Looking to buy this FXR below for my father. I ride a 2012 fatboy and he has been looking for a reason to get off of his Suzuki Intruder 800 and get on a Harley. He wants something that he can wrench on his own, but i am completely unfamiliar with these bikes and want to get some info and hopefully some pointers on what to look for on the bike, problems of these bikes, what to ask the seller, things to check, etc.

He is asking $4800 or trade, and after we spoke he is willing to trade me for a kawasaki 4 wheeler that i have and dont use - I value the 4 wheeler at approx 3200-3600 depending on season, buyer, etc...

Pretty sure this bike is a 80ci and 4 speeed? maybe a 5 speed? Im oblivious.. my father has been a mechanic for 30 years and is pretty handy with the wrench so he is not too worried about doing some work if it needs it...

Thanks all and I hope to get some feedback i am going to look at tonight.

Mike

 

Well what you have there is the original "club" bike.
Very un-assuming, not much to them but lots of power and speed, they are light with all the big boy parts.
Around here these are sought after.

The guys I know all keep one like a mistress regardless of their other bikes.
I havent owned one but I know they are appreciated, fast and very cool to work on.
The idea is you get lost in the crowd when the cops come on an fxr like that, of course this one has flames so lol you arent going to be blending in anywhere fast.

Obviously you want to look closely at the motor and tranny for noise, leaks, smoke, etc.. or bring a mechanic to look at it with you.
That seems like a good price though if you can do the trade straight up, again though I would drive it and have someone you trust look at it.

Lump

 

That's a fairly sought after bike. Just be ready for your daddy to walk away from you when you are out riding.

Lifters need replacing at around 50K. Oil leaks, etc., can all be fixed for a gasket set and some wrench time. Sounds like a deal to me.

Oh, and 5 speed.

 

That vintage FXR is a solid runner. The only "problem" area I'm familiar with are that the clutch actuator was a lever/clutch fork (like old Chevy's) instead of the later ramp/ball mechanism, and the clutch forks are known to break occasionally. This isn't a problem, and is an easy 30 minute fix on the side of the road, but, it may be prudent to carry an extra in your tool bag.

Like any rubber mount, the condition of the isolators (rubber mounts) is important to handling/noticeable vibrations.

Other than that - those are well balanced, comfortable, and I daresay damn fine lookin' machines. If I didn't already have my FXRT, I'd be tempted by that bike.

 

I think it's worth that $3600 even if it needed a top end or a trans. Just go get it. You'll still be able to outrun your old man from about 90 up, but he'll smoke you in the twisties.

 

Or just change it over to the ball and ramp style

 

If you buy it ditch that wind screen thingy!

 

Jump on that....you cant go wrong.

 

If it runs an shifts well, doesn't smoke or leak excessively, I think the trade for the 4 wheeler is a pretty sweet deal. The only problem I think of when fxr's come up are the body work an seat, exhaust are more expensive an harder to come by but it's supposed to be the best handling an riding bike of it's era.

 

Oh yea, PAINT IT!