Well after 12 years it is time for my FXDX to find a new home and I thought I would tell you about it, and why despite the fact I am selling it, that I think the Harley FXDX Superglide Sport is the best bike Harley Davidson ever made, and why this particular model is the best of them all.
That might sound a bit biased, and it probably is, but this isn’t your average Harley
As the last carb fed 1450 twin cam engines this is in my view the best Harley power plant ever made and with the classic Dyna chassis it is also the lightest of the big block bikes other than the FXR.
The 2000 and 2001 1450 twin cam had the best quality Timken bearings on both sides of the crank. After 2002, these were replaced by a cheaper alternative and are susceptable to crank run out, especially if the engine is tuned.
The Timken bearings are bulletproof and make the earlier 1450 Twin Cam a much more smooth and reliable engine.
With the better crank bearings and carb fed fuelling, this, and the T-Sport version, are the best FXD’s ever made in my opinion. This is is basically a cut back BareBones version of the T-Sport.
You get everything you need and NOTHING more.
There are no bells and whistles or added useless farkles.
This was made before Harley Davidson began to try and make savings across the whole production process, and you can tell, with all components feeling very much the quality they should.
These bikes are like gold dust now and this is as good a low mileage example as you will find.
It isn’t a show pony. It is a riders bike, which is why it needs a new home. It just hasn’t been used regularly enough for years and my health issues mean it isn’t going to be.
I have always had multiple bikes so over the years I have rotated them, so the mileage is still very low.
You get fully adjustable suspension front and back, which if I remember right was built by Showa. Suspension travel at the front wheel is 6.1 in. or 155 mm and at the rear wheel it is 4.9 in. or 124.5 mm., and with twin discs up front, you have a Harley that stops AND goes around corners.
It will keep up with most bikes on twisty roads.
It has mid pegs which makes a big difference. For me they create a much more aggressive and more comfortable riding position with your feet directly below your thighs.
The engine has had a full stage 1 tune. It has screaming eagle pipes and a high flow air filter with fuelling adjusted properly, so you get all the torque and power without the pops and bangs that come from poor a fuelling set up.
Pick up between 60 and 100mph is phenomenal, and it will carry on revving until things get very illegal, even fully loaded. It makes me smile just as much today as it always did, and I will explain all about why I chose it later.
The carb means pick up at low revs is much smoother than any of the fuel injected models and although I know some people prefer the flat slide Mikuni to the standard Keihin carb, I have always thought the Keihin does a great job. Fuelling is smooth and consistent, and has plenty of snap for me.
It is a very stripped back Harley and the earlier frame with a shorter wheelbase makes it much more flickable than the later models.
Later models with a 6 speed box had a longer frame and also a heavier wider front end, that made them lazy in the corners compared to the sharper steering of this model.
Rake is steeper too and the rear tyre is a narrower profile so it runs clean through the twisties and handles far better than the later models.
A La Pera seat makes it as comfortable as any bike you can ride, and the better balance of the shorter chassis, lighter front end and mid pegs make every journey a joy.
I have kept highway pegs on but taking them off is a 2 minute job and would help it loose even more weight.
The bars are non stock as you can see.
I do have standard ones but these suited me and they are really comfortable.
The originals would need new powder coat to look right as finish is old and worn now.
I have a huge custom leather bag for the rack with rain cover, and a roll bag that can be attached to the main bag, seat or forks.
Maintenance has been studious. I have over 10 bikes and do my own maintenance on everything from a 50 year old Laverda to a 2008 Vstrom. Oil changes are done overly regularly, filters changed every year regardless of miles and clearances checked at the same time because its so easy.
New battery and Pirelli Night Dragon tyres are not new, but there is still plenty of life in them and road holding is fantastic.
It is SORNED and I have no intention of putting it on the road this year, but it is ready to ride away or I do have a van so within reasonable distance can help with delivery at cost
there is a small turnaround where it can be clicked through the gears if you have insurance and the cash is in my hand but without tax full test rides aren’t possible, but you can see the running footage in the video.
You wont be disappointed.
It comes with a Full 12 month MOT just done.
Mileage is just over 12,000 miles, you will notice an anomaly on MOT records as new clock shows 10,000 miles, I have old clock, needle stuck so had to replace.
