| Author | Message | ||
     Hybridmomentspass |
Any of you own, or used to own, a Harley FXR? Ive always been interested in them due to the styling and then the connection with EB Well, something came up today and Im looking, possibly, into purchasing one soon. The one that popped up has an early Evo motor and needs engine work (my father told me about it, said that he thought the guy said bad cam bearing, but will know more Thursday). Also was dropped on the trailer on the way to the shop and needs a new mirror and tank...no big deal. Just looking for experience with these PLEASE leave the 'its a HD so its junk' kind of crap out. Also, so politics  Thanks yall | ||
| Snacktoast |
Good handling bikes, for a Harley and a nice cruiser. Engine is rubber mounted, which helps with some of the EVO vibes. What year is it? Cam bearings and lifters are typically recommended as preventative maint. at 30-40k miles in my experience. Other than that, they don't make a ton of power so most of the rest of the internals of the engine are pretty stout unless it's beat on. Transmissions are strong. Belts wear out with time and riding conditions, so look at the belt and pulley condition. A belt and new front and rear pulleys could set ya back $800+ with labor, since the inner primary has to come off to do the job. Engine base gaskets love to leak on the EVOs with time, so have a look around the engine for leaks. Look for inner primary leaks as well - a common Harley problem. Main drive gear seals will leak down the back side of the inner primary case and the shift shaft seal will leak down the transmission case. It's an older bike by now, so it's bound to need more than initially meets the eye. That's all I can think of for now... | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
excellent post, thank you Do not know the year at the moment, will have more info Thursday Its at a shop owned by a former lead tech at a very reputable HD dealer. We'll see what happens. Ive always liked them, but if it doesnt work out right now then I wont be heart broken at all. | ||
| Snacktoast |
Good to hear that it was owned by an actual HD tech. In my experience, even if they run them hard, they're well maintained. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Well, now, its not that ha OK.... So my father dropped his bike off with the guy today and I picked him up to take him home. He's leaving Friday for Sturgis and a 10 day trip around the country and is having an oil change and new rear tire put on. While there I looked around the shop, we spoke with the guy for a while (known him for years, he was with TiIIeys HD and we've both gotten motorcycles from those dealerships). Anyway, later on, while having dinner with my dad, he randomly mentioned the white FXR that was there. The story is that the guy who owns it now it originally belonged to his brother, who is now deceased. So the guy owns it, but it needs engine work, and he was going to take it to the tech for work and then he was going to sell it. He (owner) strapped it to the trailer to take it to the tech and on the way it fell over. Dented tank, smashed a mirror, and some basic scratches like that - so the guy told the tech something along the lines of, "I want XXXX for it, just want it gone, dont fix it, Im done with this" Or something like that. So it wasnt a tech's bike... I wish. I agree, when you have a reputable tech then its going to be a solid product. But this isnt his, just a random dude Ive never met. I dont know, we'll see what happens Now looking for a rocket, still got the S3 for a dragbike and the 1125R for a street bike But I want a cruiser that will at least get out of its own way. Ive seen some 'sporty' ones out there that people have built and that really interests me Heck, was a guy on here that was putting a XB front end on one etc and showing the weight loss and such. I want that. | ||
| Fuzzz |
It's kind of funny that I've had 2 FXR's on my bench in the last couple of weeks. One was a Shovel, the other an Evo. Both were clean, though the shovel has a few seeps, both have been taken care of and run just fine. (now) Personally, they're some my favorite Harleys ever. | ||
| Sagehawk |
I have a 19 year old road king with 78000 on it now. The evo motor is the only way to go. shame the chassis is the worst suspended bike ive ever owned. true, I haven't spent a bunch of money on suspension, just maintenance on it. Ive heard that lifters are a 25000 mile item. at Galveston rally, I asked a s&s rep on their lifters and he said less than 25000 miles. naturally, those are hi lift cams that required stiff springs. trade offs for everything. I will say that the evo motors are reliable for the most part. no major crashes with mine. minor stuff. If price is right , I would definitely go for that bike. youll enjoy it a lot. I have often thought the perfect big twin motor is what they call a fatso motor. evo bottom end with twin cam upper end. get a lot more displacement that way as well. good luck! | ||
| Snacktoast |
