Harley FXR vs Softail Lowrider S
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
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Fxr vs the new softail lowrider s?! Well.... first things first I have to actually get my FXR running! I've got my work cut out for me, this was a really nice bike. Till next time y'all... keep it weird #shadetreearmy
“Suspicious lack of tassels.”
That one got me.
I have the 2017 dyna lowrider s and i absolutely love it. I actually like the look of the dyna over the softail version myself
Me too. I have the 16 1/2.
And when I had my 1990 FXRS i wished it looked like my buddy's 82 Low Rider. The Dyna's brought the original Low Rider and Wide Glide looks back. Successfully.
I like the looks of the Dyna better too.
Have you ridden both? If so
How would you describe the difference? Thanks
@@mikeessary4925 i have not.... everybody says if i do ill be trading my dyna the next day so i figure ignorance is bliss for this scenario haha
*insert challenge accepted meme here
Great vid man, haha. Glad you enjoyed the ride, it’s a hell of a lot of fun! 🤘🏼
I said I'd never spend that kind of money on a motorcycle...till I test rode one of these yesterday. Yeah I'm gonna get one next week.
Former owner of an 09 super glide. 96” plant, 6 speed. A ROCKET 🚀 and a joy to ride. Currently drooling on an 07 SG, wishing I wasn’t injured 🤕
No bikes right now, due to the injury. Living vicariously thru these videos 😂😂
Hope ya heal up soon my friend
I got a 83 FXR in my shop right now. I belongs to my barber. It has a ton of issues mostly from bad maintenance and sitting outside for 30 years. Not a fan they look like big sportsters but they got a kick ass frame. I think it is called a superglide II. Ever bike I owned had drum brakes until I got the 02 FLSTC. I almost dumped it first time I hit the brakes. I sold both my twin cams and pick up a 98 FLSTF. It and my 72 FLH will do it for me at my age.
I took this bike for a spin through the hills here in Australia and holy hell this thing is fast. Possibly the most fun Harley Davidson in the lineup.
Just put an S&S motor in an FXR frame with aftermarket brakes and Bam you've got the Best of Both Worlds
Just
Also completely different frame and suspension set up. Even with a 96' cubic inch S&S Evo and new brakes, the ride wouldn't be near the same. These new harleys are So smooth. Anything with an old Evo they have some rattles and clanks and jitters. Just not the same.
@@EzyPete9593 There's nothing inherent to Evos that makes "rattles, clanks and jitters" unless the Evo is worn out, but the best move is keep the FXR frame and shitcan everything else because the old drivetrains are underpowered. That's why FXRs get fitted with M8 engines.
@@obfuscated3090 In my experience, evo's can be temperamental, as well as any other carbed motor. If you don't believe anything rattles or vibrates loose on an Evo you've obviously spent little to no time on one.
I hope you and blockhead get the chance to make a video in the future after you rebuild the fxr. Just hope he keeps the lowrider s, because he goes through bikes like people go through tires.
Haha, I was just thinking the same thing.
Lol no kidding. My current tires stretch back to Blockheads Dyna days.
Just bought one last week, and I gotta say, I have discovered Harley nirvana. I'm coming from a 2011 Harley Heritage, and I'm blown away by the difference. Great upload as always.
I've test ridden so many motorcycles the last couple of years (sport bikes, cruisers, adv, naked, etc.) and liked the bikes but it was easy to say, meh, I have my "dad jeans" (BMW GSA) bike and it's good enough. Test rode a LRS just like the one you did, and now I have two bikes in my garage. I F'ing loved it, with a capitol "F"! I'm so glad you liked it because I respect your opinion and forthcoming reviews on bikes.
Very nice bike! Course any new bike to me is fantastic! I mean it was just like you had thrown a leg over my 05 XL1200 C and was giving it a test ride as you described that Lowriders power and feel! LoL!!!! It's 48 degrees here at the house this morning and yessss you have got me so fired up on Harley's POWER that I'm gonna go ride some and feel me some low end torque of my classic carb'ed 1200 Sport! Also I shy away from riding new motorsickles cause I would just become majorly depressed and have to up my antidepression meds lol! Thx for keeping it real!
I love watching moto-vlogger videos when the rider has that moment of laughing joy from the power. That’s what it’s all about 😎👍👍
Shade, i don't know why buy your John Candy-esque laugh just brightens my day. Don't ever stop being you man.
