Heartbreaking cry echoed across the internet as Harley-Davidson discontinued the revered product Dyna. But it’s easy to forget that Dyna’s launch sparked an outcry. That’s because it replaced what many consider one of The Motor Co.’s most iconic motorcycles—the Harley-Davidson FXR.
Introduced in 1982 as an answer to Japanese sportsbikes, the FXR quickly became known as the Harley that could corner. It was so popular that Harley brought it back as a limited edition in the late ’90s, along with its replacement, the Dyna.
Jens vom Brauck isn’t a Harley guy, but that didn’t stop him from building one of the sleekest custom FXRs we’ve ever seen. The man behind JvB-moto is known for its modern style and knack for cutting the weight of a bike while perfecting its ergonomics.
“A few years ago I bought myself an old 80s Harley Electra Glide to contrast with all the fast modern bikes I was building,” he told us. “Not surprisingly, after a while I realized that I really loved the old Evolution engine—but the heavy bike didn’t really suit my riding style. So when I learned about the FXR, I knew it would be the right bike for a project.”
“Mine helicopter friends asked, ‘Why such an ugly frame?’ Some people said ‘That’s the ugliest Harley ever, don’t touch it, it’s not good for customization’. Yes, it’s a weird frame, but every FXR owner you talk to really loves their bike—some of them say it’s the best HD ever made. ”
Jens’ FXR is a 1988 Harley-Davidson FXRS-SP Low Rider Sport Edition. To him, it was well-maintained with very few clocks, so he decided to keep the original patina instead of removing the engine and overhaul it. “I really like the 80s feel,” he added.
“I like to have that in a lot of my builds, so I tried to preserve that by keeping a lot of the original parts and designing new parts in that style. And I tried to keep it simple. No frills—just the parts that make sense; components that make the bike more fun, lighter and more agile.
“I tried to take the ‘Low Rider Sport Edition’ title literally, so the driving position is a cross between a Cruiser and a Roadster. I also like the similar feel as a contrast to my latest builds. No fuel injection, no electronics, no digital display, no error messages; Riding is very pure.
The FXR’s tank is still in use, albeit with a new paint job (thanks to Jen’s uncanny ability with rattling cans). But the back half of the Harley has been completely transformed. Gone are the traditional fender struts, roomy rear fenders and twin seats, and the subframe is now an inch shorter.
The bike now has a single seat, resting on a handcrafted fiberglass tail section. The whole arrangement matches the quirky feel of the FXR frame instead of fighting with it, and delivers on the boxy style that Jens has adopted recently. LED taillights sit below the rear lip, with LED turn signals mounted to the frame rails.
Jens also designed new fiberglass side skirts, along with headlight covers that house the rectangular lights; a look that has become JvB-moto’s signature. One-off risers are attached to the upper stem, clamping a set of heavily modified Triumph handlebars that Jens plans to recreate in stainless steel. (He has a long history of producing assemblies through European parts specialist Kedo, so most of the parts on this bike could be put into production if the mood animal.)
The throttle and single mirror are from Biltwell Inc., while the switches are reused 1980s Kawasaki items, modified to fit the 1-inch-thick bars. Small LED turn signals protrude from below the clutch and brake levers, while a small MMB speedo sits on the left side of the steering stem, held in place by a custom-made anti-vibration mount.
Everything from the horizontal bars to the tapered tail emphasizes the FXR’s low riding position. But Jens went even further and installed a shorter KONI rear shock than the original. The outer forks are stock, but they’ve been rebuilt with Progressive Suspension springs and preload adjusters, and are stabilized with aluminum fork braces.
Jens kept the bike’s OEM front wheel but swapped the rear for a sturdy rim from an FXLR Low Rider Custom. They’re wrapped in Michelin Commander 3 rubber, with a big but not unreasonable 150-wide tire at the rear. Other modifications include narrower belts and pulleys and a complete Beringer brake system to ensure the FXR stops better than it did in the ’80s.
Even though Jens didn’t open the engine, it wasn’t exactly original. “It was mildly tweaked in the 90s,” he told us. “I don’t know exactly how much power it makes—but with the Mikuni carburetor, Supertrapp exhaust, and Dyna ignition, it runs pretty well.”
“Sure, this bike is not a road racer. But it’s fun to travel and goes pretty fast. With a weight of 245 kg [540 lbs] and low center of gravity, it’s a lot lighter and easier to drive than the big modern twins.”
JvB Moto | Facebook | Instagram | Action photo by Tim Davies