Ah, sorry, I must have misunderstood. Plenty of unknowns then, and that can make for an "exciting" experience.  | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Well I would know MUCH more before any money changes hands But the price is 2500, but, as I mentioned before, my father said that he thought the tech said it had a cam bearing failure | ||
| Snacktoast |
If the cam bearing failed, you'll need a cam, the bearing, and new lifters. If it was me, I'd to also look at the oil pump condition, which can only come out when the cam cover is apart. Also take a good look at the case breather bore on the engine case as that can get torn up when metal is sent through the engine. S&S offers a +.030" breather gear, but the case needs to be bored out for it - labor intensive. | ||
| Ratbuell |
If the rest of the bike is OK, $2500 wouldn't scare me a bit. I hammered on my old 96 FLHP for years, and nearly 70k miles. Had a performance cam, hi compression pistons, stage III heads, singlefire ignition, jetted CV40, and slip-on mufflers. Did the work myself, hand tools, 80" motor that laid down 80/80 at the tire and ran like a champ for years that way. Evo's are pretty bulletproof. In an FXR chassis, it could be a real hoot! Get a good cam, match it to some pistons/heads, toss on a real ignition...and have fun with it! | ||
| Pnw_uly |
I have a '92 FXR bought new. Initially no known reasons for the purchase at the time other than it was the lowest priced big twin in the showroom. In time came to find out from H-D techs and other riders to "hold on" to the FXR, and the ties to Erik make it all the better. Made some upgrades over the years - stouter cam and a slight bore-over. Still less power than the new bikes, but not bad. The FXR doesn't get many miles of late - - commute on the Uly and the CR gets sport time / track duties, but keeping it . . . Will any of this help in your decision? Doubtful, maybe its a good deal, maybe a total basket case. I will say though, that there is still after-market support for the FXR - - not from the Motor Company, but others. I still keep an eye out for an elusive FXRT (or even FXRD), but don't see many FXRs of any variety for sale... Worth a look. . . Best of Luck | ||
| M1combat |
I have an old FXSB (Shovel) and I love it. After riding the Firebolt for so long it's hard to keep the pegs off the ground but my first impression was that it handled a lot better than I expected. Second impression was that I thought the front brakes were broken... Again due to riding the firebolt for 60K miles before I rode the FX... | ||
| Snacktoast |
Ah yes, the good old floating single pistons... You can't expect anything pre-2000 brake tech to actually work!  | ||
| 1313 |
You can't expect anything pre-2000 brake tech to actually work! Ain't that the truth! I found that one out with my first Dyna Wide Glide. 1999 was the first year with the twin cam 88, and last year with the old brakes. There was this one red light that I could just not stop in time for. Thankfully there was no other traffic and through the intersection I went. I've you give it more go power, you gotta give it more whoa power... The 2000-up brakes were a definite improvement! 1313 | ||
| Patches |
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| Hybridmomentspass |
Thanks for all of the comments yall As I mentioned, I'll know more tomorrow(Thursday) about what all is wrong with it. i know it'll need a side mirror and tank, but those are pretty easy really. IF, and I say IF, I get it then I'd def be looking at a front end swap. Buell interests me, but, because of money, a gixxer or other Big4 front end would work. It'd be lighter and give me better brakes and suspension. Please, keep the comments coming!} | ||
| 46champ |
I had a 1985 FXRS that I bought new in May 85 till it died in a head on with a Honda Accord in Aug 2002. I put on 138,000 miles. I drag raced it and rode it hard the tach saw 7000 RPM more than once. The weakest point was the clutch and the clutch basket they were trying to use an aluminum basket on a tapered shaft I split 4 baskets 3 of them with the steel reinforcing doughnut. The only fix I believe is to change to the basket and shaft from a 1990 year bike, it has a splined shaft. You need that year because of the length of the shaft. The lower end was never taken apart. The heads were off twice. First time to take .120 off the heads and install an Andrews V9 camshaft the second time to fix it when I broke a valve racing it. That was after it ran a 12.56 at Sacramento. It also got 1 new stator at about 90,000 miles and 2 broken belts along the way. Mine stopped better than most because it came with 2 front brakes. I also broke 1 lifter at about 75,000 miles. If the bike was still a live I would still be riding it today. It is the only bike I can say I truly miss. | ||
| Snacktoast |
Good point about the clutch and tapered mainshaft with the keyway. I think '90 or '91 was the last year for that design. You can't even get most of the parts for the old style anymore, including the clutch hub - HD or aftermarket. | ||
| Phelan |
Personally, if I found a '92-up FXR for $2500, I'd buy it in a heartbeat in almost any condition, as long as it's complete. Hardest part to find IMO is the primary. Motor stuff is easy, and kind of a specialty here at the shop . |
