HARLEY-DAVIDSON Super Glide (1971-1972) Specs, Performance & Photos

Between 1934 and 1970, there were two distinct lines of V-twin motorcycles made by Harley-Davidson, including small and big twins. Also, individual bike owners took customization into their hands by changing parts, cutting, and welding frames to suit their tastes.

Willie G. Davidson was the styling director of H-D, and he was aware that owners customized their bikes. He then designed a motorcycle for production with the looks of a custom machine.

He combined the frame and rear suspension from the FLH Electra Glide with the front suspension from the XLH Sportster, resulting in an FX named chassis, where FX was short for Factory Experimental. Finally, he added a buckhorn handlebar and a rear fender with a boattail design similar to the XLH Sportster.

In 1971, the American manufacturer launched the Harley-Davidson Super Glide, a factory-made custom machine that was not well received due to its bobtail design. Sales of the Super Glide were improved when the manufacturer made available a rear end with a less radical design.

The 1971 Harley-Davidson Super Glide had a 1,207cc four-stroke V-twin air-cooled engine fed by a carburetor, delivering 65 hp with a maximum peak force at 5,500 rpm. The power was handled by a four-speed manual transmission and sent to the rear wheel through a final chain drive.