Harley-Davidson Dyna models explained

Dive deeper into one of the most popular ranges ever produced by the famous American manufacturer.

Harley-Davidson has established itself as a major part of American culture over the past 120 years since its founding in 1903. Although the company has produced hundreds of different models over the years, there is a special family of motorcycles which enjoyed an impressive longevity of 26 years into the 21st century and continues to enjoy great popularity among motorcyclists from all walks of life to this day. This is, of course, the Dyna family.

The Dyna was first introduced in 1991, succeeding the FXR series as the FXDB Sturgis, and made its official debut as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the iconic South Dakota motorcycle rally. Short for "dynamic", the Dyna series included a chassis designed to be stiffer and stronger to handle the new Evolution engine better than its predecessors. By 1995, the Dyna family had completely replaced the FXR series and would continue to be a formidable force for riders looking to customize, speed up and improve the quality of their rides. Easily recognizable by its exposed twin-shock rear suspensions, Harley-Davidson produced a wide range of models using this platform for a quarter of a century before closing that chapter in 2017 . So let's take a closer look at some of the most popular Dyna models that remain popular to this day, and also inspire some of Harley's modern cruiser models.

Harley-Davidson Dyna Street Bob

When Harley-Davidson introduced the Dyna Street Bob to the market in 2006, it became one of the brand's most enduring cruisers to date. Of course, the success of Street Bob cannot be attributed to simple luck. The bike combines the size, comfort, style and attitude of a mid-size motorcycle, but also the handling and rideability of the smaller sportster class. In other words, the Dyna Street Bob offers a perfect balance between sportiness, comfort and style.

The Dyna Street Bob covers all the bases as standard. However, it is also because of its simple design that it provides an ideal blank canvas for personal customization. For those who want to turn this bike into a tire-burning high-performance street bike, there are plenty of ways to upgrade its suspension, brakes, exhaust, as well as engine upgrades to make this already agile motorcycle even faster .

But the same can be said for those looking to take a more laid-back approach. The Street Bob's mini monkey handlebars are already a nice bonus, but comfort can really be amped up with a forward control conversion kit, a more comfortable seat, and even a second seat so the passenger can also enjoy the ride.

Even though Harley discontinued production of the Dyna Street Bob in 2017, the bikes remain an important mainstay of the brand's lineup since moving to the Softail family, swapping its two exposed rear shocks for an adjustable monoshock hidden under the guard. -rear mud. The improvement brought by the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine is also an appreciable plus.

Specifications	Details
Engine	Twin Cam 103
Engine power	77.5 horsepower and 94 lb-ft of torque
Transmission	6 speeds
Consumption	39 MPG (approximately 6.0 liters per 100 kilometers)

Harley-Davidson Dyna Fat Bob

Much like its sibling the Street Bob, the Dyna Fat Bob is another example of a mid-sized cruiser that continues the tradition of "bobber" style motorcycles. While the Street Bob favors a more streamlined design, the Fat Bob makes itself known by bringing more muscle and attitude to the Dyna family. If the Dyna class were a nightclub, you can be sure this bike would be the bouncer.

Still based on the same Dyna chassis, the Fat Bob definitely brings a little more "bad boy" energy into the mix. With its forward controls, dual headlights and signature chunky tires that eat up cracks and bumps in the road for breakfast, the Fat Bob can't help but be the center of attention. Since its inception in 2007, the Dyna Fat Bob has been equipped with a 96 cubic inch Twin-Cam engine, a sign that this bike doesn't just look tough, it has the power to prove it. It's also because of its more rugged styling and thirst for speed that it's been so successful among riders who like to twist the throttle more than average. Thus, it should come as no surprise that many have transformed (and continue to transform to this day) this motorcycle to be more performance oriented. At first glance, the Dyna Fat Bob looks like a motorcycle you'd see arriving at a local barbecue or concert. But what surprised many was its ability to easily outrun many factory sports cars who constantly boast about their speed. So you can imagine their shock when they find themselves eating the dust of a Harley-Davidson.

Today, the Fat Bob continues this double life as a high-performance cruiser by moving to the Softail range. Just like the Street Bob, the Fat Bob also features the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine, so it's a good sign to see that this bike isn't planning on giving up its need for speed anytime soon.

