HARLEY-DAVIDSON Low Rider (1981-1982) Specs, Performance & Photos

Harley-Davidson was an American motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They were one of two major American motorcycle builders that survived the Great Depression, while the second was Indian Motorcycles.

In 1977, the American motorcycle maker launched the Harley-Davidson Low Rider, a cruiser motorcycle also known as the FXS that outsold every other bike in Harley-Davidson's range in its first full year of production.

In 1981, they launched the Harley-Davidson Low Rider, a cruiser machine that benefited from the 1980 upgrade, which included a new larger engine with more hp and torque at the rider's disposal.

In the visual department, not much was changed compared to the first model, packing the same features, such as a round headlight, a wide handlebar, a teardrop-style fuel tank, a one-piece dual seat with an additional passenger backrest, a two-into-one chromed exhaust system, and nine-spoke alloy wheels.

As for the power figures, the 1981 Harley-Davidson Low Rider took its muscles from a 1,337cc four-stroke V-twin air-cooled engine fed by a 38 mm carburetor. At the rider's right wrist were available 67 hp with a peak at 5,800 rpm and 91 Nm (67 lb-ft) torque at 3,600 rpm.

In the handling department, the motorcycle packed the same telescopic fork on the front and dual shock absorbers on the rear as its predecessor. Same in the braking department, with a triple-disc system, two discs on the front and one on the rear.