Motorcycle makers of every type and brand have undergone tremendous transformations to go along with their constantly-evolving inventory. An inventory that not only must change to go along with the demands of the consumers but to match the new regulations that are being required. Plus, as new technology becomes available, it is expected by the buying public to be included in the latest model of their favorite bikes. Otherwise, they may switch brands. This supply and demand cycle is constant for all the players within the industry, regardless of how big the nameplates are.
American motorcycle icon Harley-Davidson is no different. Many beloved models have come and gone, and like Geoffrey Chaucer once famously said, "All good things must come to an end." While some staple models like the Road King and Fat Boy remain in production, others could use a comeback.
Updated May 2023: Harley-Davidson is one of the most well-known names in the motorcycle industry, but even so, there have been a few models that, for one reason or another, the company has decided to discontinue. Riders like us do not entirely agree with their decision, though, which is why we have decided to refresh this list of great bikes that need to make a comeback.
1 Harley-Davidson Iron 883: 2009 - 2022
One of the most surprising models on this list is the Iron 883. Ever since its debut in 2009, the Harley-Davidson Iron 883 instantly became a favorite of the Sportster class. It was light, easy to ride, affordable, very customizable, and gave off a sense of urban-ruggedness that many beginner riders gravitated towards. So when it was announced that Harley-Davidson would be closing the book on the Iron 883, it marked the end of an era that certainly gave the competition a run for its money.
2 Harley-Davidson Iron 1200: 2009 - 2021
Just like its little brother, the Iron 883, the Iron 1200 went from common to commodity in 2021 when Harley-Davidson discontinued the Sportster. It was also around this time when Harley announced that it was "revolutionizing" its Sportster lineup, marking the beginning of the Sportster S and Nightster, both coming equipped with the new liquid-cooled Revolution 1250cc and 975cc engines. While both the Iron 883 and Iron 1200 had their time in the sun, they lasted long enough to become fan favorites.
3 Harley-Davidson Softail Slim: 2012 - 2021
Low. Slick. Smooth. Comfortable. During the Softail Slim's tenure in Harley-Davidson's Softail class, it quickly gained popularity as one of Harley-Davidson's more "chill out" motorcycles. Basically a skinny Fat Boy, the Slim's low seat and floorboards gave it a relaxed riding position. It was simple, strong, and lean. Now, the chances of finding one available are also poor.
4 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide: 1993 - 2008 and 2010 - 2017
This motorcycle had a bobbed rear fender, skinny front tire, forward controls, raked and widened front forks, and a 1,340cc Evolution V-Twin engine. By 1999, the Dyna Wide Glide was upgraded with an air-cooled Twin Cam 88 with 1,450ccs. By 2007, the Wide Glide got an even bigger upgrade with the fuel-injected Twin Cam 96 engine before it briefly went on hiatus in 2008 following the release of the 105th-anniversary edition. The Wide Glide returned in 2010, receiving yet another engine upgrade in 2012 with the Twin Cam 103 engine boasting 1,690ccs. Granted that this motorcycle has come back before, it's not outside the realm of possibility that Harley-Davidson could do it again.
5 Harley-Davidson V-Rod: 1999 - 2017
There is probably no other Harley-Davidson model with a cult following like the V-Rod. What makes this motorcycle so unique is the low seat, fat rear tire, hidden gas tank under the seat, and the 1250cc liquid-cooled Revolution engine developed in collaboration with Porsche engineers. Fair to say that this bike is a perfect hybrid of muscular drag strip performance and artistic aggression on the streets. While the V-Rod was undoubtedly one of Harley-Davidson's most unique models in its cruiser class, one of its biggest obstacles was not following the new Euro 4 regulations.
6 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe: 1983 - 2020
In Harley-Davidson's diverse lineup, no model embodied class and old-school charm with modern stylings better than the Softail Deluxe. Fans of the Deluxe appreciated its heavy use of chrome, white-wall tires, and fender design reminiscent of a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere. The first original Softail debuted in 1983 before evolving into the Deluxe. From there, it enjoyed a 37-year residency in Harley-Davidson's portfolio before seeing its final year in 2020.
7 Harley-Davidson Street Rod: 2014 - 2021
The beginner-friendly Street series was such a popular model for individuals with zero riding experience, that Harley began implementing the Street 500 and Street 750 into its riding courses. There probably is no other model in Harley-Davidson's portfolio that is as user-friendly as the Street Rods, ideally meant for local and city riding, many beginner riders who started on this model have since moved on to bigger and greater bikes. Just like the other members of the Street family (Iron 883, Iron 1200), the book was closed on this line of entry-level bikes to make room for the new Sportster series.