The
black gas caps on that silver paint looks 👌🏻HD knows what they are doing with the softails!
I'm still a FXR fan boy. Mostly due to Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
Just don't ruin any real FXR frames with that stupid rake job since it destroys what made FXRs good, the HANDLING. There are plenty of inexpensive aftermarket frames to mod and you can order them raked brand new. Drivetrains are cheap. I don't think much of the movie but standards for "biker" movies are desperately low so it is what it is. Building with an aftermarket frame is cheaper too and you can easily make a clone with the later, better Evo drivetrain (if you use an Evo) for modest money.
Most badass softail in the lineup right now, IMO. We just did one up with D&D's sweet 2 into 1 on it and it's nice and docile at idle and cruise, and absolutely roars when you twist the grip. It's a damn fun bike.
A challenge years in the making... You're gonna have to convince blockhead to keep this new bike for more than a year then lol
I picked one up a couple weeks ago love it. Can't wait to do exhaust, cam, and tune on it. 30% more power.
I´ll still keep my Sportster like you keep your FXR , buying new bikes is a hobby ,keeping the old one’s running is a devotion!
After riding so many older HD's going out and test riding anything with the M8 engine it it was eye opening for me. There's something to be said for advances in technology.
I happen to own both a 2016 lowrider s and a big inch (124 ultima) Evo softail.
I have about 12k miles on each, the fxdls has a the typical club style upgrades.
The fxdls has no bad habits, is well refined, and even seems edgy - That is until you jump on the Ultima 124!
Very edgy, insane power, an entirely different world.
After years of trading bikes, these are my two keeper dreambikes and I love them both.
I love watching your misadventures on the crusty glide, keep it up!
I test rode the new low rider s and in the short time I rode it it felt better than my dyna. I still prefer my fxr over both even though it’s it the worse shape out of all of them
Great video. I tried to sit on one at motorcycle live and it nearly popped my hips out. Forward controls and I think it'd be perfect. Hope FLMM went down well for ya. The shirts look awesome!
Buddy has a fire-breathing 100ci Harley Evo. The thing is unreal! Can't wait to see you smoke the new school! Hell yeah
Wait for the next Improved motor around 2023. May get rid of the chains in primary and cam chest.
Id like to see u review the new Indian challenger
I got one of these as soon as they hit the dealership, did a tbr pipe and fuel moto tune a week later and i friggin love it but i did not trade my mildly built FXR (S.E. heads, 10.5:1 comp, super E, thunderheader, barnett clutch, andrews cam, single fire ignition) in on it and dont plan on getting rid of either one anytime soon. The LRS is definitely better in every way but i gotta keep the FXR around to stump the jealous D-bags who put down the softail. Also keep around my shovelhead chopper for the grumpy old D-bags, got all the bases covered except the touring D-Bags with exactly the same street glide with dealer-installed stage one kits who think they are special, dont really care what they think.
Maybe see if Tim statt (gigacycle garage) will sponsor a front end for the fxr like he did with Lee. That, some 14" shocks, mag wheels with good tires, and motor mounts would have that fxr sorted pretty well I'm the handling department.
Maybe just an s&s 111 would put you where you need to be power wise
I bought this recently. Great bike.
S&S 124 kit for the fxr!!! 🤪
Thanks for liking my new bike I’ll be doing some things on my channel soon just got the helmet set up! Wish I could be at FLMM today but Brandon has the 20th anniversary I got to work!!
I now realize flmm was yesterday...
FXR I feel is the best Harley ever made. Swingarm pivot update and there more stable at high speeds. Thanks for the videos
Traded my Dyna Low Rider S for this new one, and not disappointed at all.
How would you describe the difference in ride?
Maybe im just a sucker for retro looks but i like the "non S" Softail Low Rider more than this bike, particularly in white and i dont even normally like white vehicles at all.
I blame the buckhorn bars and the tank decals 😄
I've never heard the implication that the new Lowrider S is the modern FXR, but I have heard people compare them. The FXR was harley's best frame in history, until the Softail frame came along.
I would like to see a direct comparsion of FXR vs Softail because there's diehards who say the FXR is still better than the M8 Softail frame.
I'm inclinded to believe the Softail is better simply because of material science and suspension technology is way better now. Dual Bending Valve wasn't a thing back then, the FXR doesn't have a Monoshock located in the spine of the bike. The Softail's swing arm is a truss, rather than the FXR's flat bar.
