A Comparison of the FXR, FXR3, and Dyna Motorcycles
Are you looking for a breakdown of the FXR, FXR3, and Dyna frameworks? These three motorcycles have a lot in common, but there are a lot of differences between them. The Dyna is my personal favorite. Let's find out why.
The first bike we are going to talk about is this 1992 FXRT. Nick, one of our parts team members, owns this bike, and it's incredible. It's been kitted out with all the factory accessories. It looks cool, and we're fortunate to have it around. It's super rare because of the paint job itself. Only hundreds were made in the red color.
One of the things I love about this Harley-Davidson FXR motorcycle is the small frame size. They’re small yet big enough to go on a long trip. The fairing and saddlebags are awesome features that make it easy to travel around on. Even back in 1992 they had an a sound system. Not many bikes from this era have that. It's incredible that this bike has evolved into something like the FXR3 that sits next to it. Same frame, very similar in most ways, but ultimately completely different at the same time. This is what's great about Harley-Davidson and the brand and the motorcycles it creates.
This 1999 FXR3 is unique in this blue color, and we're lucky that it's also owned by one of our Service Team members, Greg. Harley-Davidson stopped producing both of the FXR models in 1995, and then the CVO versions came back designated as FXR 2, 3, and 4. This FXR3 is from that second run.
Let's talk about the FXR/FXD Dyna comparison. The triangle frame is the first noticeable difference between the FXR and the FXD. This was a style that Harley-Davidson stopped using on the FXR in 1995. They stopped making this frame style because it was too expensive to manufacture.
This is an early model, Dyna. A 2004 Dyna FXD Super Glide. This particular Dyna was changed to ride like an FXR. You can add parts to make it handle like an FXR, and here are the differences between the Dyna chassis and the FXR chassis.
The main difference between the Dyna and the FXR is that the frame on the Dyna is not as rigid. The Dyna does not have the triangle shape that the FXR does. Unfortunately, that makes the frame less rigid. Also, the swingarm is mounted to the transmission with rubber. This reduces the bike's stability when riding hard.
People love the Harley-Davidson Evo motors. They sound like traditional Harleys. They shake and vibrate, make a lot of noise, and people find them just plain fun to ride.
One of the reasons the FXR chassis is so highly regarded in the handling department is because the swing arm is directly mounted to the frame. This design feature is different in the FXR model the Dyna chassis.
The FXR has an engine stabilizer mounted directly to the frame from the front of the engine. This gives excellent rigidity to this bike and incredible handling. We can try to replicate this feature on the Dyna frame with aftermarket parts. There are stabilizers that mount to the front, which connects the engine directly to the frame and gives better rigidity and stiffness, ultimately improving handling. Of course, it's never going to be an FXR, but it makes it close. The Dyna is a popular bike; people love them because they're customizable and can go fast.
As we can see, the engines of the FXR and FXR3 are pretty similar, but the FXR (1994-2004) was built to be more of a cruiser. The Dyna might be a little more versatile, but that's just the feel we get going between the two. Both are great bikes. And finally, if you are thinking about buying an older bike, check out what year they were manufactured in so you can find out what upgrades they might have had done to them. You'll save yourself from getting something that sat in someone's garage for years with no maintenance on it!
If you looking to get upgrades done on your Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, do not hesitate to reach out to the service team at Trev Deeley Motorcycles.