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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127587
1994 Harley-Davidsons N BIK ~ EW ES By Chris Jonnurn arley-Davidso n has a problem most manufactu rers would love to share; th ey can't make enough bikes to keep the ir customers satisfied . The Milwaukee firm is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, and they are manufacturing more motorcycles than ever before. Still, they continue to sell ou t, no mean feat in the current economic clima te. To commemorate the occasion, Harley is introducing two new models, which they unveiled to the press at a July 14 press conference in Pasadena, California. Like last year, most bikes in Harley's lineup are powered by their 1340cc VTwin Evolution mo tor. The exce ptions are the Sportster mod els, which h ou se either the 883cc V-Twi n or th e la rger, 1200ccversion. The two new mod els - the FLHR Electra Glid e Road King and the FXDS-CO N V Dyna -Low Rider Convertible - are actually revised versions of already existing models. Harley' s 1340cc mod els are di vid ed into four families - the Dyna Glide (FXD) Series, the FXRSeries, the Softail (FX/FL) Series and the Touring (FL) Series. All have an up graded starter system, and the FXR models incl ude ignition switches w ith a stronger fla t blad e key and an accessory location to opera te four-way flashers or accessories while the ignition is off. Th e Dyna Glide famil y utilizes a W H The new FLHR Road King bo asts a quick-detach windshield and rear seat, and a center-mounted, electric speedometer. Harley unveils Road King, Low Rider Convertible \ The FXDS-CONV Low Rider Convertible features quicker steering geometry and longe r-travel sus pensi on. new barrel key ignition sw itch w ith the same features . The Touring family, which consists of the new FLHR Electra Glide Road King, the FLHTC Electra Glid e Cl assic, the FLHTC Ult ra Class ic Electra Glide and the FLTC Ultra Classic Tour Glide, got se veral additional upda tes for the new year. Among them are a vacuum-operated , automatic shut-off fuel valve, eliminating the need to turn off the fuel valve when the bike is not running, and a new, updated el ectrical system with an improved wire harness and fewe r connectors. On the Electra Glide models, a panel-mounted illuminated rocker allows the rider to plu g in electrical accessories. The four Sportster models - the XLH 883, the XLH 883 Hu gger, the XLH 883 Deluxe and the XLH 1200 - come with the same ignition switch as the FXR models, and have the same imp roved wiring harness an d wat er p roof connectors as the Touring family. Al so new on th e Sportsters is a frame with a stronger rear section and stamped chrome-plated steel s tru t covers to provide a long, straigh t finish to the back en d. A primary cover with a qu ick-release clutch cable is new, and the 883cc Sportster now enjoys the stiffer alu minu m triple clamp that was standard on the '93 1200cc Sportster. The new Road King, wh ich has been ad ded to the FL Touring Series for '94, features conventional styling that is reminiscen t of its predecessors. Thou gh it is a touring motorcycle, it is designed to easily convert into a custom cruiser; the new Electra Glide windshield and separate pa ssenger seat are eas ily d eta chable to prov ide a nostalgic look. Also featured are a cente r-mounted, wid e-face electric speedometer in a diecast chrome dash, a new on e-piece " tw in-cap" Fat Bob fuel tank (the left "cap" actually houses a fuel gauge), and a head ligh t nacelle. The Road Kin g al so sports a bl ack-and -chrome power tr ain, a cu st om two-tone pa int scheme (a choice of black and silver, or aqua pearl and silver), and a unique tank graphic. The new Dyna Low Rider Convertible, Harley 's second new model, joins th e Dyna Glide FXD lineu p for '94. Unli ke the Road King, the Convertible boasts a modem look, thou gh its saddlebags and windshield are also easily de tachable. The bike features a new 28-degree sport chassis - for quicke r steering geometry - and long er-travel front an d rea r sus pension systems with improved da mp ing characteristics. Both the fork and the shocks feature du al-rate sp rings, which can accommoda te s port rid in g or long-distance trips. Finally, the Conver tib le sports a center-fill tan k with an in teg rated fuel , gauge and a new center console. In ad di tio n to unveiling thei r ne w models at the pr ess conference, HarleyDavid son also mad e a presentation on the s uccess of their 90 th Ann iversary Reunion in Milwaukee. Te n d ifferent rou tes funnelled riders from across the country into Milwaukee on Jun e 12. An estim a ted 400,000 citize ns of the a rea turned out to watch'approxima tely 65,000 Harley riders pour into the dty. Harley personnel also explained tha t contrary to recen t rumors, they have not been limiting production on any of their models. While probl ems with their new tank-painting plant slowed them periodically, total production for the year will be the highest it has ever been, with a record 80,000 units anticipated by the end ofthe year. By 1996, the company plans to build 100,000 motorcycles a year. Despite their success, pri ces on the new models have only undergone a 3.5% increase for '94. C\' 23