Al in NC
Standard Bore
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2026
- Messages
- 3
- Ride
- Harley Sport Glide
I've tried searching the forums but can't find this topic being raised before. I've put 46k miles on my 2018 Harley Sport Glide and am considering trading it for a 2023 R3 GT, which I test rode the other day. The bike is stock, only has 1,600 miles, and was in Road Mode the entire ride. The biggest thing that stood out to me (negatively) was how jerky the bike felt when rolling off the throttle. The engine braking on my H-D is very smooth (which helps a lot, because the rear brake is pretty weak). Rolling off the throttle on the Rocket was like flipping a light switch - the bike noticeably slowing down, as though I'd grabbed the brakes. To be clear, this was riding in the city, with medium traffic, so I was usually in 2nd or 3rd gear. I was not going overly fast and probably no more than 3,500 rpm. I've seen a few posts where folks said Sport Mode seems a bit smoother for gear changes in 1st through 3rd gear than Road Mode, but they seem more to be discussing acceleration, not deacceleration. I did some freeway driving too at the end and don't seem to remember if I noticed the jerkiness as much when exiting. Maybe it was more related to the speed/rpm, or the bike being cold versus warm, or me adjusting to the throttle and rolling off more slowly towards the end of the ride.
This was my first time on the R3, and it really surprised me how abruptly the bike slowed when deaccelerating. Is this lessened in Sport Mode? I would think if anything, it (and acceleration) would be more sensitive. Overall the test ride was fine, and I would probably prefer the quicker acceleration in Sport Mode, but not if deacceleration sensitivity was likewise increased. I do a lot of my riding in the foothills and mountains of the mid-Atlantic states. Engine and trail braking are a big part of my riding style, and they're about smoothness. I know many of you ride similarly. Is this deacceleration abruptness something you've just gotten used to? Do I need to roll off the throttle easier? Would Sport Mode make that much a difference?
Lastly, is this a feature of Ride By Wire, or just the incredible torque this engine produces? I've been riding 45 yrs and this was my first RBW throttle. Tomorrow I'm test riding a 2025 H-D Low Rider ST, so we'll see how that compares. If it is RBW, I may look at an older LR ST (they added Ride Modes in 2025). My heart REALLY wants this R3, but my head is concerned that one day the abrupt deacceleration is going to cause a crash in a sparsely populated area - and at 65 yrs old with one artifical hip already, I need to avoid that. Currently my head is winning the battle, but my heart would greatly appreciate any feedback y'all can provide that can give it back the lead. Thanks!
This was my first time on the R3, and it really surprised me how abruptly the bike slowed when deaccelerating. Is this lessened in Sport Mode? I would think if anything, it (and acceleration) would be more sensitive. Overall the test ride was fine, and I would probably prefer the quicker acceleration in Sport Mode, but not if deacceleration sensitivity was likewise increased. I do a lot of my riding in the foothills and mountains of the mid-Atlantic states. Engine and trail braking are a big part of my riding style, and they're about smoothness. I know many of you ride similarly. Is this deacceleration abruptness something you've just gotten used to? Do I need to roll off the throttle easier? Would Sport Mode make that much a difference?
Lastly, is this a feature of Ride By Wire, or just the incredible torque this engine produces? I've been riding 45 yrs and this was my first RBW throttle. Tomorrow I'm test riding a 2025 H-D Low Rider ST, so we'll see how that compares. If it is RBW, I may look at an older LR ST (they added Ride Modes in 2025). My heart REALLY wants this R3, but my head is concerned that one day the abrupt deacceleration is going to cause a crash in a sparsely populated area - and at 65 yrs old with one artifical hip already, I need to avoid that. Currently my head is winning the battle, but my heart would greatly appreciate any feedback y'all can provide that can give it back the lead. Thanks!
