Harley-Davidson 1800 DYNA LOW RIDER S FXDLS 2017 — Specifications

What drives Harley-Davidson to transplant a CVO heart into a production custom? The answer comes down to three words: Low Rider S. Born four decades ago, the Low Rider lineage has always cultivated a rebellious temperament within the Dyna family. With this 2017 S version, Milwaukee pushes the envelope and offers riders who don't want to cross the financial threshold of the CVO range access to the famous Twin Cam 110 Screamin' Eagle. A 1801 cc V-twin that radically transforms the machine's character.

Forget horsepower — that's not this engine's favorite playground. The 97 hp at 5250 rpm are almost beside the point. What matters here is torque: 154.9 Nm unleashed from just 3500 rpm. That's 23% more than the standard Low Rider's 103 ci, and you feel it with every twist of the throttle. The V-twin shakes the tubular steel frame with an irregular, almost primal rhythm, dictated by its single-pin crankshaft. Every combustion stroke reverberates up your spine. You love it or you hate it, but nobody stays indifferent. Where an Indian Scout plays the refined modern card, the Low Rider S answers with unapologetic brutality.

Dressed head to toe in black, the beast sports a no-compromise aesthetic. Solo seat, chopped rear fender, Drag Bar handlebar that leans you forward — this Harley doesn't want a passenger and makes no secret of it. The Magnum Gold wheels add a touch of character with their magnesium-style finish, a nod to competition cars from another era. The generous air filter sits proudly on the engine's flank, displayed like a gallery piece, and the dual exhaust borrows its style from the Fat Bob. At a 685 mm seat height, the riding position remains accessible, which partially compensates for the 305 kg wet weight. Let's be honest — maneuvering this battleship at low speed in a parking lot demands commitment.

On the chassis side, Harley made an effort with Premium Ride suspension: a 49 mm telescopic fork offering 130 mm of travel and two lateral shock absorbers. The word "effort" remains relative since the latter offer only 54 mm of travel. On winding roads, the tubular steel frame holds its composure as long as you don't ask it to play sportbike. The braking proves more convincing with dual 300 mm discs squeezed by four-piston calipers up front and a 292 mm disc at the rear, all backed by ABS. The belt drive and six-speed gearbox do their job without drama. A standard cruise control even makes it possible to contemplate long ribbons of asphalt without wrist cramps.

At 19,950 euros, the price tag stings — roughly 3,000 euros more than the standard Low Rider. That's the cost of the Twin Cam 110 and the dedicated equipment. In the Harley catalog, the Low Rider S sits alongside the Fat Boy S and Slim S to form a trio of muscled customs targeting the same audience: experienced riders, lovers of low-end torque, looking for a radical motorcycle to ride solo, fast and loud. The 17.8-liter tank will keep fuel stops frequent, but with a top speed capped at 170 km/h, this isn't a machine built to devour highways. The Low Rider S is a bike of character, designed for raw pleasure on back roads. Not the most versatile, not the lightest, but one of the most visceral in Milwaukee's catalog.