I flew from Washington State to Palm Bay, Florida to test ride and review the all-new 2026 Harley-Davidson Police Road Glide—and let me tell you, this is not just a civilian Road Glide with lights slapped on. Harley built this machine from the ground up specifically for the needs of police motors units.

If you're a motor officer, a fleet manager, or simply curious about what makes the Police Road Glide different from its civilian counterpart, you’re in the right place. This article breaks down every feature, upgrade, and engineering decisionHarley made for this brand-new police model.

Let’s dive in.

The Evolution of a Legend

From Batwing to Sharknose

For decades, the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide dominated police fleets across the country. The batwing fairing became an iconic symbol of American law enforcement.

But the landscape began shifting with the explosive popularity of the Mission King of the Baggers race series. Harley invested heavily into R&D from that racing platform, and we’ve seen that tech filtering into production bikes for years.

The writing was on the wall:
A Police Road Glide was coming.

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Early Clues & Teasers

• May 2023 – NAMOA Conference (Yakima, WA):
  A Harley rep quietly rolled a civilian Road Glide into their booth and encouraged officers to ride it. I ran it through the course myself—and loved it. Looking back, Harley was warming the law enforcement community up to the idea.

• September 2023 – Harley 120th Anniversary, Milwaukee:
  Harley officially announced the Police Road Glide was in development. The bike on display wasn’t final, but it confirmed what many of us suspected.

• November 2025:
  With civilian Road Glides skyrocketing in popularity, the timing was perfect for the police lineup to evolve.

And now Harley has officially launched the 2026 Harley-Davidson Police Road Glide (FLTRXP)—and it's a stunner.

Factory-Equipped and Truly Turn-Key

One of the biggest changes for 2026 is Harley’s commitment to delivering this motorcycle fully equipped from the factory—exactly as departments will use it.

Gone are the days of:

• Long delays

• Dealer-installed equipment

• Programming hassles

• Parts shortages

These bikes now leave the factory 100% outfitted, wired, and integrated.

A dealership simply connects the bike to Digital Technician 2 and checks boxes for things like:

• Code-3 LED patterns & colors

• Wig-wag headlight sequences

• Siren behavior (like shutting off when the kickstand drops)

• Lean-activated light patterns

Departments save time, money, and headaches.

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Engine & Performance: The 121ci VVT Milwaukee-Eight

Harley FINALLY gave motor officers the power they’ve been asking for.

The new Police Road Glide features the 121 cubic-inch Milwaukee-Eight with VVT, the same powerhouse found in the 2023.5 and newer CVO models.

Specs:

• 1,982cc

• 115 horsepower

• 139 ft-lbs of torque @ 3,000 RPM

• 0–60 mph: 4.4 seconds

• 0–100 mph: 12.6 seconds

• Top Speed: 120 mph

• Previous police models required 19 seconds to hit 100 mph—this one does it in 12.6.

This power matters when:

• Starting from zero to chase down a violator

• Moving from back to front during escorts

• Making aggressive maneuvers in heavy traffic

The power is smooth, predictable, and confidence-inspiring. As a long time police motor officer and instructor, I can say:
This is the best police motor Harley has ever built in terms of acceleration.

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Infotainment: The Full IFCU Is Finally Here

For the first time ever on a police Harley, the bike includes the full touchscreen IFCU (Infotainment Control Unit).

It’s fully integrated and specifically programmed for police use.

IFCU Includes:

• AM/FM radio + fairing speakers

• Built-in GPS navigation

• USB-C port in the right glove box

• Bluetooth pairing for phone + music

• Wireless Apple CarPlay*
  (Requires a Cardo PackTalk Edge headset)

• Customizable gauges & themes

• Touchscreen or handlebar toggle control

• On-screen emergency light & siren status

Harley really listened to police advisory board feedback, and it shows.

Electrical System & Trunk Upgrades

The chopped police tour pack is intentional. Harley focused on two major goals:

1. Aerodynamics at High Speeds

Essential when officers routinely reach 100+ mph.

