Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback 2013 — Specifications

Who hasn't dreamed of a Harley-Davidson to devour the miles, but hesitated at the bulk of a true touring machine? In 2013, the Milwaukee manufacturer had an answer, the Dyna Switchback, a motorcycle with a dual personality that attempted to reconcile the soul of a custom with the advantages of a tourer. The idea was simple: offer a Dyna base, known for being more responsive and lighter, and graft on standard accessories for travel. As soon as it left the dealership, it was equipped with standard saddlebags to carry your luggage and a large windscreen offering protection from the wind. A compelling concept on paper.

Under the nearly 18-liter tank beats the large V-Twin Twin Cam 103 of 1690 cm3, an engine that replaced the older 96. The figures are typically Harley: 81 horsepower at the crankshaft, but a torque of 135.6 Nm available from 3500 rpm, a fat and sonorous surge that is the charm of the mechanics. However, it should be noted that this engine is slightly less generous here than on a Road King, for example, where it develops a few more Newton-meters. The belt drive and the six-speed gearbox do their job with the usual precision, neither more nor less. The double cradle frame carries a wet weight of 326 kg, a significant mass that is felt when stopped, even with a seat at 663 mm high.

The real debate lies in its positioning. With its saddlebags and windscreen fitted, the Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback looks like a small tourer, a Road King on a diet. Remove these elements in a few minutes, and you find a classic Dyna, more streamlined. This ease of conversion was its main marketing argument. But this compromise comes at a price, both literally and figuratively. At 17,290 euros new, it was not cheap, and dynamically, it pays for its status as an in-between. It doesn't have the agility of a naked Dyna, nor the enveloping comfort and stability of a true Touring like a Street Glide. The 41 mm fork and side shock absorbers offer modest travel, and the 160 km/h top speed remind you that travel is done in peace, not in haste.

Who was it for then? Clearly for the Harley touring rider who wanted a unique motorcycle, capable of weekend rides without preparation and longer summer trips. It avoided a total commitment to a more imposing machine. Its success on forums and today on the used market, where listings for a used Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback are numerous, proves that it hit its target. Its career was nevertheless short: the Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback was withdrawn from the market in 2017 when the Dyna range was replaced by the Softail range, taking with it this hybrid proposition. Trying the Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback is discovering an interesting chapter in the history of the manufacturer, a motorcycle with character that seduced by its pragmatism, without revolutionizing the art of two-wheeled travel.