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Harley Davidson FXDX/I Dyna Super Glide Sport

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Make Model

Harley Davidson FXDX/I Dyna Super Glide Sport

Year

2002 - 03

Engine

Four stroke, 45° V-Twin, Twin Cam 88® vibration isolation-mounted Valves Pushrod-operated overhead valves; w/ hydraulic self-adjusting lifters; two valves per cylinder

Capacity

1449 cc / 88.4 cu-in
Bore x Stroke 95.3 x 101.6 mm
Cooling System Air cooled
Compression Ratio 8.9:1
Lubrication Dry sump, internally mounted, crank driven gerotor pressure and dual scavenge pump with spin on 10ì pressurized oil filter

Induction

Carburetion 40 mm constant velocity with enrichener and accelerator pump
ESPFI 38 mm throttle bore electronic sequential port fuel injection

Ignition 

Single-fire, non-wasted, map-controlled spark ignition
Starting Electric

Max Power

67 hp / 48.8 kW @ 5200 rpm

Max Torque

116.6 Nm / 86 lb-ft @ 3500rpm
Clutch  Wet 9-plate

Transmission 

5 Speed 
Final Drive Belt
Gear Ratio 1st 10.110
2nd 6.958
3rd 4.953
4th 3.862
5th 3.15
Frame  Mild steel, rectangular section backbone with twin down-tubes Swing Arm Mild steel, rectangular section

Front Suspension

Fork Premium, 39mm sport forks with polished aluminum fork triple clamp, adjustable compression and rebound damping and dual-rate springs with externally adjustable preload

Rear Suspension

Premiu sport shocks with adjustable rebound damping and blacked-out, dual-rate springs with externally adjustable preload

Front Brakes

2x 292mm discs 4 piston caliper

Rear Brakes

Single 292mm disc 4 piston caliper
Wheels 13-spoke black/silver cast aluminum alloy (laced option)

Front Tyre

100/90-19 51V

Rear Tyre

150/8016 71V
Rake  28°
Trail 104 mm / 4.1 in
Dimensions Length 2319.2 mm / 91.4 in
Wheelbase 1603.5 mm / 63.2 in
Seat Height laden 691.6 mm / 27.2 in
Unladen 710.6 mm / 27.9 in
Ground Clearance 150 mm / 5.9 in

Dry Weight

281 kg / 619.0 lbs

Fuel Capacity 

18.5 Litres / 4.9 US gal

It rolled out of Milwaukee as the Dyna Super Glide Sport--FXDX in Motor Company shorthand--and into our hearts on twisted roads such as Stunt and Latigo Canyon. Cool enough to hold its own on the Sunset Strip or Hollywood Boulevard, this Big Twin remains scandalously proficient in the twisty bits where most Harleys fear to tread. Say what?

The roots of such sporting proficiency lie in the details. Start with an adjustable 39mm Showa fork carrying four-piston Hayes calipers and dual front discs. The Showa rear shocks are adjustable for spring preload and both kinds of damping. They're also long enough to create actual cornering clearance. In between, the '99 model was among the first to be blessed with Harley's vastly improved Twin Cam 88 engine. Stronger, tougher, tighter, smoother and easier to work on than its 80-cubic-inch predecessor, the rubber-mounted 88s reduced rotational inertia and let the engine rev easier as well.

Pushing its 651 pounds with a modest 63 horsepower, our '99 FXDX testbike covered the quarter-mile in 13.54 seconds at 96.48 mph; that's quicker than Kawasaki's 1500 Vulcan, but a second and change behind Honda's dearly departed six-cylinder, 739-pound Valkyrie. On the street, the 76 pound-feet of torque that come online at 3250 rpm pull the Dyna along quite smartly.

Recasting an icon is risky business, but this one has proven itself essentially indestructible. Harley changed from ball to roller-type cam bearings in December of '99 to head off potential trouble. The few bikes that developed problems should have been fixed by now, and those that didn't were blessed with a five-year/50,000-mile warranty. Your local H-D dealer can ascertain any candidate's bearing status from its VIN number. According to Alan Barsi, shop foreman at Bartels' Harley-Davidson in Marina Del Rey, California, there isn't much else to worry about.

"Check the wheel bearing seals for rust or corrosion," Barsi says, "and let the bike run and listen for suspicious noises. And I'd be leery of a bike with more [mods] than an aftermarket carburetor and exhaust system." There were a lot of add-ons for the Dyna that didn't fit so well, especially in the exhaust department. Barsi also suggests a close look at the Dyna's rubber engine mounts, especially on high-mileage examples. As with most used bikes, a clean, stock example is best. We're disappointed to see the FXDX cut from Harley's '06 lineup, but if you're after a Big Twin that's at least as much fun to ride as it is to look at, this is the one.