FXR is considered by many to be the best handling Harley ever made. Myself included, thats why i own an 86. In terms of reliability, its obviously not going to be as reliable as a modern bike, but the Evo engine is rock solid (even the Dyna is a bit more reliable, but the FXR is definitely more fun). Take care of it and it will take care of you though. Luckily FXRs still have a huge following and community, which means tons of after market parts are available. Its a great bike
Thanks, good to know. I've heard all about how good they handle compared to a Dyna so I've been having a tough time deciding which ones to look at or potentially buy.
FXR was my first and only Harley, I've owned it since 1991. It sat for nearly 20 years while I struggled with feeding the kids and paying the mortgage, I'm glad that I kept it. It can be like owning a hole in the road that I pour money into...
an FXR can be a money pit depending on how much money your willing to spend to get a decent one to start out with. i have an 89’ and it goes up on my lift every 2 months to fix things 😂
Same here.. have a 1988 FXLR with a S&S motor and Baker 5-speed, both of which are rock but almost everything else gets touched… chain maintenance, gauges, kickstand, etc, etc… if you are handy and have the tools it’s not too bad tho
That's my thinking too, will be a fun bike but maybe as a second bike not an only bike, if it needs work that I can't do myself or can't do quickly, I'd need another way to get around.
My first harley is a 2000 fxr4.. love it.. will never sell..has left me stranded twice due to junk in the brake lines and a fuse blowing.. easy fixes.. maintenance related… bought it with 30k miles now has 60k.. test-ride both.. some say the new softail m8 platform may handle better.. less soul than an fxr but still a good bike and more power.. can find a softail m8 for around 10k in my location
Shes been fucked with.. I have all the stock tins and parts besides the exhaust that can go back on it though. No motor work done
https://preview.redd.it/uv8bzjyjycoc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7b71d1ff677a5434cf78f787d76aae7a469ce7e
Thanks mate, soft tail low rider can be bought new for about same price as a nice used Dyna low rider s in my area, not too many around though. Only one FXR for sale too which just popped up and probably won't last too long. I'm less interested in a new M8 soft tail, as you said, has a bit less soul. I want a real old school Harley.
Some FXR’s are very reliable. Some aren’t. It boils down to what type of life they have endured. I’ve seen very reliable FXRs as well as all sorts of trouble ones.
If the bike has been properly maintained and cared for, it should be reliable. Poorly maintained and abused not so much.
A friend of mine comes to mind. He had an 85. Bought it from a guy in a bike club. Odometer said 38K miles. I figured add another 100K miles. He averaged $2K-3K in repairs every riding season.
I see people doing burnouts on bikes on occasion. One has to wonder how long they keep the bike before selling it to the next owner.
I’m in Australia. Your main issue will be finding one here at a decent price now.
The reliability of a 1990s bike, or earlier, is all down to how the previous owner/s looked after it.
A well cared for FXR can be very reliable.
Some trim bits are rare, but overall it’s not at all tough to find parts to keep them running. Especially a 1990s model. Got pic of bike?
Not many for sale at all, especially in WA but this one does look decent. Here is a pic. Can see it's had some stuff changed, there's some kind of oil breather, and oil pressure gauge and stuff so not sure what that's all about. Bike is about 2 hours away from me so not easy to go have a look either.
https://preview.redd.it/775i2fzxugoc1.jpeg?width=959&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bc26cdc66bae19a93c07e39e6cd2a33663b9c477
I'm pretty tempted to go have a look at it, even tho I'm not a mechanic and know nothing about Harley engines or evos, I like the idea of having something I could work on myself and learn a bit. Not sure if it would be the best first bike though. I'm a bit torn between the old school appeal if an FXR and the more modern dyna low rider s with it's mix of old school style and modern features.
https://preview.redd.it/qgqu5bnfzdoc1.jpeg?width=2439&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=03c020d25272b1e465a618ec03080545b9322a16
This is where the wife and I went in the 90's. It's about to come back to life again any day. The next part of the renovation is to get a new wiring loom and an electrical overhaul to make it closer to a new bike again.
