When William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson built their first motorcycle in 1903, it was so underpowered that it couldn't even go up the hills of Milwaukee without some pedal power. Fast-forward to a century later, and the first thing that comes to most people's minds when the phrase "American motorcycle" is mentioned is Harley-Davidson.
Updated July 2021: If you're a fan of Harley-Davidson bikes, or wondering which H-D model you should buy, you'll be happy to know that we've updated this article with more awesomeness from the Milwaukee-based brand. These motorcycles are badass for various reasons, be it design, power, size, or heritage, they all offer something special to those who know to appreciate them.
Over the decades, Harley-Davidson has fought through many challenges, including the Great Depression, periods of poor product quality, complex ownership arrangements, several subsidiary arrangements, and intense global competition to come out as one of the biggest motorcycle manufacturers globally. During that period, the company has produced many unique motorcycles – here are ten of the best.
13 1958 Harley-Davidson Duo-Glide
The 1958 Duo-Glide is among the most iconic motorcycles in motorcycling history. It was the first to integrate a true rear suspension, taking riders' comfort to a whole new level. The new suspension was offered in FLH and FL form and had three settings for different situations; two-up, heavy rider, and solo. The new frame featured a swingarm attached to rear coil-over shocks.
For the Duo-Glide, Harley-Davidson chose to keep the sprung seat despite the industry moving away from it. The new suspension was added to the sprung seat, resulting in a fantastic cruiser that could cover hundreds of miles without leaving riders with massive back and butt pain.
12 1983 Harley-Davidson FXRT
The iconic FXRT is yet another Milwaukee cult classic that was essentially a combination of Harley-Davidson's line of FX Big Twins with some sport-touring hardware. For instance, the fairing looks a little futuristic, but proved extremely popular with Harley-Davidson's traditionally hidebound clientele.
The FXRT rides higher than other bikes in the FX range — the Fat Bob, Wide Glide, and Low Rider — and comes with a stiffer frame, longer travel suspension, and anti-drive front forks. Add an 80ci Shovelhead engine, an enclosed rear chain, and a pair of hard saddlebags and the result is one of the most wanted classic motorcycles of all time.
11 2006 VRSCSE2
Launched in 2006, the VRSCSE2 quickly gained many fans due to its innovative blend of looks and functionality. This bike is pure candy and features some nice touches, including elegant chrome plating in all the right places, 1.25-inch fat handlebars, multiple braided features, and a stylish double exhaust.
Powering the VRSCSE2 is a 1,200cc powertrain with big bore cylinders and 105 mm pistons, and high flow heads. This is paired with a new 240mm tire with tremendous grip, a heavy-duty clutch with a stronger spring, and Brembo brake systems.
10 2009 FXSTB Night Train
Famous for its top-tier aesthetics and incredible power, the FXSTB Night Train comes in multiple shades of black and features an extended front end. This bike has just the perfect ride height for effortless cruising and forward foot controls that place the rider's leg in a pleasant, bold stance. The addition of drag bars also improves the ride quality, making the Night Train an excellent option for covering long distances.
Other than looks, this bike also offers impressive performance thanks to a 1,584cc two-cylinder four-stroke V-Twin with fuel injection.
9 2018 Softail FXDR 114
The FXDR 114 is a new type of power cruiser designed for riders who want a more extreme cruiser look, but also want performance and handling that rivals sportbikes. This bike has an eye-catching design featuring jet fighter-inspired lines, clip-on handlebars, and a 34-degree rake to improve ride comfort.
At the heart of the FXDR 114 is the most potent version of Harley's Milwaukee-Eight engine with a decent power output of 95 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque. Handling is top-class in the FXDR 114 thanks to its long and low look, not to mention more cornering clearance than any other Softail in the market.
8 2005 FXDX Dyna Super Glide Sport
The Dyna series has been in production since the early 90s and has experienced many upgrades since. While people loved its simplicity, the Dyna Super Glide was known to have handling issues, which is why Harley-Davidson decided to introduce the FXDX Dyna Super Glide Sport in 2005.
The 2005 FXDX Dyna Super Glide Sport was built for Harley fans who love the Dyna series but want something that corners excellently. Harley replaced the old suspension from its predecessors with one that's actually meant for cornering to achieve this. A Milwaukee-Eight engine also ensured that it packed a punch.
