Harley Davidson Celebrates Its 120th Birthday With Seven Limited Edition Anniversary Models

This year marks the 120th anniversary of Harley-Davidson, and to honor the milestone, The Motor Company has introduced seven limited-edition bikes for model year 2023, following its once every five years strategy. The limited edition models are: 

Ultra Limited Anniversary 

Tri Glide Ultra Anniversary 

Road Glide Special Anniversary (Black Trim) 

Fat Boy 114 Anniversary 

Street Glide Special Anniversary (Black Trim) 

Heritage Classic 114 Anniversary (Chrome Trim) 

CVO Road Glide Limited 

-And, if that's not enough, Harley is also treating us to a few more models, including the Breakout's comeback, the Road Glide 3 Trike, the Nightster Special, and a redesigned Freewheeler.  Regarding the anniversary versions, all seven bikes will, as you might anticipate, have unique commemorative paint, finishes, and other embellishments, but the CVO Road Glide Limited goes above and beyond. Its paint is even more remarkable and distinctive because it is a CVO.  Additionally, there will only be 1,500 manufactured for the entire world-making it extremely rare as time goes on.  

Fun fact:  Harley first celebrated its anniversary in 1954, the year it turned 50.  Back then, the bikes had a unique logo on the front fender as well as a distinctive shade of yellow.  Thereafter however, anniversaries were occasionally observed, but Harley didn't adopt its present custom of honoring every fifth birthday with a special occasion until the 1980s.  

Each of the six 2023 Anniversary models (apart from the CVO) begins with a basic color named Heirloom Red. The hue is deep red and glossy.  The panels above that are then bordered by a red pinstripe.  Midnight Crimson Fade, a darker crimson, may be seen inside those panels.  The design acquired popularity internally and the paint team discovered methods to push the style farther and further. Oxblood inserts have been added to the seats to match the red fading. 

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With a livery exclusive to the other six anniversary models, the CVO Road Glide goes one step further in this regard. Anniversary black is the standard color for the CVO Road Glide. However, it truly has a blood red tint when the sun shines on it.  Moreover, hand-laid pinstriping is used to outline inlaid panels and a huge eagle in Heirloom Red that starts at the front of the bike and moves to the bags and tail at the back is shown inside the panels in a subtle way.  The CVO Road Glide's design is completed with an Alcantara seat with distinctive stitching and branding.

In the US, the Breakout returns for 2023 and has undergone a substantial revamp.  It was originally envisaged as a "modern chopper," and as such, is susceptible to shifting fashions over time.  It is long and low with a big 240-series rear wheel.  The 2018 version has a darker aesthetic and more blacked-out parts, but it's beginning to get some chrome as chrome is starting to make a comeback again.  Chrome may be seen on the forks, exhaust, valve covers, and trim components of the 2023 Breakout.  The back tire is still large and the car is still long and low, but the turbine wheels are what really sets it apart.  The 26-spoke black/chrome style makes it impossible to look away.  Accroding to Harley, buyers didn't like the previous model's short tank, so a five-gallon tank has been added for the '23 model. This is beneficial as it allows the rider to benefit from the Milwaukee-Eight 117 cc V-power Twin's ride for a longer time without needing to fill up the tank.  For a more upright riding position, the handlebar risers are taller and longer, closer to the rider.  To match the appearance of the rest of the bike, the bars themselves are made of polished stainless steel.  The 240-series rear tire and the Breakout's long and low 36o fork rake give it plenty of straight-line stability, not to mention attitude.  With the addition of the 117ci engine, the Breakout joins the other Softails in Harley's range as the third performance cruiser.  There will be four color options for The Breakout: Vivid Black, Black Denim, Atlas Silver, and Baja Orange (the same Baja Orange first seen on the Pan America). The Fat Boy, Fat Bob, Breakout, and Low Rider S will all come standard with electronic traction control in the next year. The Low Rider ST and Heritage Classic models already come with it as standard. The Breakout, Low Rider S, and Low Rider ST now have the option to add traction control for the first time.

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Harley-Davidson is creating a trike version of the Road Glide for the first time, but it will only be sold in certain countries, namely, the US, Canada, Australia/New Zealand, and Japan.  Sorry to the rest of the world and Europe but that's it for now.  If you've previously seen Road Glide trikes on the road and think it can't be true, remember that all of those were constructed by someone else.  Road Glide trikes have been produced as aftermarket, but now they will be produced as a factory model.  The 18-inch rear wheels, which are different from the 15-inch wheels-that are so common on most aftermarket conversions, are what initially strike your attention. Unquestionably more attractive, the larger wheels will also offer a wider selection of tire alternatives.  In addition it comes with a Milwaukee-Eight 114 cc engine, GTS entertainment system, two Daymaker LED headlights, and a bobtail rear fender for a vintage hot rod appearance. Contrary to common belief, trike riders tend to be older people, but statistics show that couples in their 20's and 30's are more popular trike buyers than older individuals.  Maybe they're trying to figure out how to travel together more safely?  The handling and enjoyment factor [of the Road Glide] are really pleasing much effort are put into the safety and control of trikes than people realize.  For instance, the Road Glide 3 is not just an RG with two wheels at the rear, despite how it appears to be. To make it more difficult to topple over, there is a longer rake angle. To make every panel fit again with the right proportions and gaps, it is necessary to reposition trim pieces, brackets, and other assorted elements when the rake angle changes. Vivid Black, Gray Haze, and Billiard Blue will all be available in the Road Glide 3-Only in the US.

The new Nightster Special features a five-inch handlebar riser to relocate the controls closer to the rider for a more balanced posture after complaints about the Nightster's odd seating position compared to the Indian Rogue.  The Nightster Special is a member of the Nightster family and the Special continues to exist alongside the regular Nightster.  The Special takes the base Nightster's windscreen, making the base bike a bit more bare. The Revolution Max 975T engine continues to provide the power, and the four-inch TFT screen, riding modes, Brembo brakes, and rider safety aids are all still present.  A passenger seat and new wheels have been added to the Nightster, giving it a more European appearance, especially if you enjoy European automobiles from the 1990s and 2000s.  The aesthetic for the logo on the tank of the Nightster Special was taken from Harley's AMF years and the Harley emblem of that specific period.  Three color options are available for the Nightster Special: Vivid Black, Industrial Yellow, and Denim Blue.

 For 2023, the Freewheeler tricycle will be available once again with a blacked-out redesign. Going in the exact opposite way from the chrome finish the trike had last year, the front end, headlight nacelle, tank console, hand and foot controls, engine, and exhaust all get blackened out. Other than that, the rear wheels have exposed lug nuts and are 18 instead of 15 inches (the front is a 19-inch). The bike is accented by a faint pinstripe and a stylized Harley emblem. This completes the Freewheeler's design alignment with the other Touring Special models. For 2023, these new models and announcements are only the beginning for Harley-Davidson. This year, there will be additional releases and models. Not to mention Harley's lavish 120th birthday celebration, which is scheduled for July and will have plenty of entertainment, celebrations, and yes, Harley-Davidson-related items.