Is my FXR vintage?

Since I've completed the Shovelhead revival and have since been using it as actual transportation, I've started un "update" on my FXR.
Minor jobs:
Converting to 1997-up controls
Installing 1/4 turn quick throttle (reason for 97 control update)
Changing to 2000-up fork leg sliders to use modern caliper with Dot 4 brake fluid compatibility
Lacing up a 19x2.5" Borriani aluminum wheel to a 2000-up ball bearing hub
Installing an electronic speedometer
Finding someone to rebuild my 16" remote reservoir shocks and installing them
Installing a Sifton 142 Camshaft
Minor headwork and porting to facilitate Camshaft
Having the cases opened up to increase displacement to 96"

I'm building a short stroke Evolution based engine with another set of cases. The plan is to get 100ci of displacement, but do so by de-stroking the crank and going to a 4" bore. That combined with lightening the flywheels should make for an un-Harley like powerplant that will work nicely with my FXR based bike.

If you'll allow it, I'll re-size some pictures soon to show my progress.
 
If you'll allow it, I'll re-size some pictures soon to show my progress.

:thumbup

would love to see your pics here ...
my Evo is officially eligible for the Antique Motorcycle Club of America now. :laughing

always wanted an FXR, and hear you can’t buy a new one anymore,
so post away say I ... we used to talk about “strokers” when I was a
kid, be fun to see a de-stroker build ... :ride

guess there’s math to figure out a red line for the de-stroked engine ...?

... was this a shovel-head FXR?
 
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auntiebling

megalomaniacal troglodyte
Staff member
"build before 85" is the marker "we" settled on. since any harley is the exact same bike that they have been main since the last turn of the century, i say go for it! :twofinger #kiddingjeez
 
The FXR is actually a Chopper Guys FXR based frame, built from chro-moly to shed weight. The engine is currently built from S&S Super Stock cases, with aftermarket components from most of the big names. The heads are noteworthy only because they were massaged by Dan Baisley. Trans is a Baker 5 speed in a TP Engineering case. The only parts sourced from Harley are things like Fork leg sliders and foot pegs, and now the speedometer.

The long stroke engine thing is a hell of a worm hole discussion. Harley started down that path with the 80" Shovel when they stroked the 74" without augmenting bore. The Evo was never stroked in production form, and the Twin Cam debuted with a 4" stroke, but the dick measuring contest of displacement meant that Harley kept adding stroke to that architecture. The new M8 engines start with a 4.397" stroke and go up from there. The Piston speeds are unsustainable above 4500 rpm with that kind of stroke. Doesn't make for a fun engine in my opinion.
Interestingly, S&S built a 100" engine that ran a 4"x4" bore/stroke. They were Evo based, but short and fit in Shovel frames. I looked for one of those, but I decided I want longer rods to try and increase dwell at TDC. I did something similar with a 302 Ford engine (351 rods with custom pistons) and it developed 300ft/lbs at 2000rpm, but still spun to 6800rpm and made 400hp at the rear wheels. It was an incredibly versatile engine for track/road race use. I'd like that kind of power curve for my bike.
 
well, sounds something like a shovelhead engine in there currently ... all shovelhead style engines are certainly Vintage Cafe material. :toothless

interesting to read about Evo engine height ... my '85 has a more-or-less first year Evo engine in a shovelhead frame from the factory.

looking forward to destroked Evo build info, since I was vaguely aware that any sort of non-stock-stroke Evo engine is kinda unusual ... :thumbup

I did something similar with a 302 Ford engine (351 rods with custom pistons) and it developed 300ft/lbs at 2000rpm, but still spun to 6800rpm and made 400hp at the rear wheels. It was an incredibly versatile engine for track/road race use. I'd like that kind of power curve for my bike.

did you change the crank throws in your Ford 302 engine? trying to recall my stroke/bore/stroke/displacement/deck-height/redline relationships ... (think you added "custom pistons" since I started my reply ... sounds like wristpin/deckheight expensive pistons ... :laughing)

302 was 3" stroke and 4" bore and 5.09" con-rod, and 351W were 5.956?
lots of info on google about 302 rods in a 351, but not the other way around ...

geeze ford is a rabbit hole ... not that I'd know.
fun to think about.

:angel
 
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Not to go too far off topic, but the 302 was a stock bore/stroke/crank assembly. It was a roller tappet block, but I used a 28oz crank instead of a 50oz. The Pistons were Keith Black forged units, .030 over and had a relocated wrist pin and short skirt to accommodate the longer rod. As mentioned, that long rod enabled more TDC dwell, and that helped develop torque early in the RPM range.
The engine currently in the FXR is Evo based. It's approximately 80ci, running 10.8:1 compression.
Your Evo equipped 4 speed bike is definitely a small numbers thing. I don't remember how they did that, but I know it was difficult.
 
:thumbup

oooh ... rod/stroke ratios.
longer rods are better, which is why Mopar rules, or so Hot Rod magazine tried to teach me ... :laughing

yes, super low number of bikes in '85, compared to what was about to happen for Harley-Davidson ...
we all knew each other, then. :toothless

they just cancelled my April 2020 Rideout Hideout camping trip ... : |
 
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:thumbup

oooh ... rod/stroke ratios.
longer rods are better, which is why Mopar rules, or so Hot Rod magazine tried to teach me ... :laughing

yes, super low number of bikes in '85, compared to what was about to happen for Harley-Davidson ...
we all knew each other, then. :toothless

they just cancelled my April 2020 Rideout Hideout camping trip ... : |

I'm super bummed about Carrizo being cancelled. I'm looking forward to a Mojave campout in replacement.
 
If you don't post some pictures soon we're gonna kick you out.

:laughing:thumbup

while we're waiting:

HD_1982_FXR_large.jpg

1982 shovel FXR

:ride
 

cheez

Master Of The Darkside
Your photos aren't working, brother. There's apparently no 'easy' way to use Google Photos as an image host, you either have to jump through a bunch of hoops or use a third party site to get the permanent URL. I use imgur, it works ok.

fM9K8Jh.png
 

I was able to follow a url link and then navigate through the album with the arrows ...

think the issue on BARF may be the 4000x4000 pic size.

anyway, very cool bike! the pics racing it through cones are super cool ... :thumbup:ride
 
Your photos aren't working, brother. There's apparently no 'easy' way to use Google Photos as an image host, you either have to jump through a bunch of hoops or use a third party site to get the permanent URL. I use imgur, it works ok.

fM9K8Jh.png

I'll see what I can do RE:imgur today. I am not a tech guy, as illustrated here. I assumed the lack of an image was only my computer.
 

bpw

Well-known member
Cool bike, never owned a Harley, but if I did it would be one like that. Just a simple bike with nothing extraneous.
 
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