Last year, Harley Davidson introduced their Icons Collection with the Electra Glide Revival, a modern recreation of the 1969 model and it’s a beauty. It’s a limited run and many, if not most, of the bikes to hit the showrooms are snapped up as soon as they arrive. While looking over the new listings on eBay I saw this totally restored original, a 1969 in Hi Fi Blue and Wrinkle Black with Burch White bat wing fairing and saddle bags, exactly what the new revival model seeks to emulate. It’s an interesting comparison.
Harley did a great job of bringing back the look and feel of the original while adding all of the modern conveniences and safety features. Disc brakes are immediately apparent and, when side by side, you see a lot more, but separated, you wouldn’t notice as much. They could be a great matched pair for someone, but it would be hard to go wrong either way, if you had that choice to make.
So, if you were making the choice, which would you choose? Pristine original or brand new retro? Decisions, decisions …
1969 Harley Davidson Electra Glide on eBay sale over
David says
Sixty nine or twenty two ,that is the question?
The 22 will be well overpriced to start with , the 69 well was that not a period H-D build quality was a touch questionable?
(No smirking those at the back)
Of course that really wasn’t the question which was “What’s your pleasure? Original or the modern recreation?”
I thought initially a Moto Guzzi ,or Norton(again) perhaps a Vincent , as I typed that I had a reality check. . . . . . .I doubt if I would pick one of those either
Nope none of the H-Ds for sure, but in the H-Ds case
Better to buy a box of new bits and build something that you want
Nostalgia is not what it used to be
Vin says
People like you always have to make sure everyone knows you don’t like Harley’s. Who cares what you like. Here on Maui where I live Harley’s out number all other makes by a huge amount, With everyone from 20 year olds to 80 year olds all with smiles on their faces. I never go to articles about things I don’t like but your kind make it a point so you can diss it.
Glenn Miles says
Yes, but in Hawaii people love Spam as well, so go figure. I personally like both old Harley’s and Spam, but I’m embarrassed about my own taste. In 1969 I had a new Triumph Daytona and thought it was the best bike in the world. But Spam, maybe not so much.
Vin says
If you don’t like spam you’re cracked. In Hawaii you cook the spam like bacon until brown and toasty, I think people that don’t like it have only tried it right out the can
John Byrd says
I’m an old Tennessee boy living here on The Big Island of Hawaii, and like Vin says about Maui, the Harleys outnumber everything else including the little 50 cc scooters like I ride these days. I have had several Harleys, from a 55 to a ninety something Sportster, pans to shovels, and I loved them all. I had a Honda 750 when I bought my 1st HD, a Super Glide, and kept the Honda for about 6 months waiting for the HD to tear up like folks said they would…. it never did. The sixty nine would be the one for me in this article, as my 66 Glide was one of my all-time favorites and they are so similar. Thanks for all your articles Paul , keep ’em coming. jb
Vin says
Aloha from Maui bruddah. I used to live on Big Island, up above Kailua Kona, the road to Waimea also lived on Lanai working on the Koele Lodge. Had a Shovel back in the day but riding a hot rod Dyna now. I remember all the local boys on the Big Island with Hogs, you should see all the HD’s here on weekends and holidays, really great.
Michael Clark says
I’m going to have to go with the 69 flh , that one I can fix on the side of the road maybe if I had to , where the 22 you better have a credit card and a smart phone but I will have to say if either one showed up in my garage they would have a home with lots of love because for me motorcycling is about riding bikes not riding brands I love them all.
Vin says
Even as a 70 year old that used to ride a Shovel and loved it, now ride a Dyna, I would take the new one. Look how clean the lines are compared to the 66, and I have ridden the new M8’s and they are awesome
Dave says
I’ll take the ’69, AND CHOP IT!