The only trouble I ever had was with the damn alarm, so the original TSSM has been replaced by a new Custom Dynamics TSM. I learned to hate the alarm system, but I do have the original TSSM and fob if you prefer being woken up randomly in the middle of the night for no reason .
Original indicators have been swapped for smaller black ones to match the look, pipe heat shields are blacked out as is eyebrow.
No tank stickers, just a badge on rear custom rack. Although I do have some older Harley badges that I considered fitting I just preferred it without.
The rear rack/sissy bar/backrest was built specifically for the bike as was the huge hand made leather bag I will include if you want it. The wings were tig welded properly and the whole thing finished in the same crinkle finish as the standard engine cases.
Paint was done a couple of years ago, but has done very little mileage since.
Rear fender now has a rubber trim to protect edge of paint and it just finishes it better and matches the trim on the tank strap.
I’m in no rush, I’m just thinning out the collection and downsizing, the Harley is just too big and heavy for me these days and I would prefer to see it being ridden as it was meant to be.
Any silly offers will just be ignored.
No swaps on this one either.
I was that man who said I would never buy a Harley. After testing a Shadow 1100, Mean Streak and M109, the Harley won hands down on everything.
It served a purpose when I needed something with a lower seat height that would haul 2 people and luggage around easily.
It does, still.
Don’t just take my word for it either, there are endless articles and quotes on forums about these bikes. Go and take a look for yourselves but here are a few.
Extra
this was a piece written by DONNY PETERSEN from Heavy Duty Cycles in Canada about the FATHEAD TWINCAM 88 + 88B “Fathead”
Where should I start? Well how about first describing this engine, 4 ½ years in the making, as a bulletproof platform for the future. Designed with durability and reliability in mind, the engineers are expecting a minimum 100,000 miles before rebuild. I’m writing this in March and as of this date they already have a Fathead with this magic mileage and it doesn’t need a rebuild.
Yeah I know of all the mythical Evos that have supposedly logged on the magic 100 grand but lemme tell you that for every rider that’s actually done that there are many more exaggerating their motorcycles prowess.
The Fathead is gonna consistently do 100 grand without blinking. In fact there are parts in that baby that will not need replacing for a few hundred thousand miles like the pinion bearing that rivals those used in top fuel dragsters. This engine is overengineered. It is a superlative effort in engine design that I’ve never seen or hope to have seen in my 30 years of working on the V-Twin. It’s a platform for many modifications that are going to be extremely reliable. It is obvious to me that Screaming Eagle is going to attempt to take charge and control this engines’ destiny in the high performance arena.
Again, by March 98, the Factory has logged 2 million miles in testing with 12,600 hours on the Dyno.
You see! This engine has been developed to run stock forever and almost forever with Harley Davidson designed Hi-performance components. This is why it’s called a platform. If your heart desires this staging area for more power it will be available, reliable, fast and durable.
F86 says;
The FXDX was one of the best handling and stopping big twins Harley ever made.
Engine performance is pretty much wide open… It can make basically whatever amount of power you can afford.
I have ridden lots of bikes, Harleys, sportbikes, standards… A well set up FXDX is as competent a bike as any 15 year old 650lb bike can be from a performance standpoint. It will never perform like a 450lb sportbike, but it’s very enjoyable to ride.
cggorman says;
My ’99 has about 56k on it and it’s ridden at least 60 miles a day, nearly every day it’s above 40° & not pouring rain….which ends up only being about 6 months…but still… Parts are plentiful and it’s easy to work on. Helluva lot better than my 15 year old Jag (that I ditched for a Miata).
It is/was the best all-round bike that Harley ever built.
FXDX Rider says;
I don’t think there’s a better Harley out there. If you really like to ride and carve the corners, the FXDX will do it. I have a ’99, so I didn’t get the trick adjustable suspension. I’ve considered upgrading, but it rides so well, I changed my mind.
The blacked out components are simply a matter of taste. I dig it. Most people prefer chrome on their bikes. You will stand out at bike night. And you can ride when others are polishing water spots from their chrome!
I also prefer the mid-mount controls. I see a lot of guys change them out to the forwards, but for me the mids give better control of my weight when I’m in the turns. I have highway pegs to stretch out.
