Harley-Davidson FXDR 114 2019: it doesn't have a nickname yet, but it's already making itself loved, not just for its look [ROAD TEST]

Harley-Davidson FXDR 114 2019 – It is a power cruiser, whose name is (for now) the four-letter acronym, which Harley usually combines with something easier to remember. While waiting for someone to give it a nickname, the "Effeicsdierre" convinced us almost 100% in our preview test. A look that only needs to be discovered in person, but we assure you that it attracts many looks of approval, combined with a guide that knows how to give strong emotions. It surprises on the strait, where the chassis dimensions and the enormous 240 rear seem to disappear and where you have a lot of fun filing down the footpegs. The traction is simply crazy, because it is practically impossible to make the tire lose grip, even with the 160 Nm of the powerful 114 cc Milwaukee-Eight 1.868. It weighs "only" 289 kg, which may seem like a lot in absolute terms, but is actually a small amount for a bike like this, even just thinking about the engine it is fitted with. This is thanks to solutions that are a first for the American manufacturer, such as the new aluminum rear swingarm, which weighs 43% less than the steel one of the other Softails. Defects? Price aside, which rather than a flaw makes it a motorbike for the lucky few, it has a particular position, with the legs forward, but the handlebars which (unless you are 2 meters tall), force you to remain forward even with the bust. Not bad, you can adjust the handlebars by turning them further back, or choose others with the right bend, from the infinite catalog of original accessories.

Aesthetics and finishes:

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Aggressive and adrenaline-filled, it pleases and gets noticed quite a bit

One hundred motorcycles by 2027, this impressive figure comes to mind every time we talk about Harley-Davidson. If some of these will be updates of existing models, with more or less substantial innovations (in this regard the Sportster chassis is the number one suspect for one of the next updates, given that it is the oldest in the range), many of the new models they are completely new. While waiting for the LiveWire with electric motor and the first crossover in the history of HD, the PanAmerica which has already caused so much discussion, the US brand surprises everyone with the tenth motorcycle of the recently revolutionized Softail range. An absolute novelty, so much so that today it doesn't even have a name, but it was decided to leave the four letters of the internal acronym (even if in the booklet they become five, FXDRS, where the "S" identifies the 114 version, an alternative to the 107 in some models). We could call it “Dierre”, since the first two letters are common to much of the Softail range. Name aside, she has a presence that doesn't leave anyone indifferent. Muscular and aggressive, at first glance she is even more "exaggerated" than it seemed from the first photos of her at the end of August.

Strongly asymmetrical, on the left side you can appreciate the red cables from the coils to the spark plugs, the finishes of the same color, in contrast with the glossy black of the engine side cover, but above all it amazes for the proportions that do not hide the vocation for performance. It is partly reminiscent of the Breakout due to the steep inclination of the steerer, 34°, but here the front wheel is 19" instead of 21, combined with an upside down fork, which further "nasty" its look. The rear area, however, is totally new. Strictly single-seater, even if the kit with saddle and footrests for the passenger already exists, the classic mudguard, which is normally a structural element, disappears and is replaced by an aluminum tube frame (-3,17 kg), which constitutes the skeleton of a truncated and very aggressive tail. The swingarm is also new, made of aluminum and with a matt black finish with a wrinkled effect, it weighs 6,25 kg compared to the almost 11 of the steel one of the other Softails with 240 rear tyre.

This is an important part of the appearance of the FXDR, obviously, in addition to the dedicated, compact, LED headlight, while on the right side we find two other markedly racing elements. We are talking about the sinuous 2 into 1 into 2 exhaust, with the generous terminal cut into a salami slice and with double outlet, while the filter box is one of the most exaggerated details. It comes out generously from the shape of the bike, to the point that the knee is normally resting on the external side, but it is not just an aesthetic element, because thanks to it the intake sound brings joy to those who are opening the throttle on the saddle of this FXDR. The aesthetics of the motorbike are completed by a very minimal control bridge, with the classic controls on the half-handlebar blocks and a very compact digital instrumentation, which however "rattles off" a good amount of information, including useful ones, such as the gear engaged, fuel level and autonomy.

Engine and performance:

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The absolute protagonist is the V-twin Milwaukee-Eight 114

Well, if the FXDR on an aesthetic level makes almost everyone agree, such aggressiveness would be a bit ridiculous if it were not combined with "real substance". This is certainly not the case, because among the sinuous shapes of this new Softail there is the latest version of the most famous V-Twin in the world. A centuries-old history, given that Milwaukee's first twin-cylinder debuted in 1909, just a few years into Harley-Davidson's 115-year history, quickly becoming a trademark. The latest evolution, the ninth for big twin engines, is the Milwaukee-Eight, which we now know well, three years after its debut. Just to refresh your ideas, this is a revolution only partially hidden by an aesthetic faithful to tradition. The 45° V-Twin has in fact switched to 4 valves per cylinder, also gaining dual ignition and a countershaft to reduce vibrations. We always like to remember that they could have been eliminated, but they decreased "only" by 75%, because HD customers did not want an engine completely free of vibrations. In 2017 it entered the Touring range, in two displacements (107 and 114 cubic inches, 1746 and 1868 cc), and then moved on to other models, including the new Softail range. Only the larger volume version is adopted on the FXDR, which is combined with a dedicated intake line and exhaust.

