Elemental Force

Dave hardens up on the muscled up 2019 FXDR

- David Cohen

Not since H-D released the V-Rod in 2001 has there been a new model that has polarised Harley owners opinions so much. It’s therefore quite fitting that the 2019 FXDR fills the gap left by the discontinued V-Rod in a number of ways.

As one reviewer succinctly said way back then: “The V-Rod was intended to bring in more than the usual suspects, and it did.”

So too will the FXDR attract a range of different customers, regardless of how much its appearance and style has incensed some rusted-on old-school H-D owners.

This is a bike that covers some of the ground recently broken with the 2017 Fat Bob, but takes it to the next level. It’s a bike with enormous potential.

Quite simply, it is a brilliant motorcycle to ride. It’s powerful, smooth, responsive, handles well, has excellent cornering clearance, is surprisingly comfortable and I think it looks great. And that’s just in the standard trim of the ‘Bonneville Salt’ coloured Press bike. I had a glimpse of its potential too with time spent in the saddle of two other examples that were fitted with performance upgrades.

BUT FIRST, THE PRESS BIKE

I spend two weeks dodging the early October monsoonal rain squalls around Brisbane and rode it every chance I could. Every time I rode it I liked it even more than the time before. To say it grew on me is an understatement. By the end of the test I was in serious lust.

At its heart is the Milwaukee-Eight power plant in 114ci trim. It’s 102x114mm bore and stroke displacing 1868cc is the smoothest running, most responsive, sweetest revving stock 114 cube I have ridden – significantly smoother than the 114 Breakout tested in Heavy Duty Issue 159 and even smoother that the 114 Fat Boy tested issue 156 which was silky.