2019 Harley FXDR Power Cruiser launch

SUMMER IS still in full swing in Thessaloniki, you'll be pleased to hear, and I’m about to head out on the new Harley FXDR through the Greek mountains.

It’s the brand’s latest ‘power cruiser’ and it certainly looks the part. Taking influence from jet fighters, drag racers and Rottweilers, apparently, it’s a muscular mash-up of Harley’s Fat Bob and Breakout models, both also part of the 2018 Softail range. 

Harley customer focus, as with the aforementioned models, is on younger riders who like the H-D brand but aren’t so bothered by their traditional models. And quite a number of orders have apparently already been placed so the Milwaukee manufacturer must be doing something right. 

It’s powered by Harley’s 1,868cc air-cooled Milwaukee 8 V-Twin, making 91hp and 160Nm at 3,500rpm. That beefy motor is bolted into a Softail chassis, with a new aluminium swingarm, plus a huge 240-section rear wheel matched to a 19-inch front. There’s apparently tons of weight saving all over the bike, but it still weighs a chunky 289kg.

I’m off to check it out, but will let you know later what it’s like...