2022 Two Wheel Review x 2023 Release Rumors

Balanced Touch

With the calendar on its last page, Harley-Davidson is set to unveil their 2023 lineup in January. Not unexpectedly, rumors abound, but with good reason. The Motor Company is about to hit a milestone achievement that is adding momentum to the speculation. While there were highs and lows in 2022, it appears that 2023 will be more balanced, if not a touch conservative.

Market Set

The Motor Company is primed to celebrate its 120th anniversary with a party this summer. Starting on July 13, 2023, Harley-Davidson Homecoming held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will be a “four-day festival filled with music, food and moto-culture.” If past milestones are any indication, Harley-Davidson will be releasing a special set of anniversary bikes to commemorate their market staying power.

Icon Season

Historically, Harley-Davidson had rolled out new models in August at the Annual Dealer Meeting. In 2021, CEO Jochen Zeitz shifted the date to January, aligning the Motor Company with other major motorcycle manufacturers. The switch-up gets new models on the showroom floor before riding season, while giving breathing room for limited edition releases such as the Icons and Enthusiast Collections.

Billed Breed

"Performance-focused machines" was the big shift in thinking for 2022. Riding on the popularity of the Low Rider S, first released in 2017 on the now-defunct Dyna platform, the FXDLS paved the way for the ST lineup in 2022. Applied to the Street Glide, Road Glide and Low Rider, the ST package was billed as a “new breed of speed” from Harley-Davidson.

Dedicated Denim

Capitalizing on the success of the Electra Glide Revival that launched the Icons Collection in 2021, Harley-Davidson introduced the Enthusiast Collection in 2022—dedicated to those “who have and continue to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.” Draped in Mineral Green Denim Deluxe paint and unique graphics, the G.I. Enthusiast Collection consisted of the Pan America 1250 Special and the Tri Glide Ultra.

Modern Expression

Among the performance high notes and stunning 2022 CVO models, there was a touch of sadness as the demise of the long-standing Evolution-powered Sportster was announced on social media in mid-November 2022. As a modern substitute, Harley-Davidson released the Sportster-esque Nightster in late summer 2022—promoted as an “instrument of expression.” The Nightster was preceded by the equally modern, but ill-received, Sportster S in 2021.

Standard Cut

Integral to new model speculation is Harley-Davidson's latest corporate downsizing strategy. The same conservative thinking may be applied to the 2023 lineup by slimming the offerings and focusing on performance. Some think that base models like the Softail and Electra Glide Standard will be getting cut. Others have even ventured that the base level Road King will not be continued.

Diablo Glide

The Pan America 975 is presumably set to launch in 2023. Sharing the same powerplant, the Bronx 'streetfighter' is rumored to also be back on the table. One lingering question is what will follow the El Diablo in the Icons Collection for 2023? Perhaps an homage to the FLT Tour Glide or a tribute to the Knucklehead, replete with Springer fronted. Either way, the countdown to 2023 is on!

>>Join in the conversation about these updates and rumors right here in Harley-Davidson Forums.

For help with your do-it-yourself maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.