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
FXST Softail All the 80-cubic-inch (1340cc) Harleys are non-unit-construction with five-speed transmissions. Bore and stroke are 88 x 108mm. compression single carburetor is a 38mm Keihin with accelerator pump. The latest 41 mm exhaust; included angle is 58°. The Harleys make 71 .5 bhp at 5000 engines bolted to sap,arate duplex-roller-chain primary drives and four or ratio 8.5:1. ignition transistorized electronic with vacuum advance. The aluminum-alloy top end h.as two valves per cylinder. a 47mm intake and a rpm and 82.5 Ibs.-ft. of torque at 3600 rpm; reClline is 5200. \ ~ \ ) ~FLT Tour Glide ' FXSB Low Rider 1985: Barleys never 10 By Charles Clayton RENO, NV, JULY 25 America's survIving motorcycle maker debuted 10 new models to the press, but the sensational new Harley-Davidson Tri Hawk was nowhere to be seen - not even a picture of it. Dealer opinion was a big "No Opinion" on the company's recent acquisition of the 3-track sports buggy. Interest 14 was focused on the new diaphragmspring clutch, belt drives on the big models and sundry detail perfections that make the new Harleys mighty auractive to anyone who thinks 100 mph is fast enough. Company chairman Vaugn Beals says that the smokestack industries of the midwest have been actively trading "trade secrets" with each other's factories in an effon to meet the competition. H-D is leading the rest of American industry by producing virtual one-of-a-kind showbikes on their assembly line. Weofthe press used to hate the Harley standard of fit and finish, but now that standard is so fine that you almost hate to take a new Harley out an'd expose it to the harsh road environment. No worry, though, the paint and plating is as tough as it is pretty. The new bikes that we test rode were much quieter, smoother and easy to guide than even last year's models. The new clutches are nice, the belts are a slight improvement over chains and shafts, and the California emissions cannisters are hid from sight on the big twins, and featured like a nitrous boule on the Sponsters. Prices range [rom $4,000 to $8,500 but new credit financing makes the monthly payments easy to bear for most people. If you ever wanted to own a Harley, 1985100ksJikea qual- ity year for the brand. Besides the Tri Hawk, Harley management have a lot of other clever ideas to occupy their time. There is talk of opening "Harley .boutiques" in malls and shopping centers, where their remarkably good and comparatively inexpensive line of clothing would be featured. Latest addition, and sensation of the show, was a line of zippered feather skins for women introduced by John Wyckoff of FWI. The big news for '1985 is tha t the iron-barrel Shovel head engine has been replaced in all I340cc models by the Evolution Blockhead aluminumalloy top end introduced for the 1984 season. All five-speed (and two of four four-speed) 1340cc models get belt toothed belt final drives (primary drive is still duplex roller chain in a oil bath); alll340cc models have new wiring harnesses and improved starter relays and new clutches .with diaphragm springs. All models have new 120-mph speedometers and new styling touches, and a throttle lock screw with a starshaped knob. Every Harley-Davidson destined for California will come with that state's required evaporative emissions control equipment, includ- ing a charcoal cannister to catch fumes from the gas tank. Four of the 1'985 1340cc models have four-speed transmissions, those four being the FXEF (Super Glide Fat Bob), the FXSB (Low Rider), the FXWG (Wide Glide) and the FXST (SoftJil}. All have duplex roller chain primary drives; FXWG and FXSB have belt final drives. All have short, . staggered dual exhaust pipes. The FXEF comes with a Fat Bobstyle dual-filler, 4.2-gallon fuel tank, a speedometer and tach mounted in the fuel tank center console, and spoked wheels. The FXSB comes with cast aluminum alloy wheels and Dunlop KI91 tires, highway pegs, a separate passenger seat with a padded sissy bar, and a ki.cker starter (in addition to the standard electric starter). Like the FXEF, the FXSB has a Fat Bob-style fuel tank. The FXWG has spoked wheels, but the front wheel measures 21inches instead of 19 inches and the front forks are extended 3.5-inches. Fenders are bobbed, the Fat Bob-style gas tank is a fittle larger (5.0 gallons) and the only instrument is a 120-mph speedometer.