Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom FXDC (MY2008) — Cruiser
NastyNils / Harley-Davidson Press

2007–2013 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide

Dyna Super Glide Custom FXDC (MY2008)

3.5 / 5 NastyNils Rating · against its class

Custom Iron, Standard Soul

The Machine's Character

The Super Glide Custom sits in Harley's Dyna family as the one you swing a leg over and immediately understand. Mid-mounted foot controls put your feet under you instead of out in front, so it rides like a standard wearing chopper clothes. The rubber-mounted 1584 cc 45° V-twin makes 92 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm and 75 hp, delivered through a 6-speed box and a belt. Steel double-cradle frame, 64.2 in wheelbase, 26.6 in seat. It scores a perfect 10 for chopper style, and the 9.5 aftermarket rating tells you the rest: this is a canvas as much as a motorcycle.

Ride it and the low seat plus 677 lb of mass settles into a long, planted line at highway speed, where it earns its 9.0 stability score. It ages the way simple air-cooled machines do, which is to say slowly and honestly, and the 8.0 build quality holds up under the three-glance test. The honest caveat: there is no ABS, no traction control, no cruise control, and the fork is fixed with no adjustment at all. The rear shocks take preload and that's your lot. Buy it for what it is, not for what a spec sheet promises.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power 75 hp (56 kW)
Torque 92 lb-ft (125 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm
Displacement 1584 cc
Engine 45° V-twinMotorcycles With V-Twin Engines →
Cooling Air-cooled
Gearbox 6-speed
Final drive BeltMotorcycles With Belt Drive →
Fork Telescopic
Front brake 300 mm
Front tire 100/90-19
Rear tire 160/70-17
Wheelbase 64.2 in (1631 mm)
Seat height 26.6 in (676 mm)Motorcycles With a Seat Height Under 30 Inches →
Wet weight 677 lb (307 kg)
Fuel capacity 5.1 gal (19.3 L)

Equipment check

Chassis

  • Manually Adjustable Rear Suspension Standard

Comfort

A long, straight paved road stretches toward the horizon through agricultural fields in Vermont. Power lines and a mailbox are visible along the roadside. Lush green vegetation, cumulus clouds, good daylight conditions. The landscape is flat to gently rolling. Asphalt pavement appears to be in good condition. Rural American setting.
Meric Tuna / Pexels

The Truth on the Street

None of this comes from my own miles on the bike. It's what has accumulated over years of standing around at gas stops and club nights, listening to owners, and reading the messages riders send me about the ones they live with. The pattern is steady: the motor and the way the bike carries speed through a corner get the praise, and the complaints all land on comfort.

The Motor And The Corners

Riders come back to the engine first. They describe it as smooth and rich down low, loping along at a cruise with almost no buzz reaching them. The chassis draws the same steady approval. Owners say it stays settled when they pick up the pace, with enough clearance underneath to keep moving. A smaller group talks about the look and how willingly the bike takes personal work.

Where The Complaints Land

Every gripe is a comfort gripe, and each comes from a narrower group. Some report the suspension running out of travel over sharp hits and passing them straight to the rider. Others say the peg position sets their hips at an angle that wears on them once the ride stretches out. A few mention the push of the wind at highway speed.

Known issues

  • Recall: Jiffy stand spring anchor weld failure

    chassis rare Recall

    On certain 2009 model-year Dyna Super Glide Customs manufactured between July 24 and August 28, 2008, the jiffy stand spring anchor may have a defective weld. This can prevent the stand from retracting fully, increasing the risk of a crash. NHTSA campaign 08V659000.

  • Recall: Fuel tank vent tube weld defect (fire risk)

    fuel system rare Recall

    On certain MY2009 FXDC (and sibling Dyna) motorcycles, the fuel tank vent tube assembly (part no. 27389-04A) may have a defective ultrasonic weld on the anti-slosh valve. If the valve separates and the bike is tipped over, it may leak fuel; fuel leakage near an ignition source could result in a fire. NHTSA campaign 08V625000.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom FXDC pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

This bike Class average

The shape of the Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom FXDC — numbers and character vs. the average Cruiser

Head-to-head: Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom FXDC vs. its rivals

The 'Should I Buy It?' Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Dyna Super Glide Custom FXDC is actually built for.

Aerial view of a winding asphalt road cutting through volcanic terrain on La Gomera, Canary Islands. The road curves through sparse green vegetation with rocky volcanic peaks visible in the background and a settled valley to the left. Clear lane markings, dry climate, partly cloudy sky.

Best cruiser for Sturgis?

If the ride to the rally matters as much as the rally, this fits. The sound, the stance, and the 10.0 chopper style deliver the statement, and it holds a steady line on the long interstate slog in.

Made for Florida State Road A1A · Black Hills · Main Street, Daytona Beach

Best retro motorcycle for road trips?

Small towns and unhurried back roads suit it well. Mid-controls keep you upright and engaged, and the 5.1 gal tank covers the distance between the places you actually want to stop.

Made for Park Loop Road · Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway

Best touring motorcycle for long distance?

Stable at speed, but there's no cruise control, no luggage, no wind protection, and no ABS. You'd be building a tourer out of it rather than buying one.

Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road

What's new versus the previous generation

If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.

Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom FXDC (FXDC-MY2005)

Previous generation · 2005

Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom FXDC (FXDC-MY2005)

Factory Chopper, Street Ready

Compare to the previous model →

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Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom FXDC. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.

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