FXR Overview?? : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

NCTURBOS · 10-26-2009, 12:56 PM

Can anyone give me a quick overview on the FXR time-line? Specifically any frame & swingarm changes made, and differernces between the models?

Thanks,

K.

VRSCR · 10-26-2009, 02:00 PM

1983 FXR with shovel head and 5 spd.
1985 changed to evo motor. Everything else was the same till discontinued in 96.
This is best I remeber. I am sure there are some experts that will respond if I was not correct.
Where in NC are you from??

NCTURBOS · 10-26-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRSCR

1983 FXR with shovel head and 5 spd.
1985 changed to evo motor. Everything else was the same till discontinued in 96.
This is best I remeber. I am sure there are some experts that will respond if I was not correct.
Where in NC are you from??

I work in Pineville (southside Charlotte), and live in Harrsburg (5-minutes from LMS/Zmax Dragway). I wanted to make it to Rockingham the other weekend, but it was the wife's birthday on the 10th.

Do you know if there are any rake, stretch, or rigidity differences between year/models?

Thanks,

K.

plugeye · 10-26-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRSCR

1983 FXR with shovel head and 5 spd.
1985 changed to evo motor. Everything else was the same till discontinued in 96.
This is best I remeber. I am sure there are some experts that will respond if I was not correct.
Where in NC are you from??

i thought 1st fxr was 82
84 1st year evo motor
94 last year for fxr & fxlr
99 & 2000 a few custom fxrs
87 forks changed to 39mm & most models got new struts

plugeye · 10-26-2009, 02:42 PM

all frames very similar (rake/ trail)
only minor differences between 19 & 21 inch wheels
and some had longer forks

93 FXR · 10-26-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plugeye

i thought 1st fxr was 82....Correct
84 1st year evo motor....Correct
94 last year for fxr & fxlr....Correct
99 & 2000 a few custom fxrs....Correct, these were the FXR2 and FXR3 in 1999 and the FXR4 in 2000. It should be noted, that this was the beginning of the CVO program, or the Screamin' Eagle machines.
87 forks changed to 39mm & most models got new struts
I believe this is correct as well....

Good info Plugeye!

VRSCR · 10-26-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCTURBOS

I work in Pineville (southside Charlotte), and live in Harrsburg (5-minutes from LMS/Zmax Dragway). I wanted to make it to Rockingham the other weekend, but it was the wife's birthday on the 10th.

Do you know if there are any rake, stretch, or rigidity differences between year/models?

Thanks,

K.

We need to meet up at a drag strip in the middle somewhere. I am at the beach, Wilmington!

Chopper guys makes some sweet FXR style frames. What ya up to?

Lakerat · 10-26-2009, 04:18 PM

Look Here: http://www.hdfxr.dk/Public/FXR/FXRHistory.aspx

NCTURBOS · 10-26-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakerat

Look Here: http://www.hdfxr.dk/Public/FXR/FXRHistory.aspx

Perfect!! Just what I was looking for, Thanks!!

K.

NCTURBOS · 10-26-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRSCR

We need to meet up at a drag strip in the middle somewhere. I am at the beach, Wilmington!

Chopper guys makes some sweet FXR style frames. What ya up to?

I get over that ways some, a good friend lives in that area. We go to Holden Beach some as well...

I had been looking at the C.G. frames, K. Boyce stuff, etc., but I saw a '90 FXR at the local H-D dealership yesterday, talked with the owner some, and I think I want to go that route when the $$$ allows. Right now it's a learning curve...

K.

LADave · 10-26-2009, 10:09 PM

The 87 got new struts is because the rear shocks were angeled a little different. Layed down a little more on the 87 than on the 86 and earlier...

Earlier had 10-inch brake discs, the later ones had the 11.5 inch discs, not sure what year that change came in...

blackjackcustms · 10-27-2009, 11:28 PM

11.5" brakes started in 84. The biggest difference in all of the frames is that very early frames had a pipe mount welded to them down low on the right side. The rest of the differences are mostly cosmetic (bars, tanks, seats, etc.). The whole line up got regular upgrades (forks, clutch, carb, starter, etc)

I figure that by 1990, they had all the important upgrades. There are minor chnges to the flywheels, cases, oil system, etc after that, but the'90s and up have the good forks, carb, clutch and starter. Any frame will take the later parts, but it aint cheap to update the driveline. Therefore, I recommend 1990 and up.

LADave · 10-28-2009, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackjackcustms

11.5" brakes started in 84. The biggest difference in all of the frames is that very early frames had a pipe mount welded to them down low on the right side. The rest of the differences are mostly cosmetic (bars, tanks, seats, etc.). The whole line up got regular upgrades (forks, clutch, carb, starter, etc)

I figure that by 1990, they had all the important upgrades. There are minor chnges to the flywheels, cases, oil system, etc after that, but the'90s and up have the good forks, carb, clutch and starter. Any frame will take the later parts, but it aint cheap to update the driveline. Therefore, I recommend 1990 and up.

While that may be true, there's nothing wrong with an earlier model. I got over 100K out of mine before it busted a valve. If that hadn't happened, no tellin' how long it would've went before it needed to be rebuilt. It only took a .005" over-size to clean up the barrels and the bearings were still in decent shape. Re-builder said it was "ready" but would've gone plenty more miles otherwise...

If you find one at a decent price and are comfortable with whatever engine (Shovel or Evo) and the mechanicals of it, I'd say go for it...

POPS87FXR · 10-28-2009, 08:39 AM

Introduced 1982. only year with the extra oil line to the bottom of the cylinder. Also had two positions for the upper shock mount, low or high. I believe this was droped later as my 87 only has one but there were two on my 82.

First Rubber mounted FX

Was used as test bed for the EVO, only Shovel head frame that will take an EVO without modifacation.

Was also the test bed for the Nova Project, the openings on the FXRT fairing were originaly the air ducts, not turn signals.

The 99 FXR2 was the first CVO

The FXR team kicked Willie Gay out of thier office when he wanted to do styling changes to the FXR.

When the Dyna team was developing the chasis for the 06 Dyna, they went out and found the lowest milage 92 FXR that they coul, brought it back to the factory, and put it back into as new shape, then tested the new Dyna against it and tweeked it till as the head of Dyna development told me, "it handled almost as well as the FXR"

For many years the ride of choice for both the HA and The Banditos MC's.

the link to FXR history is a great one BTW.

ClassicRider · 10-28-2009, 10:10 AM

Placing your curser over the "LINK" below and then right clicking your curser will take you to a THREAD here at V~Twin Forum that will reference a THREAD that I put together at another website to provide some historical information about the FXR:

"FXR HISTORY"

Placing your curser over the "LINK" below and right clicking your curser will take you to the actual FXR HISTORY THREAD but in order to see all of the photos that are available within the postings you must become a member of that site which is free and quite simple to register:

"FXR HISTORY"

Regards,

"Classic"