Nick has been out putting plenty of miles on the 2022 Harley-Davidson FXLRS Low Rider S. Check out what he thinks of the Milwaukee-Eight powered Softail... Photos: Zane Dobie
I’ve been punching around town and cruising up the freeay for a couple of weeks now on the 2022 Harley Davidson FXLRS Low-Rider S and in all honesty, I think it takes the cake for my favourite model in the 2022 line-up, what an awesome machine…Â
Nick has been punching around town and cruising up the freeway on the 2022 Harley Davidson Low-Rider S, check out what he thought of his new favourite Harley.
It seems as though Harley have targeted this towards a more spirited, aggressive rider who’s quite keen to get it out into the twisties. Whatever they’ve done, they seem to have listened to the 2020-2021 critique and brought out a bike from the factory with many of the upgrades and aftermarket additions we were applying to the older models.
Check out our review of the 2020 Low Rider S here…
Like many of the other bikes in the 2022 line-up, you’ve got a perfect platform to leave bone-stock and enjoy or, build up into a beast of a sports-cruiser.
“It seems as though Harley have targeted this towards a more spirited, aggressive rider who’s quite keen to get it out into the twisties.”
Harley-Davidson knocked it out of the park with this year’s looks. The aggressive ‘SoCal West Coast’ styling looks fantastic. You’ve got two colours, the classic Vivid Black and the new Gunship Grey, which is my favourite across the entire line-up. Harley aren’t lying when they say EVERYTHING is blacked out. The powertrain, the covers, clamps, rear fender supports, and the fuel tank console are all in a wrinkle finish black.
The intake, rocker covers, and ‘bar risers are glossed out, while the ‘bars are finished in satin black. There’s anodised black forks, jet black mufflers and exhaust and a blacked out solo seat. Aside from the black, the bronze alloys and the bronze embossed logo’s look subtle, yet fantastic.
“This sports-cruiser is the perfect mix of power, aggressive styling, and the characteristic comfort we know and appreciate from Harley-Davidson.”
You’ll notice the gauges aren’t in the same spot as last year. There is now a single, dual-purpose tachometer and speedometer sitting just above the clamp, tucked in behind the front fairing (which doesn’t do much on the freeway at 195cm tall) and front LED headlight. H-D don’t give you much in the electronics department in this year’s Low-Rider S, it’s seriously barebones.
While I was hoping for a TFT dash, you do get Trip A, Trip B, and fuel range, at least… Maybe next year we’ll get it? Regardless of the tech, or lack thereof, it is in a safer, more ‘readable’ position than the classic tank gauges. It’s a plus in my books.
For 2022, Harley have increased the displacement on the Low Rider from 114ci to 117ci!
With the 2022 Low-Rider S, we also get three more cubic inches of displacement. The Milwaukee-Eight 117 is a beast and is perfectly suited for the lighter, more agile Softail frame. It barely ticks along on the freeway, cruising at very low rpm at around 120km/h. For the most part, I’m sitting in fifth at around 3,800 to 4,000rpm, which is where you’ve got most of that torque to overtake with ease and enough engine braking to be comfortable.
We’ve spent plenty of time with past Low Rider generations, check out our 2020 video review…
If you’re feeling fuel conscious, you can cruise in sixth but it’s a little sluggish. You’ve got crazy torque for the most part, and that characteristic linear power delivery throughout the rev-range. Out of the factory though, it is very quiet. One of the first add-ons I’d be going for is a slip-on muffler at the very least. You buy these for the noise, right?
“You’ve got crazy torque for the most part, and that characteristic linear power delivery throughout the rev-range.”
The gearbox is smooth with a much tighter throw than I’d usually expect. It’s not too bad on fuel either given the size of the thing. I handed it back sitting on 5.8L/100km, which was a mix between freeway cruising, around town riding and flat-out runs.
Weighing-in at over 300kg, the Low Rider S isn’t a light bike by any standards but still has plenty of agility.
It’s a nice handling Softail Harley in my opinion and it certainly doesn’t feel it’s weight (308kg). The centre of gravity is quite low compared to similar bikes, which makes for a nimble bike in urban environments. When you combine this with the wide moto ‘bars and mid-mounted footpegs, you can really move this thing around quite easily.
On the open road and in the faster corners, the bike sits very comfortably leaned over and feels as though it could sit there all day. It seems to handle better the later you brake and the faster you enter the corner.
The riding position is fairly aggressive, at least when compared to the larger cruisers. The reach to the ‘bars is quite natural for me, however, I found that, like the other models with the Milwaukee-Eight, my shins would often contact the big airfilter sticking out the side.
“On the open road and in the faster corners, the bike sits very comfortably leaned over and feels as though it could sit there all day.”
I am a big fan of the ‘peg position though, as they allow for a fair bit more feel, particularly when pushing it harder through the twisties. While they are completely rubberised and don’t offer the ‘scrape’ warning I’m used to, they do fold up when they inevitably touch the tarmac through the corner.
