2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival Review [9 Fast Facts]

March 29, 2024

Almost by chance, I’ve turned out to be the go-to reviewer of the bikes from the Harley-Davidson Icons Collection. I rode the 2021 Electra Glide Revival and 2023 Electra Glide Highway King from Los Angeles to show off to my dad in Williams, Arizona. I tore around California’s Central Valley and various mountain ranges in Southern California on the 2022 Low Rider El Diablo. All three were fantastic rides, so I eagerly anticipated getting into the saddle of the latest Icons Collection bike—the 2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival. First photos and seeing it in person did nothing to diminish my enthusiasm. However, looks aren’t everything, and the ride also matters, so let’s hit the starter button.

The 2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival commemorates the 75th anniversary of the hydraulic telescopic fork debuting on a Harley-Davidson. The Hydra-Glide fork brought Harley-Davidson into the modern era, replacing the springer front suspension on the 1949 FL. The new Revival is based on the Heritage Classic 114’s Softail platform, which visually mimics the FL’s hardtail. Reflecting that, the primary functional difference between the Heritage Classic and the Hydra-Glide Revival is rear suspension travel. The Hydra-Glide Revival cuts the rear wheel travel by an inch, giving it a bit of a slammed look compared to the Heritage Classic and kicking out the trail a couple of tenths of an inch. The Revival also has wire-spoke wheels, which come on some trim lines of the Heritage Classic. Hopping on the scale, the 742-pound Revival adds 14 pounds to the heft of the standard Heritage Classic.

The Hydra-Glide Revival is pushed along by a Milwaukee-Eight 114 powerplant. Part of the package includes a round, chromed Screamin’ Eagle High Flow air cleaner, though Harley-Davidson makes no performance enhancement claims. You continue to get 119 ft-lbs of torque at 3000 rpm and 94 horsepower on tap at 4750 rpm. The motor is quite impressive around town, and good for over 100 mph on the open road. Passing power is present, though coming off the 117s that power the new Street Glide and Road Glide, the 114 is starting to feel a bit wanting. However, don’t forget that those are Grand American Touring models, and this is a cruiser-based Softail with less ambitious long-distance plans. Compare that to the 74ci Panhead on the original FL, which offered just 55 horses. We’ve come a long way, baby.

Performance aside, you want to ride this bike in town to show off what you’re paying extra for—styling. Without any doubt, the 2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival is a looker, though it doesn’t command quite as much attention as the Electra Glide Revival and Highway King. The two-tone paint job is beautiful, pairing Redline Red with Birch White to echo the 1956 Hydra-Glide. The fenders are straight Redline Red, and the lower half of the detachable windshield is tinted Redline Red—people love that. While black may be in these days, chrome unabashedly dominates the proceedings, including the seat frame and crash bars. Fringe spouting from conchos on the red-stitched/white-piped seat’s leather valance, tank strap, and saddlebags livens up the look as you ride. Studs and white piping accent the bags and valance nicely. This is a motorcycle you have to see in person to fully appreciate.

As a matter of fact, the 2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival does need stinking badges. Topping off the retro styling voyage are the tank’s Harley-Davidson V badges. It is an undeniably cool look that brings the vintage styling home. To be sure passersby know precisely what you’re riding, Hydra-Glide badges adorn the front fender, adding more style points. The rear fender sports a subtle Icons Collection graphic, alerting the reader that this is a limited edition—a fact reconfirmed by the numbered plate on the handlebar clamp. We tested #0003 of 1750 examples.

Riding through urban areas is natural to the Hydra-Glide Revival. With plenty of muscular torque available at all revs, you can humiliate all but the most dedicated when the light turns green. The low solo seat cradles your buttocks comfortably, the bar bend is agreeably tall and wide for style and leverage, and the floorboards are a great platform for your boots. As we tested the Revival in the winter, we appreciated the functionality of the windshield. You can pull the windshield off in the summer—no tools required. While you’ll lose style points—bye-bye, transparent Redline Red—the Hydra-Glide still has plenty in reserve.

