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I bought a new FXRS in '85, pic below. Great bike. I let my best friend ride it while I rode his tricked out '79 FX. That FX was like riding a minibike by comparison.
But if I was to buy another bike that age today? The FX shovel. LOL. It had soul.
So what the hell is that....
Is it something you can buy off the show room floor??
What I don't get is that there's always somebody out there that's got to post something like this on such a rare machine just to make a statement that's totally irrelevant to the comparisons of the FXR.. I don't get it. Anyways we're talking about regular production bikes here not something that Milwaukee tried to develop to be the best of to be able to compete in the AMA Superbikes level......
since you don't know allow me to educate
that is the vr1000, they made 50 street legal ones around 1994 but sadly some rich guy in Poland bought all of them, then there was the street rod vrod 2006-2007 it handled well, then there is the xr1200 2009-2010 and xr1200x 2011-2012 they handle well and they are still out there to buy and are regular production bikes
Last edited by rhino1250; Mar 28, 2022 at 09:13 PM.
I think the meme "FXR is the best handling Harley ever made" should be updated to "FXR, the best handling Harley made at THAT time". Things have moved on.
Greg
Real fair comment Greg. Helps to put this kind of conversation into perspective.
[Full disclosure: I'm still riding the '85 FXRS I purchased new in '85]
FXR best handling harley ever made?? I've been riding my old 1985 fxr for a few years now and don't get me wrong I love it. It was quit an upgrade from my 1978 fxs shovel, but recently the wife has been complaining about riding on the back of it "we are getting older!" lol, so I've been looking for a sportster for her to ride. She said why don't you get something for you that is more comfortable for me to ride on the back? OK??, so with the money I have saved for a sportster because I not financing crap! I began my search. I found a 2007 street glide for $7000 close to were I live, over my budget but I'll go look at it, engine and transmission rebuilt with all the paper work, new tires a new thunder header, all a plus! Its definitely a buyers market now, I talked him down to $4500 and bought it and now back to the start of this post! It handles and rides so beautiful, better than the fxr, I was pretty shocked, I'm an old school guy, here is a pic of her, but Ill still be on here because the old fxr is not going anywhere!!
I'm not a racer or performance freak but after driving one, I would argue the the sportster s is the best handling harley of all time at this point.
a PO apparently didn't like the Batwing mounted mirrors and also replaced the Seat with one from a Road King Std (Your wife should thank that PO )
Keep in Mind, some don't like the gearing on those 07/08 models (that can be remedied if needed) ... 07 First year for 6spd and 66T (from 5sp/70T) ... changed to 68T in 09
Appears to be a nice bike ... Enjoy
Oh and BTW, you have the next best wheel bearings 2000-07 (compared to Tapered Roller) ... changed again in 08
.
Last edited by multihdrdr; Mar 29, 2022 at 11:22 AM.
a PO apparently didn't like the Batwing mounted mirrors and also replaced the Seat with one from a Road King Std (Your wife should thank that PO )
Keep in Mind, some don't like the gearing on those 07/08 models (that can be remedied if needed) ... 07 First year for 6spd and 66T (from 5sp/70T) ... changed to 68T in 09
Appears to be a nice bike ... Enjoy
Oh and BTW, you have the next best wheel bearings 2000-07 (compared to Tapered Roller) ... changed again in 08
.
Yeah your exactly correct, road king seat, I did order a pair of batwing mirrors, I'll try them out and see how I like them, if not I'll stick with the pair that's on there now,they work good. What about the gearing that people don't like??, I know it cruses 90mph like nothing
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
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Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
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Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
, so with the money I have saved for a sportster because I not financing crap! I began my search. I found a 2007 street glide for $7000 close to were I live, over my budget but I'll go look at it, engine and transmission rebuilt with all the paper work, new tires a new thunder header, all a plus! Its definitely a buyers market now, I talked him down to $4500 and bought it and now back to the start of this post! It handles and rides so beautiful, better than the fxr, I was pretty shocked, I'm an old school guy, here is a pic of her, but Ill still be on here because the old fxr is not going anywhere!!
)