Specifications	Details
Engine	Twin Cam 103
Engine power	80 horsepower and 95 lb-ft of torque
Transmission	6 speeds
Consumption	35.4 MPG ( approximately 6.6 liters per 100 kilometers)

Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide

Just looking at the Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide, you can already hear George Thorogood singing "Bad to the Bone" in your head. This motorcycle was one of Harley's greatest homages to the iconic chopper genre, featuring a low-profile cruiser design that essentially looks like a hot rod on two wheels. The Dyna Wide Glide is also a perfect example of the diversity of the Dyna class, with motorcycles more focused on leisure, performance, or a strong combination of the two. But in the case of the Wide Glide, it was designed for a leisurely afternoon stroll through town, on back roads, and on the highway. Because when you have a low saddle, forward controls and a long trail, all you have to do is ride and relax while keeping your hand on the throttle.

Of course, with factory choppers being a very niche genre of motorcycles, they weren't for everyone. In most cases, pilots would rather look at it and enjoy it, rather than having to own it. Because unlike the Dyna Street Bob and Fat Bob, the Wide Glide's handling had its own learning curve that required many new riders to get used to.

Although factory choppers like the Dyna Wide Glide come and go, it opened the door for its successor, the Harley-Davidson Breakout. Following in its footsteps as a powerful cruiser with attention-grabbing looks, the Breakout came out of retirement in 2022 with its bigger and better Milkwaukee-Eight 117 engine. It's still a motorcycle worth admiring. Only these days, there's a little more envy involved every time one appears.

Specifications	Details
Engine	Twin-Cam 103
Engine power	80 horsepower and 95 lb-ft of torque
Transmission	6 speeds
Consumption	42 mpg ( approximately 5.6 liters per 100 kilometers)

Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider

When it comes to models that embody versatility, the Dyna Low Rider is the motorcycle that comes to mind. Much like its sibling the Street Bob, the Dyna Low Rider was another example of a well-balanced cruiser that offered plenty of potential. Simple in its design, this motorcycle had everything needed to thrive in any riding environment. It had optimal maneuverability to tackle even the tightest turns in the city. It had the size and weight to handle hours of non-stop driving, on and off the highway. She also brought a laid-back attitude to relax while driving the long country roads and enjoying the scenery.

Although the Low Rider has adopted a more traditional cruiser look, it also presents itself as a blank canvas for personal customization. Some would take its cruiser nature even further by adding saddlebags, forward controls and a more comfortable seat for long journeys. But others would go the opposite direction and make it a high-performance cruiser by upgrading its 96 cubic inch Twin-Cam engine to produce more horsepower and torque. So, it should come as no surprise to anyone that this kind of thinking led to the eventual production of the Low Rider S, one of the most powerful models in Harley's current lineup.

Specifications	Details
Engine	Twin-Cam 103
Engine power	77 horsepower and 92.2 lb-ft of torque
Transmission	6 speeds
Consumption	42 mpg (approximately 5.6 liters per 100 km)

Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback

Of course, we couldn't conclude this review of the Dyna models without mentioning the Switchback. Although it was only in production from 2012 to 2016, the Dyna Switchback provided further proof of the Dyna line's capabilities to succeed in different driving environments. Designed as a lighter touring motorcycle, the Dyna Switchback was essentially a smaller Road King, earning it the nickname "Road Queen". It was also popular among female riders looking to do long-distance touring without having to deal with the size and weight of Harley's larger touring models. Equipped with a pair of hard saddlebags, floor pans, forward controls, a windshield, and a Twin-Cam 103 engine, the Switchback was ready and able to embark on a big cross-country road trip with the adults.

Although the Switchback enjoyed its short time with the other Dynas before the class was discontinued in 2017, it managed to create space for its successor, the Heritage Classic, to thrive in its place. Taking all the touring capabilities of a Softail model, the Heritage Classic is the epitome of old-school cool by offering long-distance touring capabilities without any of the added bulk.

Specifications	Details
Engine	Twin Cam 103
Engine power	76.1 horsepower and 92.9 lb-ft of torque
Transmission	6 speeds
Consumption	42MPG (approximately 5.6 liters per 100 kilometers)