Feel free to use the 2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival as a touring motorcycle if you prefer a more visceral experience. Compared to Harley-Davidson’s 117-equipped Grand American Touring models, you will be down on power and comfort, though you might not mind that. The M8 114 sends noticeably more vibration to the grips and floorboards, though not to the saddle. The vibration is on the sharp side rather than a naturally soothing rumble on longer, higher-speed rides. While the windshield provides decent wind protection, there’s more turbulence than you’ll feel on the Road and Street Glides. For the rider who wants that more retro feeling, the Hydra-Glide Revival delivers some of that life-affirming rough-around-the-edge touring experience.

Rider aids are kept to a minimum. Again, this is a Softail with a touch more trail, not a Grand American Touring bike. The Hydra-Glide has generic ABS, cruise control, and electric starting, and that’s about it. The Grand American Touring bikes’ standard Rider Safety Enhancements—traction control, linked braking, cornering awareness, and variable engine braking—aren’t even an option. You get just a single disc in the front, though you’ll learn to use the footbrake most of the time. Don’t let the Glide name fool you; this is a cruiser with the basic accoutrements for touring—bags and a windshield. You didn’t get nannied 75 years ago, and the Hydra-Glide Revival isn’t cut out to be an au pair—you’re pretty much on your own.

The reduced rear-wheel travel isn’t a big issue. I tested the Heritage Classic a couple of years ago, and the difference isn’t readily apparent. You might notice it on back-to-back rides. Cornering clearance remains decent and adequate for most rides and riders—if you want to do some grinding in the corners, the chunky Harley-Davidson branded Dunlop D401s on chrome 16-inch rims will happily oblige. The Showa Dual Bending Valve fork manages its five inches of travel quite impressively—Hydra-Glide, indeed.

The 2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival accentuates the brand’s strengths. While nostalgia is an integral part of The Motor Company’s appeal, the Icons Collection motorcycles are more about timeless style—they look great and exist outside the boundaries of time. It’s a bit disappointing that the Hydra-Glide Revival doesn’t offer a riding experience noticeably different from the Heritage Classic. However, the feeling you get when looking down at a beautiful motorcycle as you cruise along, knowing that everyone in the vicinity is admiring your ride, is well worth the $1500 premium the Hydra-Glide Revival demands over the two-tone Heritage Classic 114—if you buy into the Revival’s ethos. Even if the Hydra-Glide Revival isn’t quite to your taste, it’s hard to argue that the Icons Collection isn’t batting four-for-four.

Photography by Kelly Callan

RIDING STYLE

Helmet: Arai Classic-V
Sunglasses: Wiley X WX Grid
Jacket: Joe Rocket Dakota
Back protection: Joe Rocket SW Spine Protector Level 2
Gloves: Joe Rocket Briton
Jeans: Joe Rocket Anthem
Boots: Joe Rocket Outbreak

2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival Specs

ENGINE

Type: Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-twin
Displacement: 114ci
Bore x stroke: 4.016” x 4.5”
Maximum power: 94 horsepower @ 4750 rpm
Maximum torque: 119 ft-lbs @ 3000 rpm
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Valvetrain: Single-cam w/ pushrods; 4 vpc
Exhaust: 2-into-2; catalyst in muffler
Cooling: Air and oil
Lubrication: Dry sump
Transmission: 6-speed
Clutch: Web multi-plate w/ assist function
Primary drive: Chain
Final drive: Belt

CHASSIS

Frame: Tubular mild steel w/ rectangular section backbone
Front suspension; travel: Non-adjustable Showa Dual Bending Valve 49mm fork; 5.1 inches
Rear suspension; travel: Spring-preload adjustable shock; 3.4 inches
Wheels: Wire-spoked
Front and rear wheels: 16 x 3.00
Tires: Dunlop Harley-Davidson Series D401
Front tire: 130/90 x 16
Rear tire: 150/80 x 16
Front brakes: 300mm disc w/ fixed 4-piston caliper
Rear brake: 292mm disc w/ floating 2-piston caliper
ABS: Standard