009.
• 180mm rear tire with Dunlop Multi-Tread technology to increase the volume of rubber and grip of tire on any road surface.
• Dual disc Brembo brakes. Four pistons in front and rear caliper with dual front rotors. 
• 810 lbs. without rider and luggage.
  

Comfort:

This FLHX Street Glide is an easy ride. Because of the easy reach to the ground, the shorter rider has ample flex in legs to balance the bike in a stopped position with little effort. This is most notable because balancing a motorcycle is a concern for many riders – female or male. The FBI Drop Seat Kit eliminates worries about controlling the bike at slow speed and/or when stopped.

When the bike is moving, managing shifting through the six gears, rolling on the throttle, braking and maneuvering in traffic becomes second nature.   All the rider needs to do is sit back and enjoy the ride. The rider’s upright position, ample footboards, and seat shape are designed for miles of comfort. 

Comfort Features:

• Four point rubber engine isolation system to reduce vibration.
• Harley-Davidson sound… Iconic, fierce, and distinct yet environmentally friendly.
• Cruise control integrated into simple and intuitive hand controls and switches.
• Wide set handlebars.
• 2-1-2 exhaust system directs heat away from the rider.
• Ease of operation: e.g., handle controls are easily accessible, simple, and operation is intuitive. 

Final Comment:

As the photos show, this is a beautiful motorcycle. The custom paint grabs your attention and imagination. Add in the Diamond Ice and the FBI Drop Seat Kit and this bike is truly one of a kind. 

Click here for more information about Sun Harley-Davidson. 

Many Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide owners are proud of their bikes from the moment they leave the showroom floor – sans modifications or customizations. They ride them for many miles and still love their bikes. 

Unlike those bikes, this one is unique, providing the standard Harley-Davidson experience plus enhanced appearance and handling characteristics.