Over the years, Harley models have received catchy names: Street Bob, Breakout, Fat Boy, Road King and, at worst, Seventy-Two or Forty-Eight. Compared to them, the Harley-Davidson FXDR code sounds dry and unimaginative. It's a pity, because there's a lot of good things to say about this Harley motorcycle.
Harley-Davidson FXDR, Harley motorcycle
For decades, Harley has conditioned the world to be compared to small or large, but always stupid, model names. FXDR 114 sounds like an upset stomach effect and begs the question: what did the artist mean? Is this a reference to F/X, the sensational 1986 film starring Bryan Brown?
Or maybe the robots R2D2 and C-3PO from Star Wars? Using the factory code as a name is trivial, like the guy from Milwaukee. Warhog, Big Boss or Skul Face were nothing, but FXDR! However, the red R's on the logo (somewhat reminiscent of the Suzuki sports car name) are intriguing.
Harley-Davidson FXDR 114 attracts attention
The whole Harley bike is intriguing because it looks like a cross between the new Fat Bob, Breakout, and Batman's car. Simple, rugged lines, an eye-catching huge air filter, a short, massive exhaust pipe, a large tank and a wide rear seat covered by a full sliding wing give it a brutal character. This impression is emphasized by the futuristic exhaust and massive clip on the steering wheel.
Even when stationary, the new Harley FXDR 114 looks scary, and this effect enhances the performance of the engine. The 1,868cc engine sounds like a Milwaukee car—savory without being too intrusive. As a result, instead of instilling fear, it attracts and generates interest.
Children in the parking lot, people looking out of cars, standing at streetlights, a guy who even came running from a construction site not far from where I was staying - I haven’t seen so many people around a motorcycle in a long time. One thing is for sure: if you want to turn heads, here's a new Harley.
It is fast and quite maneuverable for its size. This Harley is a real street tough
It's important to note that FXDR is honest with you: it doesn't claim to be a two-spot or a dimmer, and that it's lightweight and easy to use. This is a bike for the strong guy who knows what he wants and can do it. Feel the bike is heavy and big, and yet it quickly gains confidence.
In fact, I didn't really like the position of the controls - I would have preferred the steering wheel to be a little closer and a little higher. The original configuration forces him to lean forward and reach over the nearly 17-liter tank. As I conquered the first meters, it occurred to me that the footpeg sets could be a little lower.
Review of Harley Davidson – fireworks on wheels
However, it was enough to join the movement that I could forget all these little things, because the FXDR is a real fireworks show on wheels. The 91-horsepower engine develops torque up to 160 Nm and has a monstrous jerk.
So a slanted position makes sense - it crossed my mind - and lower mounted pegs would limit the clearance in the assembly. Although the bike isn't particularly comfortable, it is surprisingly agile and can be very stiff. But first you need to tame him.
Music for the ears. The exhaust sounds good, although a few more decibels wouldn't hurt it. Opinions about the appearance of the pipes were divided.
Harley-Davidson FXDR
In general, the engine could be a little louder, because every twist of the throttle is incredibly satisfying. It's good that there is no rough rev cut typical of older Harleys. Everything happens smoothly and almost effortlessly. During a quick start, the jerking that accompanies the knocking does not irritate.
Milwaukee Eight 114 engine
The Milwaukee Eight 114 engine produces 90 hp and 161 Nm of torque. The weight of the motorcycle is 303 kg. Don't let the neat 2-1-1 exhaust pipes fool you: they sound impressive. The six-speed Cruise Drive Transmission and slipper clutch provide smooth shifting. Very useful quality for long trips. Recently, Harley Davidson engines have a matte black finish with chrome parts. The FXDR cruiser is no exception. Although the rear part looks chopped off, the designers were able to place a small luggage compartment here.
At the front there is an LED headlight surrounded by a neat fairing, under which a functional instrument panel is hidden.
Harley-Davidson FXDR and rigid transmission
Even though the lever jumps are noticeably less than before, the gearbox doesn't belie its origins. The gear ratios are tight and first comes with the typical Harley punch. It must be loved or at least neutralized, otherwise it is impossible. It pays to have hands like a blacksmith to handle the clutch and brake, because the large knobs are not adjustable.
