Last month, Harley-Davidson sent shockwaves around the world. They announced that they will break their century-long tradition of building only cruisers by venturing into unchartered territories like adventure tourers and naked brutish street fighters. But they’re also making sure that they stay true to their legacy by expanding on what they’re known for, mighty big-bore V-twin cruisers. And they take this tradition forward by bringing the spiritual successor to the V-Rod, the FXDR 114.
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Harley says that the new motorcycle looks like a drag racer crossed with a fighter jet, and we’re no one to contest their claims as the styling of the FXDR 114 is quite unique than its other Softail siblings. The bike features a new headlight fitted with Daymaker LED headlamps and a white shroud for it as well. A stretched 16.7-litre fuel tank, built only for the FXDR 114, lengthens the profile of the motorcycle. At the back, the single seat flows into the drag bike style tail section while the 2-in-1 exhausts are designed to increase the leaning angle. The forward facing air-intakes are inspired by the World Champion Screamin’ Eagle drag bike.
Another highlight of the bike is that it uses weight-saving aluminium and composite materials. The all-new aluminium swingarm, that wasn’t seen in any Harley before, achieves a weight reduction of 4.6kgs over the standard steel Softail swingarm. The bike’s subframe is also made from aluminium while the front and rear fenders are made from composite materials. Despite all the weight saving, the motorcycle still weighs 304kgs which is same as the Fat Boy 114 but over 10kgs lighter than the Heritage Classic 114.
Suspension duties are done by 43mm inverted forks at the front and a Softail monoshock at the rear. Stopping power is pro by 300mm discs up front and 292mm discs at the rear and for added safety ABS comes in as standard. Moreover, the bike gets 32.6 and 32.8-degree lean angles on the left and right sides, which is more than any other Softail model. Furthermore, it will run on 19-inch front and 18 inch rear aluminium alloys with Michelin Scorcher rubber.
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The FXDR 114 is powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin engine that is the brand’s most powerful engine fitted in the Softail models. It’s a 1868cc beast of a motor that produces 162nm of torque at 3500rpm and all of it is channelled via a 6-speed transmission. If all this power and tech is not enough for you, worry not, because the FXDR 114 can be further modified by Harley-Davidson CVO wing according to your liking and can even be fitted with the more beastly Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin engine.
Currently, in India, the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Anniversary Edition is the only Softail model that gets the Milwaukee 114 V-Twin engine and it’s highly unlikely that we’ll get the same in the FXDR. The Milwaukee 107 V-Twin makes more sense for the Indian market and H-D India might bring it in the FXDR. The motorcycle is priced at USD 21346 (around Rs. 14.9 lakh, excluding taxes) and we can expect the bike to be launched in India in a few months.