The Shivaliks, early morning mist still curled lazily over the forested ridges, and the air was thick with the promise of adventure. The plan was simple: ride the Harley-Davidson FXDR 114 through these wild, undulating roads, and test the sheer muscle and madness of this American powerhouse. No rider aids, no modern crutches, just man, machine, and the raw sinew of the road. It was going to be an experience, not just a test.

90 hp engine

The FXDR 114 doesn’t purr. It rumbles like a sleeping volcano, and once you prod that starter, it erupts with a low, thick bassline that vibrates through your bones. You don’t just hear the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine; you feel it,1,868cc of old-school torque-driven authority. Pulling out of the sleepy town on the foothills, the FXDR gave me its first lesson, this wasn’t a bike that moved for you. You had to command it. Twist the throttle gently, and the beast snarled. Push it hard, and the rear 240mm tire begged for mercy. That massive tire, by the way, needs more than encouragement to turn. Steering effort is substantial, like moving a stubborn animal that only trusts you once you’ve proven yourself. But when you do, when the road starts to curve along the cliffs and the throttle’s fully awake, my god, the FXDR transforms. The 90 horses may not sound mind-blowing on paper, but it’s the 160 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm that makes this bike feel like it’s trying to yank the Earth backward. There’s no traction control. No rider modes. No electronic filter. It’s all happening right there under your gloved hand, and on that winding stretch between Kalka and Kasauli, it was both thrilling and, at times, terrifying. Throttle too early and the rear slides a little. Downshift too fast and the rear wheel bucks in protest. There’s no slipper clutch here. Every move is telegraphed to the rear, and that V-twin’s engine braking is a force to reckon with. But when you find that rhythm, roll-on torque through the mid-range, gentle downshifts, and controlled exits, you’re rewarded with something pure and primal.

Hard chassis, tight damping, good brakes

The FXDR feels like it’s carved out of granite. The aluminum swingarm trims weight, sure, but don’t expect it to behave like a sportsbike. It’s a long, low-slung cruiser designed with drag strips in mind, not mountain twisties. But here in the Shivaliks, with narrow bends and patchy surfaces, it forced me to ride differently, more deliberately, more physically. You have to muscle it into corners, press down, lean your torso, use your hips. “Steer with your butt,” someone once said. They weren’t wrong. At low speed, it resists turning. At high speed, it demands your full focus. Daydream for a second and it’ll plow straight through your line. But commit to it, really ride it, and the FXDR becomes this brutish, grinning companion. The front forks? Surprisingly decent. They’re tight but not punishing, with 130mm of travel that filters the road’s chatter without feeling mushy. The rear, however, is stiff. I mean brick stiff. With barely 86mm of travel and a spring made for squats, your lower back takes the punishment. Every pothole in the hills felt like a sucker punch. Combine that with the dense compound Michelin Scorcher 11s, and you’re getting no comfort or forgiveness. But the brakes, top marks. Dual front discs bite down hard, with enough progression to modulate confidently. The rear is firm and predictable. They need to be good, because slowing down this 300kg brute from mountain descent speeds is no casual task. I pushed hard into a sharp downhill switchback near Dagshai and was amazed at how well the FXDR held its line under heavy braking. It never panicked. Neither did I. Yet, ride it fast, and it still surprises you. There’s enough lean angle clearance for a cruiser, and once you get the weight moving in your favor, you can link corners in a rhythm that feels oddly satisfying. But get complacent? The bike reminds you, this is not a toy.

Technical data Harley-Davidson FXDR 114

Manufacturer information	Specifications
Engine/Transmission	Air-cooled, two-cylinder, four-stroke, 45-degree V-engine, two balance shafts, one overhead, chain-driven camshaft each, four valves per cylinder, hydraulic tappets, pushrods, rocker arms, dry sump lubrication, fuel injection, 2 x 55 mm diameter, regulated catalytic converter, 390 W alternator, 12 V/18 Ah battery, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, toothed belt, secondary transmission ratio 2.060, bore x stroke 102.0 x 114.3 mm, displacement 1868 cm³, compression ratio 10.5:1, rated power 67.0 kW (90 hp) at 4500 rpm , maximum torque 160 Nm at 3500 rpm
chassis	Double-cradle steel frame, upside-down fork, ø 43 mm, double-sided aluminum swing arm, central spring strut, directly pivoted, adjustable spring preload, double disc brake at the front, ø 300 mm, four-piston fixed caliper, disc brake at the rear, ø 292 mm, double-piston floating caliper, ABS, cast aluminum wheels 3.00 x 19; 8.00 x 18 tires 120/70 ZR 19; 240/40 R 18
Dimensions and weights	Wheelbase 1735 mm, steering head angle 34 degrees, caster 120 mm, front/rear suspension travel 130/86 mm, seat height 720 mm, unladen weight (ready to ride) 303 kg, permissible total weight 533 kg, fuel tank capacity 16.7 liters, fuel consumption 5.4 l/100 km

Conclusion: Spectacular muscle bike

After hours of battling the hills, bouncing over broken tarmac, pushing hard on the hairpins, and letting loose on the downhill straights, I parked the FXDR on a ridge overlooking the misty sprawl of the valley below. Sweat-soaked, hands tingling, heart still racing. And I smiled. The Harley-Davidson FXDR 114 is not for everyone. It’s raw. It’s unforgiving. It has no interest in being polite or adaptable. You won’t find traction control, or rain modes, or anything remotely resembling modern comfort. There’s no pillion seat. The fuel tank’s small. The ride will batter your spine. You need to work this bike every inch of the way. But therein lies the joy. It’s an experience that strips away the fluff. It reminds you that motorcycles weren’t always about smoother suspensions and software settings. They were about attitude, torque, the fight, and the freedom. The FXDR is a muscle-bound outlaw in a world of well-mannered commuters. It doesn’t try to be something it’s not, and in that brutal honesty, it wins your respect. Yes, it could use a slipper clutch. Better tires wouldn’t hurt. The rear suspension may someday snap your lumbar disc. But none of that matters when you roll on the throttle, feel the rear kick a little, and hear that thunderous V-twin echo through a valley in the Shivaliks. You don’t ride the FXDR to get somewhere. You ride it to feel something.