Harley Davidson Dyna Low Rider Vs. Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide

“For some, there is therapy, for the rest of us, there are motorcycles.” Motorcycle riding is often viewed as a form of therapy since it helps reduce stress. For some people, having a Harley Davidson motorbike is true happiness. “Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy me a Harley and that’s the same thing.”

The Harley Davidson Dyna series was replaced by the Softail lineup in 2018, but it is still popular among motorcycle enthusiasts and custom builders due to being easily customizable. The Harley Davidson Dyna Low Rider and the Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide are two recognizable Dyna models worldwide due to their classic attitude and stylish design. Both motorcycles are powered by a Twin Cam 103TM engine and share similar features, but the Harley Dyna Wide Glide is a chopper-style motorbike with a raked-out front end. Meanwhile, the Harley Dyna Low Rider is more nimble, agile, and stylish. This article provides a detailed comparison between the Harley Davidson Dyna Low Rider and the Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide.

The Harley Davidson Dyna Low Rider has a classic look due to its billet silver and vivid black dual-tone color scheme, and blacked-out and chrome finishing. The chrome parts include the front forks, a battery cover, mufflers, an air breather, and handlebars. The Harley Dyna Low Rider comes with a comfortable single-piece saddle capable of two-up riding. It has a bobber-style front fender and a chopped rear fender with a classic tail light and license plate bracket mounted. The gauges are mounted on a peanut-shaped fuel tank with a capacity of 4.7 gal.

The Harley Dyna Low Rider comes with low-mounted pull-back handlebars with chrome side mirrors and front turn signals. A chrome plate fitted on top of a small round headlamp to improve aesthetics. Unlike Softails, the Harley Dyna Low Rider has dual rear shock absorbers with chrome rods and black springs fitted to the exterior. It comes with split five-spoke cast aluminum wheels with blacked-out and chrome finishing and Michelin® Scorcher™ tires for better performance.

The Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide has a taller front tire and raked-out front end, giving it a chopper look. It has a long wheelbase of 67.5 inches and an overall length of 96.3 inches. The Harley Dyna Wide Glide’s gauges are mounted on a peanut-shaped fuel tank with a capacity of 4.7 inches. The flame graphics on the fuel tank give it a stylish look. The Harley Dyna Wide Glide has a comfortable rider seat and a flat passenger seat with a small sissy bar installed to offer better comfort and safety. It has a bobber-style front fender and a chopped rear fender with a small tail light.

The Harley Dyna Wide Glide has a chrome two-into-one-into-two collector exhaust with dual mufflers, chrome front end, air breather, and dual rear shock absorbers. A chrome plate with a Wide Glide logo is fitted on a classic black battery cover below the seat. The blacked-out side mirrors and front turn signals are mounted on flat, drag handlebars with four-inch black risers. The Harley Dyna Wide Glide is fitted with Michelin Scorcher 31 tires wrapped around steel-laced wheels.

The Harley Davidson Dyna Low Rider is powered by a 1,688 cc air-cooled, Twin Cam 103TM V-Twin engine capable of a torque of 125 Nm at 3,500 rpm and a horsepower of 77 hp at 5,020 rpm. The Twin Cam 103TM V-Twin engine is built with quality internal parts and is easier to maintain. It may not provide a lot of horsepower and torque but it does ensure smooth power delivery and low-end torque. The rubber-mounted engine produces excessive vibrations and the rider can see the mufflers and air breather shaking when the motorbike starts. However, the vibrations are reduced when this motorcycle reaches a speed of around 50 mph.

The Harley Dyna Low Rider comes with an Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) system which ensures a quick throttle response and a fuel mileage of 42.77 mpg. It has a six-speed transmission and a multi-plate clutch with a diaphragm spring that ensures quiet and smooth gear shifts.