Two on a motorcycle? Forget about it! For now, the FXDR is a lone wolf Harley ride machine. In the rear, however, there is room for a token passenger seat.
Stylish, but... The tank neck is a gem. It's nice to see. Unfortunately, it does not close, which can have unpleasant consequences.
The license plate frame, tail light and fender are a bit of a misunderstanding. It's good that there is a market for accessories.
The main display is the size of a strip, and the panel with controls is the size of a chewing gum wrapper. It resembles the dashboard of a lightweight enduro and is hidden in a small windshield, which, however, deflects the air flow quite effectively. I could find out about this by accelerating the motorcycle to a speed of 180 km/h, and this was not the end of its capabilities.
However, the pleasant ride ends at speeds above 120 km/h. When cornering, you can feel the bike's considerable length. FXDR is 5.5cm longer than Breakout and 8.5cm longer than Fat Bob. Therefore, it has a longer wheelbase - by 4 and 12 cm, and a sofa on a higher place - by 5.5 and 1 cm. It is also slightly lighter - by 2 and 3 kg respectively (which is partly due to the numerous plastic elements) .
The FXDR is tempting for a thrill ride, however it is not a streetfighter but a power cruiser and you need to take that into account. You must force the bike into the turn, being mindful of its weight and size. This forces a certain driving style, but does not spoil the pleasure of riding a Harley. In the city you can navigate between cars without stress. At the same time, if you encounter a traffic jam, you will be pleasantly surprised: when they see a Harley, people will smile and give you a seat.
As I already mentioned, the car is not afraid of the highway, and it copes well with country roads, even with asphalt a little worse.
Harley-Davidson FXDR, Harley rides
Hasta la vista. Harley-Davidson FXDR 114 after 10,000 kilometers in Autoreview
The Harley-Davidson FXDR 114 has been in my hands for about nine months. Traveling to the south of Russia and Belarus, the daily routine of capital traffic jams and ten thousand kilometers. I say goodbye to the “one hundred and fourteenth” and I must admit that it changed my opinion about the American brand.
Usually, with such a mileage, I had the first troubles with almost any new equipment, and the brake pads certainly did not live up to this anniversary on any motorcycle. And the final drive chain required at least a couple of suspenders. But Harley has a maintenance-free belt, which, according to operating experience, can last 60 thousand kilometers. And no shamanic dances with tambourines, lubricant and chain cleaner.
The most unpleasant surprise was the allergy of the paintwork of some frame elements and the exhaust pipe lining to the chemistry of domestic car washes. But there are zero questions about the reliability of the technology. The front tire was not feeling bad at the time of our parting - I’m sure it will easily overcome the 15,000 km mark. But I worked the rear “skating rink” with fun starts - with a less temperamental driver he would have lived and lived, but my slipping finished him off ahead of schedule.
The coating of the pipe has suffered from the chemicals of domestic car washes: I recommend polishing it in checked places
Moreover, in my opinion, the standard 94-horsepower engine is still not enough here, and the cutoff at 193 km/h is perceived as a slap in the face. Hey, I have almost a two-liter male with a huge uh... muffler (alas, with an indistinct exhaust sound), aggressive ergonomics with a pronounced forward tilt. Clip-ons, after all. And not even 100 hp?
They also understand this in Milwaukee - it’s not for nothing that the plant offers engine tuning, the so-called Stage 4: cylinders of increased diameter, different pistons and heads, a “humpbacked” camshaft with different bearings, injectors with higher capacity, stiffer valve springs, stronger clutch, air filter... The kit costs 230 thousand rubles, installation by officials costs about 90 thousand.
The dashboard is compact but functional
By the way, the company service has a very harsh price tag for a standard hour - 6150 rubles. But the level of service is appropriate. And if you need not the most popular hardware, then most likely it will not be in stock - you will have to order it. And of course, maintenance elsewhere will be several times cheaper, and a 240-mm rear “roller” without a proprietary abbreviation will cost almost half as much. However, I can hardly imagine the owner of a freshly purchased FXDR 114 doing hard cutting in garages.
