2018–2020 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Old School Chopper Soul
The 2018 Low Rider is a Softail built the way a chopper should look: long, low and heavy on metal. Its heart is the Milwaukee-Eight 107, a 1745 cc air/oil-cooled 45° V-twin making 85 hp and 110 lb-ft at just 3,000 rpm. It sits in a steel double-cradle frame on a 19-inch front and a fat 180-section rear, with a six-speed box and belt drive. There is almost no electronic layer between you and the machine. In the Softail family this is the stripped-down street bike, and it is the one that practically begs to be personalized.
Out on the road it stays calm and planted at highway speed, and the finish holds up to a close look, which matters on a bike you will spend time admiring in the garage. The low 27.0 in (686 mm) seat and low center of gravity make the 661 lb (300 kg) wet weight far less intimidating than the number suggests. It is for the rider who buys with the heart first and wants a stock bike worth building on. The caveats are real. Early Milwaukee-Eight 107 engines can suffer oil sumping, fixed by an updated oil pump on later 2019 models, and taller riders will find the cockpit tight.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 85 hp (63 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 110 lb-ft (149 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1745 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air/oil-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front tire | 110/90-19 |
| Rear tire | 180/70-16 |
| Seat height | 27.0 in (686 mm) |
| Wet weight | 661 lb (300 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 gal (18.9 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
Early Milwaukee-Eight 107 oil sumping
Oil can collect in the crankcase, causing reduced performance and potential engine damage; solved with an updated oil pump on later 2019 models.
Weak rear brake feel and noise
Many owners report the rear brake lacks power and makes moaning noises; some solve it with aftermarket pads or an oversized rotor kit.
Where this Harley-Davidson Softail Low Rider FXLR pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Softail Low Rider FXLR is actually built for.
This is the real Harley ritual: big V-twin sound, a chopper stance and a stock bike you'll want to make your own. Ride it to Sturgis or Daytona and it belongs in the lineup.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
For slow days on historic routes and small-town main streets, the Low Rider fits well. It looks classic, pulls hard low in the revs and never asks you to hurry.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Honestly, it will get you over Beartooth, but it isn't built for that job. No luggage, no cruise control, a 5.0 gal tank and a compact riding position make long two-up days hard work.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2016–2017
The Factory Hot Rod Outlier
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Harley-Davidson Softail Low Rider FXLR. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