So I'd love to see how they truely match up.
The FXR is a contender, but nah the M8 Softail still handles way better. I had a chance to get a hopped-up FXR and it was a super cool built-up scoot, but my Street Bob is absolutely the best bike I've ever ridden.
Back in the late 1990's and early naughties, I owned a couple of FXR's (an 87 FXRS-SP and a 90 FXRT) but got plenty of opportunities to ride Dyna and Softail demo bikes from that era. As regards Evo's, I'd say the Dyna had the best overall handling, with Softails being limited by poor ground clearance and both Softails and FXR's having inferior high speed stability. But the FXR is definitely the lightest (or should that be least heavy) frame here, which helps a lot if power to weight ratio is important. From what I've seen, Harley were working hard down those years to improve the handling and suspension of their bikes. But, to avoid criticism of earlier models, they often tended to play down a lot of their actual improvements.
@@derekp2674 The early FXRs like those (I have an '88) were handicapped by crappy suspension thanks to HD never making that a priority and the rest of their tapered shaft/Hitachi starter drivetrains weren't very good. The best thing to do with those is sell everything but the sheet metal and frame (or do what I did and stick the leftovers in a corner until fanbois raise the prices to even sillier levels) and modernize everything else. If I weren't building a V124 with a late bagger box and wanted an Evo I'd just buy an FXR frame then buy one of the last Evo Dynas for the rest (primary covers and transmission case of course excepted) and swap parts. The later Dyna 39mm front end is amply stable and has better braking options (early 2000s sliders are still available new for those not wanting to run adapters). The FXR weighs nearly 100lbs less and the late Dyna engines etc are far better parts.
@@obfuscated3090 I agree about the stock suspension. Both my FXR's and my XLH were very quickly upgraded with Progressive springs and dampers up front and superior aftermarket rear shocks. Others went further and fitted upgraded alloy swing arms or even aftermarket alloy frames, but these latter are rare. From my perspective, all HD 1994 and later models came with much better stock suspension. As you also note, from year 2000 and on, working brakes were fitted as original equipment in place of the previous dummy units ;-) In the 1990's, HD were on a mission to sell many more units in Europe, so suspension and brake improvements were needed for that market. I met ex-Norton engineer John Favill at the UK Goodwood HOG rally in 1993, when he came out for a walkabout on the rally site. We chatted about up-rating suspension units and brakes. I'm sure the 1994 year model improvements would already have been decided by then, but his feedback to his HD bosses may have helped to set out the road towards later models such as the 1998 XL1200S.
Dude, I stumbled across your channel a few weeks ago. Been enjoying them all 👍
I wanted to thank you for the content you cover, the way you cover and your sense of humor. AND you got my lazy ass out to the garage to pull my ‘05 Road King Custom out of the corner where I parked it a couple of years ago due to dropping rear cylinder. HOPEFULLY it is ignition related and not motor related, don’t have the funds for that! Heading out now to drain the turpentine out of the tank. Don’t they know corn is for eating or 🍸 ONLY, and not a fuel source 🤯 Keep ‘em coming and send good vibes my way please 👍
"The way they make power is so satisfying" definitely !
I was just re watching your previous vid thinking when you will upload a new one,, then.. Wala!!! A new one!!!
Was like looking back in time to watch this vid . To see the rocket carving it’s way effortlessly through the traffic , it made the low rider S look a bit pedestrian.
I like the retro look of the standard low rider. The low rider s, however looks a bit too SOA inspired for my taste.
I like the FXR also but this bike would be nice to have in the garage too. Getting your FXR up to this bikes standards will cost you the same as buying a new one...
I ride a 2019 streetglide special and I was tempted to buy the lowrider s but I realized I don’t want to make 2 payments a month however I will say I love how surprisingly soft the stock suspension is and the seat too
I bought the blue 2004 victory bagger from burtz baracuta that you showed on your channel, The one that had a dead battery when you went to test drive it. I'm driving down from Michigan Wednesday to pick it up, maybe I will see you there.
Saw lowbrow shared a shot with your chopper on blocks, changing the rear wheel roadside. I was hoping we would get a video on it! Big fan dude love the channel.
I like the handlebars on the FXR in the teaser photo.
