Harley-Davidson has a rich and interesting history. They've been through a number of ups and downs over the years and still managed to produce some of the most iconic motorcycles available on the market today. Harleys have a distinctive design and feel; every model family has a different vibe to it. All model families have their own legacy and history. In this article, we’re going to focus on the Harley-Davidson Dyna family.

When it was first introduced to the market, the Harley Davidson Dyna model started out with a 39mm XL-style front fork, front wheel and footpegs. These models had traditional styling along with big-twin engines. The design evolved considerably since its debut, and has split up into different categories as well. Most modern models have a traditional coil-over spring that connects the swingarm to the frame.

The Dyna line-up included a number of distinct model types, including: the Super Glide (FXD), Wide Glide (FXDWG), Super Glide Custom (FXDC) and Low Rider (FXDL). Later models included the Dyna Street Bob (FXDB), Fat Bob (FXDF) and Dyna Switchback (FLD). Dyna models offer a happy medium between the smaller and larger Harley models.

Source: howstuffworks.com

Before the Dyna design became a permanent fixture of the Harley line-up, the company introduced the Wide Glide back in 1980. This bike had the custom look and feel that made Harleys immensely popular. The Wide Glide had an eye-catching fuel tank with a flame paint job, a spoked 21-inch front wheel and a wide-spaced front fork. The bike also had a bobbed rear fender, ape hanger handlebars, stepped two-up seat and mini and forward mounted controls. This gave it a distinct chopper-like feel.

The Dyna frame can accommodate a wide variety of front end and trim levels, making it one of the most versatile frame designs in the Harley line-up. This model design was introduced after years of research into customer preferences and expectations. Harley studied the reviews and criticism of previous bike launches and started working on a replacement for the FXR chassis.

The company experimented with many different kinds of designs and variations before introducing the final Dyna model to the general public. Before the first official Dyna chassis model was sold, several versions of the Wide Glide, the FX Superglide and FXR’s were introduced to the market. Many of these bikes received lukewarm reviews, so Harley knew they needed to up their game to keep customers interested.

The first official Dyna model was the FXDB Sturgis. It was introduced back in ‘91 and was a limited production. Harley was just testing the waters with this model to see if customers liked the new design and its chopper-like feel. The Sturgis had some flaws because Harley compromised on quality for production speed. The engine mounting system now had two rubber mounts instead of three, which created more vibrations and poor control.

Source: mecum.com

Unsurprisingly, the Sturgis wasn’t a complete success but Harley-Davidson did receive a lot of feedback on the bike's performance and design. This allowed the company to take their creativity with these Dynas a little further.

In the following year, Harley introduced two new models to replace the Sturgis: the FXDB Daytona and FXDC Dyna Glide Custom. The Daytona was a limited production and only a few bikes were released. Both model were nearly identical in design and performance and only differed in paint jobs. The FXDC Dyna Glide Custom was completely silver and black when it debuted. The later production units had a black frame instead of a silver frame, giving the bike a more modern feel.

The 1992 FXDB Daytona. Source: motorcyclespecs.com

Harley decided to discontinue the FXRT Sport Glide in 1993 and replace the FXRS Low Rider. They unveiled the new FXDL Dyna Low Rider and FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide in the same year. Both of these models were well-received, and the Dyna design and aesthetic was now an ingrained part of the Harley line-up.

The company still continued to produce the FXR, FXRS-Conv Convertible, FXLR and FXRS-SP Low Rider Sport.

But they did plan to slowly phase out these models as well.

Source: Harley-Davidson

In 1995, Harley debuted two new models: the FXDS-Conv Dyna Glide Convertible and the FXD Dyna Super Glide. They had the signature Dyna chassis and a 28° rake instead of the 32° rake. They were designed as replacements for the FXR Super Glide and FXLR Low Rider Custom. This move led to the discontinuation of the entire FXR line.

The company continued to rapidly develop the Dyna lineup from this point on. In 1999, Harley introduced the FXDX Super Glide Sport with dual disc brakes and improved suspension. This bike delivered a better performance compared to its predecessors. In 2001, the company introduced FXDX-T Super Glide T-Sport as a replacement to FXDS-Conv Dyna Convertible, which was discontinued 2 years later in 2003. They introduced the Super Glide Custom in 2005 before introducing a new chassis design in 2006.

The new Dyna chassis had a six-speed transmission and performed better on the road. In the same year, they introduced two new models FXDBI Street Bob and FXDI35 35th Anniversary Super Glide. Harley then introduced FXDF Fat Bob in 2008 along with a limited edition FXDWG Wide Glide, which was reintroduced in 2010 in a different color.

Harley-Davidson discontinued both the FXD base model and the FXDL Low Rider in 2010. They added new engines to some of the Dynas and introduced the FLD Switchback Sport-Tourer in 2012. In 2014, the FXDL Low Rider replaced the older FXDC Super Glide Custom lineup.

Check out our full collection of Dyna parts and accessories here!