Last week Harley-Davidson hosted their first ever, worldwide virtual launch event. And it was a doozy. Not only did they roll out all of the new models they’ll be selling this year, they also invited several experts to speak on the latest in mods, accessories, and riding gear.
If you missed out, don’t worry you can still get in on the experience here.
Otherwise, settle in as we go over the best that Harley has to offer for 2021. If you weren’t planning on buying a new bike this year, you might end up changing your mind after you see what they’ve got for us.
Electric
- We’ve written a ton on FLBikers about Harley’s first electric motorcycle. If you missed our previous posts, check out what we have to say about this latest addition to the Harley family here and here. We’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews about this one in the motorcycle community, especially among long-time fans of the brand. But at the end of the day you can’t deny it’s a decent bike even if it doesn’t run on gasoline.
Street
- If you’re going for a Sportster, there’s really only one option: the Iron 1200. The bike’s 1200cc engine is capable of producing a power output of 67.7 hp and a peak torque of 96Nm. Made to rival the Indian Scout Sixty and Triumph Thruxton R, the Iron 1200 is an edgy, sexy bike that blows the competition out of the water.
Cruiser
- Coming in at just under $15,000, Harley’s Street Bob is the lightest and most powerful of its Softail models. Equipped with the brand’s Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine, the Street Bob 114 is powerful, fast, and yet still easy to maneuver thanks to several key modifications including the mono-shock rear suspension and its lightweight frame design.
Touring
- Harley is known for its touring bikes, but it has really outdone itself this year with the Road Glide Special. The Road Glide Special maintains the brand’s classic touring design, but with premium upgraded features such as the new Boom! Box GTS infotainment system, blacked-out finishes, stretched saddlebags, and for the first time ever for this style, a two-tone paint scheme. As with all of Harley-Davidson’s touring bikes, comfort is a key element of the design and riders will have no problem chasing the horizon line for hours on end.
CVO
- Harley-Davidson’s Custom Vehicle Operations line of motorcycles is one of its most sought after and also most exclusive lines each year and 2021 does not disappoint. The Road Glide is one of the first to feature Harley’s all-new audio system powered by Rockford Fosgate and created specifically for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. And as always, every bike in the CVO line comes with the most powerful engine Harley has to offer straight out of the factory: the Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin.
Adventure Touring
- Representing Harley’s first-ever foray into adventure touring, the Pan America is Harley’s authentic American take on a bike built for exploration. While the brand has put its signature stamp on the bike, in many ways it’s unlike anything that Harley has ever released. The design is much more modern, with a high ground clearance, larger fuel take, adjustable wind screen, and durable crash guard for the engine. Everything about this bike begs to be taken off road.
Trike
- The Freewheeler has found a home in the Harley lineup every year since 2009. It quickly became one of the brand’s most beloved bikes and a great way for bikers to ride with the added confidence of increased stability and handling. With the same classic look of its two-wheeled brothers, the Freewheeler commands just as much respect on the road, but with the added bonus of trunk space and a slightly more comfortable ride.
Also, although there was a lot of buzz in 2020 about Harley’s new streetfighter motorcycles (the Bronx 1250, Bronx 975 and the Streetfighter 975), sometime in August the brand pulled these from its product offerings and no more information has since been released about when, or if ever, these motorcycles will be made available to the public.
It looks like Harley has chosen to focus all of its efforts in 2021 on the launch of its new adventure touring bike, the Pan-America. Hopefully, it’s worth the wait. But if it doesn’t live up to the traditional Harley name (like the LiveWire), we’ll be sure to let you know!
So, what do you think about Harley’s 2021 lineup? Which one would you purchase if cost wasn’t an issue?