Good luck on the old FXR. Big thing is carb, heads and maybe big bore kit or cams. You can wake it up just ya probably have to recam it and head work
A good friend of mine just bought a 2020 Lowrider and It's a awesome bike. I thought I wanted another Yamaha Roadstar but that Harley is nice. Albeit, much more expensive.
The FXR’s frame is what made it famous , it is a perfect platform for high horse power and all around performance.. a properly set up FXR or Dyna with the right suspension in my opinion is better than the new .. my opinion threw my 30 years of building, drag racing both in dirt , and asphalt Harley Davidson motorcycles.. and the best feature of your FXR is you can repair anything on that bike on the side of the road ( except blowing it up ie breaking block etc) you cant fix hardly anything on the new bikes on the side of the road ...and that my friend os worth a million bucks !
The LRS is very impressive. I like the way it handles and I love the brakes, but I'm coming from a sportster.
Love the by the seat of your pants review!
I wouldn't mine one either. Already have my bike too.
6:30 - same thing I say. I concede the new LRS is better than mine... but I like mine better, I think it’s sexier.
Gotta love the power in the 114. I'll stick with my '16 Heritage with the103 for the price though.
Man. I wish i found your channel sooner. Just bought my first bike Kawasaki Vulcan 900 classic. Love the damn thing, And love your channel. Keep up the good work!
Different experience here in UK! I was cramped on the new Lowrider S. Very cramped! And as for the rear brake, totally non existent. I preferred my old Dyna Street Bob 👍
Actually, I prefer my FXDL....bulletproof motor and less than half the price.....plus the bonus of no weird electronics buried deep within the bike.
@@TheWolfsnack cool what year is yours
How tall are you sir?
@@mikeessary4925 93......with Stage 1 upgrade.
I rode a new low rider off the showroom floor a few months back. It must not have the 114 because I was not impressed with any part of the bike compared to my 05 low with big bore, cams, exhaust, intake and tune. I felt that after I buy the new bike, I would need to put 10k into it to make it as powerful, nimble and comfortable. It also had a hard time starting while we test rode around.
Yup, that new LRS is a hunk, a hunk, of burnin' love.
IF you need engine or transmission work done on the FXR, take it to a shop called Garys UMS in Deland. The Man is a walking shop manual for anything HD. There aren't to many guys left that can do what he does. Not to many people truing and balancing flywheels in this day and age.
The way Blockhead goes through bikes, it might be next week, or never.
I have an 85 FXRS and I just picked up the 2020 FXLS!!
I thought about beefing up the FXRS but I have slight carpal tunnel on both wrists and tennis elbow- the vibration kills me! 85 FXRS for sale!
Shadetree Surgeon, I wouldn’t call your Rocket III ugly. I like it. The Softail Low Rider S has a old school look to it. At least I think so. That would be a good Bike for Jessica.
I think your FXR can keep up with it if you drop a Hammer 1275 +120 HP Kit!!! Fully looking forward to more FXR build episodes.
I'd love to see a comparison video between the Low Rider S and the V Rod/Night Rod. Are you game?
I'm having a 128 put in my low rider s at Bert's black widow, I'll have to bring it up to Tampa for you to check out
I see your slowly coming to the Harley side it about time!
The only thing they missed on the new Low rider S is the rear fender. Throw the street bob fender on it and it’ll look proportional.
I had a '93 FXR (last year before Dyna) and I loved it! Well, at least until I rode an FLH. As far as a big CI HP Evo? It won't feel anything like the M8. No HD engine I've ever been on feels like the M8! I had a 121S&S that scared the bejeezus outta me but it didn't feel like the M8! So if you want the same feel as an M8? Get the 2020! You ever notice I'm always trying to get you to but more bikes??
The FXR still existed in ‘94. I’ve got a ‘95 FXD and although it is not the first year for the Dyna, it is the first year model of the Dyna Super Glide, the cheapest big twin, which replaced the FXR.
Ah! I knew they had both for a couple years just couldn’t remember for sure
Thanks for making another video huge inspiration will start my first hairscramble in spring!
Looking forward to see the progress your making on your Diehard Badass FXR..
Keep up the good work! 👊👍
All the low riders have been my favourite bikes I will never own, Oh well I will stick to my Mean Streak.... Thanks for the drool Shady..
An old vs. new showdown with Blockhead would be bad ass!!