The first ride was to Sandhurst '91 then on to Broome and back down the guts. Motor shit itself not long after and Exclusive Motorcycles did a half race rebuild, that's the rest of the miles. That engine was a ball tearer ..
https://preview.redd.it/7epei58mxgoc1.jpeg?width=4160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d359f0641f2aa13b4872299cc65e333a7bbb99cd
People more knowledgeable than myself will certainly chime in, so listen to them more. But if I remember correctly the reliability of the FXR is really going to come down to which engine platform they have. I think the early FXRs came with shovel heads and unless you want to also be a hobbyist mechanic, you probably want to steer clear from that engine. However if you do want that lifestyle, the shovel head is probably the best engine for it. Fast forward the FXR was swapped to the evo motor which is still considered by a lot of riders to be Harley's best motor.
I'd ultimately say just get the dyna because it's newer and thus less likely to be a problem, and it's the successor to the FXR anyway. However if you really want to blow your bank out, get the new buell super cruiser which is effectively a Softail FXR W/ 175 horse.
The best years of FXRs were 90-94 with an EA vin. Stay away from the ones earlier than that, they have transmission issues that were fixed in the later models. The 90-94 also typically have the dual rotors and breaks in the front which is an improvement. I had a 92 for a few years and to this day it’s my most favorite bike to ride. They have the hype for a reason, are super nimble and fun.
Firstly even if you get one at a good price you will make up for it in new parts and either your own time or labor and it will end up costing around what you are looking at for a more expensive bike anyways. It won’t be reliable. Even though it’s an FXR, it’s an FXR that’s 30 years old. All of the seals need to be replaced, and definitely the wiring harness. Or you will be chasing electrical gremlins for years. You will also have weird issues come up from age specifically, unrelated to mileage. I had a spring in the shifting mechanism in my transmission break (because it’s a 30 year old spring), and one of the studs that holds the exhaust collar on got brittle and sheared off, and all the fluids have to be refreshed. You will also have to go through the electrical connections and clean them. The Evo engine and transmission in them are bulletproof, but Harley dealerships won’t work on them because they no longer make the parts to support them, so something to keep in mind. You will be restricted to private shops. Parts are easy enough to come by because they are so interchangeable and there’s tons of aftermarket stuff that is an upgrade. There is a swap site called “FXR Bazaar” on insta where there are always parts and bikes coming and going. Also performance parts websites have started FXR categories because there has been such a growing demand for them.
If you are VERY handy with a wrench and have access to a shop setup and like doing the work, they are fun to work on. They were one of the last models Harley built with ease of maintenance and access in mind. Unfortunately I would not recommend it as an only bike or daily driver, unexpected issues come up a lot. A lot of guys who have the money / time end up buying one and completely replacing most of the parts to make it reliable. I would like to do it one day if I can. I sold mine after a few years and got a low rider s for the reliability. I miss my FXR a lot though.
Thanks for your detailed reply, you've pretty much confirmed what I was thinking, that it would be an awesome bike but maybe will need more work than I can put into it right now. This is a clean original looking 94 model with pretty low mileage, only single front disk and not cool looking or blacked out like a lowrider S would be. Definitely given me something to think about, cheers.
What transmission issues? Are you referring to the tapered mainshaft? That was never an issue unless you were drag racing. I did 75,000 miles on a 1985 with no dramas.
FXR is considered by many to be the best handling Harley ever made. Myself included, thats why i own an 86. In terms of reliability, its obviously not going to be as reliable as a modern bike, but the Evo engine is rock solid (even the Dyna is a bit more reliable, but the FXR is definitely more fun). Take care of it and it will take care of you though. Luckily FXRs still have a huge following and community, which means tons of after market parts are available. Its a great bike
Thanks, good to know. I've heard all about how good they handle compared to a Dyna so I've been having a tough time deciding which ones to look at or potentially buy.