The Harley Dyna Low Rider is agile, nimble, and easy to handle due to its compact cruiser design. It is ideal for riding through traffic, traveling short distances, and on weekend rides. However, for long-distance rides, cruising on highways, and touring, the Harley Dyna Low Rider’s front and rear suspensions are inadequate. It comes with dual front discs and a single rear disc brake with an optional ABS to ensure effective braking.

The Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide is fitted with a 1,688 cc air-cooled, Twin Cam 103TM V-Twin engine capable of a torque of 134.9 Nm at 3,750 rpm and a horsepower of 80 hp at 5,020 rpm. The high Twin Cam 103TM engine provides smooth power and torque delivery at all gear levels. It also ensures better throttle response and quick acceleration. The Harley Dyna Wide Glide also comes with a six-speed transmission that connects to the rear wheel via a belt drive.

The Harley Dyna Wide Glide provides good linear performance due to its raked-out front fork. However, this motorbike is a bit unstable while turning tight corners. The Harley Dyna Wide Glide’s narrow front tire makes it agile and easily maneuverable while riding through traffic. It is good for daily commutes and weekend rides.

The Harley Dyna Wide Glide comes with a 300 mm single front disc and a 292 mm single rear disc brake along with a standard ABS to ensure reliable braking. The front and rear suspensions ensure a comfortable riding experience on shorter rides.

The Harley Davidson Dyna Low Rider has comfortable ergonomics and an adjustable ergonomics feature known as Perfect Fit. Perfect Fit allows the rider to adjust the handlebars and seat height. The stock Harley Dyna Low Rider has low-mounted, swept-back handlebars that are within comfortable reach of the rider. It has a low seat height of 26.8 inches and mid-mounted foot controls that ensure a comfortable upright back position. However, the mid-mounted foot controls and tight legroom are slightly uncomfortable for taller riders.

To make the Harley Dyna Low Rider comfortable for taller riders, the mid-mounted foot controls can be shifted forward by using aftermarket parts. The addition of saddlebags, fairings, windshield, and sissy bars can also help transform the Harley Dyna Low Rider into an ideal touring motorbike.

The Harley Dyna Wide Glide is a bigger motorcycle due to its raked-out front end, wheelbase of 67.5 inches, wet weight of 307 kg, and forward-mounted foot controls. The flat, mid-mounted, drag handlebars are within comfortable reach of the rider and provide a relaxed riding position. Also, the forward-mounted foot controls and a seat height of 26.8 inches make it ideal for taller riders. It is difficult to maneuver on twists and turns due to its longer wheelbase. The Harley Dyna Wide Glide can be transformed into an ideal touring motorbike by adding saddlebags, fairings, windscreen, backrests, and sissy bars.

The Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide is not recommended to beginners because it is fitted with a powerful Twin Cam 103TM engine that may be too much for beginners to handle. A novice rider should start with a 125-500 cc motorcycle. Also, the Harley Dyna Wide Glide is difficult to handle and maneuver on twists and turns.

The first Harley Davidson Dyna Low Rider had a raked-out front end, a longer wheelbase, and a smaller rear end due to its shorter rear shock absorbers. The shorter rear suspension ensures an adjustable low seat height of 26.5 inches. Hence, this led to the model being named Low Rider

The Harley Davidson Dyna Low Rider and the Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide are classic custom cruisers with blacked-out and chrome finishing. Both motorcycles are fitted with a Twin Cam 103TM engine which provides smooth power and torque delivery. The Harley Dyna Low Rider has a compact design and is easy to handle. It is good for daily commutes, weekend rides, and riding through traffic. However, it is uncomfortable for taller riders due to its mid-mounted foot controls and tight legroom.

Meanwhile, the Harley Dyna Wide Glide is a chopper-style motorcycle with a raked-out front end and longer wheelbase. It is good for short-distance rides through the city. The Harley Dyna Wide Glide is ideal for taller riders due to having forward-mounted foot controls and a longer overall length. It has a good linear performance but it is difficult to maneuver on twists and turns. Overall, the Harley Dyna Low Rider is the more balanced, agile, and versatile option between the two.