Nine New Limited Edition Bikes for HD's 115TH Anniversary
In 2018 the Milwaukee brand is celebrating 115 years of producing motorcycles by offering a handful of special edition bikes to commemorate this auspicious occasion.
The Guys That Started It All
As many folks know, William Harley and Walter & Arthur Davidson worked for over 2 years on their first attempt at creating a motorcycle before it was finally finished in 1903. This bike was not made in a huge factory backed by large sums of money but was instead created in a 10' x 15' wooden shed that had a "Harley-Davidson Motor Company" sign roughly scratched into the door. Although bringing a motorcycle to life is a success in its own right, this first bike did not perform up to the standards of Harley & the Davidsons, thus they set out on a journey to build better, faster, and more powerful motorcycles that would forever change the world of motorcycling. The rest of the story is history, and after 115 years, the Harley-Davidson brand is still going strong.
The Birthday Bash
Harley-Davidson only just threw a 110th Anniversary bash in their hometown of Milwaukee, WI in 2013, but you can expect next years event to be just as big. In 2013, Dealerships across the nation organized group rides into Milwaukee where a number of events took place over the course of 5 days. Attendees were able to go behind the scenes at the Powertrain Operations factory, visit the Harley-Davidson Museum, and among other things, be part of the 110th Anniversary Harley parade ride. While we will have to wait until August 29th, 2018 for the party, but some of the biggest anniversary news already surfaced with the announcement of the nine 115th special-edition 2018 motorcycles.
A Limited Production Offering
Harley-Davidson has decided to offer two different types of 115th Anniversary Limited Edition paint schemes available on specific models. These limited edition bikes are said to have dedicated serial numbers to commemorate their achievement and set them apart from the standard bikes of the same model year. While no official word has been announced as to how limited these bikes will actually be, sources indicate each limited edition model will see a production run of approximately 2,400 units. If these production numbers are to be true, it makes for unique motorcycles that can be ridden and enjoyed, parked as a future collectible, or a combination of the two.
Two-Tone Cruisers
The 115th Anniversary Two-Tone Limited Edition scheme will be offered on six models including the CVO Limited, Ultra Limited (shown above), Fat Boy, Heritage Classic, Street Glide and Tri-Glide. This paint scheme is a combination of Vivid Black and Legend Blue topped off with Blue-Silver-Blue pinstripes. Additionally, the Two-Tone paint scheme bikes will feature blue-stitched perforated seats with an embossed "HDMC" logo, 115th Anniversary scripted console, air-cleaner, and timer cover, and a decorative metal tank badge displaying an eagle clasping the Harley-Davidson bar & shield logo.
Distinguished Denim
The other limited edition paint scheme offered by Harley is their 115th Anniversary Denim paint. This satin-like paint comes in their Legend Blue "Denim" with a large eagle holding a Harley-Badge which covers the majority of the fuel tank or batwing fairing depending on the model. These Denim bikes will be equipped with the same color-stitched, embossed logo seat as on the Two-Tone paint scheme models. The Anniversary Denim will be available on the Street Glide Special, Breakout (shown above), Forty-Eight, and Fat Boy models, with the Fat Boy being the only motorcycle that can be purchased in either of the anniversary paint schemes.
Get 'Em While You Can!
As would be expected with any type of limited edition vehicle, these 115th Anniversary bikes will command a slight premium over the standard bikes upon which they are based. That said, the 115th anniversary will only come along once, so if you are looking for a numbered, limited production bike for the 2018 model year, one of these anniversary bikes may be right for you. Pricing is expected to be as follows: Two-Tone Limited Scheme - CVO Limited ($43,950), Tri-Glide ($36,250), Ultra Limited ($28,000), Street Glide ($22,000), Fat Boy ($21,200), and Heritage Classic ($21,200). Anniversary Denim Scheme - Street Glide Special ($27,000), Fat Boy ($21,200), Breakout ($21,200), and Forty-Eight ($12,000).
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