Whenever long-standing bike icon Harley-Davidson decides to collaborate with other big companies, it’s always a hit. But in recent decades we’ve become accustomed to seeing Harley creating magic with a few brands in particular. But recently, a new collaboration of Harley-Davidson’s is begging the question: is Harley-Davidson betraying its relationship with Ford?

A new collaboration for Harley-Davidson

In the world of business, there are no hard feelings. It is this lack of sentiment that leads Harley-Davidson to stray from its typical partner and head in another direction for its newest collaboration.

Just as people have gotten used to Harley-Davidson Ford F-Series trucks, Harley has turned a corner and begun this new partnership with iconic brand GMC instead. In fact, Harley-Davidson and GMC just recently announced its collaboration in the much-anticipated, 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. And after 20 years of a Ford/Harley friendship, people are curious about what a Harley-Davidson GMC will be like.

According to Motor1, Harley-Davidson’s partner has changed, but not everything has. The newest “Harley-fied” truck is likely to be built by the Tuscany Motor Company.

This is the same company responsible for building specialty trucks for more than 30 years for the likes of GMC, Chevrolet, and Ford. But, as Fox News points out, this is the “first time you’ll be able to get an official Harley-Davidson-licensed truck on a General Motors platform.”

How Harley-Davidson put its stamp on a GMC truck

Harley-Davidson reports that more than 65 changes have been made to the traditional Sierra in order to turn it into an impressive, improved Harley-edition. Some of these changes include a front grille with a Bar & Shield insert in a nod to Harley, a ram air hood, and an LED light bar incorporated into the front bumper. But that’s not all.

Taking inspiration from the low and wide Harley Fat Boy, the newest Sierra features 22-inch milled aluminum wheels and shows off in style with fender flares and power-operated, illuminated running boards. The GMC Sierra’s exhaust receives some upgrades as well, with a redesigned rear bumper and solid aluminum dual tips.

Even the tonneau cover is custom-made and color-matched to the Harley-Davidson Sierra’s body, adorned with matching Bar & Shield badges. And on the inside, you can expect Harley-Davidson logos just about everywhere you look, on custom leather upholstery. 

According to Car and Driver, Harley-Davidson’s collaboration with GMC has produced more than cool exterior accents. When it comes to interior hardware, this special edition Sierra features improved shocks, a BDS suspension lift, and astoundingly-impressive 35-inch all-terrain tires.

This specialized suspension helps lift the Sierra a few inches. Costing around $94,000, this GMC/Harley-Davidson Sierra is limited to just 250 examples made, sold at select dealerships. Buyers will only get the choice between three body-color choices: Onyx Black, Summit White, or Satin Steel Metallic.

Has Harley-Davidson found a new partner?

Specialized, Harley-Davidson editions of the Ford F-Series have been coming off the production line since 2000, with both brands working closely together through these years on several projects. The latest Harley/Ford collaboration appeared in just 2019 in an F-150 special edition.

But there was a long time span when Ford and Harley-Davidson stopped collaborating, with 2019 being the first year since 2012 that the two worked together. This collaboration for the 2019 edition Ford wasn’t an official partnership, however.

According to The Truth About Cars, the pair spent more than a decade together producing trucks but ended its partnership in 2012. After just one small collaboration in 2019, Harley-Davidson further realized it needed a partner, but a new one this time. And everyone is wondering: where will this new partnership lead?