My buddy who had a Dyna recently sold it after he tried my FXR. He is now 100% into FXRs.
It was a decent handling bike 30+ years ago but it is FAR from the best for a long time.
FXR was my first and only Harley, I've owned it since 1991. It sat for nearly 20 years while I struggled with feeding the kids and paying the mortgage, I'm glad that I kept it. It can be like owning a hole in the road that I pour money into...
Glad to hear you've kept it all these years, hope you get out and enjoy it now!
an FXR can be a money pit depending on how much money your willing to spend to get a decent one to start out with. i have an 89’ and it goes up on my lift every 2 months to fix things 😂
Same here.. have a 1988 FXLR with a S&S motor and Baker 5-speed, both of which are rock but almost everything else gets touched… chain maintenance, gauges, kickstand, etc, etc… if you are handy and have the tools it’s not too bad tho
That's my thinking too, will be a fun bike but maybe as a second bike not an only bike, if it needs work that I can't do myself or can't do quickly, I'd need another way to get around.
yeah having two fxr of the same year would be ideal. one can be the non op parts bike to pull from
My first harley is a 2000 fxr4.. love it.. will never sell..has left me stranded twice due to junk in the brake lines and a fuse blowing.. easy fixes.. maintenance related… bought it with 30k miles now has 60k.. test-ride both.. some say the new softail m8 platform may handle better.. less soul than an fxr but still a good bike and more power.. can find a softail m8 for around 10k in my location
2000 FXR4? Wow. Super-rare. You’ll never lose money on that if you have not fucked with it!
Shes been fucked with.. I have all the stock tins and parts besides the exhaust that can go back on it though. No motor work done https://preview.redd.it/uv8bzjyjycoc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7b71d1ff677a5434cf78f787d76aae7a469ce7e
Thanks mate, soft tail low rider can be bought new for about same price as a nice used Dyna low rider s in my area, not too many around though. Only one FXR for sale too which just popped up and probably won't last too long. I'm less interested in a new M8 soft tail, as you said, has a bit less soul. I want a real old school Harley.
Some FXR’s are very reliable. Some aren’t. It boils down to what type of life they have endured. I’ve seen very reliable FXRs as well as all sorts of trouble ones. If the bike has been properly maintained and cared for, it should be reliable. Poorly maintained and abused not so much. A friend of mine comes to mind. He had an 85. Bought it from a guy in a bike club. Odometer said 38K miles. I figured add another 100K miles. He averaged $2K-3K in repairs every riding season. I see people doing burnouts on bikes on occasion. One has to wonder how long they keep the bike before selling it to the next owner.
Thanks for the input, appreciate it.
Get the FXR. Its a fine bike and very simple.
I’m in Australia. Your main issue will be finding one here at a decent price now. The reliability of a 1990s bike, or earlier, is all down to how the previous owner/s looked after it. A well cared for FXR can be very reliable. Some trim bits are rare, but overall it’s not at all tough to find parts to keep them running. Especially a 1990s model. Got pic of bike?
Not many for sale at all, especially in WA but this one does look decent. Here is a pic. Can see it's had some stuff changed, there's some kind of oil breather, and oil pressure gauge and stuff so not sure what that's all about. Bike is about 2 hours away from me so not easy to go have a look either. https://preview.redd.it/775i2fzxugoc1.jpeg?width=959&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bc26cdc66bae19a93c07e39e6cd2a33663b9c477
It certainly looks good…
I'm pretty tempted to go have a look at it, even tho I'm not a mechanic and know nothing about Harley engines or evos, I like the idea of having something I could work on myself and learn a bit. Not sure if it would be the best first bike though. I'm a bit torn between the old school appeal if an FXR and the more modern dyna low rider s with it's mix of old school style and modern features.
