Trikes are already a rare breed. And Harley-Davidson, with the 2023 Freewheeler, stands out further, with minimal chrome and a sporty makeover.

BYTIJO TENSON SOURCE HOTCARS.COM

Harley-Davidson is the only motorcycle maker than makes trikes with two wheels at the rear. And for 2023, their cheapest three-wheeled motorcycle has gotten a lot cooler and darker. Harley-Davidson is celebrating its 120th Anniversary and have been busy churning out cool 120th Special limited edition models of their motorcycles. But between all the fuss, the 2023 Freewheeler is standing out with its blacked-out aesthetic features and sportier stance.

Harley has redesigned the body panels for a compact visual appeal. And the minimal chrome package is kinda looking cool on a Harley. Power continues to come from the iconic Milwaukee-Eight 114 air-and-oil-cooled V-twin motor with oodles of torque from the lower rev-band. Its bigger rear wheels add a stance to this trike, unlike any other. All this coolness comes at a premium of $1,500 over the 2022 Freewheeler.

Apart from this gothic three-wheeled Harley-Davidson, other new standard models includes a new Road Glide 3 Trike, a new Nightster Special model, and the return of the iconic Breakout after three years. The 2023 Harley-Davidson Freewheeler is a blacked-out unicorn among cool three-wheeled machines like the Polaris Slingshot line-up, Can-Am Spyder and Ryker models. The only oddity missing is the cool Yamaha Niken which is sadly no longer offered in the US.

2023 Harley Freewheeler Gets A Custom Makeover In Black

Harley-Davidson has gone for a strictly aesthetic makeover for the 2023 Freewheeler. And the most major update comes in the form of a lot of "black". Almost all the chrome elements seen on the last Freewheeler have been painted black.

The blacked-out bits include the headlight housing, tank-mounted instrument console, the V-twin engine, exhaust system, and even the hand and foot levers. The wheels have also been up-sized from 15 inches to 18-inch cast aluminum units at the rear, and they look dope in gloss black. Even the ape handlebar has been painted black to leave no stones unturned.

The front and rear fenders have been redesigned and are not a lot snugger with the wheels. The body panels sit a lot tighter and blend in well, making the Freewheeler a lot more "compact" as compared to other Harley-Davidson trikes. These blacked-out bits look extra cool, specifically with the White Sand Pearl paint job.

New Freewheeler Gets Baked With Cool Features

The 2023 Freewheeler might have gotten more compact, but it still manages to offer 2 cu-ft of cargo space in the rear trunk. It is a weatherproof storage space to keep the cargo safe from all forces of nature. Harley has tweaked the electric reverse gear to be smoother on this behemoth of a three-wheeled motorcycle that weighs 1,110 pounds.

There is a subtle addition of more "black" drama on the visual front with the fusion of matte and gloss-painted elements. The engine block is glossy, whereas the exhaust headers are matte black. The air-cooling fins on the engine head and the pushrods have a pinch of chrome to not lose touch with Harley's distinctive shine.

This hefty machine needs beefy hardware to get going. The suspension duties are taken care of by 49 mm front forks and hand-adjustable rear suspension. The braking setup is solid with dual floating front rotors (coupled to 32 mm 4-piston fixed calipers) and fixed rear rotors (coupled to 26 mm piston integrated park brake).

Helping transfer the V-twin's grunt to the tarmac are 130-section 19-inch front and 215-section 18-inch rear Freewheeler-specific Dunlop tires. Being a trike, the 2023 Freewheeler has an extra dose of safety as compared to two-wheeled motorcycles.

These three-wheelers, despite the added stability need extra safety features. A fine example of a trike gone infamous due to safety issues is the Honda ATC trike. So, taking extra precautions, the new Freewheeler comes with a safety package that includes bits like Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking, ABS, Traction Control System, and Drag-Torque Slip Control System.

2023 Freewheeler Is Old-School With A Milwaukee-Eight 114

At the heart of this blacked-out beauty is a long-standing Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin engine. This thumping heart is capable of pumping out 90 hp @ 4,750 RPM and 122 lb-ft @ 2,750 RPM. The low-end torque helps this three-wheeled monster to thrust you back on the saddle and put a wide grin on your face! We would have loved Harley-Davidson to slap on the new Revolution Max liquid-cooled engine on the Freewheeler for more power and refinement. But hey, next year, we suppose!

Differences Between Freewheeler And Other Trikes By Harley

Harley-Davidson has three distinctive trike models for 2023 - Road Glide 3, Tri Glide Ultra, and the Freewheeler. While there are similarities between the first two, the Freewheeler is a unique three-wheeler in this lot. It is a lot lighter and smaller in dimensions as compared to the other trikes.

Also, the blacked-out trike from Harley has a custom stance making it the sportiest of the lot. The elimination of bulky side luggage carriers and the front fairing are major reasons for its compact and sporty form. Trikes are cool, but the Freewheeler is distinctively cool!

2023 Harley-Davidson Freewheeler: Pricing And Availability

The 2023 Freewheeler is $1,500 dearer than the 2022 MY, and starts at an MSRP of $29,999. This makes it the cheapest trike from Harley-Davidson. The other two "luxury" trikes are well over the $30,000-mark.

But Vivid Black is the only shade you can get for under $30,000 for the Freewheeler. The soothing White Sand Pearl will cost $750 more and a unique dual-tone Bright Billiard Blue-Billiard Gray will cost $1,500 more. Expect the cool new blacked-out trike to be at your nearest Harley-Davidson dealership by March 2023.

Source: Harley-Davidson

About The Author : Tijo Tenson (847 Articles Published) Tijo is an engineer, mechanic, and an avid content creator. He is a grease-monkey who loves tinkering with automobiles every now and then, when not busy penning down his passion for them.