| Author | Message | ||
     Ft_bstrd |
Understand the HD model nomenclature. | ||
| Hoser |
How so ? FL = Touring FX = Big twin - non touring , broken into two families , Softail & Dyna XL = Sportster VR = Vrod All of the above can be individually broken into a variety of different flavours , such as Custom , Low , Deluxe , classic , Ultra Classic , Night this , Street that , Standard , CVO models ooooooo what's a cvo ? , custom vehicle operations , chrome dipped everything , garrish paint , truly a sight to behold and what Liberace would ride , um ,if he wasn't taking a dirt nap. | ||
| Xl1200r |
There's a lot going on with that stuff - different letters stand for different frames, engines, front ends, interations, etc. All of the big twins stay within the rules. The Sportsters, however, did a lot of drifting off what was "typical" for HD for some reason. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
There's really nothing to it Fatso. The Motor Company has been in business for over a hundred years, make about thirty or forty different models a year, change them all the time in an arbitrary manner, but this should give you a start. Here is some information that is extremely helpful when looking at Harley Davidson Motorcycles The Sportster - XL - XL883: Sportster Hugger - XL883C: Sportster 883 - Custom: XL1100 - Sportster 1100 - XL1200: Sportster 1200 - XL1200C: Sportster 1200 Custom - XL1200S - Sportster 1200 Sport - XLCH - Kick start, XLCR - Cafe Racer 1000 - XLH883 - 883 Hugger, - XLH1200 - 1200 - XLH1200S - Sport XLS - Sportster Roadster - XLX - 1000cc Ironhead - XR1000 - XLH with XLR Heads More Harley Sportster Information: The Sportster X. These descend from the K series, 1952-56 XL. The Series started in 1957. They are "unit construction" (engine & transmission share a common case) L - High compression (7.5:1 in 1957) H - Starting in 1958 came the XLH, meaning Higher-power or High-compression (9:1) or Hot . Another engine in 1958 was the XLCH. The C was intended to mean "Competition". Harley created the CR- Cafe racer style with bikini fairing. Lastly, Harley Davison made the LT- Touring, with bigger tank, thicker seat, and hard bags. A great resouce for details about years,components and pictures: http://www.sportster.org/history/ Kudos Erik and good luck with the book. DYNA Glide Series - FX - Superglide - FXB - Sturgis Belt - FXD - Dyna Super Glide - FXDG - Dyna Glide/Sturgis - FXDL - Dyna Low Rider - FXDS-CON - Dyna Convertible - FXDWG - Dyna Wide Glide - FXDX - Dyna Super Glide Sport - FXDXT - Super Glide "T" Sport - FXE - Superglide Electric Start - FXEF - Fatbob - My Favorite Name - FXLR - FX Lower Rider - Evolution More Harley Dyna Information: This bike was built as the chopper for all customers. Easily customizable and tons of after market parts and help. Aninteresting article on the Dyna Wide Glide: One of my first big bikes. http://www.chuckhawks.com/wide_glide.htm FXR Series - FXR Rubber Mount Super Glide - FXRDG - Disc Glide - FXRP - Police or pursuit - FXRS - FXR Sport - FXRS-CON - Convertible - FXRS- Sport - Low Rider Sport Edition - FXRT - FXR Touring - FXS - Low rider/ Shovelhead - FXSB - Low Rider Belt FXS Series - FXST - Softail Standard - FXSTB - Night Train - FXSTBI - Night Train fuel injected - FXSTC - Softail Custom - FXSTD - Softail Deuce - FXSTS - Springer Softail - FLST - Heritage Softail - FLSTC - Heritage Softail Classic - FLSTF - Fat Boy - FLSTN - Nostalgia - FLSTS - Heritage Springer Softail. More Harley Softail Information: These two bikes bring some great excitement wherever they are. I've always been a big fan of them. Another great article: http://www.hdfxr.dk/Public/FXR/FXRHistory.aspx Touring Series: Touring FL - FLH - 4-Speed Dresser - FLHS - 4-Speed Electra Glide - FLT with windshield and less goodies S = Sport - FLHR - Road King - FLHRCI - Road King Classic - FLHS- Electra Glide Sport - FLHT - Electra Glide Standard - FLHTC - Electra Glide Classic - FLHTCUI - Electra Glide Ultra Classic - FLT- Rubber Mount Dresser - FLTC - Rubber Mount Dresser Classic - FLTCU - Rubber Mount Dresser Classic Ultra - FLTR - Road Glide - FLTRI - Road Glide w/ Genuine Access - FLTRSEI - Screamin Eagle Road Glide More Harley Touring Information: This comprising of all