The new Low Rider ST from H-D
- Paul
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
The new Low Rider ST from H-D is now available to test ride at Waterford Harley-Davidson.
This ‘ST' model is finished differently. The chrome details on the engine allow it to stand out from the standard model and are a very nice touch on a bike that ‘hides’ so many of its’ features.
Those features, and there are several, include a full set of LED lights and revised electrical extras that include a C-Type USB port in front of the rider as well as a very clever socket for heated clothing. No more excuses for whimping out and taking the Mercedes in the chilly weather!
It’s the small changes that I enjoy. The span adjustable front brake lever allows me to adjust it to fit my hands, so that stopping is more comfortable thanks to the resulting ‘feel’. It also allows me to move it out far enough to operate it with only two fingers without trapping the other two between the end of the lever and the throttle.
Cruise control is still a feature that I like. What is interesting is a lot of the intimidation when riding a bike like this with a big motor in poor weather can be eliminated thanks to the choice of rider modes. This system works at the touch of a button and cycles through Road, Rain and Sports modes. Road is standard for everyday use and in Rain mode the bikes fuelling system reduces the impact of the bikes high torque figure. Sport, we’ll come back to in a moment.
Safety is also greatly enhanced thanks to both the ABS and the traction control being of the cornering type. Very simply both systems will work when the bike is leaned over in a corner. Hit the anchors and the bike will stop rather than having the front wash out, crack open the throttle a bit to early or enthusiastically and the traction control does a rather excellent job of keeping the front from catching up with the rear. And this is all standard.
There’s also what’s called ‘drag torque slip control’. What this does is allows the bike to manage the impact that going down through the gearbox has on the rear wheel and the final drive. Going down through the box in a hurry on a bike this big would traditionally involve an unpleasant amount of wheel lock and a violent engagement of the gearbox on the way down as the big torque numbers are delivered to the bike in a highly aggressive way. Now this new system negates this particular ‘fact of life’ and allows the bike to use its engine braking in a much, much, more comfortable and predictive manner.
Weight is saved thanks to a lighter and stronger frame, the use of more aluminium and a new more responsive suspension system.
All of this is great and it’s all easy to take for granted after a few kilometres on the road. It’s the Milwaukee-Eight 117 High-Output engine that I’m really impressed by. At 1,923cc it puts out 114 ponies and, perhaps more impressively, 174Nm of torque.
Going back to those fuelling options and choosing the Sport one and riding the bike higher in the rev range is a wonderful experience as that’s where all the power lives. The really great thing about using all that power is that the new features mentioned above all make it so much easier to control and manage the bike under braking as well as acceleration.
It has all this as well as a classic Harley shape and design along with generous luggage space thanks to the panniers and enough comfort to carry a pillion across a continent on.
The new Low Rider ST is just one of the demonstrator bikes that are available to test ride from WHD. Just give Mo a call on 051844200 and he’ll get you out on the road for a spin.
