Timothy S Remus

The first motorcycle that you can call a Bagger showed up in the show rooms in 1980.That new frame was longer, and the motor and transmission were mounted on rubber mounts. Those first Baggers came with Shovels, followed by Evos, but no one called those Performance Baggers. The Twin Cam motors came next, and they were definitely faster, but the phrase Performance Bagger still didn't come into use until the M8 came on the scene. This book brings you a detailed look at these new M-8 Baggers, and the Twin Cams that proceeded. The book includes interviews with people like Rick Ward and Bert Baker. Builders who spent a lifetime getting more horsepower and improving the drivetrain. For advice on brakes and suspension, we have information from the staff of Beringer and Ohlins. In addition to the techs and experts, the bulk of the pages are filled with pictures and the story of true Performance Baggers owned by regular riders - on Road Glide and Street Glide. Each of those stories cover the motors, the drivetrain and the chassis. Some went all the way with a 143 cubic inch M-8 with a blower, motors well over 200 horsepower. Other owners simply installed bigger jugs, ported heads, a good dyno run and settled for something like 140 or 150 horses. The same goes with the chassis: new shocks and replaced (or upgraded) fork assemblies. For brakes maybe they install new front rotors and retain the factory calipers or replace all the components. What they did or didn't do is a lesson to readers in all the possible modifications. Written by Timothy Remus with help with experienced builders and experienced owners, H-D Performance Bagger is a high-quality guide for anyone with a late model Bagger or plans to buy that new Bagger.

Harley-Davidson author, photographer, and historian Timothy Remus combines history, advice from pros, and hands-on how-to information and ideas as to where to buy the best combination of parts to build or modify your own Harley FXR.Despite the number of FXRs being built and rebuilt, there is no FXR Bible--until now. The new book contains a history of the FXR, including the differences between various years and models; a gallery of FXRs, showing how a wide range of owners have maintained and modified their bikes; a how-to-build section designed to help FXR fans modify the bike in the garage, or build a brand-new FXR from scratch with aftermarket parts; and a Q&A section with professional builders--an opportunity to learn from the best.In 1982 Harley-Davidson introduced the FXR series bikes based on a completely new frame. No longer would the motor and transmission be bolted directly to the frame, the new frame suspended the engine and transmission from rubber mounts. Not only were the new bikes smoother to ride, they were also the best handling bike to come off the Harley-Davidson assembly line. Though the first two years of FXR production came off the line with Shovelhead power, by 1984 all FXRs used the new Evo engine for power, and a 5-speed transmission and belt final drive to transmit that power to the rear wheel. It didn't take long for enthusiasts and customizers to appreciate the potential of the new model. Not only did it handle well but the frame would handle modified motors with twice the output of the stock Evos. During its lifespan, the FXR chassis was used as the foundation for a number of models, everything from Low Riders and Super Glides to Sport Tourers and Police models. The FXR lived a good life--right up into the mid-1990s. And when Harley-Davidson replaced the bike with the new Dyna chassis, the troops in the trenches said NO. And Harley-Davidson did bring the FXR back for three separate short production runs. When the FXR finally went out of production for good, the aftermarket filled the void with complete frame assemblies, as well as OEM style sheet metal. The FXR is a legendary motorcycle--a platform that remains in demand as the base for customs, high-speed road machines, and bare-bones hot rods.