Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST

Harley-Davidson motorcycles are meant to look solid and muscular and the Low Rider ST conforms to the same design language. There's hardly any chrome on the bike, other than the pushrods and levers. The Low Rider ST is a big bike of course, though the low and long stance does forge a bit more svelte look. The paint scheme is solid with no hint of sparkle. The flat black colour doesn't try to create an overbearing or pompous look. The Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST looks plain mean. The bike does a get plenty of bar and shield logos. The Harley-Davidson insignia is almost everywhere. It's even embossed on the drive belt and tyre tread. This is something unique to the Milwaukee-made motorcycle. The bike's core design seems to be inspired from the intentionally stripped-down 2022 Low Rider S performance cruiser. But the ST comes with a bigger fairing and saddlebags and the bike finally looks like a proper tourer in line with the Harley-Davidson Stret Glide. The saddlebags are quite thin and can't pack in a helmet. But they are spacious enough for some clothes and miscellaneous items for a weekend getaway. 

The Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST comes with a nice and cosy seat that allows long hours of riding with minimum fatigue. The seat is wide and comes with nice padding to ensure the maximum comfort. It's also sculpted so that the rider doesn't slide back when the throttle bursts open. Harley-Davidson bikes typically have a low seat height and it's the same with the Low Rider ST. The foot pegs are forward-set and lend straight, comfortable riding position. The thigh remains parallel to the ground. The company has increased the rear suspension travel and that absorbs most of the bumps and thuds. Even riding on cobbled roads isn't much of a challenge. The stability is retained on highways and the Low Rider ST is rock-solid in crosswind conditions and never unsettles even when a trailer passes by. The standard windshield is perfect and protects the rider from air-blasts.  

The Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST is equipped with a two-cylinder, air-cooled, 2.0-litre, Milwaukee-Eight engine that produces 169 Nm peak torque. The motor is mated to a six-speed transmission. The gearbox is somewhat clunky but that's how Harley-Davidson bikes have been over decades. Once on the go, ride quality of the Low Rider ST is smooth, courtesy the lazy roll-on torque. The bike doesn't need any frequent revving and has the pleasing Harley-Davidson sound. The motorcycle comes with the standard high-performance cam along with a free-flow air filter. This Milwaukee-Eight is a great engine and a superb performer.  

The braking component of the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST is carried over from the Low Rider S. The bike gets robust dual-front disc brakes with four-piston calipers. Antilock braking comes as standard. The rear braking setup, much like the Fat Bob, isn't very strong. There's also no traction control and the rider must keep that in mind while dipping into the throttle. 

At a starting price of ₱1.52 million, the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST is among the most expensive cruise bikes. The bike is easy to ride with an ergonomic seating position that allows long hours of comfortable travelling. The dual-cylinder Milwaukee-Eight engine is the most powerful in the touring segment. Performance from the 2.0-litre engine will put many hatchbacks to shame. The Low Rider ST is for seasoned riders wanting to go on a relaxed solo weekend trip.