Old School Cool: Harley-Davidson’s ‘Highway King’ Bagger Revives The Spirit Of 1960s Touring

Back in the 1960s and early 1970s, Harley-Davidson was pretty much the only option for V-Twin powered open-road touring motorcycles in the U.S. and the world. Honda would not introduce the game-changing Goldwing until 1975, and outside of Milwaukee iron, only BMW, then considered a somewhat exotic and niché European brand, had turn-key bikes with factory-optional hard bags and windscreens. Harley rival Indian, which had made touring machines for decades, was not able to fully pivot after WWII and went under in 1953.

Back then, a full-on “touring” Harley usually meant the luxurious FLH “Electra Glide,” powered by a then massive 74-cubic inch (1,204cc) 60-ish horsepower V-twin, and featuring a sprung tractor-style leather solo seat, and signature white fiberglass hard bags. The FLH had some key new tech as well in the form of an electric starter for the big twin, a true luxury at a time when pretty much ever motorcycle still required a kickstarter (which the FLH retained – just in case). A large windscreen with a colored lower section was a worthy option to keep the bugs at bay on those long rides to the horizon.

It was a singular look and often imitated, but now Harley-Davidson has resurrected the old-school FLH with the new Electra Glide Highway King, a nearly identical copy of the big open-road wanderer, except it’s packing a fair bit of (well-hidden) modern tech, including a markedly more powerful Milwaukee-Eight 114 cubic-inch V-Twin engine, 6-speed transmission with belt drive, ABS triple disc Brembo brakes, fuel injection, traction control, cruise control, and adjustable rear suspension.

But Harley also went a bit old tech as well with the Highway King, which uses traditional halogen bulbs instead of LEDs for lighting, and comes with whitewall tires, that big sprung saddle, a tank-mounted speedometer and nary a screen or digital readout in sight. Plus: A lot of chrome, those iconic white hard bags and a full-coverage windscreen with colored lower section that matches the Hi-Fi Orange or Hi-Fi Magenta paint options. And yes, the hard bags only come in white, just like in the ‘60s. Sorry, there’s no kickstarter as stock this time around, but both the windscreen and bags do detach.

The Highway King is part of Harley’s Icons retro collection, and only 1,000 Orange Kings and 750 Magenta models will be produced. Ready to roll old school? Harley-Davidson says pricing for the Highway King will start at $26,999.