With 120 illustrious years in the bag, Harley-Davidson is on a new chapter in its life. A chapter that promises a new approach with modern motorcycles, catered toward a variety of customers, not just cruiser fans. After all, just look at The Motor Company’s recent products - the X 350 and X 500 roadsters, the upcoming HD400 naked with Hero MotoCorp, and even the soon-to-arrive, overhauled CVO twins.
But what about die-hard Harley fans who fell in love with its old-school, authentic cruisers? Well, there’s good news, as the bikemaker has whipped up something extra special to fit this bill. Enter the new-for-2023 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Highway King. It is the third entrant in the company’s Icon Collection (after the Low Rider El Diablo and Electra Glide Revival) and has all the ingredients to be the ultimate vintage cruiser out there. Here’s why that is.
The 2023 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Highway King Will Take You Back To The 60s
One look at the Highway King takes you back 55 years to the golden 60s, particularly to the year 1968 when the FLH Electra Glide broke cover. It was Harley’s flagship cruiser at the time and served as a go-to for HD enthusiasts who wanted even more touring comfort from their steed. Not to mention, it had an uber-old-school design at the time, which lends heavy inspiration to the mesmerizing 2023 Highway King.
Up top, the new cruiser motorcycle flexes a trifecta of halogen lights - all wearing chrome nacelles - flanked by round indicators and an ultra-tall windscreen. Below this lies a long, bulgy fender that wraps around a classic spoke wheel. At the opposite end, you get FLH-inspired Birch White saddlebags with a curvy fender sandwiched between them and twin exhausts under them.
But that’s not all. A closer look reveals excellent attention to detail such as the front fender skirt, saddlebag protectors, and a seat crown, all finished in chrome. This is jazzed up by the whitewall tires and dual-tone seat cover you can’t help but drool over. Meanwhile, the two colors - HiFi Orange and HiFi Magenta - round off the design and make the Highway King appear exactly like the 55-year-old cruiser. Now, that’s a job well done, don’t you think?
The 2023 Electra Glide Highway King May Appear Retro, But It’s Loaded With Features
Though retro from the outside, the new Electra Glide is a stark contrast in the features department. Harley-Davidson has equipped it with truckloads of electronics such as cornering ABS, traction control, hill-hold control, and drag-torque slip control, in addition to creature comforts like cruise control and keyless ignition. The instrument cluster, however, is a basic digi-analog readout with no smartphone connectivity, identical to the 2023 Fat Boy 114. We’d normally expect better from an expensive cruiser, but this is a perfect sidekick for the overall retro appeal, so no complaints here.
In the meantime, once you’re aboard, you sit on a scooped saddle, rest your hands on a tall, chrome handlebar, and put your feet forward onto the lengthy footboards. That’s also when you notice the chrome centerpiece on the tank, laser-etched with the motorcycle’s serial number. Couple all this together, and it’s safe to say the Electra scores full marks in the features department.
The 2023 Electra Glide Highway King Has A Trusted 1,868cc Engine
So what about performance? Well, you’ll be glad to know the Electra Glide Highway King employs the lauded Milwaukee Eight 114 (1,868cc) V-twin powerhouse. It produces a respectable 95 horsepower and 122 pound-feet here - three and four pound-feet more than the Fat Boy and Fat Bob - all of which is sent to the rear wheel via a chain-driven six-speed gearbox. Oh, and when on the go, you should expect about 250 miles of range from the six-gallon fuel tank.
The engine is housed inside a single-spar chassis that relies on 49 mm telescopic forks and an adjustable monoshock to iron out the bumps. This is paired with 16-inch spoke wheels fore and aft, clamped by Brembo calipers. The dual front disc brakes are a solid addition and a sensible one too, given the cruiser’s 849-pound curb weight. For reference, that’s just 70 pounds less than two Harley-Davidson Nightsters combined. Lucky for you, the low seat height (29.6 inches) will ensure you’re flat-footed at all times.
2023 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Highway King - Pricing And Rivals
Like what you see? Then, all you need is $26,999, and some luck because only 1,750 units will go on sale (1,000 for the Orange and 750 for the Magenta). So we suggest you hurry to your nearest Harley-Davidson dealer to pre-book your Highway King. As for rivals, the special cruiser locks horns with the $31,499 Indian Roadmaster and the $22,499 Indian Springfield. None of these offer the same exclusive experience, though, especially if you’re a Harley-Davidson fan.