of Harley Davidsons bigger bikes, made for touring. People who love to ride. This will be my next bike. Lastly, Wikipedia has had some great people adding to it's collection of informaion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley-Davidson VRSC Series: - VRSC: (V-TWIN Racing Street Custom) - VRSCA: 1st model of the V-ROD family. More Harley VRSC Information: A new interesting bike, definately one breaking the mold. I'll keep gathering more information. Here is information on all the letters that make up the Harley models The first letter of the model designator: E, J, K ('50s small twin), F, U, V (Big Twin), D, G, R, W (Small Twin), X (Sportster), or V (VRSC) They also reveal the engine series: G - Servicar three wheeler, 1932 to 1972 E - Overhead valve 61 cubic inch "big twin" (Engine/trans separated) F - Overhead valve 74,80 or 88 cubic inch "big twin" FL - 80 to 88 cubic inches and a fat front tire. K - Side valve 45 and 55 cubic inch sports bike that replaced the WL in 1953 and then, the Sportster in 1957. U - Side valve 74 or 80 cubic inch "big twin" V - Side valve 74 cubic inch made prior to 1936 W - Side valve 45 cubic inch made 1934 to 1952 X - Sports and special construction. Applied to 1918-1922 opposed twin Sport, 1944 military opposed twin, and 1957 to present Sportster. The second letter of the model designator sets up the front end in most cases X - Narrow tire and sport forks L - Wide front tire and Hydra-Glide front forks. FX - originally meant "Factory Expirimantal" The first one was the Super Glide FX The third letter of the model helps define the frame style: D - "Dyna" frame and has rubber mounted motor HT - "Highway Touring" frame ST - "Softail®" frame The next letter or letters also help classify bike within the frame family: A - Military (Army) version (except GA, Servicar without tow bar) B - Battery start (early models), Belt drive (early 80's) Black paint.(1995-6 model, the Bad Boy) C - Classic, Competition, Custom, various others meanings. D - Dyna, the newest frame and engine mount design. DG - Disc Glide E - Electric start F - Foot shift (when the standard was hand-shift) and now "Fat Boy®" H - varied between High performance and Heavy duty. I - Signifies Fuel Injection. L - Big fat front tire LR- Low Rider (though many Low Riders don't include LR in the model ID) N - Nostalgia P - Police version R - Rubber mounted engine (some models) racing version (other models) ST- Soft Tail, Softail®l S - Springer S - (without following T) Sports version T - Touring WG - Wide Glide X - Sportster or sportster-type front end and Skinny front tire. Harley Davidson Classifications - Harley Motorcycle Guide for Used motorcycle listings: FXR SuperGlide Panhead FLH Shovelhead FLHR Road King FL Knuckle Head Night Train Road King Classic Ultra Classic FLHTCUI Heritage Softail Classic Custom FXDWG FLSTFI Fatboy Lowrider FL Classic FLHT Electra Glide FLHP Police Special FXSTI Softail Softail Duece Sportster 883 Hugger Custom Shovelhead Custom FLH Softail Standard FXSTS Bad Boy Heritage Softail Classic Springer Custom FX Shovelhead Harley Davidson FXR Electra Glide Classic FXSTD Deuce FXSTB Night Train Harley Davidson Fatboy Fatboy FLSTF 95th Anniversary Harley Series 100th Anniv. Harley Series Custom Panhead Dyna Lowrider Custom Fat Boy Classic Fatboy 1200 Sportster FLSTN Heritage Nostalgia Sportster 883C Heritage Springer Softail FLSTN Nostalgia XL1200C Road King Custom Custom Hardtail Ultra Classic Custom Softail FXE Shovel Head Custom Dyna Wide Glide Custom Fatboy Night Train Custom FXDWG Anniversary Anniversary FLSTF Fatboy Electra Glide FLH Ultra Classic Custom Sportster Electra Glide Classic Electra Glide FLH Custom Chopper Road Glide Any questions?  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Dear Lord! What is WRONG with these people? I could name every living entity on the planet with less confusion. | ||
| Shupe |
