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/126939
pegs are right where-y-our insteps want to be. It is very comfortable; the American version of an easy chair on wheels. As soon as you stan the new engine, you stan to shed your concepts of how a Harley behaves. The old familiar "tremble" survives, but lamed to a pleasant throb by rubber engine mounts. The traditional mellow bark of a big V-twin utters from the Slaggered dual exhaust pipes, but quieter than the past. And that is the only sound you hear. The metal-on-metal clatter is gone. The new Harley is mechanically silent. Even the primary and final drive have received the silent treatment. Nary a groan from the new diaphragm cI u tch or a rus tie from .the toothed belt drive. Power takeup is smooth and predictable with a light feel to the clutch lever. At a weight of only 610 pounds, slung low in the frame, the FXLR moves out nimbly. It handles very well at any speed. The skinny 21" front rib and the fat 16" rear Dunlop tires work well together so that steering is light; traction sticky enough for swift cornering, and there is no deflection on rain-grooved pavement. All five gear ratios are well chosen and chunk audibly into place. The faster you ride, the smoother this Harley becomes. Those engine mounts really soak up the strokes. The suspension is spony-stiff. All Harleys feel great on the straight, open road, but this one also likes life in the curvy canyons. I was not able to scrape anything but my toes. Even the clutch cover has been narrowed this year. The first thing a serious canyon bender would scrape would be a footpeg, and they fold, with steel balls on the bottom for that purpose. A trip down the quarter-mile drag strip at Los Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale, California, produced a 15.173 second, 87.21 mph clocking. Nothing spectacular in this day and age of sub-II second crotch rockets, but plenty strong enough to embarrass most four-wheel vehicle operators. This is a genuine Harley, with the accent on the Davidson. William G. Davidson designed the model to keep up with the competition on any road ride and kick ass in the parking mode. He e·ven added a decorative woven-edge leather strap over the tank because Willie G. likes woven leather. Nits: H-D's traditional padlock hasp steering lock looks pervious to .... V .0 8 V u V Cl (Above) The FXlR is very comfortable; the American version of an easy chair on wheels. (Below) Harley's 1338cc Evolution powerplant is slung low in the frame. t crooks on this model because,the fork lug is alloy. No trick for a Harley-size screwdriver to break off. There's no helmet lock 'nor any place to store one. Guess Harley riders don't use helmets. Details: Headlight and clutch adjustment are about as simple' as can be. Maintenance and repair are designed to be easy. Brakes are strong and didn't squeal once. Three-pointeight gallon tank is good for about 150 miles before going on reserve. Engine is designed to live on leaded or unleaded fuel. And it didn't leak one drop of oil, ever. Honestl • Harley Davidson FXLR Engine type Air-cooled. V-twin. four-stroke Bore x stroke 88.8x108.0mm Displacement 1338.6cc Compression retia ...•... 8.5:1 'Carburetor (2) 38mm Keihin Horsepower 69@5000rpm Torque ....••... 82@3600rpm Valves per cylinder . . . . . . . . .. 2 Starting system Electric Banery rating 12 volt. 22 amp. hr, Ignition ......•...... Electronic Lubrication Wet sump Redline 5200 rpm rpm @ 60 mph 2800 Primary drive. . . . .. Double row chain Final drive ••••........... Belt Gear ratios 5th ...•...........•.. 3.370 4th ...•.••...• '....•.• 4.1 60 3rd : ...•......••. 5.400 2nd 7.450 1st 10.930 Freme •.....• Double downtube Rake ...•.........•.••... 29° Treil ............•..... 4.22 in. Front suspension type .... Telescopic fork Fork tube diameter 39mm Front wheel trevel ..•.... 6.9 in. Rear suspension type . . . .. Dual shock swingarm Rear wheel trevel 3.0 in. Front brakes Disc Rear brakes Disc Front wheel _. . . . . . . . . .. Laced Rear wheel Disc Front tire M H90 x 21 Rear tire ...•....... MT90 x 16 Claimed dry weight 575 Ibs. Overall length 91.63 Overell width .....••.•.. 31 in. Overall height 48 in. Wheelbase ........•. 63.13 in. Fuel capacity .....•.••• 4.2 gal. Ground clearance 5.25 in. Seat height ....•..•. 26.38 in. Load capacity 510 Ibs. Colors ...••.. Vivid black. candy brandywine. candy bronze, brandywine. crimson Retail price .....•..•..• $9099 21