frames
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,565
Likes: 3,318
From: Cental, MI
Year dependent.. Early frames?? No Difference..later on?? .. No right tabs for forwards..no footboard Tab, horn mount is Only on downtube of Later FX frames...etc... Again Early, (how early..gotta study) all the very same.. certainly thru 1975...which is where I end until 1984...the end!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,481
Likes: 3,677
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
As Racepres stated, thru 1975 models for sure (owned a stock 75 FXE at one time). Around 77/78 MoCo started diverging. My 78 FXE, from the factory, had the right footboard/ floorboard mount cut off. And the left primary outer cover no longer had the footboard mount on it. Can't speak to the FXS models tho. I think late 70s? HD stared to give the FX series their own frame treatment. Hopefully someone with a later lead can chime in.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 945
Likes: 656
From: USA
My '81 FXS has the right 2 bolt mount at the front of the frame. If you have more questions show me what you want to know and I will look. The only FL I had was a new one so I know nothing about a shovel one.
Last edited by Ken45; Aug 19, 2025 at 08:32 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 82
Likes: 53
From: Kentucky
My 75 same FX and FL . My 84 FXWG and FL lots of differences , must is no where for foot boards on 84 , no way to use OEM parts to swap on boards , horn is on down tube , rear MC and brake pedal is totally different .
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,510
Likes: 13,752
From: Pa.
As Racepres stated, thru 1975 models for sure (owned a stock 75 FXE at one time). Around 77/78 MoCo started diverging. My 78 FXE, from the factory, had the right footboard/ floorboard mount cut off. And the left primary outer cover no longer had the footboard mount on it. Can't speak to the FXS models tho. I think late 70s? HD stared to give the FX series their own frame treatment. Hopefully someone with a later lead can chime in.
You can add footboards and controls to an FX frame W/O the RH frame tab or the LH primary tab by using early FL Softtail parts.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,159
Likes: 432
From: australia
Year dependent.. Early frames?? No Difference..later on?? .. No right tabs for forwards..no footboard Tab, horn mount is Only on downtube of Later FX frames...etc... Again Early, (how early..gotta study) all the very same.. certainly thru 1975...which is where I end until 1984...the end!!
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,159
Likes: 432
From: australia
i was talking to a hd mech who worked for a dealership and he saw the dealer stamping a heap of vin plates FLH and attaching them to fx frames as well as FLH frames in the 70s