An icon is reborn

The year was 2005, and my aging father had caught the biker bug again. Having ridden motorcycles since he was about 14, through my own childhood years, it had been a few decades since Dad had owned a street bike himself. He had always wanted to own a Harley, so he visited a nearby dealership. He rode out with a beautiful 2005 candy apple red Dyna Super Glide that day.

Dad piloting his 2005 Super Glide through the famed “Tail of the Dragon”, in 2006. Photo by Killboy.com

That bike was gorgeous, handled well, and was a joy for him to ride. My mother soon wanted to ride with him as well, and therein was discovered that particular model year’s “Achilles heel”: the passenger foot pegs were mounted on the swingarm, not the frame. That meant every time they rode together, my mother‘s ankles, knees, even hips and lower back would take a beating after just a couple of hours. Dad and I both asked around at several H-D dealerships why Harley had designed it that way. Not only could they not give an answer, none of them had even realized that was how the foot pegs were mounted. My father eventually sold that bike, and bought a 2003 100-year anniversary Heritage Classic instead. They finished out their riding years with that bike, both thoroughly loving it.

The return of a classic, the 2026 Harley-Davidson FXD Super Glide. Photo by Harley-Davidson.

Harley-Davidson has decided to bring back the iconic Super Glide, which has its roots back in the early 1970s. Upon seeing the early press releases, I reached out to my contacts at The Motor Company to inquire whether or not the passenger foot pegs were still mounted on the swingarm, like they were on my dad’s model year. I was informed that the new model addressed that “Achilles heel“, and the passenger pegs are now mounted securely to the frame. That’s a huge relief, however many years since my parents had to trade out their Super Glide.

What a beautiful bike. Photo by Harley-Davidson.

The revival of the Super Glide is perfectly timed to coincide with America’s 250th birthday, and the bike’s red/white/blue color scheme reflects the homage. 55 years after its debut as Harley’s first “Factory Custom”, the new Super Glide’s definitive livery, laced wheels, abundance of chrome, and overall 70s cruiser vibe is a striking tribute to its ancestor.

And a passenger won’t need a chiropractic adjustment after a ride.

The new and the old: 2026 model, with the “boat tail” 1971 model. Photo by Harley-Davidson.

The 1971 original FX Super Glide was one of the first motorcycles completely designed and styled by Willie G. Davidson, inspired by home-built customs he saw and rode in Southern California. It combined their Big Twin FL chassis with the narrow XL Sportster front fork, for a completely distinctive look and feel. Buyers could even opt for the “boat tail” rear fender design, but from what we’ve read, that element didn’t sail with riders (pun intended), and was dropped after the 1971-72 model years. The Super Glide lived on, and became a bit of a cult custom classic within the world of Harley ridership.

We just love this shot. Generation to generation. #RideLife. Photo by Harley-Davidson.

This new special edition Super Glide (only 2500 serialized) for 2026 is absolutely gorgeous, and is a fitting tribute to both the original Willie G. Factory Custom FX, and to America’s 250 birthday. We understand MSRP runs $15,999, and they are already available, in time for July festivities. For more info on the return of this moto-legend, click on the H-D link here:

Harley-Davidson FXD Super Glide

Rob

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