Harley Low Rider S: As Good as the Last One?
Improved 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S packs a punch, but does it ride as well as the previous beast after a couple of changes?
The newer Softail line of FXLRS Low Rider S bikes are awesome. They’re ergonomic, manageable cruisers with the biggest factory Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight (M8) engines available. For the 2022 Low Rider S, the MoCo made some changes to the hard-charging Softail.
Bruce Rossmeyer’s Harley-Davidson let Blockhead out some of the changes that Harley-Davidson made to the crowd favorite. First, and perhaps most noticeably, the 2022 FXLRS is available in the CVO favorite gunship grey.
Next, Harley-Davidson, listening to the complaints of previous owners, simplified and relocated the gauge cluster to a front-and-center location. Finally, in typical Low Rider S fashion, the new bike is available with a big, bad twin: the 117 cubic inch M8.
Blockhead hailed the 2022 Low Rider S as a great bike with tons of potential for modification
Blockhead has a heavily modified 2020 Low Rider S, so he is familiar with the feel of the platform. Right away, he noted that the handlebar placement felt better on the 2022 than his 2020. Following a size-up, he took the new bike out for test ride around Daytona Beach. After riding for a few minutes, Blockhead claimed that the 117 cubic inch engine packed more than enough punch. Considering that his 2020 FXLRS is packing a 131 cubic inch engine making 150 horsepower, Blockheads words were high praise.
He did note that the stock solo saddle on the 2022 bike limited mobility, but he was quick to point out the thorough aftermarket for the bikes. If you’re trying to stay within warranty, though, Blockhead is quick to point out that there’s no shortage of MoCo and Screamin’ Eagle parts. In fact, even cruise control is an optional purchase from Harley-Davidson, although previous versions of the bike came with it standard. Blockhead’s personal FXLRS is a beast, but he agrees that the new bike is a serious machine just begging to be personalized.