A rear seat is an option. There is no need to talk about any comfort for the passenger, but for transporting a companion from the bar it will do
In short, installing Stage 4 from the officials is a must. At the same time, I would also work with the front calipers: they will definitely not be enough. But it is with this upgrade that the FXDR 114 will actually turn into the FXDR 117, which is not in the model line, and will become an ideologically verified and complete factory dragster. By the way, this year dealers reduced the price of “one hundred and fourteenths” from 2 million to 1.8 million rubles - and FXDR 114 accounted for 8% of all sales of the brand.
It’s simply a crime not to anneal at the start of an actual factory dragster.
Yes, there is no more comfort in this Harley than in a stool compared to a massage chair, you need to apply brute male strength to the clutch lever, and after half an hour of active movement in traffic jams, those muscles that you didn’t even know existed begin to ache. Well, 86 mm of monoshock travel in combination with a low-profile rear tire shakes out the soul on any serious unevenness. Either masochists or motorcycle journalists like me can travel on such a motorcycle. By the way, in bad weather or just on a dirty road, a demonstration hole of your capabilities in the rear fender liner - that is, a rectangle directly above the wheel, allowing idle people to appreciate the width of the rear “skating rink” - will mean an eternally dirty back for you or your companion. And of all the safety electronics, there is only a rather crude two-channel ABS.
Through the hole in the fender liner, dirt flies straight onto the backs of the riders
But the “one hundred and fourteenth” is controlled many times more interesting than any of its colleagues. On it you can quite enjoy fast shifts on mountain serpentines - it’s not for nothing that I ground the driver’s footrests to pieces on the asphalt. I had to change the side stand for the same reason. But this is the fault of the excellent chassis, which allows the Harley to corner so low.
So I part with regret. Hopefully not forever.
| Costs, rub. | |
| Total mileage - 10,000 kilometers | |
| Gasoline AI-95 | 28100 |
| Sinks | 2900 |
| Tire repair | 1000 |
| TO-1 | 23290 |
| TO-2 | 17850 |
| Tire Michelin Scorcher 11 240/40 R18 | 34630 |
| Balancing weight (2 pcs.) | 1000 |
| Job | |
| Front tire (removal, balancing) | 1845 |
| Rear tire (removal, replacement, balancing) | 4920 |
| Total lifetime costs | 115535 |
| Passport details | |
| Motorbike | Harley-Davidson FXDR 114 |
| Dimensions, mm | |
| length | 2425 |
| width | 929 |
| height | 1083 |
| wheelbase | 1735 |
| seat height | 720 |
| ground clearance | 140 |
| Front fork inclination/reach angle, degrees/mm | 34/120 |
| Frame | steel, aluminum alloy pendulum |
| Curb weight, kg | 303 |
| Number and arrangement of cylinders | 2, V-shaped |
| Cylinder diameter/piston stroke, mm | 102/114 |
| Compression ratio | 10,5:1 |
| Working volume, cm3 | 1868 |
| Number of valves | 8 |
| Max. power, hp/kW/rpm | 93,8/69/4500 |
| Max. torque, Nm/rpm | 162/3500 |
| Transmission | 6-speed gearbox, multi-plate clutch in oil bath, belt |
| Front suspension | telescopic, inverted type, stay Ø 43 mm, wheel travel 130 mm |
| Rear suspension | monoshock absorber, adjustments: spring preload; wheel travel 86 mm |
| Front brake | two discs Ø 300 mm, 4-piston calipers |
| Rear brake | disc Ø 292 mm, 2-piston floating caliper |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 193* |
| Front wheel | 120/70-19″ |
| Rear wheel | 240/40-18″ |
| Fuel tank capacity, l | 16,7 |
| Fuel | gasoline AI-95—98 |
| *Limited by electronics | |
Brakes could be better
The brakes disappointed me. Yes, they work and provide a fairly quick stop of the motorcycle, so there is no tragedy, but they are blunt, require a strong paw grip and do not have a clear trigger point.
Moreover, I was under the impression that the rear wheel metering was better than the front wheel. Another annoying element is the rear wing, which is not only ugly as a November night, but also does not protect your back when driving in the rain.
This is clearly an unfortunate name for the motorcycle, so I won't mock the manufacturer.
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