Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126784
XLX-61 Sportster-based Harleys have a bore and stroke of 81 x 96.8mm for 1000cc (61 c.i.) -displacement. They're unit construction with duplex roller chain primary drives and four-speed transmissions. The XR 1000 makes 14 more horsepower than a standard Sportster. This new clutch for the 1340cc models has an aluminum-alloy basket and pressure plate replacing steel parts used previously. It also has a diaphragm spring with non-linear pressure: as the clutch lever is pulled in. the amount of effort needed on the lever decreases. XR-1000 Iled better The FXST looks like a classic hardtail, the shock absorbers hidden underneath the engine, between the bOllom frame rails. Like the FXWG, the FXST has a 21-inch front wheel (wire spoked, of course), extended fork tubes and a five-gallon tank. The FXST's claim to fame is its ultra-low seat height of just 25.2 inches. The FXRS and FXRT models come with five-speed transmission and vibration-SLOpping rubber engine mounts. The FXRS Low Glide comes in two forms, the standard and the Optional Performance-Suspension Package model. Both have a 4.2gallon fuel tank, handlebar-mounted speedometer and tach and highway pegs. Both have belt final drive. The standard model has a 26.8-inch seat height; the Performance Suspension model's seat height is 28.1 inches. That's because the suspension package consists of fork stanchion tubes that are 2.0 inches longer than standard (travel is unchanged at 6.9 inches) and the rear shocks are 0.8 inches longer (travel increases the same amount, 0.8 inches). These changes increase corneri ng clearance and suspension action in corners. The Performance Suspension model also has two front disc brakes instead of the standard model's single front disc; combined with the'suspension changes the brakes add 10 pounds LO the motorcycle. The FXRT is basically an FXRS Optional Performance Suspension Package model with a fairing and saddlebags added for Harley- Davidson's version of sport· LOuring. Harley's touring FLT (Tour Glide) and FLHT (Electra Glide) both have rubber-mounted engines, l6-inch cast aluminum alloy wheels, anti-dive front forks with air assist, air-adjustable rear shocks, bell drive, dual front disc brakes, floorboards, saddlebags and LOp box. The FLHT comes with a traditional handlebar· mounted fairing with a single headlight and dual running lights; the FLT has a framemounted, dual-headlight fairing. Seats also vary, stepped for the FLHT, close-LO-f1at for the FLT. There are three Sportster models for 1985, the stripped XLX-61, the XLH (Sportster) and the XLS (Roadster). All have the 61-cubic-inch (lOOOcc) iron· barrel, iron-head fourspeed unit-construction Sportster engine. All have the introduced-in-1984 wet clutch with integrated alternator and diaphragm spring. The XLX-6l is a basic, traditional motorcycle, with speedometer; the only instrumentation is the speedometer. The exhaust system is painted flat black: the seat carries one person; the fuel carried by a simple, black peanut tank. The XLH and XLS models have polished engine covers and chrome exhaust systems; the XLH has spoked wheels, buckhorn bars, bar-mounted tach cnd speedometer and a dual seal. The XLS has a 3.8-gallon Fat Bobstyle tank with a console-mounted tachometer. The speedometer is handlebar-mounted and the seat carries two people. There's also the XRlOOO, with a Sportster lower end and new highperformance iron-barrel, aluminumalloy-cylinder-head top end. Unlike other Harley-Davidson models, the XRIOOO has a single carb for each cylinder, being 26mm Dell 'Ortos with individual K&N dirttrack-style air fillers. The exhaust pipes are upswept, also ala' a dirttracker, and the engine makes 70 bhp at 6000 rpm and 84Ibs.-ft. of torque at 3600 rpm. (Standard Sportster engines make 58Ibs.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm and 56 bhp at 6000 rpm. • 15