2. No More Second Battery

The upgraded electrical system no longer requires a trunk-mounted auxiliary battery, freeing up space.

Inside the trunk are four factory 12-volt power ports—ready for:

• Laptops

• Printers

• Radios

• Radar units

• Ticketing equipment

The bike also includes Load Shed, progressively shutting down non-essential systems if battery voltage drops, reducing the chance of being stranded from a depleted battery. 

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Rider Ergonomics & Adjustable Tractor Seat

The traditional police tractor seat remains—because it works. However, Harley made a much-needed improvement:

Three-Position Height Adjustment

Officers have been modifying seats with PVC pipe and homemade risers for years. No more.

Laden Seat height:

• 31.3 inches (Police Road Glide)

• 26.6 inches (Civilian Road Glide)

I’m 5'8″, and at the lowest position I could flat-foot the bike with ease.

With taller bars pulled slightly back, low-speed bar-lock maneuvers felt natural and balanced.

Controls, Grips, and Switchgear

Harley integrated large red police-specific light and siren switches on both control clusters—easy to reach and intuitive.

Additional features:

• Heated grips with recessed button

• Adjustable front brake lever

However:

• Clutch lever is not adjustable

• Still uses the yellow plastic cable adjuster

Departments wanting better clutch control can upgrade with components we carry at the Law Abiding Biker Store:

• Fat Bagger’s Easy Clutch Adjuster

• Mueller Power Clutch (45% lever pull reduction)

• PSR Anthem Pro adjustable levers

We assist police motors units globally with these setups.

Suspension & Braking

Rear Suspension

Harley stepped up their game:

• Adjustable Showa rear shocks

• 3″ travel

• Rebound dampening

• Preload spanner wrench included

• On-the-fly preload knob behind left side cover

Huge improvement for:

• Stability

• Comfort

• Varying loads/equipment

Front Suspension

• 49mm dual bending valve forks

• 4.6″ travel

Note: I was hoping for inverted front forks like we see on the CVO Road Glide ST.

Brakes

Harley used the same axial 4-piston calipers found on the civilian Road Glide. I was really hoping for Brembo radially mounted calipers like the CVO Road Glide ST. 

Are the front regular forks and axial mounted calibers adequate? Yes.
Would inverted forks and radial mounted brakes be better for professional riders? Also yes.
Cost likely played a major factor.

Rider Safety & Electronics

The 2026 Police Road Glide includes Harley’s full suite of safety tech:

• ABS Cornering Enhanced (C-ABS)

• Traction Control

• Linked Braking

• Drag Slip Torque Control

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

• Vehicle Hold Control (Hill Hold Assist)

• Rain / Road / Sport Modes + Custom Mode

All selectable via the right control cluster and visible on the IFCU.

Front Fender & Handlebars

• Chopped front fender without skirt prevents cone damage during training. Cones will be less likely to get caught up. 

• Civilian Road Glide handlebars with limited adjustability

• Works well for most rider heights

• Tall bars with some adjustment + adjustable seat = customizable ergonomics

Weight

• 904 lbs running order

• About 66 lbs heavier than a civilian standard Road Glide

• Weight difference comes from integrated police equipment

Despite the weight, the bike feels balanced at low speeds and planted at high speeds.

Real-World Ride Impressions

After time in the saddle, I can confidently say:

• The motor is outstanding

• Handling is predictable

• Low-speed control is excellent

• Tech integration is beautifully executed

• The infotainment upgrade is long overdue

• Rear suspension is significantly improved

• Factory-equipped emergency system is a game-changer

I would absolutely ride this daily for full-time traffic enforcement.

Harley nailed this one.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Harley-Davidson Police Road Glide is the most advanced, well-thought-out motor unit bike Harley has ever created. It solves real-world problems, integrates modern tech, delivers massive performance improvements, and arrives fully equipped from the factory—no more waiting on dealers or installers.

For motors officers:
This bike will make your job easier.

For fleet managers:
It will reduce costs, delays, and maintenance issues.

For motorcycle enthusiasts:
This platform showcases where Harley-Davidson is heading with performance, tech, and engineering.