Harley always promises something cool for Daytona Bike Week. One of my favorites was the 2013 CVO Breakout, which I got to test and bust into Main Street in a massive way during that year’s rally. 

This year’s promise will likely be my second favorite because what Harley is unveiling is simply rad: the 2024 Icons and Enthusiast motorcycle collections. This is headlined by the coolest factory custom I witnessed in a long time, the Hydra-Glide Revival, a limited edition in Harley’s Icons Motorcycle Collection. 

As part of the 2024 Enthusiast Collections, the Tobacco Fade models are also pretty cool.

The Icon and Enthusiast collections focus on a simple theme: blend Harley's rich heritage with cutting-edge technology and design.

They will make their public debut during the 2024 Daytona Bike Week, March 1-10, at the Harley-Davidson Event Display Area within the Daytona International Speedway, where the pulse of anticipation was palpable. 

A Tribute to Cinema and Classic Elegance: The Hydra-Glide Revival

Harley-Davidson unveiled February 29th its fourth Icons factory custom—the FLI Hydra-Glide Revival. The model joins the ranks with the other models that quickly became collectibles: 2021 Electra Glide Revival, 2022 Low Rider El Diablo, and 2023 Electra Glide Highway King. 

Echoing the spirit of the original 1949 Hydra-Glide, which revolutionized Harley's lineup 75 years ago with its telescopic front suspension, this Revival model is more than a nod to the past; it's a bridge to Harley's storied heritage. The bike was inspired by the upcoming film “The Bikeriders,” which tells the story of the Vandals, a 1960s midwestern motorcycle club that began in Chicago. (The film will finally hit theaters on June 21, 2024.)

With a sticker price of $24,999, the 2024 FLI Hydra-Glide Revival carries a $2,500 premium over the bike it uses as a base, the Heritage Classic 114 base model. 

What sets the Hydra-Glide Revival apart? Start with its striking Redline Red paint complemented by Birch White tank side panels, a throwback to the 1956 Harley palette. The tank features a vintage Harley-Davidson V badge reminiscent of the mid-50s, and a classic Hydra-Glide script graces the front fender.

The Hydra-Glide Revival features a detachable 21-inch windscreen color-coordinated in Redline Red at the base. Chrome is typical of The Motor Company, covering everything from the engine and exhaust to the wheels and fender trim.

The solo saddle, decked out in white piping, red stitching, and fringed leather, matched by the side chrome conchos and studs across the saddlebags, adds more to the nostalgia.\

Powering the Hydra-Glide is the counter-balanced Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin, tuned up with a Screamin’ Eagle High-Flow air cleaner for a bit more grunt. Mechanically, it shares much with the Heritage Classic 114.

Only 1,750 of these Icons will hit the streets, each marked with a serialized insert on the handlebar riser cap and the exclusive Icons Motorcycle Collection graphic on the rear fender. This isn't just another motorcycle; it's a limited edition piece of Harley-Davidson history.

The Tobacco Fade Enthusiast Motorcycle Collection: A Melodic Journey

Not as exciting as the Hydra-Glide Revival, but the Enthusiast Motorcycle Collection for 2024 is still offering something different. This series draws inspiration from the symbiotic relationship between rock 'n' roll and the iconic V-Twin engine—a duo that has stirred the souls of Harley riders for decades. 

The Tobacco Fade models, the paint inspired by the sunburst wood finish of 1960s instruments such as the iconic Fender Stratocaster, offer a special nod to music lovers and the spontaneous energy of live music.

This limited collection includes the Low Rider ST, Ultra Limited, and Tri Glide Ultra. Each model is adorned with the Tobacco Fade premium paint, a record-inspired fuel tank medallion, and a stylized guitar pick graphic on the front fender, encapsulating the collection's spirit.

Harley-Davidson's unveiling of the 2024 Hydra-Glide Revival and Enthusiast Motorcycle Collections at Daytona Bike Week will be more than a showcase of new models; it’ll encompass the brand's commitment to the timeless pursuit of doing something cool once again at Daytona Bike Week.