2013–2017 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Factory Chopper, Street Legal
The Wide Glide is what happens when a factory builds a chopper instead of leaving it to a garage. The 1690 cc air-cooled 45° V-twin sits rubber-mounted in the Dyna frame and makes 78 hp with 100 lb-ft behind it, so the whole machine is organized around low-rpm shove rather than revs. A 21-inch front wheel, a raked-out front end, drag bars and forward controls stretch the rider out over a 67.5 in (1714 mm) wheelbase, and a belt runs the drive back to a fat 180-section rear. It is 677 lb (307 kg) of metal, and none of that is accidental.
It rides better than the silhouette suggests. The suspension is soft enough for long days, and the 25.5 in (648 mm) seat lets most riders plant both boots at a stop without thinking about the weight. This is a bike for someone who wants presence first and is happy to keep building on it afterward; the parts support behind this platform is close to bottomless, and plenty of these bikes have never worn a stock part past year two. The honest caveat is equipment. ABS is an option rather than standard fitment, there is no traction control and no cruise control, and the fork offers no adjustment at all.
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
You feel the engine before you hear it. A heavy shake at idle settles into a steady pulse once the rubber mounts take over, and the sound underneath is the real article, deep and uneven, still good company after eight hours. Your hands sit wide and low on the drag bars with your boots out front, so the posture asks you to stretch rather than curl up. It takes about ten minutes to stop noticing. The 21-inch front wheel makes the bar move slowly and deliberately in your hands, which is character rather than a complaint. Cruising a two-lane at 65 mph, the vibration settles into a hum through the pegs and grips at a level that reads as alive instead of tiring. Stop for fuel and the finish still holds up when you crouch down and look at it closely.
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.
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.
Sturgis, Daytona, the slow roll down Main Street: this is the exact bike that conversation is about. Sound, stance, and the freedom to make it your own are the whole point of owning it.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
On back roads and through small towns it looks and sounds right, and the low seat keeps easy days easy. Range is modest at 4.7 gal (17.8 L), so plan your fuel stops around the route.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
It will cover big distance, but there's no cruise control, no wind protection as standard, and no factory luggage. Solo and unhurried it works. Loaded two-up all day, it asks a lot of you.
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 · 2010–2012
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.
