2007–2009 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Pure Attitude, Low And Loud
The Low Rider FXDL is built around a 1584 cc air-cooled 45° V-twin, rubber-mounted in a steel double-cradle frame so the engine can shake at idle without shaking the rider. It makes 75 hp and 92 lb-ft, and the torque is the whole point: sixth gear at road speed, belt final drive, nothing to manage. Mid-mount foot controls and a pullback handlebar riser put you in a commanding, upright cruiser stance rather than a stretched-out chopper crouch. With a 25.8 in seat and a 64.6 in wheelbase, it sits long and low, exactly the way this segment is supposed to.
It settles into a long-legged rhythm and holds it, and high-speed stability is genuinely good for a machine this shape. Build quality and reliability are the quiet strengths; this is a bike that wears in rather than falls apart, and the aftermarket for it is close to bottomless. It suits the rider who wants a big American twin as identity, ritual, and sound, and who plans to make it personal over time. The honest caveat is what it does not have. No ABS, no cruise control, no rider aids of any kind, and a fork with zero adjustment.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 75 hp (56 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 92 lb-ft (125 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1584 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 100/90-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/80B16 |
| Wheelbase | 64.6 in (1641 mm) |
| Seat height | 25.8 in (655 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 gal (18.2 L) |
| Top speed | 115 mph (185 km/h) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Hit the starter and the whole bike rocks on its mounts before it settles into that uneven beat, mirrors quivering at every light. Roll away and the rubber mounts do their work: the shake thins into a steady pulse through the grips and the seat, present enough that you never forget 1584 cc is turning under the tank, never so much that your hands go numb. At 25.8 in the seat is low enough to plant both boots flat with room to spare, and the pullback riser brings the grips to where your hands already are, so your shoulders stay relaxed. The pegs sit under you rather than out front, which keeps your weight where you want it. At 60 to 70 mph it goes quiet in the right way, belt drive humming, everything loping along. The 4.8 gal tank sets the rhythm of the day.
Jiffy stand spring anchor weld defect (2009 models)
On certain 2009 model year Dyna motorcycles built between July 24 and August 28, 2008, the jiffy stand spring anchor may have been made with a defective weld, potentially preventing the stand from retracting properly and posing a safety risk.
Where this Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider FXDL pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Dyna Low Rider FXDL is actually built for.
This one is aimed straight at you. The sound, the stance, and a parts catalog deep enough to make it unmistakably yours, with the reliability to get you there and home again.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Unhurried back roads suit it well, and the upright bar and low seat keep you fresh for half a day at a stretch. Plan your stops around the 4.8 gal tank and it works.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
It will cross a state happily, but there is no cruise control, no luggage system, and no weather protection from the factory. Loaded two-up for weeks, you are making real compromises.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider FXDL. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
