Friday, February 3, 2017

Get to know your Harley Davidson.

The Harley Davidson Universe is large which can lead to plenty of confusion. Our goal is to help clarify some of the perplexity surrounding Harley's Model abbreviations and aid you in better understanding some of HD's frequently used names, acronyms and styles. 

In the world of two-wheels, a Harley is not simply a 'Harley.' The world's dominant motorcycle brand identifies five general families - Touring, Softail, V-Rod, Dyna, and Sportster. Each family has a set of features that makes them unique. Once inside the family, however, there's plenty of variety... brothers, sisters, parents, aunts, uncles, second cousins twice removed.  

As a general rule when it comes to Harley abbreviations the following three standards apply: 

1st Letter: This signifies the engine series.

F = Big V-Twin Motor 
X = Sports and Special Construction
V = Revolution Motor 

2nd Letter: Identifies the diameter size of the forks.
*This excludes the Sportster & V-Rod Models

L = Large Diameter Forks 
X = Small Diameter Forks 

3rd Letter: Designates the frame style. 
*This is where you can differentiate between a Touring, Softail, or Dyna Model

H/T = Highway/Touring Frame 
ST = Softail Frame 
D = Dyna Frame 

Any additional letter indicates features that may accompany that particular bike family. This is usually where the confusion occurs since Harley tends to use the same letter to designate different features of a bike.
Touring Models
Starting at the top, the Touring models are the largest model bike Harley offers.Considered the modern day Granddaddy of the Harley Family, Touring Models generally feature saddlebags, larger storing capacity, as well as extra room to accommodate those long road trips. They are also great for riders who plan to travel two-up (with a passenger) with regularity and need a bit of extra room for their passenger. This family includes the Road King, Electra Glide and the Street Glide, etc.
Touring Model LettersModel Name
FLHRRoad King
FLHRCIRoad King Classic
FLHRSIRoad King Custom
FLHSElectra Glide Sport
FLHTElectra Glide Standard
FLHTCElectra Glide Classic
FLHTCUUltra Classic Electra Glide
FLHTCULUltra Classic Electra Glide Low
FLHXStreet Glide
FLHXSECVO Street Glide
FLHTCUSECVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide
FLHTCUTGTri-Glide
FLHTKElectra Glide Ultra Limited
FLHTKLElectra Glide Ultra Limited Low
FLHXStreet Glide
FLHXSStreet Glide Special
FLHXXXStreet Glide Trike
FLTCRubber Mounted Dresser Classic
FLTCURubber Mounted Dresser Classic Ultra
FLTRRoad Glide
FLTRSECVO Screamin' Eagle Road Glide
FLTRXRoad Glide Custom
FLTRXSRoad Glide Special
Softail Models
Next in line, the Softail Models. Harley's Softail lineup offers the traditional hard-tail look with the benefits of a more forgiving, yet hidden suspension system. For riders who prioritize comfort or who simply need a bike that will have more 'give' over bumps in the road, the Softail is an excellent choice. This is also a great choice for riders who like to ride solo or two-up.
Softail Model LettersModel Name
FLSTSoftail
FLSTCHeritage Softail Classic
FLSTFFat Boy
FLSTNSoftail Deluxe
FLSTSCSpringer Softail Classic
FLSTSECVO Softail Convertible
FLSTSBCross Bones
FXSTBNight Train
FXSTCSoftail Custom
FXSTDSoftail Deuce
FXSTSSpringer Softail
FXSTSBBad Boy
FXSTSSECVO Softail Springer Screamin' Eagle
FXCWSoftail Rocker
FXCWCSoftail Rocker Custom
FXSSoftail Blackline
FXSBSoftail Breakout
FXSBSESoftail CVO Breakout
Dyna Models
The Dyna Model was first introduced in the early 1990's and offers a big-twin engine with trademark Harley style. While the suspension is hidden on the Softail models, the Dyna is easily distinguished by its traditional exposed coil suspension. Compared to the Sportster Models, the Dyna is distinguishable by virtue of its larger engine and (in some cases) slightly larger gas tanks.
Dyna Model Letters Model Name
FXDBDyna Street Bob 
FXDCDyna Super Glide Custom 
FXDDyna Superglide
FXDLDyna Low Rider
FXDFDyna Fat Bob 
FXDFSECVO Fat Bob 
FXDS-CONDyna Convertible 
FXDWGDyna Wide Glide 
FXDXDyna Super Glide Sport 
FLDDyna Switchback
Sportster Models
The Harley Sportster Models are a smaller size bike in the Harley family and offer great versatility for either solo or two-up riding. Sportsters are offered with two motor size options - either 883cc or 1200cc.
Sportster Model LettersModel Name
XL Sportster 
XLH883 Sportster Hugger 
XL883Sportster 883
XL883CSportster 883 Custom 
XL883L Sportster 883 Low
XL883NSportster 883 Iron
XL1200Sportster 1200
XL1200CSportster 1200 Custom
XL1200LSportster 1200 Low 
XL1200NSportster 1200 Nightster 
XL1200RSportster 1200 Roadster 
XL1200SSportster 1200 Sport 
XL1200VSportster Seventy-Two 
XL50Sportster 50th Anniversary Ed. 
V-Rod Models
Perhaps the most unique model in Harley's lineup, the V-Rod's feature a distinct engine that was developed jointly with Porsche. The V-Rod Models are power packed with a Revolution Engine that utilizes overhead cams and liquid cooling.
V-Rod Model LettersModel Name
VRSCV-Rod
VRSCAWV-Rod (240mm rear tire)
VRSCBV-Rod Black Finish
VRSCDNight Rod
VRSCDXNight Rod Special 
VRSCFV-Rod Muscle
VRSCRStreet Rod 
Other Models
Harley rounds out their lineup with trikes and their new Street Bike series as they continue to expand into new markets - offering a bike or trike for just about anyone on the road.
Other Model LettersModel Name
XG500Street XG500
XG750Street XG750
FLRTFreewheeler Trike 
FLHTCUTGTri Glide Ultra Classic 
FLHXXXStreet Glide Trike