Can't go by insurance or title. My title says FXS instead of FXRS. Why I don't know. Maybe someone at DMV messed up maybe PO messed up on registration papers. Either way I go by the 4th and 5th letters on the VIN after 1HD which every harley has I believe.
As is the case with many AMERICAN MADE Harleys, "1HD1" are the first four digits of all FXR models. The first “1” = US made. Digits 2 and 3 are always “HD” for "Harley-Davidson". Digit 4 is for engine type, “1” = 901+ cc; “4” is 351 -900cc.
The
5th and 6th digits identify the model:
EA = FXR “Super Glide ll” laced wheels w/ tubes, solid color.
EB = FXRS FXR “Low Glide Sport” cast wheels, tubeless, two-tone.
EC = FXR
T “
Touring” 1983 - ‘92
ED = FXR
P “Pursuit Glide”
Police w/ windshield, 1984 – ’94
EE = FXR
DG “
Disc
Glide”, 1984
EF = FXRP “Pursuit Glide” Police w/ Fairing, 1984 - ’94
EG = FXRS-
SP “Low Rider
Sport”, 1985 -‘93
EH = FXR
D “
Dresser” with FL style dual exhaust (both sides) ’86 only
EJ = FXR
C FXR “
Custom” 1985 - ‘87
EK = FXRP “Pursuit Glide” Police C.Hi.P. California Highway Patrol
EL = FX
LR “
Low
Rider”, 1987 – ‘94
EM = FXRS-
CONV, “Low Rider
Convertible”, 1989-‘93
ES = FXR2, “Super Glide” (CVO) 1999
ET = FXR3, “Super Glide” (CVO) 1999
EV = FXR4, “Super Glide” (CVO) 2000
Furthermore, the 7th digit (a letter) identifies the original engine:
"K" = 1340 Shovelhead motor - would be stamped in all '82 and '83 FXR's.
"L" = 1340 Evolution motor.
The 8th digit tells the Introduction Date:
1=regular, 2= mid-year January, 3=California Special, 4=Daytona March
Ninth digit is called the “check digit” (I don't really know what that means).
10th digit (another letter for FXR's) tells the year:
C = ’82, D = ’83, E = ’84, F = ’85, G = ’86, H = ’87, J = ’88, K = ’89,
L = ’90, M = ’91, N = ’92, P = ’93, R = ’94, S = ’95, T = ’96, V = ’97, W= ’98,
X = ’99, Y = ’00.
11th digit (letter) tells where, which factory the bike was made, J= Milwaukee, WI, K= KC, MO, T=Tomahawk, WI, Y=York, PA
And last but not least, the final six digits, #'s 11 thru 17 are the bike's production number.
Caveman85's previous post regarding specific models and years also helps clear up the muddied waters created by the MoCo:
Correct. The standard brochure for 1985 only shows the "lowered" variant of the FXRS, which had a single front disc. I just wanted to point him to a source that showed the model name as "Low Glide". I think he's got an RP, RT, or an upgraded RS.
The confusion over the model "names" is valid, and Harley hasn't helped matters by shuffling them around over the years. For example:
1982 - FXRS Super Glide II
1983 - FXRS Super Glide II, and FXR Super Glide II (there was also a Super Glide with the old, non-FXR frame that year because why not)
1984 - FXRS Low Glide
1985 - FXRS Low Glide
1986 - FXR Super Glide, FXRS Low Rider
1987 - FXRS Low Rider, FXLR Low Rider Custom, FXRS-SP Low Rider Sport
After that I believe Harley pretty much stuck to the Super Glide II, and variants of the Low Rider name throughout the production run. Of course there were the FXRPs and FXRTs and other FXR variants such as the FXRC, Anniversary Editions, etc. with official "names" and nicknames just to keep things interesting and confusing.
When the Dynas arrived on the scene Harley recycled model names once again. For instance in the early 1990s you could get Low Rider variants with an FXR or FXD chassis. And now they're reusing the names on Softails as well.
So as I alluded to in my earlier post I think referring to FXRs with their marketing names is the wrong way to go. Using their shorthand designations - FXR, FXRS, FXRT, FXLR, FXRC, FXRP, etc. - is the better approach.