I think this is the most “riding” oriented Harley made with the possible exceptions of the 1200 Roadster and 883 Sport.
I’ve experienced very little vibration at speed, and none at all from the forks. I’ve never heard of anyone who has. For real-world riding, this is a do-it-all Harley. It will chug around town, tour the interstates, and carve the corners better than most cruisers.
Not many people really “get” this bike, but those who do are pleased with the results.
Dynageno says;
Ditto to all of the above! I have 36k on my 2000 fxdx and wouldn’t trade it for any other bike in the Harley line. She handles great in the twisty’s and brakes real well with the duel disc up front. production was 1999 till 2005. the best bike Harley ever made!
Motoplanete said;
The Dyna Super Glide Sport arrived at the same time as Harley’s new engine, the 1450 twin cam 88. And the American firm has designed a really good-looking machine. In black, it’s superb to look at and a pleasure to ride.
This Harley is a delight.
This engine is a real success. It’s faithful to the American manufacturer’s architecture, and distills the pleasure you’d expect. What character, torque and flexibility! The Fathead has a real kick in the mid-range.
on the road, the FXDX’s chassis doesn’t disappoint. Roadholding never calls for criticism, and you can even indulge in a bit of sporty muscle.
For 2000, the bike gains a new, adjustable fork, comfortable suspension and excellent braking – perhaps too much so at the rear.
The Dyna Super Glide Sport is certainly the American that’s best suited to our soil.
Kickit said;
I have a 2000 fxdx, have used it pretty much every day since I bought it in 2003 with about 2,000 miles on the clock (rode it to work and back today – about 3 hours) – it is a fantastic bike. A little bit of rust here and there because I dont baby it (park it outside my house on the road every night 12 months of the year) It still runs great. Carb so no messing about. Best bike I ever bought, I dont think I’ll every buy another bike – why bother when by sheer luck I chose the best bike they ever made.
Articleid1601849
H-D cooked up the Dyna Super Glide Sport to fill the need for a new performance-oriented cruiser. It boasted firmer suspension with improved handling over the base model, along with an aggressive rider’s triangle due to the mid-mount foot controls and a relatively flat handlebar. It maintained a pillion pad, but in the Mustang style that tapers off in back and is more about style than comfort. Blackout coverage deepens the classic-custom ties, and dual front brakes add yet more to its sportiness.
Some tech specs;
Model-year 2000 would see the addition of adjustable suspension, front and rear. It was also available in a touring variant with stock bags and taller glass. H-D powered it with the Twin Cam 88 engine that, like its name suggests, runs dual cams, one for each jug with two valves per cylinder. Its torquey power delivery paired well with the Dyna Super Glide Sport’s performance.
Standard specs for the Dyna Super Glide Sport (FXDX)
Max Power 67 Hp @ 5,200 RPM
Max Torque 86 Lb-Ft @ 3,500 RPM
Claimed Fuel Economy 43 MPG
Specs on mine I would guesstimate are about 75HP at the wheel, a bit over 90ft/lbs of torque and it will still return 40mpg plus depending how you use the throttle.
Overall length is 91.4 in. or 2319.2 mm, Seat Height is 27.25 in. or 691.6 mm, Rake is 28.0 degrees Trail 4.1 in. or 104.1 mm with a Wheelbase of 63.2 in. or 1603.5 mm
Tires are 100/90-19 on the front and 150/80 16 on the rear.
One magazine said:
For customers who want a bike that is as much fun to ride on twisty roads and around town as it is to look at, the FXDX fits the bill perfectly.
Vibration-isolated, Black-on-black Twin Cam 88™ Engine, Sinister blacked-out looks, Triple-disc brakes, Premium adjustable sport suspension, nimble handling (28-degree steering head), Excellent lean angle of 34.5 degreesto the left, and 33.5 degrees to the right, Aggressive, low-slung seating
So there you have it.
That is why the Harley Davidson FXDX is the best Harley ever made, AND why the early 2000 and 2001 models are the best of them all.
If you are interested feel free to drop me a line.
Thanks as always for the support.
Let me know what you think is the best Harley ever made in the comments.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.