got a new one tradition at Harley-Davidson. Every year, The Motor Co. delve into their archives, find a bike that captivated so many hearts in its heyday and release a modern replica of it. They call it ‘The Icon Collection’ and it’s now in its third year.
This year’s Icon Collection bike goes back in time, to the year that Nixon won the election, Led Zeppelin took to the stage for the first time and a Big Mac cost 49 cents. Dubbed the King of Highways Harley-Davidson Electra Glide, this is a modern-day recreation of the wildly appealing 1968 FLH Electra Glide.
Editor’s Note: Yip, today we’re introducing a cruiser-slash-tourer from a major OEM. It’s part of our effort to give you, our loyal readers, more than your weekly dose of the world’s best custom motorcycles. Plus, it looks spectacular and has a bright red color—so we find it hard to hate it.
Harley-Davidson turns 120 years old this year, which means the company has a much history to sift through when figuring out which legacy bikes to highlight with its Icon series. We were lucky enough to not only visit the Harley-Davidson museum in Milwaukee but also have access to the sacred archive. Filled with everything from memorabilia to historical photographs, it’s a deep rabbit hole.
So what exactly does the HD team consider when choosing each Icon style? “There are many factors,” says Brad Richards, Harley’s Vice President of Design and Creative Director of Motorcycles.
“We strive to strike a balance between the decades to rely on—and the models that ignite the most passion in the hearts of our customers. We also review the current narrative across the entire portfolio each year. For example, Electra Glide Revival [Harley’s first Icons release] was launched adjacent to Pan America, as a reminder that our current customers are just as important as future customers.”
Electra Glide 1968 is Americana nostalgia just like classic Harleys. Striking in a bright red paint job, with white trims and chrome accents, it’s clear what era it lived in. Customers also had the option to purchase it with the then-luxury ‘King of the Highway’ travel package, which included fiberglass storage bins, windshield, luggage rack and engine shield; apparently that’s the origin of the Electra Glide Highway King nomenclature.
The Electra Glide Highway King is based on Harley’s existing single-post touring chassis and is powered by the company’s Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine. So it has all the trimmings of a modern touring bike; Linked Brembo brakes, cornering ABS, traction control and torque traction control, cruise control and hill hold feature. You can also upgrade the torque to 160 Nm with Harley’s full Screamin’ Eagle hop-up kit.
On top of that chassis is a bodywork that combines existing Harley parts with a few unique pieces. The fuel tank, gauge mounted on the fuel tank, fenders, side skirts and fork covers look like they’ve come from other touring cars, such as the Road King. It’s a testament to how consistent Harley’s design language has remained over the years.
“We stay true to our roots, even with our newest bikes,” says Brad. “The proportions, form, and the way we intuitively manage the electronic components mean that most bikes are a great canvas for future Icons.”
Even the saddlebags are borrowed from the existing passenger car line; “Again, the form factor is still very close to the original from the late 60s, so it works perfectly,” added Brad. What makes the Electra Glide Highway King stand out then is how well its unique decor has been done.
For starters, the two paint jobs it comes with are equally eye-catching. You can choose between ‘Hi-Fi Orange’ or ‘Hi-Fi Magenta’ and each version has a matching tint on the bottom half of the removable windshield. Healthy.
The saddlebags on both versions are white like those of the 60s. The center console has chrome surrounds with a black center strip, marked with a white stripe. Serial number badges and Icon Collection graphics are also etched into the control panel.
A completely unique detail is the Electra Glide Highway King saddle. Harley started with parts from their police motorcycle seats, then built a new one with a custom rail design. Wrapped in black and white, it’s a standout piece.
The rest of the bike is finished with chrome strips—from the engine, to the anti-collision bars, the front fender trim and the saddlebag guards. Chrome ‘Electra Glide’ inscription adorns the front fenders, while the correct Harley badges periodically rest on the fuel tank. Twin spotlights flank the headlights, while the classic tethered wheels carry white wall grooves.
All that comes at a premium, naturally. The Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Highway King will cost you $26,999 in the US — $3k more than the current Road King Special. As is customary for their Icon bikes, Harley will only produce the model as a 2023 model, limited to 1,750 units (1,000 orange and 750 magenta).
Plus, the Electra Glide Highway King sits somewhere between factory style and modern vintage style. It’s sure to appeal to Harley fanatics who are known for their fondness for special edition models (especially when they’re released on an anniversary year). But we think it could also have appeal beyond Harley’s existing fanbase.
Will you be tempted?
Image provided by Harley-Davidson and the Harley-Davidson Archive
