Heritage Harleys: Fast Johnnie and the Highway King join firm's cruiser line-up for 2023

Meet the £32,595 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Highway King: the third instalment of the firm’s limited-run Icons collection, that pays tribute to the 1968 FLH Electra Glide tourer.

Just 1000 ‘Kings will be available in ‘Hi-Fi Orange’ and a further 750 will be up for grabs in ‘Hi-Fi Magenta’, with each bike featuring white hard saddlebags just like the original.

“The colours we’ve selected for the Highway King model are reminiscent of the original options offered in 1968,” Vice President of Design and Creative Director, Brad Richards said. “The result is a thoroughly modern motorcycle that looks unapologetically old school.”

At the heart of the Electra Glide is the firm’s 1868cc Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin engine, which can also be found in bikes including the £22,695 Fat Boy and produces a claimed 93.9bhp at 5020rpm.

This is housed in a rigid backbone frame suspended by beefy 49mm front forks and preload-adjustable rear shock absorbers.

Despite the vintage looks, the Highway King is a very modern cruiser, with cruise control as standard, linked Brembo brakes with cornering ABS, traction control, and more. Each bike’s console will also be laser etched with its serial number for authenticity. Elsewhere, you’ll also find a detachable screen, chrome steel laced wheels, whitewall tyres, and a solo riders’ seat.

Fast Johnnie collection announced

The Highway King is not the only announcement from Harley today, with the firm also revealing the Fast Johnnie collection – a 2000-strong global roster of bikes painted in a special livery inspired by muscle cars of the 1960s and 70s.

The new design can be applied to a £22,845 Low Rider ST, £33,895 Street Glide ST, and £33,895 Road Glide ST – with a ‘Celestial Blue’ base colour and white racing stripes.

A ‘Fast Johnnie’ logo can be found on the left side of the fuel tank too and originates from a piglet named Johnnie adopted in 1920 by Harley racer Ray Weishaar. Johnnie would often be placed on a bike’s fuel tank for the post-race victory lap and is said to be the reason Harley-Davidson’s are still referred to as Hogs by so many people.

“The striping graphic effect is a powerful signal to the generation that came of age during this era, and is still impactful today,” Brad Richards added. “The Celestial Blue base colour selected for Fast Johnnie recalls a popular tone from the muscle car era.

“For the graphic striping, we created a custom white colour formulated to authentically reflect the era, executed in a classic thin-wide-thin pattern on the sides and top of the motorcycle bodywork. The look is a nod to pure Americana.”

As a finishing touch, both the Road Glide ST and Street Glide ST also come fitted with a Screamin’ Eagle exhaust.