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2012–2017 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Factory Chopper, Street Legal
The Wide Glide is the Dyna family's chopper, and it makes no secret of it. A skinny 21-inch front wheel sits out on a 34-degree rake. The wheelbase stretches to 67.5 in (1,714 mm), and the seat drops to just 25.5 in (648 mm). Drag bars and forward controls complete the stance. Power comes from the rubber-mounted, air-cooled Twin Cam 103, a 45° V-twin of 1690 cc rated at 78 hp and 100 lb-ft, sent through a 6-speed gearbox and a belt final drive. There's no radiator to spoil the lines and no electronics suite beyond optional ABS. It's lots of metal, honestly presented. That's the point!
On paper, the target is clear. The long wheelbase points to calm manners at highway speed, the low seat makes the bike easy to reach for shorter riders, and the rear shock takes preload adjustment. At 677 lb (307 kg) wet, with a 4.7 gal (17.8 L) tank and no factory luggage, it isn't a long-haul tourer, though. It's built for the boulevard, the bike-night run and the open back road, where long-and-low presence counts for more than output. Its aftermarket potential is huge, too: this is a bike made to be personalized. You buy it for the look. Then you make it yours.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 78 hp (58 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 100 lb-ft (136 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1690 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 80/90-21 |
| Rear tire | 180/60-17 |
| Wheelbase | 67.5 in (1714 mm) |
| Seat height | 25.5 in (648 mm) |
| Wet weight | 677 lb (307 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.7 gal (17.8 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
What follows isn't a test ride of mine. It's the sum of years of listening: riders I've talked with at events, owners I've cornered in parking lots, the club-night back-and-forth, and the notes people send me straight from their garages. On this Wide Glide the pattern is consistent. The engine and the way the bike carries a rider dominate the conversation, and the gripes that follow are narrow and repeatable.
Torque is the first thing riders bring up, almost without exception. They describe generous pull from low in the rev range and roll-on that asks nothing of them. Handling is the recurring surprise: long wheelbase, raked front end, and owners still report the bike tracks confidently and feels planted through a corner. Comfort follows close behind, with the soft suspension and the low seat cited as reasons the bike suits riders of very different sizes. Plenty of them simply talk about the stretched profile and the look it carries.
The complaints are quieter and specific. Some owners call the rear brake weak and say it demands hard pedal pressure, more so two-up or loaded. Heavier riders mention that soft suspension bottoming on rough pavement. A few report the low exhaust touching down early, which keeps their lean angles conservative. Vibration through bars and pegs at idle and low revs comes up too, mostly from riders logging long days.
Recall 14V794000: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2012 FXST103, FLSTC, FLSTC103, FLSTF, FLSTF103, FXDL, FXDWG, FXDWG103, FXDC, FXDB, FLSTN, FLSTN103, FLSTC103Shrine, FLSTFB, FLSTFB103, FXS, FXS103, FLS, FLS103, FLD, FLD103, FXDF, and FXDF103 Dyna and Softail motorcycles manufactured August 22, 2011, through February 24, 2012. In the affected motorcycles, the threads for the brake line banjo bolt in the front brake master cylinder may corrode.
Rear wheel bearings may fail early
Some owners have reported rear wheel bearing failure as early as 12,500 miles. Replacement with quality bearings and greasing the axle is recommended.
Steering head bearings may be inadequately greased
Factory steering head bearings are sometimes found with insufficient grease, leading to notchy steering or premature wear. Repacking with high-quality grease is a common preventative measure.
Brake pedal sticks due to swollen bushing
The rear brake pedal can become sticky or slow to return due to bushing swelling. Often repaired under warranty; regular lubrication may prevent it.
Riser bushings allow excessive handlebar flex
The stock rubber riser bushings are soft and can allow the handlebars to flex or move during hard braking; aftermarket urethane bushings are a common fix.
Where this Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide FXDWG pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Dyna Wide Glide FXDWG is actually built for.
This is your bike. It has the raked front, drag bars, air-cooled Twin Cam and unmistakable Harley look, which makes it the best fit here for the Sturgis and Daytona crowd who ride for identity first.
Made for Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
It's a strong match if classic style and an easy rhythm on historic routes are what you're after. Just know that this is chopper attitude, not understated retro.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
It'll get you to the national parks, but it isn't touring hardware: no factory luggage, no cruise control and a 4.7 gal tank. It's a partial fit at best. Buy it for style, not for big two-up miles.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2010–2011
Factory Chopper, No Apologies
Compare to the previous model →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 Wide Glide FXDWG. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2012–2017
Factory Bobber, Straight From Milwaukee
~$1,000 cheaper used than this bike at 13 yr
Same Platform · 2012–2017
Factory Custom With Real Bite
Roughly $4,300 pricier used than this bike at 9 yr