NOSTALGIA GRAB: Harley-Davidson FXR ‘Yamahaha’
Written by Tim Huber.
It?s hard not to look back at your first motorcycle with a distinct admiration and nostalgia, no matter how beat-up or prone-to-error it may have been. Much like your first love, there?s something highly-sentimental about sharing a host of new emotions, sensations, and experiences with your first motorcycle. For Jonathan ?Jonno? Shakesby, his introduction to the world of riding came on a 1980 Suzuki GS850G in 1989. Over a quarter-of-a-century, four-continents, and more than three-dozen bikes later, and the British expat still holds a special place in his heart for the early ?80s UJM.Â
When Jonno first picked up what he calls a ?butt ugly? ?93 Harley-Davidson FXR, he didn?t know then that he?d be returning to his moto-roots. The plan initially called for a cafe racer, but by the time Jonno started work on the build, he felt cafe racers were becoming a bit too ubiquitous so instead, he opted to take the road-less-traveled. Eventually, it was decided the now-Helsinki-based Brit would use the Harley as the basis for a tribute to the Zook GS ? his first two-wheeled love.
Jonno started with the powertrain. The FXR?s motor was pulled, torn down, and built back up with an array of new internals. ?The engine was fitted with new valve guides with an R grind on the inlet valves and three-angles on the exhausts with all barrel and head surfaces getting a clean up skim. I blended the valve seat inserts in, removing any edges but leaving the inlet port shapes ...
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