Harley-Davidson was once a company with nothing but hardcore cruiser bikes. These still remain the bikemaker's bread and butter, and cruisers are also the first thing that comes to mind when you hear H-D. But the pendulum has shifted in the past decade or so. The Motor Company has changed its approach to focus on a wider audience, building motorcycles no one expected it to (the Pan America is the biggest example). So if you're looking for a Harley in 2023, there's a high chance you'll have to pick between plenty of different types of motorcycles. Lucky for you, we're here to make your life easier, as we've curated a list of 10 types of H-D offerings you must be aware of.
Updated July 2023: Harley-Davidson has introduced new motorcycles for 2023. So we have updated the list with the new additions that mark a new chapter for America's favorite bikemaker.
10 Cruiser Motorcycles - Softail Standard
We said it before, and we'll say it for the zillionth time: cruiser motorcycles are probably the most popular types of Harley-Davidsons. These bikes cater to an assortment of purposes, right from daily commuting to cruising between states on the freeway. They have a comfortable riding triangle with a low seat height for easy accessibility, even if you're on the shorter side of the height spectrum. Plus, you don't get large fairings and saddlebags on these. This keeps them light (in comparison to H-D tourers) and easy to maneuver in congested places.
Last but not least, they're also the most sensible purchases for old-school Harley fans. After all, they check all mainstream H-D check boxes (air-cooled mills, lots of chrome, old-school design, no electronics). The simple nature also means loads of easy customization—yet another integral part of the HOG culture. Popular examples of Harley's cruiser lineup are the Softail Standard, Street Bob 114, and Fat Boy.
Pros
- Properly retro design
- Iconic H-D V-twins with air-cooling
- Easy customization options
Cons
- Barely any modern features
9 Sport Cruisers - Low Rider S
Like cruisers but also want some cornering fun? Then, the Harley has a couple of sport cruisers for you. Called Low Rider S and ST, both motorcycles feature Harley's ex-flagship Milwaukee Eight 117 engine to promise oodles of grunt. This is topped by modern tidbits like upside-down forks, dual disc brakes, and a chain drive, all rarities on Harley cruisers. These make the Low Rider twins perfect for sporty riders without sacrificing comfort. Meanwhile, the two bikes are differentiated by saddlebags and a bigger fairing. These are present on the ST to infuse some touring abilities.
Pros
- Powerful engine
- Sporty riding dynamics
- Modern underpinnings
Cons
- Barely any rider aids
- Basic readouts
8 Trike Motorcycles - Tri Glide Ultra
There comes a day in every rider’s life when they take their helmet and boots off for the last time. For some, it is a conscious decision, while for others, fate makes this decision cruelly. But what if we told you Harley-Davidson has the option of helping delay this day for the latter? Enter H-D Trike motorcycles. Instead of two wheels, these bikes have three wheels (one up front, two outback) for folks who can't maintain balance on their own. The idea helps maximize comfort and make riding ever so easy. Oh, and they're not boring either, since Harley trikes are based on its flagship tourer bikes. So you get powerful V-twin engines, stunning designs, and a long list of features. The lineup currently includes the Freewheeler, Road Glide 3, and the Tri Glide Ultra.
Pros
- Easy to ride
- Packed with features
Cons
- Start from $29,999
- Will take time to get used to
7 Touring Motorcycles - Street Glide/Ultra Limited
If the freeway is your best friend, then Harley-Davidson's touring motorcycles will tickle your interest. These are essentially cruiser bikes, loaded with fairings and saddlebags. The fairings provide much-needed wind protection for effortless highway stints, whereas the bags ensure enough storage for your trip essentials. Popular touring motorcycles in the Harley lineup include the Road Glide, Street Glide, and Road King.
But that's not all. To take this up a notch, Harley has a lineup of even bigger tourers. These offer more of everything—storage, wind protection, performance—all aimed at long-distance (or cross-country) trips. Understandably, the extras make them quite heavy (over 800 pounds), so you will need muscular legs to move these around. Some examples of such bikes are the Road Glide Limited and Ultra Limited.
Pros
- Make long-distances effortless
- Heaps of comfort
- Have mighty V-twin engines
Cons
- Range starts from over $20,000
- Too heavy
6 Sportster Motorcycles - Nightster
Harley-Davidson kickstarted its Sportster moniker in 1957 and it's been in constant production since. With the iconic Evolution lineup discontinued last year, the Sportster S and Nightster mark a new chapter in the Sportster lineup--one where modern features are given priority. Accordingly, the two bikes come loaded with plenty of modern components, headlined by the new liquid-cooled Revolution engines. These definitely deserve consideration if you're a Harley fan who wants the cream of the crop motorcycles.
