Thanks. There is a seperate thread about it, a lot more work to do, just at a planning stage right now.

I'll post pics of the bags the other way. I like em like this but who knows the other way may grow in me.

More to follow..

 

I'm glad you were able to interpret my early morning typos.

 

I rode the FXDR up in York at the last open house and was not impressed at all. The look, quality, performance, handling and rider position all left me asking why they even built it.

 

😊
As for the rear fender everyone is deleting... Well I did something with that as well...

 

Because I called them a year ago and asked if they would make this bike for me... A personal favor. 😉

 

HMMM....
Never ridden a bagger or touring bike.

Can't stand to look at them. Fugliest motorcycle of all (IMO)

At 1000 pounds they must really handle well???

The threads on "do I need fangs, lowers, or a taller windscreen to stop the buffeting???
The ones with the (modern) fairing look like two different people "species" designed them.

Had 2 Softails, 2 Ducs, a Buell. Couple of metric standards way back when.
Didn't test drive any of the last bikes, or quads, or dirt bikes?

Would like to throw a leg over the FXDR.
Again wouldn't even consider riding a "touring" model for any reason.
Trolling a message board about a model I am not into........ brilliant.

Would buy without riding as I'm sure it would feel better than my 19 year old Deuce.

JM

 

Also something to think about, with the bungee bar accessory installed, there should be no reason you couldn't use any universal saddlebag system

(

 

Mids are for twisties, forwards are for cruising. It's a muscle cruiser; despite reference to "performance" by the MoCo.

But it's not a Harley.

Of course not, because it's not a Harley.

The H-D MoCo has milked the crap out of the aura, the mystique - the brand. All of a sudden - OK, maybe not so all of a sudden, those of us who see value (or at least pay value added pricing) in a motorcycle being a Harley Davidson started not riding, not buying new bikes or just stopped buying Harleys. So, H-D endeavors to seek out new and exciting market space but hold on, wait! That market space involves those who don't get the whole "value added pricing" thing of the H-D name on the tank. Now H-D has to compete with, you know, other motorcycles, other motorcycle specs, other motorcycle pricing. Oh my - what to do? What to do?

I never owned a Harley (and I've had a good bunch of them over many years) to be a 1%-er, a tough guy, a bad *** or to pick-up chicks. I genuinely liked (and kind of still do like) Harleys. But the things that kept me liking them have gone south such as a great dealer network and help on road trips if need be. Today's Harley Super Stores aren't the real motorcycle shops of days gone by - they see anyone walking through the door as a sheep to fleece. Whether it be a T-Shirt, a part, a service or a repair - all they care about is what they can skin you for and if you don't like - well suck it up 'cause this ain't your grand daddy's Harley Davidson dealership anymore. In fairness, dealerships are certainly entitled to make a profit and they need a lot of it after the MoCo forced expensive upgrades. Real Harley enthusiasts used to own dealerships - not auto franchise conglomerates own Harley dealerships - and it shows.

Back on point, the FXDR is a cool bike, very cool in fact - if you really want a Harley as evidenced by one's willingness to pay what they ask for an FXDR. As a muscle cruiser and as a Harley ... it's cool. If you see it as $21,349 cool - great; I don't judge but let's face it, if it didn't say Harley-Davisdon on it, would it sell for even 2/3rds the price?

 

As an owner of the bike, I knew what I was getting into. I know there is a "Harley Tax" associated with the bike, and if you go off of pure numbers, a japanese offering is a bit cheaper than the cost of the FXDR. If this was a Honda, it would not sell for this price, mid $15K is where i would estimate it at.

But the pull for many of us that came from the sportbike camp (this is my first Harley Davidson), is the looks, the sound and the customization options there are with this machine. It does look diffrent, Harley has made a bike that isn't full of chrome and can be modified in diffrent ways to stand out.


Also, coming from the sportbike camp, the FXDR corners very well (Go watch ANY YouTube reviewers if you don't believe me, they will tell you the same thing), it pulls pretty hard in any gear... in short, does what its supposed to.

It's just a bit amusing that (I know it's only a few) a "The FXDR sucks..." post comes up every few weeks and pop in to armchair QB a bike they haven't ridden or spent time with. It gives me something to read while drinking coffee

 

As I get farther into the summer and stop in at more bike events, I'm noticing more Fat Bobs. Not the same as the FXDR, but still shows an acceptance of something new for HD.

As far as the FXDR quality - My experience was that it was on par with anything else HD offers - very good. Not plastic feeling at all, but felt carved from a block of steel, which is nice and impressed me. The bike rode better than my bagger, so there's that. At low speeds I'm more comfortable on my bagger, but once up to speed obviously the lighter, faster bike blows it away - no surprise there. On fit - it fits me perfectly. Which means it probably doesn't fit anyone else well. I'm 6-5 and have a 37/38 sleeve length. I have no idea how someone with shorter arms would ride this bike comfortably.

I'm coming around to the FXDR. I wouldn't buy one but I can now see that it's a good bike for some people. Plus the Livewire makes it look sensible now.