With this chassis and with the measures to give it a more vigorous voice and response, the Milwaukee-Eight 114 gives its best, at least for the models we have tested so far. Capable of performance that requires you to keep your hands firmly on the handlebars, the sound and thrust entice the most knowledgeable to ride the FXDR in an "arrogant" way, as we will see when talking about riding and chassis. The absence (for now still averted) of traction control and other electronic controls is not felt at all. The enormous rear tyre, let's remember that this 240/40 18 is developed specifically by Michelin for this bike, shows no sign of leaving black marks on the asphalt even when you open the throttle while the bike is still well bent. Thanks to a swingarm that loads the swingarm in the best way, making the tire work properly. If instead you want to enjoy the FXDR more relaxed, just engage the sixth gear and the enormous torque available, 160 Nm at 3.500 rpm, will take you for a walk without the slightest uncertainty or irregularity. In the city it gets a little warm, the opposite would be impossible, but without ever becoming an excessive nuisance. At any time and at practically any speed, just open the throttle to give voice to the V-Twin, which begins to suck liters and liters of air from the filter near the right knee, throwing you forward. The horses, for those who cannot do without a fact that the Milwaukee company does not like to show off (here it is the pair that counts), are 86, while there is great curiosity to find out what could happen by taking the reins off a little this engine, perhaps equipping it with a control unit or the titanium exhaust from the Screamin' Eagle line (reserved for circulation on the track...).

Ride and handling:

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An absolute surprise, it offers a ride and handling that would be unthinkable on paper

Dedicated solutions, such as the aluminum swingarm or the new truncated tail, are not just aesthetic touches (even if the eye gets the right benefit from them). You understand it at the first corners, because the FXDR is a real surprise. We would never have imagined that we would find ourselves smiling under the visor of our helmet, scratching the footpegs at every bend that leads us to the San Marco Pass, along a road that on paper would not be the best habitat for a motorbike with a 240 tire on the rear and a fork (even if of the up-side-down type) nice seat, with an angle of 34°. It also leans reasonably well, 32.6° to the right, 32.8 to the left, while a Fat Boy, for example, stops at 25.6. Taking a look at the instruments we realize that we are not just carried away by enthusiasm, because the minimum speed when traveling these narrow hairpin bends remains above 40 km/h. Try to do better with a sports car, we assure you that it is not easy. The beautiful forged aluminum rims, with a five-spoke design at the front, lenticular at the rear, are fitted with Michelin Scorcher 11 tires developed specifically for the FXDR, with a 120/70 19 at the front and, as mentioned, the enormous 240/40 18 at the rear, on rim with 8" channel. The 303 kg in running order are practically never felt, even when stationary, given the well-balanced weight, the low center of gravity and the saddle just 720 mm from the ground. The impression is that even a woman can drive it without any effort, in fact, while only in the city, in the most difficult traffic, after a while the desire to use it as if it were a scooter disappears, given the unexpected handling. It also brakes well, thanks to a system that includes a double 300 mm front disc, grips from 4-piston calipers, as well as a single 292 at the rear. As for the suspensions, the front fork has 43 mm upside-down legs, while at the rear the mono offers remote adjustment of the spring preload.

Apart from the right knee resting on the intake filter, the FXDR has only one other noteworthy flaw: the slightly uncomfortable position when riding relaxed. If when you push your pace you drive in a somewhat physical way, ending up moving a lot and not realizing it, when you take a motorway for example and relax, your posture ends up getting tired quickly. The feet are forward, but so are the arms, a defect highlighted by people 1.80 and over 1.90 tall, therefore with fairly long arms. Defect that can be remedied without major problems, perhaps simply by turning the half-handlebars back, or by replacing them themselves. In this HD offers an almost infinite spare parts catalogue, so the choice is yours.

Price and consumption:

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A motorbike not for everyone, given the price list of over 25 thousand euros

The 16,7 liter tank promises more than decent autonomy. Yes, because the FXDR is exaggerated in many aspects, but not in terms of consumption. The Milwaukee-Eight 114 is in fact rather economical, as the declared average consumption already suggests: 5.4 l/100 km, 18.5 km/l, if you prefer. In practice it is difficult to go below 15, while it is not difficult to get close to what the Milwaukee company declares.

Available to order immediately, the FXDR will start being delivered at the beginning of 2019. As for the price, it is not a bike for everyone, because the bill starts at 25.300 euros, if you choose it in the basic color (Vivid Black), 300 more for the others colors. All 9 standard colors, including the basic one, include a double finish for the tank, as on the example we tested. As usual, the space to increase the bill by customizing your FXDR is practically infinite, given the vastness of the range of original accessories.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Engine and drive, surprising handling, striking look
We do not like it:
Slightly uncomfortable relaxed posture

Harley-Davidson FXDR 2019: the Motorionline Report Card

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Gianluca Cuttitta collaborated
Tester clothing:
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