8 Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback: 2012 - 2016
Harley-Davidson is not outside the realm of creating motorcycles that embody the best of both worlds. One model that stands out from the crowd was the short-lived Dyna Switchback, this motorcycle results from taking the touring aspects of the Road King and configuring them around the Dyna frame. This touring-capable Dyna was nick-named the "Road Queen" as it was seen as a gender-friendly model that allowed female riders to enjoy the comfortable touring seat, windshield, and hard saddlebags of the Road King without the weight and bulkiness.
9 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide: 1983 - 1993 and 2018 - 2021
A distant relative of the Switchback, the Sport Glide first emerged onto showroom floors in 1983 as a distinctly unique model unlike anything else previous Harley riders were familiar with before halting production in 1993. The Sport Glide re-emerged twenty-five years later as a more modernized take on the Softail/touring hybrid concept. The bike included some hard saddlebags, a mini batwing fairing that could be removed at the rider's will, and a Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine.
10 Harley-Davidson VR1000: 1994 - 1995
The one thing that Harley-Davidson has never been known for was engineering and producing fast superbikes, which all changed in 1994. The company decided that it wanted to compete with the best bikes in the world on the AMA superbike racing circuit. The team tasked to build the bike, Harley-Davidson Skunkworks, started from scratch by moving away from everything the company had ever made. The 1000cc V-twin engine had dual overhead cams, fuel injection, and was water-cooled, which was all new to Harley. The bike never won a race on the AMA superbike circuit, but it had so much potential that it needs to be brought back as a street machine for you all to enjoy.
11 Harley-Davidson Blackline: 2010 - 2013
The Harley-Davidson Blackline was the fourth model designed to be a part of the Harley-Davidson Dark Custom series. The counterbalanced, twin-cam V-twin engine is air-cooled and can push out 63 horses and between 89 and 99 pound-feet of torque. What made these bikes so special was not the performance or the power but the look. They were designed with unique, eye-catching paint straight from the factory.
12 Harley-Davidson Tour Glide: 1981 - 1987
Touring bikes are made for one specific function, which you can surely guess just by the name. The Harley-Davidson Tour Glide was no exception. It was built to travel in style from one end of the country to the other. It had an air-cooled 1337cc V-twin engine paired with a five-speed transmission that could pump out 50 horsepower. It came with a rear trunk, passenger backrest, lockable saddlebags, storage compartments, and dual front disc brakes.
13 Harley-Davidson CLE Classic Sidecar: 1979 - 1980
Many people who have ridden these trikes claim that they are too hard to navigate and turn, which is why they were not produced for much more than a year or two. With the technology today, though, a sidecar alongside a touring bike that has a passenger seat (with a backrest and some lockable saddlebags) could not only allow you to travel in style with a friend, but man's best friend as well.
14 Harley-Davidson Topper: 1960 - 1965
The H-D Topper is another motorized two-wheeled vehicle that you may not know Harley-Davidson built at one time. A moped designed to get you around town in style. It is the only scooter that the company has made to date. It was offered with a 165cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine. Today it would be best to build the Topper with electric engine, along with some other features that are available today.
FAQ
Q: Is Harley Iron 883 good for beginners?
Yes. The Iron 883 has been the motorcycle of choice for many novice riders thanks to its size, handling, and affordability.
Q: Is the Harley-Davidson Breakout discontinued?
Yes. The Breakout ran as part of Harley-Davidson's softail inventory from 2012 to 2020.
Q: Why did Harley-Davidson get rid of the V-Rod?
While the V-Rod was certainly one of Harley-Davidson's unique models in its cruiser class, one of the biggest obstacles it faced was that it did not follow the new Euro 4 regulations. Also, sales and interest in the bike began to drop in its last few years, eventually prompting HD to end its production in 2017.
Q: Is the Sport Glide a touring bike?
While the Sport Glide does have features often found on many of Harley-Davidson's touring models (stock saddlebags, mini-batwing fairing), it is still considered part of the softail class.
Q: What is the Harley-Davidson Switchback?
The Harley-Davidson Switchback was part of the brand's Dyna line that featured many elements from the standard Road King touring model (hard saddlebags, windshield, floorboards) but built around the Dyna structure. Nicknamed the "Road Queen", the Switchback was very popular among female riders that were eager for more touring capabilities, but did not want to have to deal with the bulkiness of the Road King that is more often favored among larger male riders.