Which Harley-Davidson Models Are Getting Axed? UPDATE

Several months ago, Harley-Davidson announced plans to reduce its model lineup by 30% as part of its Rewire and Hardwire business strategies. More recently, the company revealed it will announce its 2021 models online in a “ virtual launch experience” on Jan. 19. The question, then, is what current models are on the chopping block, and which models will return?

We think we’ve got a good idea, courtesy of Harley-Davidson. Or at least, H-D’s international sites. Harley-Davidson’s European and Canadian sites use a different microsite design for its Genuine Motor Accessories and Genuine Motor Parts catalog than the U.S. online storefront. The international sites have a handy tool for filtering accessories by model and model year.

At some point recently, the filtering tool was updated to include model years 2021 and 2022. Ordinarily, we could excuse this as just mundane data entry work, getting things ready with placeholder information. What’s interesting about the update is that not every model was given an entry for 2021 or 2022. The touring models were marked for 2022, but several models were left with much earlier end dates.

UPDATE Dec. 18, 2020: After we published this article, Harley-Davidson has updated these pages so they no longer mention any model years beyond 2020. Though the evidence has been removed (take that to mean what you wish), we stand by our initial reporting.

The Sportster models, for example, were left with 2021 end dates, with the exception of the Roadster which is only listed from 2016-2020. It’s no secret that the Sportster line as we know it is on its final legs. Harley-Davidson already confirmed that the Sportsters will not be updated to meet Euro 5 and are effectively discontinued in Europe. A spokesperson from Harley-Davidson France also confirmed that a replacement was in the works but that it wouldn’t be ready immediately.

If Harley-Davidson’s accessories site is a true indicator, the Roadster may not be returning for 2021, with the Forty-Eight, Iron 1200, and Iron 883 living on for one more year before they too disappear. That may suggest that a Sportster replacement, either the liquid-cooled Revolution Max-powered Custom 1250 or perhaps a new air-cooled V-Twin model with variable valve timing, might be lined up for the 2022 model year.

The Street models are also due to be discontinued in Europe, and the parts catalog seems to confirm that the Street 750 and Street Rod will not continue beyond 2020. The Street 500, however, appears to be getting a reprieve for one more year, which makes sense as the 500 is targeted more for rider training programs than for commercial sales.

The Softail line is also expected to see some cuts, and the list from the accessories page suggests five 2020 models will not be returning for 2021: the Breakout 114, Softail Deluxe, FXDR 114, Low Rider, and Street Bob.

All of the 2020 Touring models are listed as continuing into 2022, but there is a curious new entry for a 2021 Electra Glide (not to be confused with the Electra Glide Standard which is also listed through 2022 or the Electra Glide Ultra Classic which was last offered in the 2019 model year.)

There is one more *ahem* current model that did not get included on the 2022 list: the LiveWire. According to Harley-Davidson’s accessories page, the LiveWire is only listed for the model years 2020 and 2021. Some observers think Harley-Davidson should drop the electric LiveWire, and the parts and accessories page suggest that might happen.

We don’t subscribe to that theory, and believe Harley-Davidson will stand by its electric strategy. For one thing, Harley-Davidson’s Rewire and Hardwire plans both take their names from the LiveWire. If electric models weren’t still in the company’s plans, Harley likely would have chosen different names. Additionally, Harley-Davidson’s Future Models page still includes its electric concept models, and until that changes, we have to assume that electrics remain in the company’s plans.

It’s possible that the LiveWire will instead be updated for 2022, with further advances to its electric powertrain. By then, Harley’s electric concepts might be ready for production, and it makes sense for them to be joined by an updated flagship model.

Of course, all of this is conjecture that may be entirely based on some shoddy data entry work by Harley-Davidson’s web team. This may all turn out to mean nothing at all, but when taken at face value, it matches with what we already know about Harley-Davidson’s plans.

We’ll have some more clarity in a month’s time when Harley-Davidson announces its 2021 models.

Here are the models on the Harley-Davidson accessories page that list an end-of-run date of 2020 or 2021:

Sporster and Street: