2013 Harley-Davidsons
2013 Harley-Davidsons
ROUNDUP
Making America's most beloved motorcycles for 110 years
ANNIVERSARIES ARE A BIG DEAL AT Harley-Davidson. As they should be for a company that has survived for more than a century in a business as mercurial as motorcycling. But not only has Harley survived, it has flourished from time to time, and 2013 will mark the 110th year of operation for the bike that made Milwaukee famous.
No surprise, then, that Harley's big news for the coming year is all about that anniversary. Six of the lineup's 2013 Big Twins (Super Glide Custom, Fat Boy Lo, Heritage Softail Classic, Road King, Electra Glide Ultra Limited and Tri Glide Ultra Classic) and one Sportster (1200 Custom) are available in both standard models and limitededition versions commemorating H-D's 110th year. All Anniversary models are serialized and numbered; all are painted Vintage Bronze and Vintage Black with a Pearl Coat; and all wear a pair of beautifully made, solid bronze tank badges designed by Willie G.
just for this occasion. Other special touches include commemorative air cleaners, derby covers and timer covers, along with contrasting seat panels and distinctive wheel finishes. Production runs of the anniversary models will range from 1450 units for the Super Glide Custom and Tri Glide to 3750 for the Electra Glide Ultra Limited.
Other news for 2013 is a restyle of the Street Bob, which now has a sidemount license plate, tapered mufflers, a round air-cleaner cover and a new black battery cover. Most important, the MSRP for the base model is the same $12,999 it was last year, allowing the Street Bob to remain the most affordable of all the Big Twins.
In addition, Harley has expanded the Hard Candy metalflake option that debuted last year on the Seventy Two. The Big Flake paint is now available in green and gold as well as the original red, and at least one Hard Candy Custom color will be offered on the Seventy-Two, Street Bob, Blackline, Softail Deluxe and Forty-Eight.
Sadly, two Sportster models—the XR1200X and the Nightster—have been dropped from the 2013 lineup. "Seems just about everyone who wanted an XR1200X got one," said Greg Falkner, H-D's Manager of Motorcycle Product Planning, "so the sales tapered off considerably. And with the Nightster being so close to the Forty-Eight, Seventy-Two and Iron 883, it was time for it to go away."
We won't argue about the Nightster, but we'll miss the XR1200X, the sportiest, best-handling HarleyDavidson production bike ever made. Maybe it'll return for the 111th.
Paul Dean