The only confusing thing, I think, is the big twin line. There are three chassis for big twins: Touring (twin shock rubber mount), Dyna (twin shock rubber mount) and Softail (rigid mount, hidden shocks, counterbalanced engine). Since all big twin models begin with either FL or FX, you can't necessarily tell the chassis from the model designation without some knowledge. For example, both the touring models and Heritage Softail models are "FL" models. The letters after the "FL" designate which chassis and which model within that chassis group. Also, there are Dyna "FX" models and Softail "FX" models, but, again, the letters after the FX tell the rest of the story. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I think the Sportsters are the confusing ones, only because the don't follow the typical naming conventions. | ||
| Dynasport |
For the big twins FL and FX are fork type designations - thus some softails being FL (covered fat forks) models and some being FX models (skinny forks). | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Please tell me you copied and pasted the majority of that!? | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
You got me, Bolt!! I admit it!! I am just as confused as the next guy, when it comes to Harley designations, . When people ask me what model I ride, and I say FXDX, I am usually rewarded with a blank stare.  | ||
| Xl1200r |
FXDX = F - Big Twin X - XL-type front end (not the case any longer, but originally) D - 'Dyna' model (as opposed to the previous 'R' model) X - 'Sport' model. As an example, it's easy to see why a (no longer produced) Dyna Wide Glide is called an FXDWG, with WG for wide glide. Once you have the basics, it's not too hard. With the exception of V-Rods and Sportsters (and no one seems to know why), the letters, in order of appearance, stand for: -Engine Type -Front End Type -Frame Type -Model Description (can be more than one letter.) We can a look at the current line up: This is interesting because the HD site no longer lists the model ID for these guys anywhwere I can find, but - Sportster: -All Sporteters start with 'XL' followed by the engine displacement (in cc's), followed by the Model letter. XL1200C is a Sportster 1200 Custom XL883L is a Sportster 883 Low XR1200 is kind of it's own model, but typically the XR was just a racing version of the XL. etc. Dyna: All Dyna's start with F (for big twin), X (for XL-style front end), D (for Dyna frame). The last letter or two, if present, designates the specific model. FXD - standard Dyna Model, called Superglide FXDF - F stands for Fat Bob FXDC - C stands for custom etc. Softail: First letter is always F for Big Twin. Second letter is either X for XL style front end, or L for fat, touring style front end. Third and fourth letters are always ST for Softail frame. Some the model letters are less obvious, but most are. FXSTC - Softail Custom FLSTN - Softail Deluxe (N stands for Deluxe, D was likely used on some previous model) FLSTC - Softail Geritage Classic (not be confused with the FXSTC) V-Rod: All V-Rods start with VRSC. I don't know what the SC stands for. The model designators don't make much sense to me. VRSCAW - this is the 'original' V-Rod-styled bike. A is for the 'A' interation, with the sloped headlight. 'W' is for the wide tire, which showed up on all VRSC models in 2006(?) VRSCD - Night Rod - I'm not sure why Night Rod is shown by a D, but it is. VRSCDX - The X stands for 'Special', and this is typical old-school HD naming convention. X is some type of special construction when not used for the XL bikes, or for the XL-style front end on the big twin bikes. Touring: All touring bikes start with F (for big twin), L (for fat forks), H (for Touring frame)... with the exception of the Road Glide, which uses FLT, with T for the frame-mounted fairing. FLHR - Road King FLHRC - Road King Classic (RC) FLHX - STreet Glide (Again, X for SPecial or Sportier model) FLHT - Standard Electra Glide (T likely just stands for Touring) FLHTC - Add C to the standard for the EG CLassic FLHTCU - Add U to the Classic for an Ultra Classic. And that's it. I didn't list all models, just enough to get the point accross. Like I said, once you have the basics it's not that hard. The models names are just a way of cramming a paragraph worth of information about the bike into a couple letters. (Message edited by xl1200r on May 06, 2009) | ||
| Crackhead |
i am more confused then ever. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
That werent no cut~n~paste niether. | ||
| Xl1200r |
That werent no cut~n~paste niether. No ma'am! Pure noggin power. |
