let me give you my .02. In comp. to my street bikes, Id say my 2012 fxdb can hang fairly well. Its more about the rider, I can pass people on fxr's and street bikes in the hills, really just matters on the rider mod. Oh and also if your willing to push the bike to its true limits. Plus you get EFI and not have to worry about weather, elevation, you know things that carb'd bikes have to think about to an extent. Its a toss up if you have money, do what you feel. But remember a lot of california FXR's that aren't stock have been ran through.

 

OK, I presently own both styles of bikes. A 2000 FXR4 and a built-up 2000 FXDX.

First my FXR4 manual states its weight is 560 lbs at setup to ride. My Dyna is about 670. 110 lbs more and that's w/o the bags (LeatherPro's). The FXR4 is 100% stock and will stay that way. The Dyna has a 120R and has been fully rebuilt, forks, new works tracker stocks, floating rotors etc. Not the best of the best, but much better than stock.

One thing though, the Dyna has forwards (yes I know its a FXDX) and the FXR4 is mids.

The Dyna will kill the FXR4 on anything straight. Its a rocket and its hard to keep the front down in the low gears. The FXR4 being stock is a dog, however it leans much easier than the FXDX. If you did just a little work on the FXR forks and replaced the rears with Works/Ohlins it would be no contest. I already think the stock FXR beats my upgraded FXDX. The Dyna will break away from the FXR4 because of its power. I can brake hard before and power out hard in a turn. Both are 5-speeds, but personally for either types of these bikes its just fine even on the FWY. These are not multistate cruisers where you ride 400-600 miles in a day on the FWY. In 5th at 70-75 I'm turning right at the base of the power zone on the 120R - about 3K RPM. Never need to down shift at FWY speeds and that RPM its just humming smoothly. The FXR could use more power though at those speeds.

I firmly believe an evo can be built and output just as much power as a TC. No reason why not. There are plenty of after market components for them. However a stock evo can not keep up with a stock 96/103. They are 25% larger for one.

If you just want to get on and ride then building it too much isn't the best idea. There is always a trade-off and there is no doubt putting out more HP/TQ cost more maintenance. That why I have the RGU. For those multi-state trips. I can just get on and ride. If that's just what you want a new bike will give you that out of the box with high reliability, but at a higher cost i.e. you pay for not messing with it... A FXR is cheaper entry cost with more yearly maintenance.


My FXDX has over $20K in it. It originally cost me $8500 and was a stage 4 built 95CI. I sold that engine and it paid almost 50% of the crate 120R price so not too bad.

The FXR4 cost me about $8000 so far. Its low miles so I replaced the seals, rocker covers and put the stock bars back on. That includes the $700 shipping from where it was to me. My point is its almost half the cost of a new Dyna.

So the question you have to ask yourself is do I want to fiddle with it or just get on and ride? the answer to that question is your path if you want to have fun.

 

It all depends on your definition of "handling/performance". At the end of the day, do you want knee-dragging, tank-hugging "handling" or flat-out, full-throttle "performance"?

I had a 1985 FXRT and now have a 2012 FXDWG. The RT, loaded down with fairing and saddlebags and all, probably weighed near the same as the WG but definitely "handled" better. The new WG has more power and the extra gear. The WG would out-run the RT, but if a stray dog ran out in front of me, I'd rather have the RT.


You mentioned aggressive riding, freeway riding, faster and wind blast. Even though I'm a big fan of the FXR, sounds like you're talking about a Street Bob.

 

I somewhat agree here.
I love my 90' FXR, but with the new recent suspension upgrades my 06' Dyna Street Bob is a whole new different bike.

Coming from road racing a Buell's, Sportbikes and Supermoto bikes, I'm pretty hard on my bikes. Especially the FXR. First thing I did when I bought the FXR was a full Front and Rear Adjustable Race Tech suspension, a fork brace, and a steering dampener. Three years down the road I pumped the motor up a bit to a 96", upgraded the front brakes and had even more fun playing with the sport bike guys in the twisties. I couldn't pull them on anything above 125+ but I didn't care since we rarely ever hit those speeds playing in the twisties.