The Softail chassis has won a few of us over here at BikeReview. It’s one of the best designs Harley have come up with in terms of comfort and sport.
The seat is super comfortable in my opinion, but a little restrictive for my liking. Once you’re planted in it, you aren’t able to move around on it much. On the ‘bars you’ve got the typical Harley controls, which I’m slowly getting used to. I still find it nearly impossible to indicate right while accelerating or holding any throttle at all but I’m getting there, they’re still a pain in the ass for me.
Check out the 2016 twin shock Low Rider S here, before it joined the Softail platform…
The Softail chassis boasts non-adjustable 43mm inverted front forks and a taller 56mm coil-over rear mono-shock, which I believe is from the Heritage models, which is what most of you were calling for last year. The rear does have hydraulic preload adjustment, but I didn’t have to change a thing.
“With the taller rear end, you get a few degrees more lean angle, which doesn’t seem like a whole lot, but it does help in the twisties.”
With the taller rear end, you get a few degrees more lean angle, which doesn’t seem like a whole lot, but it does help in the twisties. The suspension setup is pretty decent for me, coming in at 100kg. Personally, I wouldn’t change too much there.
“The brakes do a decent job at pulling up a BIG bike, and the added ABS provides a little more security in the wet when needed.”
The brakes do a decent job at pulling up a BIG bike, and the added ABS provides a little more security in the wet when needed. They don’t quite have the feel I’m used to and tend to fade a touch once they get hot, but overall, I can’t complain.
The Low-Rider S comes with Michelin Scorcher hoops front and rear which are adequate. In the wet, they could be better, but overall, they’re a moderately responsive tyre, particularly when pushing it harder in the dry twisties. You’ve got a lot of rubber on the tarmac with these hoops, which is always good for confidence. I wouldn’t opt for them again, but they’re fine to run it in on.
“The 2022 Low-Rider S is definitely suited for someone who loves their more ‘spirited’ rides through the twisties.”
Overall, it’s a sports-cruiser with plenty of Harley character, plenty of power and plenty of room for aftermarket upgrades, which is where I think most of you will be going with this one. The 2022 Low-Rider S is definitely suited for someone who loves their more ‘spirited’ rides through the twisties and is keen on pushing a sports-cruiser a little harder than most.
It’s a damn fun bike to ride and that’s what this model is all about! Coming in at $31,250 you get a lot of bike for what I consider, an ‘appropriate’ amount of cash. It’s still well out of my price range, at 25 years old… But I would love to be able to afford one.
Coming in at $31,250, it’s on the higher side in terms of price. But, Nick thought it was a bloody awesome machine!
Obviously, there are tech options I feel should be standard on a bike now in 2022, but you’re unlikely to be thinking of those when you’re cranked over in the twisties or full noise on the freeway…
2022 Harley Davidson FXLRS Low Rider S Specifications
Price: From $31,250 Ride Away
Colours: Vivid Black, Gunship Grey (additional $355)
Warranty: Two-years unlimited km
Service: 1600km then every 8000km
Claimed Fuel Consumption: 5.6L/100km
Claimed Power: N/A
Claimed Torque: 155Nm[114lbs-ft]@3000rpm
Wet Weight: 308kg
Fuel capacity: 18.9L
Engine: Air-cooled Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin, 1923cc, 103.5 x 114.3mm bore x stroke, 10.2:1 compression ratio, ESPFI, two-into-one-into-two exhaust
Gearbox: Primary drive: 34/46. Six-speed ratios – 1st: 9.311, 6.454, 4.793, 3.882, 3.307 6th: 2.79 Final Belt 34/46 Clutch: Wet multi-plate, cable actuation
Chassis: Mild steel tubular frame
Rake: 28° Trail: 132mm
Suspension: Single cartridge 43 mm inverted with aluminium fork triple clamps; triple rate spring(f) Hidden, free piston, coil-over monoshock; 56mm stroke; toolless hydraulic preload adjustment (r)
Brakes: Front and rear black, Split seven-spoke floating rotors four-piston fixed front and two-piston floating rear, ABS
Wheels & Tyres: Dark bronze radiate cast aluminium wheels, 110/90B19,62H,BW (f), 180/70B16,77H,BW (r), Michelin Scorcher
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 1615mm
Seat height: 690mm
Ground clearance: 120mm
Overall Length: 2425mm
Instruments:Â Multi-function analogue and digital LCD displays, tank mounted.
2022 Harley Davidson FXLRS Low Rider S Gallery
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The Verdict | Review: 2022 Harley-Davidson FXLRS Low Rider S
Tough!
Nick has been out putting plenty of KM on the 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S. Check out what he thought of the Milwaukee-Eight powered Softail…
The Author
April 25, 2023
Hi, Is there a weaker spring for the throttle available?