Harley-Davidson Low Rider S

In this article we decided to collect all the videos on tuning and servicing our Softail Low Rider S (FXLRS), which will be useful to anyone who repairs and modifies their own motorcycle.

The stock Low Rider S is an excellent, quite balanced motorcycle, but its design feels unfinished, which in our opinion is especially noticeable and jarring in club style. First, the 2-into-2 muffler from the Street Bob doesn't fit in shape, size or performance. Second, the stock low T-bar handlebar looks flimsy and suits only short riders.

We decided to finish the design, do a standard Stage 1 with a suspension upgrade and change the styling slightly: a canonical saddle and sissy bar, with a minimum of add-ons and accessories.

Uncorking or Stage 1

In stock form modern motorcycles are choked to meet environmental standards for emissions and noise. Besides reduced power, the engine also runs hotter because of the lean mixture. The new M8 engines even had to be fitted with an oil cooler and external pipes/passages to cool the cylinder heads.

Uncorking is one of the basic modifications, requiring replacement of the intake and exhaust and tuning. Read more about choosing components and tuning methods in a separate article on our site.

After test rides against a stock Low Rider S 114, the conclusion is simple: the gears are much longer, the rev limit is higher and peak power is higher. We started in fourth gear on the highway up to the limiter: our bike pulls far ahead and faster from mid-range; no precise tests or measurements are needed, the difference is too big and obvious. The low end is almost the same, but thanks to the long gears you can accelerate faster. The motorcycle feels lighter on the move, and the throttle response and pull when opening the throttle are quicker.

Suspension

The second standard modification is replacing or upgrading the suspension. New Softails have a monoshock, and the choice of more effective options on the market isn't that wide. We decided to try an air shock, and we really liked both its performance and functionality, although in our opinion it isn't the best solution for the money.

We fitted cartridges with sealed pressurized dampers from the same Legend brand in the fork, because suspension, like tires, is better not mixed, since damping is tuned as a front/rear combination.

Test rides showed a very big difference in stability and steadiness, which is strongly felt in the load on your hands. With Legend cartridges you can accelerate and brake to zero holding the handlebar with one hand: the motorcycle goes straight, without veering to the side. On the stock motorcycle this wasn't possible, because the handlebar gets thrown from side to side and you have to actively correct, and with one hand that's scary and unsafe.

Stability is the most significant difference, which greatly affects steering fatigue and safety under braking. The bike feels lighter on the move and dives less under emergency braking, the braking distance is shorter, but what we liked most is that it goes straight without veering. We couldn't compare on a bad road, since our bike has higher ground clearance because of the air shock, so it can ride where the stock one can't. Small bumps are less noticeable and don't hit the handlebar as hard as on stock.

Controls

Instead of the stock handlebar we chose a classic one-piece 12-inch T-bar in uncoated stainless steel: stiff, beautiful and practical, perfect for a rider about 180 cm tall.

The Saddleman StepUp seat with a high backrest not only looks great and goes well with the rugged tank panel but is also very comfortable and takes the load off your arms under acceleration.

Accessories

We replaced the stock turn signals with the most compact ones we could find and fitted a sissy bar for carrying loads. By the way, a sissy bar is more practical than saddlebags: it lets you carry oversized items and doesn't stick out at the sides.

Maintenance

Some standard consumable replacement procedures on a Harley differ from other motorcycles but are quite within any owner's ability, so we film a video whenever scheduled maintenance is needed.

Overall we really like the motorcycle even in stock form; in the video we called it the best cruiser, and we really think so.

After all the modifications the bike has also become unique; you could keep it for life, it will never go out of date, will always be a joy to look at, and nothing better will ever come along.

The whole new Softail range is so good that it may turn out to be the last of the combustion engine era and in human history. The new minimalist stiff frame is perfect. The new M8 engine allows endless experiments and modifications up to 180 hp and more. Well-thought-out mass centralization (battery low in the center, shock under the seat) and high stiffness provide good handling and lightness on the move.

In our shop you can get advice and buy and install components from leading brands for Harley-Davidson motorcycles.