The Street Bob on the other hand was a well-mannered-balanced bike when I first bought her. Late last year I bumped the 88" to a 95". Saved a little more cheese and the stellar guys at Race Tech once again helped me upgrade the Front and Rear suspension with stiffer springs, cartridge emulators, and 12" rear adjustable G3C shocks. At the same time I also bolted on a True Trac kit, converted the 19" front wheel to a 21" and a fork brace to finish it off.

It's been 3 Weeks since I have finished up the Street Bob and I must say this Street Bob is no longer a Street Bob. If anything the character of the bike is no longer the same. The laid back feeling is gone and it no longer feels like a cruiser. It is a completely different animal. First thing I noticed is that it now corners like its on rails. The rear doesn't wag anymore and the front end isn't flexing and bouncing around when pushing hard through the turns. The biggest thing I noticed is how it rides in the rain. I can now feel the traction points whereas before it was hard to tell when I was losing traction. Especially on the grated areas of the freeways. This is a huge benefit if you ride year round.

If you ask me, I think both the FXR and the 06' Dyna are on different levels in stock form. They are completely two different flavors. The FXR is a handler right out of the box with decent power where as the 06' Dyna is well mannered and well balanced. In stock form the FXR is definitely the better bike if you like being a hooligan otherwise its a choice of flavor and reliability.
With suspension and motor modifications tossed into the mix things change dramatically on the Dyna's end compared to the FXR. The Dyna completely changes it's flavor and the FXR seems to just become more refined. From my personal experience I felt like the Dyna suspension upgrades gave it the handling abilities of the FXR but with more on top. To me, the Dyna now feels like the better of the two in handling. It may not feel as slim or streamlined as the FXR but it feels much tighter and secure, traction points are more predictable, more harmony is felt between the brakes and suspension when braking hard and the best part is the suspension is more forgiving when you accidentally give to much throttle (I blame this on the brute power delivery of the Evo, I love it but it scares the crap out of me when I give it a tad bit to much in the corners. The TC is much smoother and more suave).

My assessment is the new 06'up Dyna's once upgraded is basically a refined version of the FXR with a touch extra. I think it all plays down to what flavor you like.

Would you like a Classic, Original, Timeless Beauty or a New, Sexy, Refined Beauty?

Me? I love both, but a fully built out XR1200 would have me leaving both the FXR and Dyna in the garage.

 

A 20 year old bike vs. a brand new bike you serious? Reputations aside if you put $1500 into the street bob you'll dominate. I have a '13 FXDB and everyone including myself is blown away by how smooth nimble and powerful it is. Think about all the bushings and bearings on a bike. You buy a ten year old bike your looking at an overhaul if you want to get the best out of it. Theres nothing like a brand new bike. And if your a skilled rider you should be to a point where nothing but a new bike could satisfy you. Brand new all the way.

 

I rented a 2012 FLD one weekend while working in NC last May, it rode like crap. Granted, some FLDs have had vibration issues and they are heavier than a Bob is, but, I thought the Dyna kind of wallowed around in some of the sharper corners. With my FXRs it's dive into em baby. My Evo has been very reliable. Sure it will need some replacement maintenance as time goes on, but, and I have riden almost all the different models (st,fl,xl,fxd )bikes HD has made in the past 20 years and nothing compares to my FXRs for nimble handling ( well XR1200 aside ).
And why the maintenance fear of an older bike? They are less complicated in some respects. It seems many of the newer bikes have issues too. But, there is no argument here that a 103" is strong motor. Though an 80" can be enhanced to a higher level too.
Ride what you like and like what you ride, but FXR all the way for me. fwtw

 

With fewer than 15k miles, the FXDF has required more "maintenance" work and fixes (rear wheel bearing, front master cylinder, front rotors, it goes on and on) than my '98 EVO powered dyna with 55k.

I wouldn't worry so much about the age. If you're patient and find the right bike, the maintenance won't be a big deal.

That said, the FXDF will blow the wheels off of the Evo any day.

Limiting this to straight line performance, since my Evo is not an FXR.

 

I had an FXR. I like my FXD way better. To each his own, I guess.

 

Me and my 86 FXR will basically leave any other harley way behind in the twisty roads.... It's light, nimble, has fantastic clearance and easily more power than a worked twink!

It a combination of a great bike and a butt that's been in the same saddle for 25 years....

 

Ive never rode a FXR but I can say that once you replace the factory junk suspension on a FXD its a whole new ball game