There ain’t no stopping the Harley-Davidson new model freight train it seems, as just weeks after blowing our minds by announcing the company will be dipping its toes into the Adventure Motorcycle segment with the Pan America, Harley has announced a new member of the ever-expanding Softail family – the sporty FXDR 114.
Unlike the other Softail family members, the FXDR is exclusively a solo rider affair, and with the launch video taking place at Colorado’s High Plains Raceway it is clear the Motor Co. is positioning the FXDR as the sportiest member of the Softail fleet.
“This motorcycle is really a blast to ride, says David Latz, Harley-Davidson Lead Product Manager. “The FXDR 114 surrounds the very capable Softail chassis with Milwaukee-Eight 114 power, premium front and rear suspension and a host of new weight-saving components and materials. This is a power cruiser that delivers exceptional ride and handling characteristics.”
While we don’t know the full specifications sheet yet, we do know a little about the new bike. There’s an all-new lightweight cast aluminium swingarm out back, which looks a treat behind the upswept exhaust coming off the 114cu Milwaukee-Eight V-twin.
As with all of Harley’s Softail lineup, the FXDR features LED lighting at all corners, giving the bike a modern feel, with angular styling accents further accentuating the modern feel of the bike.
In the suspension department, the FXDR retains the monoshock rear setup of the rest of the Softail family, while up front Harley has optioned the bike with what the company calls a “racing-style front fork”.
According to Harley-Davidson, “it’s all dialled in for quick response and agility” despite what looks like a very cruiser-esque rake to the front forks.
For rolling stock, Harley has gone with a 19-inch forged aluminium Ace front wheel is a lightweight design that features very thin spokes. The FXDR 114 seat and tail section are supported by a subframe of welded aluminium tubing, and the tail section is composite. This replaces the steel subframe, steel rear mudguard and aluminium mudguard supports used on other Softail models, for a weight saving of approximately 3.17kg. The front and rear mudguards are also constructed of lightweight composite material.
We can’t wait to have a hoon on the FXDR when it arrives. With the 114cu Milwaukee-Eight already a blast for shredding tyres at will, we think this bike might unleash quite a bit of our naughty side.
Pricing has been set at $37,500 rideaway, with details of exact date of availability to be released at a later date.
NEW CVO MODELS
Also announced today from Harley, is the introduction of an updated fleet of Custom Vehcile Operations (CVO) models.
To appeal to a broad range of customer tastes, each new 2019 CVO machine is offered in three distinctly different styling treatments, from a look with a bright powertrain and chrome details with two-tone paint, to a combination of dark and bright finishes and to a very dark look with a monochrome or fade paint.
All three feature the big bore 117cu version of the Milwaukee-Eight as standard, and exclusive paint colours and designs and new updated infotainment systems. The CVO models are also used to introduce new finish treatments as an alternative to traditional chrome.
2019 Harley-Davidson FXDR Specifications
| Length | 2425mm |
| Seat Height | 720mm |
| Fuel Capacity | 16.7-litres |
| Dry weight | 289kg |
| Engine | Milwaukee-Eight® 114 |
| Displacement | 1,868 cc |
| Engine Torque | 160Nm |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Cruise Drive® |
| Wheels | Gloss/satin black, split 5-spoke, Ace cast aluminium with laser etched graphics |
| Tyres Front | 120/70ZR-19 60W |
| Tyres Rear | 240/40R-18 79V |