Pros
- New Revolution engines are quite powerful
- Modern aesthetic
- Likable features
Cons
- Lack of chrome might bum out H-D fans
- No dual disc brakes up front
5 Custom Vehicle Operation Motorcycles - CVO Road Glide
Speaking of cream of the crop, Harley-Davidson has a dedicated Custom Vehicle Operation (CVO) lineup for its top-tier fans. These are high-end motorcycles that embody the pinnacle of design and build, only a few can afford. For 2023, the company has introduced an all-new CVO lineup. Though it still comprises the CVO Road Glide and Street Glide, both motorcycles have gone under the knife to come out better than ever. A new 121ci engine is the crown jewel here, while new suspension, features, and aesthetics all play the perfect sidekicks. All this makes the duo the finest Harleys you can buy.
Pros
- All-new 121ci engine has loads of power
- 12-inch instrument cluster is segment leading
- Upside-down forks and Brembo brakes ensure crisp riding
Cons
- Hard to afford for most of us
4 Limited Edition Motorcycles - Fast Johnnie Collection
Limited-edition motorcycles are cool. And that's why Harley-Davidson has a whole collection of these. First up is the Fast Johnnie lineup that comprises special colorways for the Low Rider ST, Road Glide ST, and Street Glide ST. The livery takes inspiration from American muscle cars and Harley's racing heritage to wrap the bikes in a blue-white finish. Only 2,000 units are destined to go on sale per model.
Next up is the new-for-2023 Electra Glide Highway King. It pays homage to the 1968 FLH Electra Glide and promises a vintage aesthetic like no other. What impresses us most, though, is the modern feature package that comprises cornering ABS, traction control, cruise control, drag-torque slip control, and even hill-hold control. You also get 95 horsepower and 122 pound-feet.
Pros
- Limited edition will give you plenty of bragging rights
- Design looks the part
Cons
- Fast Johnnie livery costs over $2,500
3 Adventure Touring Motorcycles - Pan America 1250
Harley-Davidson making an adventure bike? That's a thought only under-influence folks would've come up with a decade ago. But in 2021, the MoCo shocked the world with the Pan America 1250—its first ADV since the company's inception in 1903. And it's not a half-hearted effort either. The Pan America boasts is a new motorcycle from the ground-up, complete with a tall stance and long travel suspension, and a long upswept exhaust (all unheard on Harleys). This is topped by an upright riding posture with an indented fuel tank and tall handlebars for easy stand-up riding ergos. All this while, the Pan Am doesn't sway away from the H-D roots, evident from its mighty V-Twin engine.
Pros
- Proper ADV credentials make off-roading easy
- Loaded with a bevy of modern electronics
- Most powerful H-D on sale currently (with 150 horsepower)
Cons
- Die-hard fans might not dig the no-chrome look
- Heats up quite a lot even after liquid cooling
2 Entry-Level Motorcycles - X 350 And X 500
Yes, you read that right. Harley-Davidson also has a couple of entry-level bikes. Called the X 350 and X 500, these are built alongside Chinese giant QJ Motors. While both motorcycles are out in China, only the X 350 has reached America, that too, as part of Harley's Riding Academy fleet. So they're not exactly on sale here, but you can test-ride them if you join the academy.
Pros
- Neo-retro design with Harley flavor
- Upside-down forks and dual discs as standard
Cons
- Yet to go on sale in America
- Lack of features
1 Electric Motorcycles - LiveWire
Mighty V-twins aside, Harley-Davidson is one of the few mainstream bikemakers with a full-blown EV initiative. Called LiveWire, Harley's EV effort has birthed two electric motorcycles - the LiveWire One and S2 Del Mar. The One first debuted a few years ago and has remained unchanged ever since. It currently promises 0-60 in three seconds, a combined riding range of 95 miles, and a charging time of just 60 minutes. Meanwhile, the S2 Del Mar is the new kid on the block, priced at an affordable $15,499. For the money, you get a stripped-back design, 184 pound-feet of torque, and 110 miles of city range.
Pros
- Environment friendly
- Running cost is easy on the pocket
- Unique designs
Cons
- S2 Del Mar is yet to reach dealerships
- No real-world test figures revealed