Low Rider El Diablo Pays Tribute To a Bygone Era

Looking Back

Heritage is obviously a big deal in the world of Harley-Davidson, a company that's been around for well over a century now. Even though MoCo's modern lineup is decidedly vintage, it also routinely creates some pretty cool special editions that target that past more specifically, and that's precisely the case with the new Low Rider El Diablo.

Photos: Harley-Davidson

Back to the '80s

Part of Harley's Icons collection, the Low Rider El Diablo is inspired by the tuning scene from the 1980s and specifically pays tribute to the 1983 Harley-Davidson FXRT. Much of that retro vibe stems from its attractive red paint job, which is actually quite complicated to lay down.

Photos: Harley-Davidson

Complicated Paint Job

Harley teamed up with Gunslinger Custom Paint to create the treatment you see here, a process that starts by laying down a base coat of El Diablo Red and then Bright Red Sunglo. After masking off the pinstripes, El Diablo Dark Red and Dark Red Pearl accents are added, followed by a layer of El Diablo Dark Red Metallic and hand-laid Pale Gold pinstripes.

Photos: Harley-Davidson

Thumping Stereo

The Low Rider El Diablo is more than just a fancy paint job, of course. It's also fitted with a thumping stereo system developed in tandem with Rockford Fosgate, featuring a 250-watt amplifier, two 5.25-inch subwoofers, a pair of remote tweeters, and a Bluetooth head unit - the sort of thing that's perfect for belting out '80s tunes.

Photos: Harley-Davidson

Well Equipped

Aside from that, the El Diablo is also well equipped with a long list of standard goodies such as locking saddle bags, a 6-inch tinted windshield, LED headlight, USB charging port, and a digital instrument cluster, though the one-person seat is a bit limiting.

Photos: Harley-Davidson

Cool But Functional

Power for this retro bike comes from a modern powerplant - H-D's Milwaukee Eight 117, which cranks out 103 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. It features a forward-facing air filter designed to increase air flow, which looks cool and reportedly improves mid-range torque at the same time.

Photos: Harley-Davidson

Modern Vintage

As is the case with other Harley Icons, the Low Rider El Diablo is a very limited offering, with just 1,500 planned for production. Pricing starts at $27,999 with deliveries beginning this fall, which is the perfect time to get out and take a trip down memory lane on a bike that perfectly defines the world of modern vintage machines.

Photos: Harley-Davidson

>>Join in the conversation about this El Diablo right here in Harley-Davidson Forums.

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