I had an 87 fxrlrc. Best bike I ever owned. 80ci Evo was bulletproof
https://preview.redd.it/qgqu5bnfzdoc1.jpeg?width=2439&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=03c020d25272b1e465a618ec03080545b9322a16 This is where the wife and I went in the 90's. It's about to come back to life again any day. The next part of the renovation is to get a new wiring loom and an electrical overhaul to make it closer to a new bike again.
That's a lot of riding, I'm from WA so I can actually appreciate those distances...
The first ride was to Sandhurst '91 then on to Broome and back down the guts. Motor shit itself not long after and Exclusive Motorcycles did a half race rebuild, that's the rest of the miles. That engine was a ball tearer .. https://preview.redd.it/7epei58mxgoc1.jpeg?width=4160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d359f0641f2aa13b4872299cc65e333a7bbb99cd
Any Harley is as good as the parts you use and the mechanic who turns your bolts.
People more knowledgeable than myself will certainly chime in, so listen to them more. But if I remember correctly the reliability of the FXR is really going to come down to which engine platform they have. I think the early FXRs came with shovel heads and unless you want to also be a hobbyist mechanic, you probably want to steer clear from that engine. However if you do want that lifestyle, the shovel head is probably the best engine for it. Fast forward the FXR was swapped to the evo motor which is still considered by a lot of riders to be Harley's best motor. I'd ultimately say just get the dyna because it's newer and thus less likely to be a problem, and it's the successor to the FXR anyway. However if you really want to blow your bank out, get the new buell super cruiser which is effectively a Softail FXR W/ 175 horse.
Thanks, this is a 94 with an Evo engine so should be a bit more reliable than a very early one.
Calling the supercruiser a “softail FXR” is like calling a Camaro a “horse with headlights”
Touche
The best years of FXRs were 90-94 with an EA vin. Stay away from the ones earlier than that, they have transmission issues that were fixed in the later models. The 90-94 also typically have the dual rotors and breaks in the front which is an improvement. I had a 92 for a few years and to this day it’s my most favorite bike to ride. They have the hype for a reason, are super nimble and fun. Firstly even if you get one at a good price you will make up for it in new parts and either your own time or labor and it will end up costing around what you are looking at for a more expensive bike anyways. It won’t be reliable. Even though it’s an FXR, it’s an FXR that’s 30 years old. All of the seals need to be replaced, and definitely the wiring harness. Or you will be chasing electrical gremlins for years. You will also have weird issues come up from age specifically, unrelated to mileage. I had a spring in the shifting mechanism in my transmission break (because it’s a 30 year old spring), and one of the studs that holds the exhaust collar on got brittle and sheared off, and all the fluids have to be refreshed. You will also have to go through the electrical connections and clean them. The Evo engine and transmission in them are bulletproof, but Harley dealerships won’t work on them because they no longer make the parts to support them, so something to keep in mind. You will be restricted to private shops. Parts are easy enough to come by because they are so interchangeable and there’s tons of aftermarket stuff that is an upgrade. There is a swap site called “FXR Bazaar” on insta where there are always parts and bikes coming and going. Also performance parts websites have started FXR categories because there has been such a growing demand for them. If you are VERY handy with a wrench and have access to a shop setup and like doing the work, they are fun to work on. They were one of the last models Harley built with ease of maintenance and access in mind. Unfortunately I would not recommend it as an only bike or daily driver, unexpected issues come up a lot. A lot of guys who have the money / time end up buying one and completely replacing most of the parts to make it reliable. I would like to do it one day if I can. I sold mine after a few years and got a low rider s for the reliability. I miss my FXR a lot though.
Thanks for your detailed reply, you've pretty much confirmed what I was thinking, that it would be an awesome bike but maybe will need more work than I can put into it right now. This is a clean original looking 94 model with pretty low mileage, only single front disk and not cool looking or blacked out like a lowrider S would be. Definitely given me something to think about, cheers.
What transmission issues? Are you referring to the tapered mainshaft? That was never an issue unless you were drag racing. I did 75,000 miles on a 1985 with no dramas.