A Love Letter to the FXRT References

Sources

1. Harley-Davidson, "More Powerful Low Rider S and New Low Rider ST Models Join Harley-Davidson Cruiser Line", press release, Milwaukee, January 26, 2022, Harley-Davidson Media Site. Source of the Brad Richards fairing quote ("FXRT Sport Glide model fairing favored by West Coast customizers", "genetic connection to the original FXRT", "aerodynamically superior to the FXRT fairing"), the "tall bike" paragraph, the rigid-mounted Milwaukee-Eight 117, 125 ft. lbs. claim, 28 degree rake and dual counter-balancers. Read October 6, 2026. Link
2. Troy Siahaan, "2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S and Low Rider ST First Look", Motorcycle.com, January 26, 2022 (reprints the same press release, including the Brad Richards FXRT quote). Link
3. Harley-Davidson, Inc., "Harley-Davidson Reveals Powerful New Grand American Touring, Cruiser and CVO Motorcycles", PR Newswire, January 26, 2022. Source of the Brad Richards quote "Our customers truly inspire us..." and "We took the iconic Motor Company design from the Eighties and gave it a new identity with a modern echo." Read October 6, 2026. Link
4. Harley-Davidson, "2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S & 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST Design Process", official Harley-Davidson YouTube channel, published January 27, 2022 (6:06). Quotes and timestamps: Brad Richards, VP of Design, 2:21 to 2:30 ("There's a fundamental shift..."), 2:39 to 2:45 ("They were either restoring FXRTs or FXRs...") and 3:01 ("that's how we spot a trend"); Dais Nagao, Lead Designer/Stylist, 3:23 to 3:30 ("We have so much respect to FXR and FXRT..."); Paul Weiss, Product Development Technical Lead, 3:47 to 3:54 ("You've got the side ducts straddling the headlight..."). Names and titles from the video's on-screen name cards. Transcribed from the captions and checked against a second transcription; filler words only were dropped. Link
5. Harley-Davidson, "New Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Model Rolls Out", press release, Milwaukee, August 20, 2019, Harley-Davidson Media Site (2020 Low Rider S; Brad Richards on "coastal style" and "the Low Rider models of the 1980s"; no mention of the FXR or FXRT). Read October 6, 2026. Link
6. Kevin Duke, "2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST Review", Rider Magazine, December 21, 2022 (Dais Nagao as lead designer of the Low Rider ST, and his own FXR build with a single-sided swingarm shown at the Mama Tried show). Link
7. Hot Bike, "Separating the Men From the Boys: The History of the FXR" (photos from the Harley-Davidson Archives; interviews Bob LeRoy). Link
8. Hot Bike, "The Saga of the FXR" (includes an interview with Erik Buell). Link
9. Kip Woodring, "Motorhead Memo: The Gentleman's Express", Rider Magazine, September 20, 2017 (year-by-year FXR history and VIN model codes). Link
10. shovelhead.us, "1983 Harley-Davidson" model year history page (enthusiast site; production figures). Link
11. Cycle World, "Harley-Davidson FXRT" road test, August 1983. Link
12. Harley-Davidson Motor Co., 1985 FLT/FXR Models Owner's Manual, part no. 99465-85 (specifications pages 77 to 80, tire pressures, and vehicle identification). Scanned copy hosted by Ratbike Service. Link
13. Matthew Miles, "Return of the FXR", Cycle World, May 1999. Link
14. Photo of a Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST at the 43rd Bangkok International Motor Show, March 23, 2022, by Tris T7, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized). Link
15. Quotes are verbatim. Video quotes were transcribed from the captions and checked against a second transcription; only filler words were dropped. The Willie G and side duct lines play over footage, so they are credited by matching the voice to each speaker's on-camera segments.

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