Electra Glide Over the Years

Electra Excellence

2019 will mark the 54th anniversary of the Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide cruiser. For years, the Electra Glide has been a top choice for enthusiasts wanting a big-twin motorcycle that could eat up the miles while providing comfort, cargo capacity, and exceptional styling. Because of its popularity, the Electra Glide has remained a staple of the Harley-Davidson model lineup and is expected to continue production for years to come. That said, how has this touring bike developed and progressed since its introduction in 1965?

From Hydra Glide to Duo Glide

Any history on the Electra Glide would not be complete without first mentioning its FL predecessors. The FL moniker was originally given to the 74 cubic-inch knucklehead model in 1941, but many consider the actual departure of the FL from the rest of the lineup to have occurred in 1949 with the introduction of the Hydra-Glide featuring all-new hydraulically-damped front forks. The Hydra-Glide would evolve into the Duo-Glide in 1958 with the introduction of a new frame that would accommodate the addition of a new swingarm and two coilover shocks to allow suspension travel at the rear of the bike for a superior ride.

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Off to An Electric Start

Kick-starting a motorcycle would become a thing of the past when the Electra Glide was released in 1965. Essentially the same as the Panhead-engined Duo-Glide of the previous year, the Electra Glide added an electric-starter that would wake the engine up with the push of a button (although the kick-starter was retained as a backup measure for the next few years). Other new features included the 12-volt electrical system, revamped oil tank and frame, automatic advance distributor, reinforced engine cases, and a large 5-gallon fuel tank. Option groups were available to add items such as saddlebags, luggage rack, and windshield, among others that helped establish the touring bike look that is still relevant today.

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Building The Batwing

1966 saw the aging Panhead engine replaced by a more efficient unit coined the "Shovelhead" which boosted output to 60 horsepower. The most noticeable option to the Electra Glide would arrive in 1969 with a molded shell fairing designed to efficiently move air around the rider to make riding more comfortable. This would come to be known as the "Batwing Fairing" and was a standard feature beginning in 1971. Other notable upgrades during this time period included an alternator replacing the generator and being moved to the left side of the engine (1970), new single-cable twist-grip throttle and new carburetor (1971), and front disc brake (1972).

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Shifting Gears

Being a larger motorcycle, the Electra Glide was offered with a 3-speed transmission with reverse as an option over the standard 4-speed tranny, but by 1977, demand was rather low and the 3-speed was discontinued. 1977 also saw the Glide fitted with new Showa forks, which had been implemented on other models a few years prior. A larger 80 cubic-inch engine (versus the standard 74 c.i.) was made available as an option in 1978, but would eventually become the standard engine in 1981. Additionally, the foot clutch with hand shift control option was finally discontinued in 1979 as riders much preferred the now conventional hand clutch/foot shift arrangement.

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The Evolution

Improvements would continue to be made to the Electra Glide over the years to make the bike more reliable, comfortable, and more easily maintained. 1983-1985 saw sizeable changes to the motorcycle as the '83 models were introduced with the Tour Glide frame (FLHT), '84 models introduced the new Evolution engine (rubber-mounted) and 5-speed transmission, and '85 saw the enclosed chain final drive configuration replaced with a belt drive setup. By 1985-1986, all Shovelhead engines were discontinued and traditional FLH models with the older frame went by the wayside.

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Twin-Cam Tussle

The Electra Glide spawned the un-faired Road King model in 1994, from which point the Electra Glide would then be produced with the fork mounted fairing. Otherwise, changes were minimal in the late 80's and throughout the 90's. By the end of the millennium H-D would introduce their new Twin-Cam 88 engine into the Electra Glide. Sans a wider 140 cross-section rear tire in 2004, the Glide would remain untouched for several more years.

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Fueling at the Forefront

Approaching the modern era, Harley would ditch the carburetor in favor of a fuel injection system in 2006. The following year saw numerous changes including a larger 96 c.i. engine with various internal upgrades to improve reliability, a new 6-speed transmission, and a primary chain with an automatic tensioner. 2008 garnered a larger 6-gallon fuel tank for increased range, a fly-by-wire throttle system, and the option of an anti-lock brake system.

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Changing Chassis Characteristics

The 2009 models received an upgraded frame with a significantly improved structural integrity. The new frame also featured a new swingarm and mounting system for the engine. The chassis is said to have greatly improved handling characteristics and rider comfort versus the 2008 and earlier bikes. '09 also saw new exhaust routing to move heat away from the rider and a larger 17" front wheel. 2014 saw a revamp in the styling department with a different fairing and sleek saddlebags. Also worth mentioning is the Project Rushmore initiative where H-D incorporate liquid cooling on premium models as well as a touchscreen infotainment system with GPS and Bluetooth audio.

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Essential Electra

The most recent iteration of the Electra Glide was introduced in 2017 with the all-new Milwaukee Eight engines (107 & 114 c.i.), Showa Dual Bending Valve Forks, hand adjustable rear shocks, Reflex linked Brembo ABS brakes, and a whole host of the latest generation of LED lighting. The Electra Glide is the pinnacle of Harley touring motorcycles and uses the same recipe to lure enthusiasts today as it did years ago. Its impact is undeniable as it essentially established what an American touring motorcycle was all about and spawned a whole spinoff of touring bikes that have achieved great success in their own right. With such a following, many feel it is safe to say that that as long as Harley-Davidson is still producing motorcycles, the Electra Glide will continue to anchor their touring lineup.

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