Thankfully, by 1983 the motor company was bought back by a consortium headed by Willie G Davidson and the tide started to turn.ġ984 was a critical year for Harley Davidson. Shovelhead engined models manufactured between 19 still have a very bad reputation for being unreliable, fragile and leaky. A product of poor morale among workers and a parent company (AMF) that was used to manufacturing sporting equipment and not motorcycles led to a very sorry state of affairs. Harley was plagued throughout the seventies by piss poor quality control. Those last shovels were fitted to police bikes only. With the migration to the FXR platform came the more significant development of the 1340cc Evolution engine in 1984, although the evo was only fitted to the new softails and FXR's for '84.ġ985 saw the evo rolled out across the entire model range and was the last year of the shovelhead. This Low Rider was graced with dual disk brakes, a pop-up seat for easy battery access and low rise bars. ![]() ![]() Naturally, the Low Rider was part of the new model line with the FXRS model again proving to be a big seller. The eighties saw the incarnation of H-D's rubber-mounted FXR chassis to replace their aging solid-mounted FX line. The Lowrider also had a unique factory steering head angle of 32 degrees to give it that custom raked frame look, right up until the 2006 model where it reverted back to the standard 29 degree superglide frame. Fantastic for anyone with a shorter inseem or in fact anyone who's looking for that low slung factory custom ride. The Lowrider has the lowest seating position any bike in the HD lineup at a bee's dick under 26" from the road to your arse. A free flowing exhaust and a high flow air cleaner would see that figure increase by another 10hp with a corresponding jump in torque output. ![]() 1979 saw the larger 1340cc higher compression shovelhead motors fitted across the FX range, the extra capacity good for 65hp when bog standard. The 1200cc shovelhead engine powered the FXS for its first two years, making 60 odd horsepower and the very fat spread of torque that all Harleys are renowned for. and his staff to create even more custom models - a trend that continues to this day and one of the main reasons for the motor company's continued popularity with the public.Īlthough the new 1340cc (80ci) engine was available on FLH models in the Lowrider's inaugural year, the motor company decided in its wisdom to bestow the new model with the tried and true 1200cc (74ci) engine. Coupled with shorter rear shocks and 1" longer forks, the bike was an instant hit and inspired Willie G. In addition to the FXS's low seat height, that first model Low Rider included raised white lettered tires, drag bars, mag wheels, and an often copied two-into-one slash-cut exhaust. ![]() Dubbed the FXS, it was the first of Harley's "factory customs", many of which proved so popular with buyers that they are highly coveted among Harley aficionados. Harley Davidson's Low Rider was introduced at Daytona Bike Week in Florida.
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