The FXR is my favorite motorcycle by far, but I gotta admit, if I were going to buy something new? I'd be the Indian Sport Chief OR, OR, I'd wait until 2025 and get a Buell Super Cruiser which is definitely the FXR spiritual successor.
Not fond of the blacked out treatment, but love the Low Rider S. Only bike I want more is the Fat Boy Low. Wow, Mexico City/ Sure hope you make some extended vids of that run man. THX
Eh. Anyone can go buy a new bike, and yes they’re awesome. However, there’s just something about doing it the hard way with an older bike. That ol girl has still got plenty of life in her.
You’re doing it right.
Oh, this is what you were hinting at in the last video. Old vs New, well let’s be honest, it isn’t fair. The new(er) bike is always bright n’ shiny and a ripper. Mind you, “old” Evo’s were The Shit when they first came out. You just got you horizon expanded, s’all.
Lookin’ forward to seeing what you do next!
Evos are more reliable than the new engine also.
Oh Hell Yeah! Git yours done and Blockhead can ride it & you ride the lowrider... id watch that collab
You'd have to stage 4 dat fxr with supercharger to stand a chance.
Gotta go Sanic fast!
Or you can play it Rocky Balboa style and outlast 'em. You know, wait till that motorgadget blows its CPU up the moment warranty ends and win technically.
The low rider s will be my next bike. I'll just wait a couple years and find a used one
One of our Orlando Harley rides had me along side Blockhead on his "S", and I gotta tell you, my bike wasn't lookin so good that night...lol
The low rider S is what the sportster should be!
That's just what my 2001 Sportster 1200S is.
splodge 57 I ride a 2005 xl1200c! I know what you mean!
Sportster could be anything ,drag hill climb, flat track, chopper, jumping school buses. Let's see a low rider do all that.
That would be the 2020 Softail Standard.
I like that color for some reason, more then the black.
Me too!
This bike is certainly a good one, perhaps better than the Dinah but for me it 's not a real lowrider, I rode a lowrider from Paris to Italy with friends in the 90's and it was so great! The new one seems to be a FXDR version. It has n' t the Character of The original lowrider.
But the big question is can you work on the new Low Rider S at home like the FXR? A bike I can't fix without going to the dealer is a deal-breaker for me
Love your FXR & in particular your test rides at dealership
I’ll take my 97 evo over any twin cam or newer any day, EV 27 cam, ported and polished heads with Manley valves and springs, Baker 6. 100k and she still pulls away when needed. Rebuild that FXR you will be impressed with the right combination and suspension set up.
Its cool... its VERY cool... But I would have to get those guages OFF the tank before even picking it up 😆 The height and design of those really is a huge eyesore!
If you can afford a bike like this, you can fortunatly probably afford a custom tank aswell 😉
The dials on the tank are freakin huge.
You should do a before and after shootout..do it now with both of them before anything gets done to them and see how they stack up against each other and then again later when you both get them finished and see where they have improved..I think that would be an interesting video for sure..just an idea though..I'll watch whatever video you decide to make cuz I can't get enough of the shadetree surgeon channel..you make some of the most entertaining videos on UA-cam in my opinion..
I'm afraid to test ride one of them, because I know I'd trade in my current ride about 30 seconds after finishing the test ride haha
Those bikes are cool I wish I could afford one I pick it up right away
I think to make the fxr that fast, you'll have to drop it out of a plane
Fair 😂
It would still be leaking though...
@Al Gottsch 🏅 here is your medal, you win, good job, best mechanic on the internet
I wonder how well the Lowrider S would ride after 80,000 miles plus and the same level of care/maintenance as your FXR? Not a huge Harley fan but I do like the Lowrider S
That bike is cute but too sleek, older bikes have more character.
I smell a new biker build off series coming.
I won’t take anything else over my fxr, but when I have the money, I’ll have another bike park besides it.
Have a nice trip to Mexico City
As the owner of a vulcan 900 I would love to have either one.
One day I'll get you to call the FXR the FSexR. Should be it's name when you finally fix it up.
ASVE Chopper 2003 Craigslist right now.
Mexico City!!! It would be great having you round here...
It would be interesting to see a heavily modified fxr/dyna go against a stage 1 or 2 2020 low rider S. Like would it be more enjoyable to buy an older bike and go crazy with the mods vs buying a brand new one and doing just the basics.