7 2009 Harley-Davidson FLHT Electra Glide Standard
If there ever was a bike built for touring, it's the 2009 FLHT Electra Glide. Considered a 'long-haul' bike, the FLHT comes with all the right equipment to make it a great touring bike, such as touring chassis, wheels, and tires. It also has hard saddlebags with locks, auxiliary lamps, and instruments placed on a fork-mounted fairing.
Harley also changed the FLHT's gauges' placement and added a few extras specifically designed to provide long-distance riders with the convenience and comfort they need while riding on the open road. Performance is also impressive thanks to a new V-Twin engine, frame, and swingarm.
6 2013 Sportster 48
The Sportster 48 is a custom-looking Harley that's truly a design masterpiece. From an aesthetic standpoint, the 48 is one of the best looking cruisers on the market. Its lines are reminiscent of classic bobbers, while its low handlebars and forward controls contribute to a low-slung, aggressive look that many love. The icing on the cake is the 48's 16-inch wheels and beefy front tire.
The 48's gorgeous design is matched with its top-tier performance. It draws its power from an air-cooled 1,202cc Evolution engine with electronic fuel injection and aluminum heads and cylinders for maximum performance.
5 1983 Harley-Davidson XR-1000
Famous for its power and performance, the XR-1000 has become a classic that every collector dreams of owning. It was made specifically to deliver the best possible attributes of the iconic XR750 in a street-legal motorcycle. However, due to the materials and components used, it ended up costing $7,000, which was a lot in 1983.
Those lucky enough to own one enjoyed the raw power of the 998cc OHV V-Twin air-cooled engine, which had a power output of 96 horsepower, allowing the XR-1000 to hit a top speed of 112 mph. Interestingly, a modified version of the XR-1000 - dubbed Lucifer's Hammer - made history when Jay Springsteen used it to win the Daytona.
4 2012 Harley-Davidson FLHR Road King
As its name suggests, the FLHR is the undisputed 'Road King' as far as performance and customization are concerned. This bike is quick thanks to a 1,690cc Twin-Cam 103 engine that distributes power to the rear wheel via a Cruise-Drive-equipped six-speed transmission.
Road trippers love the FLHR for many reasons; for starters, it has adjustable rear suspension, which allows the rider to set their preferred ride height depending on where they are. Extra-comfortable seating, a detachable windshield, and locking saddlebags make it a favorite among cruiser fans.
3 2006 Harley-Davidson VRXSE Screamin' Eagle V-Rod Destroyer
First launched in 2006, Harley-Davidson only made 600 of these track-only beasts. The VRXSE Screamin' Eagle V-Rod Destroyer is not your everyday Harley, as it was built specifically for drag racing. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just over 3 seconds, which is blisteringly fast for a big cruiser bike, and keeps accelerating until it reaches a top speed of 144 mph. The quarter mile is dealt with in less than 10 seconds.
This might just be the only factory bike to ever come with a wheelie bar, but other than that, it's a fairly spartan affair - which is understandable as it was never meant to go cruising on a sunny saturday afternoon.
2 Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Road King FLHRSEI2
Back in the 2000s, the FLHRSEI2 with its 103 cubic inches, or 1690cc, was the biggest factory-built Harley Big Twin money could buy. Ok, fair enough, it wasn't exactly stock. The Screamin' Eagle Road King was created as part of Harley's Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) program, and was a limited-production model. As any H-D enthusiast knows, any off-the-rack Twin Cam 88 can be turned into a 103-incher by adding 3.9-inch pistons and cylinders along with Screamin' Eagle crankshaft/flywheel. However, unlike those who build their own, this bike actually came with a warranty and 50-state EPA certification.
Of course, all this came at a price. The bike cost roughly $28,000, which was ridiculously expensive compared to the $16,000 a basic Road King would set you back at the time.
1 Harley-Davidson XR750
The Harley-Davidson XR750 first went into production back in 1970. It was a race bike built mainly for dirt track racing, but it also saw some road racing action as the XRTT variant. Harley-Davidson built the XR750 as a response to a change in AMA Grand National Championship rules back in 1969. This rule change leveled the playing field for Harley-Davidson's foreign competitors. British and Japanese brands were now able to beat the Harley-Davidson KR race bike that previously dominated the American racing scene.
The XR750 went on to become a legend in its own right, as the bike went on to win the most races in the history of AMA racing. That's not its only claim to fame though, as the XR750 was also used by Evel Knievel to set most of his jump records.